Eduardo Arabu, 32, works in Washington, D.C., as associate director of National Hispanic Corporate Council. As a 2017 40 Under 40 honoree, Arabu discusses his passion for the events industry.
*Connect with Arabu on Twitter.
What I do: I am responsible for day-to-day operations including design, implementation and execution of organizational development strategies. In addition, I am the chief experience officer responsible for the organization’s event management, including board meetings, regional forums and annual summits. NHCC organizes events for its member companies and other Fortune 1000 corporations with the goal of sharing corporate best practices in talent, supplier diversity, marketing, community relations and executive leadership within the Hispanic, diversity and inclusion space. Our flagship event is the annual summit.
How I got here: I am not a traditional meeting professional nor do I have hospitality industry experience. I was originally hired at NHCC to provide administrative and event management to the overall operations. My background is with corporations, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, sport entities and governmental agencies. Most recently, I worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Cubs baseball organization, in U.S. and state government offices and several corporations.
My greatest career accomplishment: Earning my master’s of science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Impressive stats: NHCC merged its biannual summits into an annual summit, resulting in an increase in participation, sponsorships and overall experience. The first annual summit in conjunction with our 30th anniversary celebration recorded a 150 percent increase in participation and a more than 250 percent increase in support by 20-plus sponsors. This April, NHCC hosted its second annual summit and the first stand-alone event. This event recorded an 80 percent increase in attendance and a 225 percent increase in sponsorship dollars. In addition, regional forums have served as a development platform for additional opportunities to event and organizational growth. In 2016, NHCC hosted its inaugural, sold-out regional forum at the 80th-floor Mid-America Club in downtown Chicago.
A specific improvement I’ve made: The overall event experience is improved by providing a transformational experience over a transactional one. I have helped improve that experience by identifying resources and opportunities in the hospitality industry, especially with CVBs, hoteliers and other event-related suppliers, to advance the overall design of our events.
For example, during our 2017 Annual Summit in Atlanta, we utilized multiple venues to serve as host to the program, giving attendees a full Atlanta experience. Our host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton downtown, provided a central housing location with multiple ground transportation methods and access to local entertainment and dining options. The second day of the summit, attendees were bussed to Cox Enterprises’ headquarters via an escort by Atlanta Police Department, which added an element of exclusiveness to all of our attendees. On the final day, attendees were bussed to Georgia International Convention Center near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where at the conclusion of the program, attendees were a five-minute transfer on the free SkyTrain to the terminal, reducing last-day attendance drop and attendees’ costs, and eliminating the rush to catch their respective flights.
What I’m working on: I am excited to begin the development of an organizational app to provide event and nonevent experience and communications, adding value for our members. As a virtual organization, NHCC has multiple platforms (events and webinars) to engage corporations and their respective representatives. One key focus is to develop the nonevent experience with our association. I would like to incorporate a mobile app that would not only be used to interact with attendees but also allow for a collaborative community throughout continuous networking, sharing of ideas and engagement throughout the year.
What I do outside of work: I play baseball, softball and basketball. I like to stay informed with business, domestic and international affairs. I served as president of the alumni association for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, and I have several mentees to whom I provide mentoring on career and education.
