BizBash is launching a new education program–the Event Leadership Institute Workshop Series—as part of BizBash IdeaFest South Florida on April 10 at the Fort Lauderdale Convention CenterÂ. This new slate of intensive workshops is designed to provide hands-on skills to advance the careers of meeting and event planners.
Michelle Bergstein-Fontanez will discuss the ins and outs of social media and how to successfully use these platforms in your business. Participants can have their company’s social media strategy reviewed and hear advice on how to improve it. Brant Krueger will provide easy-to-understand information about key audiovisual concepts and tools. Dahlia El Gazzar will share insight on how to transform your event planning process through mobile apps. David Adler and other industry all-stars will examine key strategies for brainstorming techniques as well as discuss how to reinvent event formats.
The Event Leadership Institute Workshop Series includes a choice of two education sessions to best fulfill attendees’ career needs. Registration includes access to the Workshop Series and a trade show floor pass. Attendees can register for the BizBash IdeaFest and the Event Leadership Institute Workshop Series here.

Below is more information about the topics and presenters.
“Social Media Roadmap: Understanding the Various Platforms & Which Ones Are Best for Marketing Your Business”
Michelle Bergstein-Fontanez, president, Event Industry Marketing by BeatCreative
Google Plus, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, blogging, etc. New social media platforms are launching faster than we can keep up. The first half of this session will feature a detailed overview of each platform, including the pros and cons, and information about which ones businesses should use. The second half will include an interactive review of case studies of businesses that have used these platforms successfully (and some, not so successfully). Participants will have the opportunity to have Bergstein-Fontanez review their company's social media strategy and get tips to improve it.
“Audiovisual Demystified”
Brandt Krueger, director of video and production technology, MetroConnections
How many lumens should your projector have? What type of microphone is best for your program? When should you use I-Mag? When it comes to audiovisual and other technical elements, even experienced planners may not know exactly what they need. In this workshop, production expert Krueger will explain key audiovisual concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. The goal is for participants to leave feeling empowered to better understand and negotiate their audiovisual contracts and provide greater value to their bosses and clients in explaining their audiovisual needs.
“App-Storm: Using Mobile Apps to Transform the Event Planning Process”
Dahlia El Gazzar, founder, Dahlia
Still using a printed binder to manage your production documents? This workshop may prompt you to ditch the paper and shift everything to your iPad or tablet using El Gazzar’s tips. In this hands-on workshop she will introduce 10 apps event planners should use to streamline workflow, show how Evernote can be a planner's best friend, and share how to boost productivity. With step-by-step demos, this workshop will provide the tools to transform your organization.
“Plan-A-Thon: Taking Creative Brainstorming to the Next Level”
David Adler, C.E.O. and founder, BizBash
How would you dream up the ultimate Twilight premiere? If resources were endless and the budget limitless, how would you plan the Orange Bowl halftime show? If an event budget was cut, how would you reallocate resources, yet still create a memorable event?
After examining key strategies for brainstorming techniques, participants will learn how teams successfully gather ideas and devise a plan to implement these concepts into real-life scenarios. Adler and a lineup of industry all-stars will work with participants in this hands-on workshop where attendees will discuss how to reinvent three key event formats: the award show, the gala fund-raiser, and the product launch.
