Changing the way conferences are seen , forever. A New Way To Keynote.
Melissa Mayer
Chief Creative Officer, NxtGen Network
“So… Melissa… We have this idea.”…. If you know Marlon Gordon at all, you know he starts a lot of sentences like this. Personally, I love the challenge to help him achieve his dream-like ideas. However, as his Chief Creative Officer (CCO), I also know how much blood, sweat, and yes… maybe some tears come with pulling these dreams together. But man, when we all work together, add in some amazing industry collaborators, and bring talent to the project from all our connections – we pull off some amazing things. The final keynote at the School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin annual show in June was no exception. It set a new bar – and it set it high. You know the scene… you’re planning the end of the conference and your board is scratching their heads asking themselves, “Who can we get to do the final keynote that is SO GOOD that all our attendees won’t want to miss it?” Enter Wisconsin SNA (WSNA) , Fork Farms , and NxtGen Network . These power brains came together to not only plan an educational session that knocked all others out of the park – but we filmed a freaking cooking show in front of a live state association audience. Who.Does.That?
I know this might be starting to sound a little prideful considering that I work for NxtGen Network – and maybe as their CCO I shouldn’t be admitting this – but NONE OF THIS WAS MY IDEA! The heads that dreamed this all up just came to all our respective teams and said… “Now, can we pull it off?” To which we said, “hold my adult beverage.” I won’t bore you with the five months of planning that followed – but let me just tell you, Sue Malesa, from Fork Farms is legitimately one of the hardest and most dedicated workers I have
ever met (she even rivals my 85-year- old grandma who spends more time on her feet everyday than I do). Sue rocked the industry side of this show.
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Conference week arrived.
We all pulled up our big girl (and boy!) pants and got to work. It was a 12-hour set-up day for all our different teams (we’re talking like 20+ people – no small feat). Marlon and Amanda showed up, looking glam (they did have From the Show Floor to film that day after all), and ready to do the show run through. As Amanda recalls, “Melissa
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