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Posted by: Todd Simon

FastTrak Atlanta 2008: 14 CSTM Candidates!

Wow – it’s hard to believe that the final FastTrak of 2008 has come and gone. How fast time is moving.

Wow – it’s hard to believe that the final FastTrak of 2008 has come and gone. How fast time is moving. The Atlanta office of MC² hosted the 28th FastTrak that saw a smaller than average turnout with 51 Trakkers attending. Shaky economy notwithstanding, the attendance was a testament to the value of the program for those that are involved. In fact, we had some firsts at this FastTrak – we had the first CTSM graduate come back to a FastTrak for some refresher courses; we had the opening of the Atlanta presentation suite dedicated to the FastTrak program; and we had the most CTSM candidates take their exam for the first time – 14 total!

We also tried a new, more experiential way of introducing MC² to our attendees. Rather than show a video of our capabilities and deliverables (as we normally do), we asked the attendees to explore our office and meet our team by themselves! Jenna developed a ‘scavengar hunt’ brochure that asked the attendees several questions about MC², our history and our capabilities. The brochure included a map of the office and the attendees were told to find the answers to the questions and to engage the MC² staff whenever possible. There were many introductions and conversations. Check out Jenna's blog for more information on our scavenger hunt program.

We also had a very nice event at a local wine tasting establishment called The Grape that included entertainment from a world renowned entertainer – Bill Clary. Bill is a dear friend of mine, and I am continually amazed by his talent. If you are looking for a crowd pleasing entertainer who can work small rooms to stadiums, a Master of Ceremonies, an up-close slight of hand magician, a comedian, a world class illusionist, and a great balladeer, Bill is the guy for you. Check out his site at www.billclary.com.

The economy was probably the most talked about topic during the FastTrak – what the impact will be on their programs in 2009 and beyond. I'd love to hear your take on this. There were other discussions too. Measurement was again a top topic, but I sensed there was a higher interest in finding value with suppliers and their offerings. It seems the intangibles such as effective communications, trust, and proactivity are also being weighed by program managers. The ease with which companies work together is becoming an important part of the overall mix.

There were also discussions about spending budgets more effectively, specifically to attract better qualified prospects. It seems there is a shift happening from broadcasting to narrowcasting in our industry. This is something I have believed in for a long time. The better you target your best potential audiences, the more rewarding the business outcome will be.

So congratulations to all who braved the economy (and the Atlanta airport) and to those that took their CTSM exam. We will see you all at Exhibitor Show in March, and then the 29th FastTrak in Boston!

Love to get your feedback.

See you in Las Vegas!
Todd

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