January/February 2013
Welcome to a new year for NACE and for the catering and events industry!
Now that we are officially the National Association for Catering and Events, we are unveiling some new initiatives that will reinforce our reputation as the only true association that serves the entire industry, and recognizes the critical intersection of catering and events.
The first new initiative is about building our brand. We are expanding our presence in magazines and outlets such as Catering Magazine, BizBash, Catersource, The Knot and Wedding Planner magazine to reach new audiences and educate potential members about our offerings. In addition, we've updated our tradeshow presentation materials, and we will be exhibiting and talking to people all year at shows including TSE, The North American Association of Food Equipment Managers (NAFEM), Catersource, BIZBASH (Florida and New York), Wedding MBA and the Association of Bridal Consultants, among others. We will be spreading the NACE message about who we are, what we believe in and how to get involved!
We're also launching our consumer branding. This will include monthly information and tips on catering and event trends that are helpful to the consumers. Our surveys on wedding and corporate event trends are the major building blocks for this information so we encourage you to participate! Your expertise and insights are essential to building our brand to the present and future customers of catering and event services.
Our Answers and Solutions aspect of membership is thriving and continuing to provide value to members and others in our industry. In addition to your monthly chapter programming, remember that NACE is a national organization with a complete line up of webinars that are targeted to the specific needs of the different services that our members provide. Visit http://www.nace.net/cs/events to learn more about webinars that will make you better at what you do
It's never been easier to take the CPCE exam and we now have online study groups to help you prepare.
We're offering the exam in conjunction with TSE, Catersource and the Experience conference, but you can also take the exam anytime online.
And of course there is the Experience! conference to be held July 14 - 17 in the Windy City - Chicago. The only true gathering of national leaders in our industry. An opportunity to connect, to learn, to energize and to feel the passion in person of everything that NACE is. This conference is the most valuable in our industry and we strongly encourage all our members to be a part of the unique non-stop networking, education and meals that we offer.
2013 IS the Year of Catering and Events! I hope yours is off to a great start.
Lisa Hopkins, CPCE, CMP