Although we're not there yet, our world will open up soon and we need to be prepared! There may be a lot of sessions about hybrid events out there, but there are none like this!

As our industry moved from live events to virtual events during 2020, meeting professionals started to become familiar with how to produce an effective virtual event. Although not ideal, there has been a reluctant acceptance of virtual events. However, hybrid events are still a bit of a mystery to a lot of meeting professionals and they are seen as complex and costly. This presentation will focus on the six key drivers that every meeting professional needs to know about planning, producing and executing a successful hybrid event. Join this lively session with members of Encore and learn from the experts as they discuss How to Hybrid!

Learning Objectives

• Define a hybrid event and the benefits to participants and your organization
• Understand how to maximize your hybrid event ROI utilizing six key drivers
• Understand how to apply the key drivers to common meeting types

Ticket Prices
MPI Member - $10
Student - $10
Non-Member - $15

Event Agenda
10:00am - Networking
10:15am - Presentation
10:45am - Q&A + Closing

About the Speakers

John Rissi, Encore - Senior Vice President, Customer, and Industry Relations

John Rissi is the Senior Vice President, Customer, and Industry Relations. John’s focus is to create a persistent focus on the customer in the actions the company takes and to drive the organization to work together for optimum customer experience delivery. In addition, John works with event industry organizations to further the purpose, mission, and values of Encore. Prior to taking on this role in August of 2020, John was Senior Vice President, Sales, with responsibility for our global sales organization and all venue sales activities.

John has over 38 years of experience in the event technology industry and has held numerous positions within Encore in sales, operations, and executive management. John is a member of the Encore executive team and resides in the Pacific Northwest. John graduated with a BS in business from Grand Canyon University. John has been involved with numerous industry organizations and has served on the MPI Foundation Board, the Event Industry Council’s APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) Standards Committee (Chair in 2016-17) and most recently is on the boards of the US Travel Association and the Meetings Mean Business coalition.

John’s passions are wine, traveling, outdoor activities and especially exploring the Great Pacific Northwest.

Debra Mategrano, Encore - Regional Sales Director, Los Angeles and Hawaii

Debra Mategrano is a Nebraska native who has called the booming hospitality scene in Southern California home for the past 17 years. Starting her career with Marriott, Debra spent ten rewarding years navigating through multiple hotel departments before making her jump to the world of Event Technology with Encore. Debra is currently the Regional Sales Director for the Los Angeles and Hawaii markets. She enjoys the virtual and hybrid event training she has received in her role, as well as the leadership and employee engagement opportunities her position allows her to focus on every day.

Supporting Sponsor

MPI Greater Edmonton Chapter Attendance Policy:

All Essential Level members or non-members are limited to no more than two events in one fiscal year and must pay the Essential Level/Non-member rate. MPI Preferred or Premier Level members are welcome to attend all chapter events at the Member Price.

If you are unable to attend the event after you have registered, please inform us at mpiedmonton@gmail.com.

MPI Greater Edmonton has been approved by the Events Industry Council (EIC) as a Preferred Provider of the above listed continuing education course, which qualifies for CMP continuing education credit. Determination of continuing education credit eligibility or Preferred Provider status does not imply EIC’s endorsement or assessment of education quality.