ASAE’s 2015 Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference Breaks Attendance Records
June 16, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) 2015 Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference (MMCC), held June 1—2, at the Walter E. Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, recorded the highest number of participants in its history, With more than 1,000 attendees and more than 60 exhibiting companies.
“We had another great MMCC conference this year. Along with its record breaking attendance, participants were energized and found ideas and solutions to questions they were seeking because of the high-level content, opening and closing general speakers, and connecting with exhibitors and their colleagues,” said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham, IV, FASAE, CAE.
With 28 learning labs, two general sessions, and a sold out exhibit hall, participants discovered new ideas, case studies, and strategies they can take back to their associations. The learning labs focused on four areas: engagement, operations, strategy, and trends.
For the Opening General Session, Ann Handley, chief content officer of MarketingProfs, shared her formula for innovative content and explained how attendees could apply it to their organization.
She offered tips on how to create content that matters to your association including: a documented content strategy, audience focused, useful content, using social media for storytelling, unique tone of voice, and strong writing.
Sekou Andrews, billed as ‘the world’s leading Poetic Voice’, was the Closing General Speaker, who taught attendees how to use creative approaches in telling a great story.
He advised participants to find great stories with your members and colleagues and to create a culture of engagement.
He also stressed the importance of finding out what you do differently and communicating it, putting purpose and people first, letting go of all you know as well as accepting and expecting disruptions.
On June 2, ASAE announced the Gold Circle Award for Overall Excellence winner was the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis for their World Thrombosis Day: Elevating the Global Conversation on Blood Clots. Here’s a full list of all the 2015 Gold Circle Awards winners.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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