Author Archives: mrussell

The Crystal/Corbin Ball

Posted on April 23, 2013 by mrussell

Technology + meetings industry + expert = Corbin Ball. That’s been a proven formula for the past 15 years that Corbin has devoted himself full-time to meetings technology. In this video interview with James Latham of International Meetings Review — … Continue reading →

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It Turns Out Love Does Have a Lot to Do With It

Posted on April 18, 2013 by mrussell

When I read a review of the recently published book Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become by Barbara Fredrickson, two things  came to mind. One was that I was delighted to see that the … Continue reading →

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There’s an App for That?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by mrussell

I keep seeing on-site stories from SXSW, which is taking place this week in Austin — mostly about cool, new tech tools and out-there ideas. But in today’s Fast Company e-newsletter, there was a whole different kind of report from … Continue reading →

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Conference Crashers

Posted on February 25, 2013 by mrussell

The headline in a post in today’s Fast Company newsletter caught my eye: “Confessions of a Conference Crasher.” In the story, entrepreneur Jerry Jao of Retention Science shares the lengths he went to in order to sneak into a pricey business conference, where … Continue reading →

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Keys to the Kingdom

Posted on January 17, 2013 by mrussell

As American Express commercials used to say, “Membership has its privileges.” Longtime PCMA member and volunteer leader extraordinaire John Folks, president and principal of Minding Your Business Inc., had an extra-special privilege waiting for him when he was named 2012 … Continue reading →

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In the Land of Plenty

Posted on January 13, 2013 by mrussell

Last night at the delightful PCMA board dinner at Il Mulino at Walt Disney World Swan, sponsored by Starwood and PSAV, I had a chance to catch up with Tammi Runzler, CASE, senior vice president of convention sales and services … Continue reading →

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Giving Thanks

Posted on October 31, 2012 by mrussell

Last night, the second annual Convene Forum concluded with a lovely barbecue dinner in Gaylord Opryland’s Crystal Gazebo, under the twinkling lights of the resort’s early Christmas decorations. Which put me in something of a Thanksgiving spirit. I am so … Continue reading →

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We’re Adding Meat to the Bones

Posted on September 18, 2012 by mrussell

As we finalize the speakers for the Convene Forum, Oct. 28–31, at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland, I’m getting excited and anxious at the same time. Excited because we’ve got some terrific speakers lined up. And anxious because it’s one thing to … Continue reading →

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Bikinis + Burkas

Posted on September 6, 2012 by mrussell

We couldn’t have picked a better keynote speaker to kick off the inaugural PCMA Global Corporate Summit in late July at the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, than Frans Johansson. For the first time, we were bringing … Continue reading →

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Independent Thinkers

Posted on August 9, 2012 by mrussell

Before I participated in PCMA’s Independent Planner Think Tank, held in New Orleans May 31–June 1, I thought “tank” might take on a different meaning. Not a shark tank, but maybe more like an aquarium where the fish warily circle … Continue reading →

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