Aligning Events with Organizational Goals
Great events should do more than fill a calendar. They should support the bigger picture. This session will explore how events can be intentionally tied to tourism, economic development, placemaking, community engagement, fundraising and organizational priorities. Attendees will walk away with ideas for evaluating whether their events are truly serving their mission and how to better communicate that value to leadership, sponsors, partners and stakeholders.
Fail Forward: The Events That Finally Got It Right
Not every successful event started that way. This session will feature real stories from event professionals about events that struggled, shifted or completely missed the mark before eventually finding success. Speakers will share what went wrong, what had to change and what lessons other event planners can take with them. This session is designed to be honest, practical and encouraging for anyone who has ever had to rethink an event after things did not go as planned.
Lunch Session: The Guest Experience Blueprint – Sheriah Gibson, Posh Occasions By Sheriah
Wedding planners are experts at managing timelines, emotions, vendors, expectations and the tiny details guests may never notice, but definitely feel. In this 30-minute lunch session, attendees will hear how lessons from the wedding industry can translate to festivals, community events, conferences and destination experiences. From creating smoother arrivals to thinking through flow, signage, hospitality, vendor communication and memorable guest moments, this session will focus on simple ways event planners can make their events feel more intentional, organized and welcoming.
After the Final Whistle: Lessons Learned from the Summer of Soccer
The summer of soccer brought major energy, attention and opportunity to Metro Atlanta and surrounding communities. This session will explore how cities, destinations, hotels, venues and event organizers responded to that momentum. Did communities create watch parties or related programming? Did hotels see an impact? How did destinations try to drive visitors beyond downtown Atlanta? What worked, what missed the mark and what opportunities were left on the table?
Chamblee Tour
End the day with a chance to experience the City of Chamblee firsthand. This tour could highlight Downtown Chamblee, public spaces, redevelopment areas and unique community assets that show how the city is using events, placemaking and destination development to bring people into the area.
Sheriah Gibson – Owner, Posh Occasions By Sheriah
Sheriah is a two-time graduate in Hospitality Management from The University of Alabama. She began her career in the hospitality industry as a young business owner in college in conjunction with a corporate career in hotel sales and venue management. Her multidisciplinary background is the key to her creativity, production savvy, and innate flexibility. As time has passed, Sheriah’s skills have been utilized to encourage and inspire other business owners on a variety of topics. She truly understands the importance of everyone’s role and believes in community above all. Sheriah’s love for mentorship and education has evolved over the years to provide information for the future of the industry. Sheriah works as an instructor at The University of Alabama where her students and colleagues can count on her funny and candid yet inspiration and honest advice paired with actionable steps to get them into the careers of their dreams.
She is the recipient of the Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award, United Way of West Alabama Young Leaders Award among other recognition for her dedication to entrepreneurship and community. Sheriah has been blessed to speak at the Wedding Summit Series, Grow and Flourish Workshop, and is a regular speaker for mentorship/networking organizations locally.