Our team enjoyed meeting attendees at the Personify booth, in the Small Staff Lounge, at our annual Shindig and various other events. We thought the best recap for 2023 would be to hear from our team about their favorite moments. 

ASAE Anecdotes from the Personify Team 

Rich Vallaster, Director, Marketing at Personify 

Five days in Atlanta for ASAE and five key takeaways from this year.  

1. Events are back! ASAE did a phenomenal job creating surprise and delight as part of the experience. I kept saying to myself, you can’t make these experiences in an online world. It is why events are roaring back. For example, I was excited to hear Wolfgang Puck’s company would cater the VIP reception. The true surprise was the opportunity to meet and talk with him (see photo below). Congrats to the #eventsprof team for creating memorable experiences. You impressed this #eventprof.  

2. #events are on the mind of every #associationprofessional (regardless of their role or title). As a significant revenue driver, everyone wanted to discuss improving and growing them this year and beyond. Thanks to everyone who I had conversations with. It was also great to see so many familiar #eventprofs this year.  

3. While the session I co-spoke on this year was about working smarter and not harder – people, process and leadership in uncertain times are top of mind. With teams smaller in the post-pandemic world, creating “optimized” associations and partnering with #associationmanagement companies (AMCs) are critical to growth and long-term sustainability.  

4. Changing demographics and persistent search for attracting new and young members remain challenging for most #associations. Moving beyond traditional media, creating experiences and understanding the value that younger members seek will be critical.  

5. #DEI, #ESG and #Sustainability are more theory and planning than action and outcomes. While it is great to see it being discussed, much more must be done. 

And much like this year’s tagline, “Shape Your Purpose,” – #Leadership and boards with a solid strategic vision will be needed to achieve growth.  

Cindy Orna, Account Executive at Personify 

My favorite part of 2023 ASAE Annual was getting to chat in-person and shake hands with clients I’ve worked online with for years. 

Ben Cunningham, Sales Development Representative at Personify 

This was my first time attending ASAE, and I will say I was blown away with how big of an operation it is. My favorite part was meeting current clients in person and learning how our products have helped their associations grow. 

It was fun to hang out with our clients at the small staff reception and enjoy drinks with them at the Shindig Sunday night. 

Kyle Robbins, Account Executive at Personify 

TLC put on an amazing show for the opening reception, but the best part of those events is catching up with clients or AMC partners and having the opportunity to share a laugh or a story with them as real people over a drink and shared experience. 

There is no shortage of laughs and entertainment when the Sales and Marketing teams join forces – especially for these big events – everyone brings their A-Game. However, watching Rich Vallaster work his magic getting attendees engaged and laughing at our booth is always a sight to behold. Rich’s energy is unmatched and he’s a phenomenal representative of Personify and our values.  

Michael Laiacona, Senior Technical Account Manager at Personify 

It was great being able to catch up with old friends in the industry and meeting new prospects. This was the 2^nd year back at ASAE Annual since COVID, so it’s just always great to meet up with everyone in person. 

One of the most exciting moments… I was one of the four that got to attend the ASAE Foundation Classic event which was catered by Wolfgang Puck. He was actually there and I was able to meet and take a picture with him. As a foodie, it was a really nice surprise. 

That’s a wrap 

If you chatted with a Personify team member and want to follow up, just give us a shout on this form and we’ll be in touch. Otherwise, it was great seeing you all, thank you to ASAE for the work you do and we’ll see you next year August 10 – 13, 2024 in Cleveland, OH for ASAE Annual 2024! 

The post ASAE Annual 2023 Recap – Always a Great Show appeared first on Personify.

It’s that time of the year again — road trips to visit our favorite people, tables filled with our favorite foods and time to reflect and appreciate some of our favorite moments of the year.

We have to start by saying we’re thankful for YOU.

Associations and nonprofits have always been foundational to the success of our communities. But for the last few years, our clients have really stepped up and brought hope and resources to communities struggling through a pandemic, social distancing, remote work and learning, job displacement and more.

So thank you for being you and choosing to partner with Personify.

The Personify team shares what they’re grateful for this season

In addition to our clients, we asked the Personify team to share what they’re thankful for this season, and the answers ranged from celebrating big life milestones, the easing up of social distancing and Disney+, just to name a few things.

“Good health and wonderful family and friends.”

“I am grateful for continued growth and learning. I am fortunate to be surround by curious, insightful minds professionally and personally and those people keep me expanding my limits and challenging my ideas.”

“I am grateful to be spending the holidays IN PERSON with my family again! After two years of smaller gatherings, I’m going all out this year. I will be that house on the street that went bananas with the Christmas lights and holiday decor.”

“I’m thankful for a supportive bunch of coworkers. I think we’re very lucky here at Personify and on the Growth team knowing that we have each others’ backs and we care about each other as people with full lives, not just people we work with.”

“Family. Family. Family. Snuggles with kids. Health. Good Fortune. Support. Community. COVID Vaccines. Blessings – big and small. Wearing comfy clothes to work. Good music. New Dreams. Inspiration. Little joys. Family. Family. Family. My Dog. This survey to make me stop and reflect. Life, itself. Disney + Beautiful Scenery. Kindness. Hope.”

“The support from my team! As a baby to the PersoniFam it’s incredible to have extremely hardworking people surrounding me, giving advice, insight, and forgiveness when necessary. So thankful to work alongside the marketing team!”

“I am thankful for all the opportunities and individuals 2022 has given me. This year started for me in a completely different city, different job, and a different outlook on life than I do now. I’ve grown so much in 11 short months and I feel like I’m starting to figure out life a bit more. I’m thankful for the support of family, friends, and colleagues as I’ve made big life decisions and taken risks. Overall, this year has made me appreciate people more. From having friends move me into a new apartment up 2 flights of stairs in 95+ degree summer heat, to my mom always taking to time to answer my phone calls – people have been there when I’ve needed them. I’m looking forward to connecting more with those I love in 2023 and making new friendships that will last the years.”

Have a safe start to your holiday season!

However you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we’re wishing you safe travels, the yummiest of foods and limited family drama.

The post Happy Thanksgiving from Personify appeared first on Personify.

PersoniTour was three full days of learning and connecting, so in case you missed us, we’ve got all the highlights from the roadshow.

Create an experience for every persona.

To start a jam-packed day, a panel of industry experts discussed how we should think about our members and what they prioritize. How can we create a curated experience for people when everyone is looking for something different? Looking through the association leader’s and events professionals’ lens, our panelists had some wonderful insight.

Our communities have evolved, and people aren’t signing up for traditional membership or event access the way they used to.​ They choose their organizations and events based on the value they derive from them, so being able to provide that value for all different types of people is key.

The biggest takeaway from the keynote is that we need to reimagine how we create the community experience and base this around our member personas. Some of the member personas we discussed were the curious, but passive community members, mentors and scholars who value giving and receiving information, and more.

With this in mind, our panelists shared the type of persona they identify most with and what different personas could value most from their organization. A big question is how to understand and better serve people of all types and engagement levels. For event professionals, keeping events fun and fresh was vital. Always try something new at your conferences and trade shows.

To wrap up the keynote, our panelists shared their views of 2023 and how to serve unique needs and goals at events and programs. Flexibility is the name of the game for success here. We need to be willing to change things up and listen to our members’ feedback. Being able to provide opportunities for everyone to get what they’re looking for is crucial. Utilize your technology, people and processes to interact with your members in a way that makes sense for each person’s persona.

A special “thank you” to our fabulous panelists:

Providing something for everyone.

The theme of PersoniTour was focused on having an experience for each person. Whether you were an event professional, association executive, or marketing membership professional – there was a session to attend. It was great to see everyone so engaged and find something insightful to take back to their team.

For our event folks, we learned the top 10 ways to provide additional value to exhibitors (outside of the booth) with a session on “What do Exhibitors Really Want?” Followed in the afternoon by a session on the 2023 Event Trends & Industry Predictions.

Our marketing and membership professionals experienced an education session on how to accomplish a lot with lean teams in “Work Smarter, Not Harder with a Smaller Staff.” A key takeaway from this session was to make sure you cross-train your staff. This will prepare you for the unexpected and benefit your team, decrease workplace fatigue and eliminate workplace silos.

Association executives learned how they should amplify their Association Management Software (AMS) by assessing what’s working, what’s not and how they can improve. Using an AMS is vital for member-centric organizations and should benefit your members and your team. A highlight from the session was that your AMS should be a hub for everything in your organization and you should be using it to analyze member data. If you haven’t done a tech audit of your software to make sure it serves you and your members – it’s time.

New and exciting tech for our #EventHeroes.

One thing that PersoniTour brought to the people was a demo of the new GTR technology. This 2022 acquisition for Personify is just the type of tech our event professionals need for their upcoming year of conferences, trade shows and conventions. The GTR technology is a full suite of flexible event technology that supports your team from planning an event to processing the data afterward. Attendees were able to see how easy it was to have attendees print off their name badges and check into their sessions through their QR code scanners. For more information on this new tech check out this blog or the full GTR site.

The reviews are in — and this is what attendees had to say about PersoniTour.

Here is some feedback on PersoniTour that we’ve seen across social and received via email!

“Take the event to the audience. Personify chose a roadshow format so that busy clients with limited travel budgets were engaged in their own area.“

“This was a very valuable day for me, from learning new tricks (and new tools), getting inspiration, sharing solutions with other customers for, and beyond, the platforms and getting to know the team a little closer.“

“Sprinkle in the fun. Personify kept it casual with a 1960s peace theme complemented by groovy tie-dyed T-shirts.“

“Hearing your ideas and energy around marketing and sales was so refreshing and inspiring. You validated many issues.“

Looking to do more for your members and attendees?

If you missed us at PersoniTour and you’re looking for more information on any of the topics we discussed in our sessions, check out our Resource Center for on-demand webinars, blogs, guides and e-books.

Looking to chat with someone about software to help your organization grow? Reach out to us here!

The post Highlights from PersoniTour – Reconnecting with YOU! appeared first on Personify.

• Floor plans 
• Exhibitors 
• Online contracts  
• Financials and secured payments  
• Sponsorships 
• Attendees  
• Mobile apps 
• Networking for attendees and exhibitors 
• Event website 
• Digital content 
• And more! 

Core, Plus or Pro?

A2Z Events has three different EMM tiers to choose from: EMM Core, EMM Plus and EMM Pro. In our graphic below, see which package provides the best solution to fit your organization’s needs.

Looking for More but Not Ready to Upgrade?

Add-ons can help you further customize your technology stack to perfectly match what your organization needs to be successful. Some of our add-on functionality includes: 

• Matchmaking – Enhance your exhibitor and attendee experience by providing a platform for them to match with one another. They will be matched with those who fit their preferences, saving them time during an event. 
• Premium Mobile App – Provide a one stop shop for your exhibitors and attendees that will enhance their experience at your event and make your life managing it that much easier. Explore communication channels, networking opportunities, unique sessions, and more. 

• Call for Papers – Easily submit and manage speaking proposals for your event, whether its virtual, in person or hybrid.  
• Conference Management – Efficiently handle all aspects of your conference in one place with a simple to use interface. 

We offer these as add-on solutions so that organizations can take advantage of these tools without having to upgrade to EMM Plus or Pro if they don’t need all features offered at that tier.  

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re interested in upgrading or adding on to your current A2Z Events solution, reach out to your Account Manager who can guide you on the right software package and functionality that will be meet your needs. 

If you have questions about your current software, the A2Z Events Help Center has an abundance of resources to set you up for success. And be sure to check out the Personify Client Community to connect with other A2Z users and collaborate on ideas. 

The post Which A2Z Events Bundle is Right for Me? appeared first on Personify.

The following is an FAQ list to address questions raised by either Personify or GTR clients.

Q: Who is Personify?

Personify partners with associations, chambers of commerce, charities, event organizers, health and wellness facilities, educational institutions, and other purpose-driven organizations to help them manage and grow their communities. Personify’s Community Experience Platform combined with their professional service offerings benefit organizations of any size and at any stage of growth. For more information, visit https://personifycorp.com/.

Personify is a remote-first company headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Columbia, Maryland and Toronto, Ontario. The PersoniFam is made up of over 300 employees located across the United States and Canada.

Q: Who is GTR?

Since 1995, Event Planners have chosen GTR for leading technology, exceptional service, and overall value. GTR provides the conference and tradeshow industry with technology designed to improve and simplify every event. With their all-in-one event management platform, end-to-end support, global reach, and eye on innovation, GTR has powered over 12,000 events around the world. For more information, visit gtrnow.com. Events are hard, GTR makes them simple.

Q: Where can I find out more about Personify?

Additional information about Personify can be found by visiting: https://personifycorp.com/

Q: Where can I find out more about GTR?

Additional information about GTR can be found by visiting: https://gtrnow.com/ 

Q: Why did Personify acquire GTR?

The acquisition of GTR allows Personify to offer a complete event management platform for organizers of trade shows, conferences, corporate meetings, and other events of all variations and sizes.

Attendees will enjoy a seamless experience of Personify’s event website and online registration, event check-in and badge printing, and a mobile conference app. Event organizers, exhibitors, and sponsors can generate more revenue and productivity from trade show floor planning, lead retrieval, matchmaking, exhibitor and sponsor marketing, attendance tracking, and data reporting and analytics.

Q: What are Personify’s company values?

Whether you have partnered with Personify for many years or will be a new client through this acquisition, we’d like to share our eight guiding principles:

1. Accountability – we’ll say what we do, and we’ll do what we say. 
2. Curiosity – we seek other perspectives and better ways of doing things. 
3. Service – exceptional value and service provide a place where colleagues and customers want to be. 
4. Equity – we value fairness and strive for diversity and inclusion. 
5. Forgiveness – we assume good intentions and learn from our mistakes. 
6. Optimism – we believe things are possible with a positive attitude and will. 
7. Simplicity – we work harder to make things easier. 
8. Transparency – it’s fundamental to build trust, teamwork and understanding. 

Q: Do we plan to integrate the companies or operate them as separate units?

We will integrate the Personify and GTR organizations, systems, and products as we have done with previous acquisitions in order to enhance the value of our Community Experience Platform.

An exceptional client experience is at the center of our product, service and organizational integration. Some clients may be anxious about GTR’s acquisition and integration. By anticipating and responding to our clients’ needs as we integrate, we will accelerate growth and improve client satisfaction at the same time. 

Q: How will Personify clients be impacted?

The addition of GTR to Personify’s Community Experience Platform further enables our mission of helping our clients to manage and grow their communities. Our clients often want us to serve all their technology needs including event, association, and community engagement technology. GTR’s products now allow Personify to be a single source.

Q: How will GTR clients be impacted?

Being part of Personify’s Community Experience Platform will expand the audience of those who will now consider GTR’s products for their event management technology needs. GTR’s market has immediately expanded. GTR will now serve a broader variety of associations, chambers, and trade show and event organizers with an exceptional event experience. GTR clients can now enjoy all that Personify’s products offer them, as well.

Q: I’m a current GTR client, will my Client Success Manager change?

No, Personify’s intent is to retain GTR staff in similar roles with similar responsibilities. For your experience with us – it’s business as usual!

Q: Where will the combined company be located?

Personify is a remote-first company. We believe that work is wherever our staff is located in the United States and Canada. Personify’s headquarters is in Austin, Texas. Personify also has additional office spaces in Atlanta, Georgia, Columbia, Maryland and in Toronto, Ontario. 

However, this will not change any level of service provided to our clients. Personify has seen great success and benefitted from the ability to attract highly talented employees and reach more clients by operating as a remote-first company.

Q: When and how were Personify and GTR clients notified? 

Current Personify clients who are opted-in to receive email communications were notified on August 31, 2022 via email sent from Personify CEO, Scott Collison.

GTR clients who are opted-in to receive email communications from GTR were notified on August 31, 2022 via email from Travis Tucker, former CEO of GTR, now Head of Events Business Strategy for Personify.

Q: I’m a GTR client, when will I expect to receive communications from Personify?

Our companies are beginning an integration process which may take several months. In the meantime, GTR will continue business operations as normal. GTR staff may begin communicating with you via their new personifycorp.com email address in the coming weeks following the acquisition, as well as other communications that will change over time.

If you’d like to start receiving communications from Personify right now, GTR clients are invited to opt-in to Personify communications, including event management topics, anytime by visiting the Personify Preference Center.

Q: I’m a current Personify client, how do I opt-in to receive email communications from Personify?

You can opt-in or update your communication preferences anytime by visiting the Personify Preference Center.

Q: Are any products being discontinued as a result of this acquisition? 

GTR is complementary to Personify, with products focused on areas of the market that Personify products do not currently address.

GTR provides solutions for online registration, badge printing, attendance tracking and lead retrieval. Personify’s event management solutions include floorplan management, expo management, matchmaking and online registration.

All Personify and GTR products and services will continue to be offered and supported as we evaluate which product strategy best serves our clients.

Q: How can I learn more about Personify’s event management technologies?

You can learn more about Personify’s event management technologies during the upcoming webinar “Better Together: The Future of Event Management with GTR, A2Z Events and Personify” on September 20 at 12:30 ET. To register for the webinar, click here.

The post Client FAQ: GTR Event Technology Acquisition appeared first on Personify.