cmi blog

50% of all employees will need to reskill by 2025

Any of the people in the room that night could have received this award because we’re all so dedicated. I love that about my industry. But this year, my peers chose me and I will be forever grateful for that..

Have you ever been brought to tears by something your peers did for you?

This past weekend I received an award for ‘exemplary service’ to my industry - an industry that I’ve been a part of for almost 27 years. When they called to inform me that I’d be receiving the award, I realized this is a special moment in my life. Not one I’d planned for or even worked towards - but one that my peers felt compelled to give me - and it brought me to tears.

Being recognized by people that you deeply respect is humbling. I have access to the brightest minds in the world which gives me constant knowledge and opportunity for growth - in addition, my industry colleagues are some of the most passionate people I know. Any of the people in the room that night could have received this award because we’re all so dedicated. I love that about my industry. But this year, my peers chose me and I will be forever grateful for that.

A special thank you to Brian Palmer who has been both a friend and a mentor for the last 25 years and whose father this award is named after. John Palmer was a man deeply respected by his peers and to be recognized in his name is something I will cherish forever.

Thank you also to Shawn Hanks and the rest of the Awards Committee for placing this honour on my shoulders. I will continue to show my dedication to our industry in the hopes it will inspire others to be even more dedicated.

And lastly a very huge thank you to my team - Rebecca, Tara, Adrienne, Elyse, Felicia and Dani - who are so dedicated to the work they do for cmi - which gives me the support and the space to contribute to our industry.

Teams who communicate effectively may increase their productivity by as much as 25%.

Did you know that workplace communication statistics show that 86% of employees and executives say the lack of effective collaboration and communication is the main cause of workplace failures?

cmi clients are asking for speaking topics that address changes in the workplace, leadership and employees.

cmi clients are also concerned about thinking out of the box for innovative technology, sales motivation and communicating differently. Our speakers are offering both virtual and in-person events that are engaging, innovative, motivating and tailored to each company’s unique requirements. 2021 has been record-breaking for cmi.

Whether your company is in real estate, education, finance, technology, human resources, or any other industry, these topics are relevant to your employees and leadership.

It can be difficult to find just the right keynote speaker for your organization’s events. The pandemic has carved out real-world issues like employee burn-out, working from home vs at your company, futuristic trends like AI, digital automation and a more urgent need for communications techniques to influence your customers. Your people need relevant topics such as these, delivered by experienced speakers who will inspire and motivate them, plus offer tools and techniques on how they can succeed in their industry.

cmi has world-class speakers, with years of experience, who offer topics that are pertinent to your industry, relevant to the post-pandemic landscape we currently live in and delivered in entertaining, inspiring methods that ensure your business team’s success. Whether your company is in real estate, education, finance, technology, human resources, or any other industry, these topics are relevant to your employees and leadership.

Explore 4 of cmi’s speakers and their current topics.

Almost 50% of Corporate Event Attendees Consider Hybrid Events the Ideal Format for the Future

Since 2020, the event industry migrated from in-person events to virtual events — speakers, event planners and companies had to scramble to adapt and pivot towards the adoption of better technology solutions to connect and interact with an online audience. Since 2021, in-person events began to shift back towards in-person events, with people expecting that the world might “normalize” and go back to way it was before. However, with the global COVID-19 pandemic experiencing a recent resurgence due to the Delta variant, the new normal means there will continue to be people who are reluctant, or are unable, to attend in-person events.

Almost 50% of corporate event attendees consider hybrid events the ideal format for the future, compared to exclusively in-person or virtual-only events, according to Metrigy Research. Businesses are embracing this new reality. In 2021, 64% of businesses say they’re increasing their virtual events, and 58% say they’re planning for a mix of virtual and in-person events.

To better meet everyone’s needs, the hybrid event model has become a very popular solution and is definitely here to stay.
But first, you must understand what a hybrid event is, and what it is not.

WHAT IS A HYBRID EVENT?
A hybrid event is a meeting or event with at least one group of
in-person participants connecting with remote participants in one or more different locations.

WHAT A HYBRID EVENT IS NOT
• A live streamed in-person event
• A live event with on-demand content
• An in-person event with a virtual add-on

Is a hybrid event right for you? Take a look at your audience needs and your objectives to make that determination. A hybrid event is highly personalized for both in-person and virtual audiences and is designed to drive action and exploration.

STEP 1: PREPARING FOR YOUR HYBRID EVENT

Determine your hybrid event configuration

Determine how big your event will be to assess how great the risk of spreading Covid-19 will be 

There’s nothing worse than to plan your event so carefully in advance only to encounter unexpected situations at the last moment. Since the pandemic, there are many more items to assess and prepare for when creating a large event to help keep people safe from the spread of Covid-19. By working with local and state officials in the initial planning stages and developing strategies for your event from beginning to end, you will ensure the health and safety of onsite staff and volunteers, your speakers and your audience.

Wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy May long 2021! 

1. Heritage Park Opening Weekend

Exciting outdoor-only experience awaiting you beginning May long weekend, including the brand new Prospect Ridge area – an exciting new addition that will take visitors on a journey through Western Canada’s energy past. The S.S. Moyie is back in the water and ready to welcome you starting May 22! All programming will be moved outdoors in and around the historical exhibits.

The Pandemic has accelerated how people work. It has also accelerated remote work and the way companies recruit their talent, full-time, contractors and 'freelancers'.