In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Carolyn Durkee. Carolyn is the marketing director at Edison Learning, an education management organization that provides courses and instructional services in public schools.

Some Questions I Ask:

• What is your role at Edison Learning? (2:12)
• What is your advice for ensuring an event is a success? (4:11)
• What is your recommendation for paying for panelists at an event? (7:41)
• How do you structure communication and disseminate information to presenters? (12:22)
• What happens after we do a handoff? (15:16)
• What do you recommend as a follow-up strategy for thanking clients, speakers, or presenters? (17:20)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Carolyn’s role at Edison Learning (2:21)
• Tips in planning for an event (4:45)
• Policies for panelists’ or guests’ expenses at an event (8:01)
• Best practices for communication with the people involved in an event (13:24)
• Steps after doing a handoff (15:53)
• Different ways to thank your clients, speakers, and presenters after an event (18:08)

Quotes:

“One [step to ensure an event’s success] would be communication. That's communication with your teammates, making sure you're all on the same page, as well as communication with panelists so that you can ensure they have the information they need and everyone's clear on responsibilities, expectations, all of that. And then the other piece would be documentation because the logistics do change frequently.”

“[Covering travel expenses] is always ideal when you can extend that and when their company can receive that. I think that's an ideal scenario because you're asking them to come and represent you.”

“It's easy to get caught up in the logistics of the conference and the speaker and forget to close the loop with the person who gave you that name in the first place to reach out.”

“It's nice to just send like a little handwritten note in the mail or just a little something that says thank you, especially when you've had webinars that are fully virtual and you're not covering travel. I will send a gift box in the mail—like a chocolate assortment gift box—for that presenter, and they like to share with other people in their office. It's just something small that says, ‘Hey, that was really awesome that you spent your time sharing about your work with us.’ It's small, but it goes a long way.”

Connect with Carolyn Durkee:
Edison Learning Website
Carolyn Durkee's LinkedIn