Dr. Elmore presented a breakout session at the 2023 FICP Annual Conference: Beyond the Horizon. The session focused on planning events and experiences for a multi-generational workforce. Here are Dr. Elmore’s reflections on the session:

“I had the privilege of speaking with a thoughtful group of events and meeting professionals at the FICP annual conference and here is what I learned.

FICP is probably the best place to be a newcomer. Most of the attendees were hospitality professionals, and as the title implies, everyone was welcoming and open to chatting. I don't think I crossed one person who was not excited to say hello - what a treat!

I was not familiar with the meeting planning industry until early 2023. Getting to know what meeting planners do has been such an eye-opening experience. They are the magic behind the scenes at many of the professional events/conferences we attend. Next time you attend your favorite conference, find the meeting planner and thank them!

My session focused on planning events and experiences for a multi-generational workforce. As the generational research is mixed, I flipped the concept on its head and got folks to think about age as a journey through stages rather than as loosely defined, stereotypical categories. The engagement from the audience was amazing - so many thoughtful contributions! A new DEI perspective was realized in that session.

The overall experience illustrated for me how impactful meeting planning can be, from shaping a person's experience to helping make them feel included. In the post-pandemic world, more and more folks are getting together, and I expect meeting planners will play a large role in helping shape those experiences. I am so glad I got to share some science from organizational psychology with the community and contribute to how those experiences are shaped!”