Events List

Please join North Central Business Travel Association at the 2013 Education Summit

The Commons Hotel - Minneapolis, MN  

Thursday, May 16, 2013

“Back to Campus”

7:30a – 8:00a              Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:00a – 8:15a              Opening Remarks

8:15a – 9:15a             The Champions Code: Life Lessons of Ethics and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World

Speaker:  Ross Bernstein

Ever wonder why certain teams win consistently, whereas others seem to come up short? Ross will explain why -- in a visually entertaining style that's designed to improve your organization's productivity, morale and bottom-line profitability.

9:15a – 10:15a           Travel Strategic Sourcing

Speaker:  Kathy Briski, Travel Category Leader – The Boeing Company

Kathy Briski, a procurement and corporate travel executive, will discuss the trend of corporate travel management becoming a function of procurement and the challenges each have faced as they learn to work together.  Kathy will also highlight the methodology for the strategic sourcing process from a corporation travel perspective.  This discussion will be participative and informative for both buyers and suppliers.  

10:15a – 10:30a          Break

10:30a – 11:30a          Hotel Panel  

Speakers:   Jimmy Taylor, Vice President US Sales – IHG
                     Brad Penrith, Sr. Director Global Sales – Carlson Hotels
                     Ric Tanner, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing – Kimpton Hotels

Moderator:  Roger Keller, Director, Program Management – Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Hotel industry leaders share their insight on the marketplace, new brands, business travel trends, the RFP process and much more. 

11:30a – 12:30p          Lunch

12:30p – 1:30p           Communications, Relationships, Energy and Commitment

Speaker:  Steve Hegele

Steve utilizes his natural curiosity and passion for learning to deliver cutting edge knowledge, concepts and ideas. Communication and strong relationships are the key to success in life and business.  What happens when the worst possible events and circumstance happen? Does strong communication and rock solid relationships matter then? Hegele will discuss the answer to this question plus more.

1:30p – 2:30p             Mobilizing Travel: How to use smartphones, tablets and apps to get your program moving

Speaker: Miriam Moscovici, Director of Emerging Technologies - BCD Travel

What used to be just a phone is now a key to travel program success. And, yet, mobile travel policies are still the exception rather than the rule. In this engaging session, attendees will learn about the essentials of the mobile environment, why they should care about mobile, what elements every properly “mobilized” program must include and  how to make mobile a success.

2:30p – 2:45p              Break

2:45p – 3:45p              The Evolution of the Travel Management Toolkit

Speaker:  Nick Vournakis, Senior Vice President, Global Product Marketing and Solutions Group - Carlson Wagonlit Travel

With the emergence of mobility and social media, the rise of Generation X in our workforce, and the availability of information at our fingertips, travel management (as we have come to know it) is on the front end of significant change.  As such, travel managers will be faced with a new set of challenges.  This session will explore some of the key trends impacting our industry and how the entire travel community should start preparing for the implications.

3:45p – 4:00p               Closing Remarks