Explore Minnesota Speaker Series
Explore Minnesota is kicking-off a new Speaker Series. Each will be followed with a live Q&A as an opportunity address some of today's most relevant professional development and marketing topics.
Explore Minnesota is kicking-off a new Speaker Series. Each will be followed with a live Q&A as an opportunity address some of today's most relevant professional development and marketing topics.
In this webinar, discover strategies to grow your groups, meetings, and sports business within your destination by leveraging LinkedIn and other social networks and digital advertising tools. We'll discuss strategies to help you build relevant audiences and the tactics you'll need to grow your base, nurture leads, and book more group business. You'll walk away from this session with some fresh ideas to get more groups coming into your destination.
Brian Matson is the Senior Director of Strategy and Education at TwoSix Digital. He has been a part of the travel and tourism industry since 2003 and recognized as a great asset to the development of any businesses or organization's marketing initiatives due to his vast experience working directly with destinations, meetings & convention teams, sports organizations, resorts, attractions, and small businesses.
The reality of "social distancing" was that we learned Human Connections matter more than ever. All opportunities come from people, and those who understand how to make, grow and keep their business relationships find success in all economic situations. People choose to do business with those they know, like, and trust, all things being equal. But not all relationships in your business or personal life are created equally. Alike, link, share, or follow is not necessarily a powerful engagement. The contacts with whom you build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships that impact your life are rare. These "Uncommon Connections" can be cultivated and should be cherished. This presentation is an action-packed look at creating business friendships, building trust, and creating unlimited opportunities.
Thom Singer is an executive search consultant and a professional speaker on human connection and trust. Thom is the author of 12 books and is the host of five podcasts; the "Making Wave at C-Level" podcast, the "Digital Enterprise Society Podcast," "Speakernomics," "The Sales Tech Podcast," and the "Webinar Talk Show." He has interviewed over 1000 business leaders on his shows, focusing on discovering how the most successful people get farther across the gap between potential and results.
Miss Shannan’s discussion on “Cultural Sensitivity for the Accidentally Insensitive” uses personal anecdotes and real-world situations to teach the audience how to not “be that person” who walks blindly into an awkward situation. Miss Shannan will keep you smiling and keep people of other cultures smiling along with you.
Cultural Sensitivity for The Accidentally Insensitive topics include:
• History: Why you should grab a book and learn some.
• Stereotypes: How do you identify and ignore them?
• Conflicts: Can’t we all just get along?
• Pitfalls: Tips on how to keep your foot out of your mouth.
• Stumbles: How to rebound after a cultural faux pas
Miss Shannan Paul was named "Best Stand-up Comedian" by City Pages Magazine in their "2020 Best of the Twin Cities." Campus Activities Magazine® included her as one of eight Top Speaker Picks for 2015. Miss Shannan is a regular guest on TV talk shows speaking on diversity and pop culture. She started her professional career working for Fortune 100 companies including Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America. Since her cubicle days, Miss Shannan has moved on to become a radio and television host, speaker, live auctioneer, and a proud former player of the Women’s Professional Football League.
In addition, she is a touring stand-up comedian, with National TV appearances and who has performed for a wide range of audiences. She works as the “Diversity and Community Relations Director” for the Twin Cities Film Fest. She has and continues to host numerous corporate and charity events. Plus, she is an active board member for the Pacer Center, an organization that expands opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities and a board member for the Autism Society of Minnesota.
Taylor Scott unpacks six virtues of leading with hospitality in this webinar. Through engaging storytelling, sharing principles, illustrations, and most importantly practical applications, audience members will be left inspired and ready to rebuild, reconnect, and recharge their teams, customers, clients, and communities to use this post-pandemic season of transition as a foundation for transformation. Taylor's six virtues of leading with hospitality are toconnect, strive for self-mastery, serve, engage, coach, and inspire. These are of course transferable principles which all of us can bring to life as leaders, salespeople, marketers, and even as fellow citizens, neighbors, and passionate stewards of the hospitality, travel, and tourism space we all have grown to love.
Taylor Scott is an inspirational keynote speaker, thought leader for up and comers starting out on their leadership journey, and a leadership development consultant. Through his books, workshops, keynotes, and one on one coaching, he inspires audiences and consults frontline supervisors, managers, directors, and executives in Fortune 500 companies and lifestyle brands nationwide to become their best, deliver their best, and experience the best life possible. Taylor leverages his personal experiences and twenty years working in the hospitality industry for Disney Parks and Resorts, Gaylord Hotels and Resorts, Wynn Resorts, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to connect with and inspire leaders on the front lines in various lines of business. He has delivered a number of keynotes and leadership development workshops since 2011 for colleges, universities, school systems, and Fortune 500 companies in Corporate America. His energy, enthusiasm, and engaging style of storytelling leave audiences feeling inspired, encouraged, and ready to give their best. Taylor is the bestselling author of Ballgames to Boardrooms and Lead with Hospitality. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL and a Master’s in Management of Hospitality from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management in Ithaca, NY. He lives in Las Vegas, NV with his wife, Jenna.
Sheila Scarborough is a speaker, trainer, and writer specializing in tourism, travel, and social media. She's written for many blogs and print publications and is also a certified Navy Master Training Specialist, with years of experience as an instructor. Along with Leslie McLellan, Sheila is part of the Tourism Currents team, offering online and in-person training in social media marketing for tourism and hospitality. Winner of the Austin American-Statesman Texas Social Media Award and an AWC (Association for Women in Communications) Clarion award, Sheila trains and speaks regularly about social media to a variety of audiences including public relations and marketing professionals, tourism and economic development experts, Main Street organizations, and Chambers of Commerce.
She co-founded and still writes for the award-winning Perceptive Travel blog, helps run #tourismchat on Twitter and Facebook, serves on the Advisory Board for SXSW - the South by Southwest conference - and also serves on both the Education Committee for TACVB (Texas Association of CVBs) and the Legislative Committee for the Texas Downtown Association. A U.S. Navy veteran who is married with two children, Sheila is an NHRA drag racing fan because there's one winner, one loser, and no whining.