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Welcome to the Fall 2011 CTSM Newsletter, keeping you up-to-date on the latest happenings and news for CTSM graduates and candidates.
In This Edition:
Reach CTSM Certification More Quickly
Benefits of Writing Your Portfolio
CTSM Portfolio Development Help
CTSM Diamond Level Submission Deadline
We Need Your Help Encouraging Others
Congrats New Certified Trade Show Marketers
EXHIBITORFastTrak Conferences and EXHIBITOR eTrak Sessions Can Help You Reach Certification More Quickly
One EXHIBITORFastTrak conference remains for 2011: Atlanta, November 8-10. Check out the sessions offered in Atlanta to see if they are ones you still need to complete for certification.
If you have completed all of your sessions, or if you have 6 or less left to complete and you can get them taken prior to exam time, you can take your exam at EXHIBITORFastTrak Atlanta. The exam is offered on Thursday afternoon. Don't forget to register online at ctsm.com/comprehensiveexam-form-s.asp at least a month in advance of your exam date.
Upcoming EXHIBITOR eTrak Schedule through December 2011:
If you still need CTSM required seminars 31511, 31111, or 20411, register now to get these sessions completed. The three-digit elective sessions listed below could apply to your transcript to meet the elective requirements. CTSM graduates might consider taking the electives and applying them towards certification upgrades.
The 2012 schedules for both EXHIBITORFastTrak and EXHIBITOR eTrak are in development. As soon as locations and speakers have been confirmed, you will be sent a "sneak peek" to help you plan your seminar completion.
Benefits of Writing Your Portfolio by Sue M.
(Sue is a CTSM candidate whose portfolio was submitted this summer and is scheduled for the September review cycle)
"I want to share with you a recent experience I had with my portfolio. First of all, it was incredibly challenging to do the portfolio. I had to tap into my inner self, discover why I really love what I do, why I do it, and what makes it so worthwhile. I shared my portfolio with a friend and shortly thereafter received a call from him to consider submitting my resume for a job opening at his company. The job description seemed to have been written with me in mind; so I started the process. In early September when I was called in to interview with the Director of Marketing, I dropped my portfolio off a few days before so he could read it and become familiar with what I do. He was very interested in the CTSM program and wanted to know more about it and he read my portfolio TWO - yes, TWO times!!! His copy was dog eared and well marked; many interview questions came directly from what he had read on those pages. It proved to be one of the most rewarding and fun interviews I have ever been on. The interview process has been long and intense, but I found out this week that they are making me an offer!
Being in the CTSM program has given me confidence in what I do which I can present with authority to those I speak with. I am sure that I join with many in saying this has been a very rewarding journey."
CTSM Portfolio Development Help Is Available
Session #514, "Preparing, Developing and Submitting a Quality CTSM Portfolio," is offered online between May and November. The remaining dates for this year are October 12 and November 2. Register online at www.ctsm.com/WebSeminar514-form-s.asp.
All sessions begin at 1:00 PM Central Time and last for 90 minutes. If your portfolio is all that remains to attain credentials, schedule time now to write. There is still time to complete your project prior to the December 1st deadline if your goal is to be recognized as a CTSM graduate at EXHIBITOR2012.
Comment from a July attendee:
"The step by step list of what to include in each section, along with the suggestions for organizing the folders was very helpful. There were dozens of tips I found helpful or would not have thought of on my own, but a few that stand out are 1) the comment of explaining which team members were included in the planning and execution of the event, 2) the emphasis on being very specific when referring to objectives under the "Measureable objectives" section, and 3) providing the rationale behind marketing decisions in the IMC section."
- Nancy B.
Notice to CTSM Graduates Regarding Diamond Level Submission Deadline
Graduates who have currently attained Gold Level status and are interested in pursuing the Diamond Level have a deadline of November 15th for submission of their application form and fee, along with all evidence of professional contributions. Those who have submitted by November 15th will be notified by December 31st if their application has been approved. There will be public recognition at our Graduate Dinner and Awards Ceremony at EXHIBITOR2012 in March.
Complete details of requirements are posted on our CTSM web site. If you have any questions, contact program director Jan Nelson at jnelson@CTSM.com or 763-498-6538.
We Need Your Help Encouraging and Supporting Others
CTSM Candidates and Graduates - Please consider contacting program administrator Wendy Lewis and offering to serve as a mentor to new enrollees in the program.
Requirements:
- Willingness to reach out via email with a welcome greeting to a CTSM program newcomer
- Having attended one or more conferences so you could answer questions about getting started and how to strategically plan completion of seminars
- Minimal time commitment - consider this person a new Facebook or LinkedIn friend
- Questions that you are unable to answer can be directed to Wendy in the CTSM office at wlewis@ctsm.com or 507-424-4881.
CTSM Graduates - With the growth of the program and many candidates reaching the portfolio stage, we are in great need of more portfolio advisors. Contact executive director Jan Nelson if you are willing to serve in this capacity.
Requirements:
- Willingness to pay it forward by advising candidates with their portfolio development
- Time commitment - approximately 10 hours (not all at once, perhaps one hour at a time for section reviews and feedback, plus additional time for final review)
- Support: If it's been a while since you completed your portfolio, you are offered free attendance at one of the portfolio web seminars (offered monthly April - November) to get a refresher course in current requirements and expectations. Registration is on our website. Also note that program director Jan Nelson is willing to host a three-way call with advisor & advisee to discuss any hurdles along the way.
CONGRATULATIONS NEW CERTIFIED TRADE SHOW MARKETERS
Join us in congratulating the newest Certified Trade Show Marketers, certified since June 2011:
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Thomas Wise, CTSM
Marketing Representative
American Technical Publishers (ATP)
Overland Park, IL
After graduating with a BBA from Western Michigan University in 1986, Thomas was hired as a Trade Show Coordinator for Heath Company in St. Joseph, MI. With no specific training in this field, he learned on the fly. In 1990, after a company downsizing, he was hired at Shepherd Hardware Products. Heath Company, under new management, hired him back in 1995. Since 2003 he has been managing about 50 shows/year, along with responsibility for catalog development, print advertising and product brochures for American Technical Publishers. Recently ATP had been searching for an edge in the culinary marketplace with their products, and his portfolio demonstrated how they did just that at the American Culinary Federation conference in 2010.
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Captain Christine Uptain, CTSM
Project Manager
US Air Force
Holloman Air Force Base, NM
Always an organizer, Christine got involved in the execution of community festivals, fairs and special events in her home town. She received a BS in Management at Valparaiso University. While there, her leadership skills and patriotism led her to the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. Her first assignment was with the 746th Test Squadron, which provides expert test and evaluation of navigation systems. She was responsible for marketing their testing expertise to their customers through trade shows. In July she was promoted to Captain. She looks forward to utilizing her skills in her new duty assignment in Las Vegas, NV.
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Stacey Martinez, CTSM
Trade Show Coordinator
Verizon Business
Alpharetta, GA
Stacey is often asked, "How did you end up in trade shows?" Her journey began in 1999 after graduating from Georgia Southern University with a BS in Health Behavior. While looking for a job in her field, she came across an ad for a trade show coordinator with Urban Expositions. She figured she'd take it to pay the rent until she found a job in her field. Well, this has become her field and her passion, and she hasn't looked back. In 2005, feeling that it was time to challenge herself and move on, she crossed over to the exhibitor side of trade shows when she accepted her current position. She feels very fortunate to have had the unique experience of gaining insight from both the show management and exhibitor perspective.
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Scott Lechner, CTSM
Marketing Manager
Blue Sea Systems
Bellingham, WA
Scott got his start in marketing at the age of 16 with West Marine in Santa Cruz, CA, working his way up to Sr. Marketing Manager. After a 15-year career with them, he took on a sales and marketing role for a start-up company called Softride. In 2009 he was offered the opportunity to become the Marketing Manager for Blue Sea Systems. His passions are focused on the customer experience and achieving their loyalty to the brand. He considers himself an architect of collaborative relationships, marketing activities, business planning, and new product introductions. The company manufactures marine electrical products and systems for boats, recreational vehicles and the emerging renewable energy market.
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Catherine Poulsen, CTSM
Marketing Manager - Duro Designer Division
Duro Bag Manuf. Company
Walton, KY
Armed with a BA in International Business from Alverno College in 2003, Catherine applied her knowledge at JohnsonDiversey (the B2B side of SC Johnson) where she managed over 45 trade shows and conferences per year. While there she earned an MBA in 2008, also from Alverno College, and she enrolled in the CTSM program. The experience and the education she had gained helped her land the Marketing Manager position in the Designer Division of Duro Bag Manufacturing, the world's largest paper bag manufacturer. She is responsible for all aspects of the marketing function and under Catherine's leadership, their trade show program is now goal-oriented and strategically managed.
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Maria del Carmen Comis, CTSM
Field Marketing Manager, Americas & Team Leader - Global Field Marketing
PARADIGM
Houston, TX
Maria's first tradeshow experience was at the Society of Exploration Geophysicist Annual Meeting in 1993, which she describes as a "chapter out of the school of hard knocks." The good thing that came out of it is that she realized she wanted tradeshow and event management as a career. As the company grew and as she gained more knowledge and expertise, her efforts have been rewarded with promotions, and her managers have appreciated the value that her CTSM training has brought to each of her events. She has been empowered to expand CTSM best practices worldwide as Team Leader, Global Field Marketing, mentoring regional managers in China, Europe/Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Russia and Canada.
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Regina Wilson, CTSM
Manager Tradeshows and Events
NEC Corporation of America
Irving, TX
Denna's attraction to event marketing started when she was working at Texas Instruments as a Marketing Assistant for the Defense Programs. When this division was sold and moved to Arizona, she opted to stay in Texas and join NEC as their Trade Show Coordinator. She attended her first EXHIBITOR Show in 2001, and was promoted to Manager in 2005. According to Denna, "More than 15 years of experience has given me an abundance of practical knowledge and street-smarts. However, CTSM has shown me the how-to and benefits of enhanced planning, clearly defined objectives, accountability, show selection, and customized messages to target audiences."
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Contact Wendy at wlewis@ctsm.com, 507-424-4881, or me with any questions - we're here to help!
Janice Nelson
CTSM Executive Director
jnelson@ctsm.com
763-498-6538
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