On Thursday and Friday, November 7-8, Cheshire AV had had a great time attending and proudly sponsoring MPI Upstate NY’s Fall Focus meeting at the Hyatt Regency Rochester. This dynamic two-day event, masterfully organized by the powerhouse duo of Heidi Longton and Debby Goedeke, brought together nearly 50 meetings professionals. It was a perfect mix of learning, networking, and good times—all topped off with mouthwatering food and drinks.
On Thursday, over a delicious lunch, Ally Meyers—Certified Executive & Positive Psychology Coach and Speaker extraordinaire—delivered a science-backed, insightful session on workplace well-being and leadership. Then, after hopping on a bus, and a quick “insiders’ tour” of downtown Rochester’s gems by Rachel Laber Pulvino of Visit Rochester, we were off to the Strong National Museum of Play, where we channeled our inner kid. Next, on to the stunning Prive at The Metropolitan for a penthouse view of Rochester skyline, a custom cocktail and some tasty hors d’oeuvres, followed by a delectable dinner at the Jackrabbit Club.
Friday morning came way too early, but some folks were still there in time to be eligible to win some cool cash in the 8:15 early bird sweepstakes.
Friday kicked off with an interactive session led by Tracey Caponera, Associate Professor, Remote Faculty Member, and Academic Advisor at SUNY Delhi. Tracey delivered a treasure trove of timely tips on Mitigating Risk & Navigating Uncertainty
Then came a game-changer! Tammy Moore, Senior Director of Product Innovation at PCMA, wowed the crowd with a hands-on demo of SPARK, PCMA’s new AI tool tailored for meetings professionals. We bet almost every person in the room went home and downloaded it!
As we edged closer to lunchtime, Heidi Longton facilitated a World Café session. Attendees broke into small groups, connected with presenters, and dove deep into burning questions and concerns.
Lunch was not only delicious; it was thought-provoking. Chase Brunson, Event Manager and Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, served up a heartfelt talk on creating accessible, inclusive meetings and shared his insights (and concerns) about the potential shifts in the industry under the upcoming administration.
From actionable strategies to cutting-edge tech and meaningful discussions, Friday was an absolute win for meeting pros!
The entire meeting was a five-star way to connect, collaborate, and celebrate!
