Patti Spaniola has a deeply rooted passion for the hospitality industry and a diverse range of experience in the field. Her career began in a restaurant learning the fine details of superior customer service. Next, she moved to Cheyenne Mountain Conference Resort (now Cheyenne Mountain Resort) to work at the front desk (the heart of all hotels). From the front desk, she held positions as a wedding planner, conference coordinator and sales professional. After 16 years at the conference resort, she transitioned into an event planner for one organization. Instead of participants coming to her venue, she traveled with the conference and experienced a new perspective. 

In 2008, Patti began her career at the University of West Florida as a part-time meeting planner in Continuing Education. Over time, she assumed the duties of Director of Continuing Education in addition to her event planning responsibilities. As UWF prepares to host the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in 2022, Patti was promoted to the newly created position of Director of Conferences & Events in January 2020 to focus efforts on this campus-wide endeavor. The timing was perfect. As COVID-19 upended the hospitality industry, she has taken advantage of the educational opportunities to explore virtual events and online event design facilitation. In addition to navigating planning for NCUR 22, she is focused on keeping up with the ever changing trends in virtual events in order to assist UWF planners and event owners with the transition. 

As Director of Conferences & Events, Patti offers event design, brainstorming and collaboration workshops, Best Practices for Planning Virtual Events and Event Basics classes, plus logistical planning services for conferences and events. All services are offered virtually.   

Event Design

Are you asking yourself these questions about your events? 

Why am I hosting this event?

Who are the stakeholders I should be planning for?

How does this event create value for my important stakeholders? 

Why should my stakeholders attend my event? What behavior change will occur for them because they attended? 

How do I keep my team on the same page with all of the other projects we are working on? 

If your desire is to host meaningful events that are specifically designed to create behavior change for your stakeholders, then the Event Design workshop is for you.

Workshop Details 

As planners are in the midst of creating virtual and hybrid events, these require a different design than in the room events. In order to accomplish your goals of creating an engaging event, your planning team needs to create an experience for the proper virtual venue and audience rather than simply moving the in the room event to a virtual setting. Creating an engaging virtual experience takes creativity, collaboration and empathy to engage and excite participants thus meeting the goals and objectives of the event owners and stakeholders. 

Requirements: 

Teams of 5-12 members. Selecting a diverse group within your team is encouraged, not just dedicated planners, as all team members will contribute valuable ideas.  

The workshop is conducted via Zoom and Mural.

Computer requirements: 

1. Video Camera is required. In order for us to effectively collaborate together, everyone will need to turn on their video cameras so we can see each other.

2. Audio will be required so we can discuss ideas and collaborate effectively.

3. We will have both Zoom and Mural open at the same time, plus you will need to be able to type onto virtual sticky notes, so consider how you can work quickly and effectively with your computer set up. I’ve used a MacBook and it worked fine, but it was easier on a larger laptop or with dual monitors. 

Pre-work:

1. In order to get a feel for the virtual event space, watch the Socio Event Hackathon. Witness the adventures of how 4 groups pivoted their in the room event to a virtual one. It’s super fun and will help you get an idea for what we can achieve with pivoting an event. Socio will ask you to sign up. It's worth it and you can unsubscribe later.

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Testimonials:

"The annual event we had was always missing something, and I always dreaded planning it. We would try different things but nothing seemed to make it feel right nor create the sense of excitement that was needed. During the meeting design process I reveled in the creativity and the plethora of ideas that were pouring out from my coworkers and design team members. Once all of the elements had come to fruition, I was elated! The event was a huge success and I can't wait to plan another one!" -Rhonda Robinson, Director of Leisure Learning, University of West Florida

"Using the #EventCanvas methodology was amazing, inspiring, engaging, and made my brain hurt from being forced to think in a different way. It was a pleasant way for us to think differently and ask ourselves: Who are the stakeholders? What do they want? How can we give it to them? We literally put pen to 18 gazillion sticky notes to create a plan. It was transformative to me." -Dr. Tina Marie Coolidge, Drexel University

"The way this event design methodology forced us to stay focused was exhilarating and exhausting! Patti was a taskmaster who politely kept us on track in prioritizing our tasks. Our most productive discussion was about stakeholders and determining who we should plan for. In the end, the team came to a consensus and created a unified prototype that valued all stakeholders." -Dr. Marc Wilson, Southern New Hampshire University

"Having reflected on yesterday evening, I think the event was a huge success, not by accident but by design. I am proud to stand behind this group as we ratchet-up towards the conference." -Dr. Josaphat Uvah, University of West Florida

Most Valuable Takeaways:

"My most valuable takeaway was the idea of the time keeper to keep us on track. It kept us going and efficient. I also like the idea dump, I thought it was great for us all to throw out ideas no matter how big or small."

"Look at what you are wanting your key stakeholders to take away from the event and plan the event with this in mind."

"That event planning can be fun, easy and organized and this method just makes laying everything out so easy!"

"By taking the time in advance and getting everyone's thoughts, we have come up with our event plan and being on the "same page" will make for an amazing event."

"We finally approached the event with building an agenda that really involved active diversity and inclusive events."

"The actual events that would create the change from the entering behaviors to the exiting behaviors. It made us really have to think of what behavior we wanted to be changed and what it would take to change that behavior."

"It really helped me think through the event looking at it through the lens of identified stakeholders."

"It was helpful to consider the entering behavior and exit behavior, and with those components in mind, think of the event as a space where a change in behavior/attitudes should occur. Thinking about it in this way made it easier to narrow down on what the event should/should not entail."

"Identifying all of the feels/experiences of individual attendees"

"The whole experience was valuable. It provided us with a great platform (and dedicated time) to develop a plan for our upcoming virtual career fair. Your guidance and considerations were extremely helpful in this process."

"Having all of our internal stakeholders' opinions."

Clients:

University of West Florida

• Career Development & Community Engagement, All Majors Career & Internship Fair, June/July 2020
• Office of the Provost/Office of Undergraduate Research, NCUR Steering Committee, February 2020
• Usha Kundu, MD College of Health/College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Staff Bash, January 2020
• Development, Endowed Scholarship Luncheon, January 2020
• Department of Movement & Exercise Science, Strengthsfinders Workshop, November 2019
• Certificate in Event Planning Leadership Team, Graduation Ceremony, June/July 2019
• Continuing Education, Equipped Leadership Workshop, May 2019
• Center for Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Center for Academic Excellence Executive Leadership Forum, March 2019
• Office of Undergraduate Research/Usha Kundu, MD College of Health/College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, NCUR 2019 Student Prep Workshop, February/March 2019
• Continuing Education, Leisure Learning Ice Cream Social, February 2019

Association for Continuing Higher Education

• 2020 Annual Conference Pivot to Virtual, March 2020
• 2020 Annual Conference, March 2020
• 2019 Annual Conference, April 2019

Event Design in Action

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