The Importance of Continued Education
Monday, April 3, 2017
Continued Education is of paramount importance in the dynamic and rapidly-evolving industries of events, entertainment and hospitality. It is a major focus and topic of conversation within Giants Enterprises, and every year the team devotes countless hours to furthering their professional growth. It is evident from the very beginning of a career in this industry that in order to thrive in your role, you must be willing to put in the hours and seek out opportunities that fuel your development.
Industry leaders who promote a culture of growth, both personally and professionally, create teams that yield amazing results.
And when it starts at the top and you can experience first-hand the direct benefits, it is not only inspiring, but also motivating. Giants Enterprises executives practice what they preach and have contributed to the rapid expansion of the company as a result of their focus on promoting continued education.
The Giants Enterprises team has been fortunate to experience the benefits of continued education in countless ways. By having colleagues actively involved in multiple associations on the local, national and international stages, Giants Enterprises has opened doors, expanded its network and provided value for internal colleagues and strategic partners alike.
One of the ways to create a tremendous educational impact is by highlighting the incredible individuals within your own company and exposing them to new opportunities. All companies have subject matter experts in a wide array of fields; however, far too often experts aren’t asked or presented with the opportunity to share their know-how. It is vitally important to for those with years of invaluable experience to share not only with those inside their own organization, but also with those outside the walls.
Just last month, Giants Enterprises sent San Francisco Giants Senior Vice President of Operations & Facilities, Jorge Costa, to the U.S.Travel Association Secure Tourism Summit. While in New York, Mr. Costa joined a panel of security experts and spoke about his experience handling the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in the Bay Area that halted the 1989 World Series. By creating relationships and having a presence on the board at U.S. Travel, Giants Enterprises was able to provide a platform for a well-respected and top-ranking executive to share his expertise and knowledge in security and venue management to a new audience of captivated travel, tourism and hospitality professionals. This is just one of many instances where GE was able to utilize its vast network to provide value and exposure to a colleague while increasing the entire organization’s standing on a national platform. By taking advantage of these opportunities and connecting the dots, it can broaden the scope of your business and connect previously siloed parts of your organization to new prospects. This specific opportunity allowed internal stakeholders to better understand what Giants Enterprises does while also showing external stakeholders the full breadth of its expertise.
Continuing to seek out new educational opportunities to broaden your skill set can serve as a differentiator in this industry. Simply by attending the right events, joining an applicable association or establishing relationships with influential leaders, you can separate yourself from the competition. Obtaining relevant certifications and proper training in specific fields elevates your standing and creates trust in potential clients.
Giants Enterprises staff are encouraged to attend all local association chapter events as well as all key conferences and annual partner events. Having a presence at ILEA LIVE, MPI WEC and PCMA Convening Leaders (just to name a few) allows team members to learn best practices and bring back knowledge to share with the entire company. In addition, colleagues of the San Francisco Giants attend annual Major League Baseball meetings and report back league-wide policies and best practices that will affect GE’s event operations. This collaboration allows for both companies to be at the cutting edge and continually be early adopters to new technology and systems that improve fan and event attendee experience. In addition, GE employees are encouraged to pursue certifications and attend multi-year training programs. Several employees have obtained CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional) in addition to two colleagues participating in the Venue Management School program – a two-year educational program organized and executed by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).
By having a broad reach across the local events, hospitality and entertainment industry, you will presented with advantageous opportunities. Having a vast network allows you to communicate with top vendors, suppliers and planners. Last month, Giants Enterprises was able to successfully host Global Meetings Industry Day on April 6th. GMID at AT&T Park brought 10 local Bay Area Meeting and Events Industry Associations together for a historic night. Over 400 local professionals gathered in celebrated the importance of meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows, and exhibitions have on people, business and communities. As a result, Giants Enterprises received praise from U.S. Travel President, Roger Dow, and gained exposure at the national level in the world of travel and tourism – an opportunity that came about as a result of the company being extensively involved at the local level.
The positive benefits of continued education are innumerable. Giants Enterprises believes in the importance of broadening its network and staying on top of emerging trends in the industry. Placing a concentrated effort on continued education has only helped to increase the company’s exposure and fuel its growth, and there are no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Top 5 Tips on How to Stay On Top of Business Trends
- Subscribe to the right communications
- Follow industry influencers and thought leaders
- Attend the right events
- Source new partners
- Geographic Advantages/Silicon Valley
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