Contemplating a career shift in 2015? Looking to enhance your existing skills as a planner? Dive into one of these Professional Development Courses offered by the Event Leadership Institute. Courses feature an instructor-led syllabus with assignments, assessments, and other interactive features, delivered over several weeks. Upon completion, you'll be eligible to earn a certificate, CMP credits, and a Digital Credential, which can be shared via social media and linked in an email signature or on a website, proving your expertise to colleagues and clients.
Event & Meeting Management Fundamentals
Kevin White, founder and chief strategist, XPL
Location: Online
Duration: 10 weeks
Start date: January 19
Early registration deadline: December 29
More information and registration: here
If you're looking to become an event or meeting planner, or if you've been planning events for a while but never got proper training, this is the ultimate course for you. Here you'll get a thorough understanding of how events work, why people and companies host events, how the industry is configured, and how to strategically plan and coordinate a typical event from A to Z.
Fund-Raising Event Management
Michelle French, principal, Sunday Sol Events
Location: Online
Duration: 8 weeks
Start date: January 26
Early registration deadline: January 12
More information and registration: here
Fund-raising events, whether a gala dinner, cultivation event, walk-a-thon, or benefit concert, provide an opportunity for nonprofits to secure essential income but also help to educate donors, guests and volunteers of the organizational mission. This course will examine the fundamentals of fund-raising event management, including understanding the key players at a nonprofit, event budgeting, income projections and ticketing, marketing outreach, food and beverage, and logistics management. It will also look at how to employ strategic tools such as silent and online auctions, live appeals, and video components to help increase the financial success of a fund-raiser.
Wedding Planning Fundamentals
Lindsay Landman, president and creative director, Lindsay Landman Events
Location: Online
Duration: 8 weeks
Start date: February 2
Early registration deadline: January 19
More information and registration: here
How do you separate yourself from the pack when everyone thinks they can be a wedding planner? This course will go into detail on a number of questions faced by today's wedding planner, with a focus on not just teaching key skills, but also identifying ways to add value to clients at each step along the way. In addition to in-depth instruction by veteran and celebrity planner Lindsay Landman, this course will feature interviews with established wedding planners, sharing their insights on keys to their success, as well as interviews with vendors sharing guidance on how to work with them like a pro.
Technical Meeting & Event Production
Brandt Krueger, consultant
Location: Online
Duration: 4 weeks
Start date: February 9
Early registration deadline: January 26
More information and registration: here
Do you know how many lumens your projector should be? Or whether your lighting vendor is correct in using PAR fixtures instead of Lekos to light the podium? Regardless of your experience level, if your audiovisual proposal looks like a foreign language to you, you're not alone. This course—which is designed for meeting and event professionals, not for audiovisual personnel—will empower you to understand what kind of gear, staff, and setup your event actually needs to function properly, look right, and be cost-effective.
Event & Meeting Management Fundamentals New York
Howard Givner, executive director, Event Leadership Institute
Location: Grind, 1412 Broadway, New York
Duration: 12 weeks
Start date: February 23
Early registration deadline: February 2
More information and registration: here
The same general content as the online course, now available in person. Students will also get an opportunity to apply their skills and plan an upcoming E.L.I. Maverick Series event, gaining hands-on experience, building industry contacts, and adding a high-profile event to their portfolios. In addition, four to six industry leaders will join the class as guest speakers.
Wedding and Event Design
Lindsay Landman, president and creative director, Lindsay Landman Events
Location: Grind, 1412 Broadway, New York
Duration: 8 weeks
Start date: March 3
Early registration deadline: February 10
More information and registration: here
Picasso used paint, Michelangelo used marble, Shakespeare used words. And event designers use live events as their medium to create and deliver their art to the world. Today's designers are pushing the boundaries of design further than ever, incorporating food and beverage, entertainment, technology, and branding into their designs, for a holistic approach. And they're doing a more thorough job of getting to know their clients' goals and styles, creating customized concepts that meets their needs. This course will give a detailed education on the key strategic and tactical skills needed to succeed as a designer in today's fast-changing event industry.
The Launching Pad: Starting Your Own Event Company
Howard Givner, executive director, Event Leadership Institute
Location: Online
Duration: 6 weeks
Start date: March 9
Early registration deadline: February 16
More information and registration: here
Recently gone out on your own, or seriously thinking about it? Feel like you've got the event planning part down pat, but not so sure about your business skills? Whether you're a relative novice who's exhibited a flair for events, or someone with decades of experience looking to start your own firm, this course will provide you with the tools and skills you need to build a strong foundation for your company's success.
Interested in private group training? The Event Leadership Institute offers in-person intensive training sessions in 90-minute, half-day, and full-day sessions. For more details, contact Sue Bender.
Disclosure: BizBash is an investor in the Event Leadership Institute.
