Anna Collinge
Executive Director
The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference
Westmont, Ill.
Briefly state what your job entails.
I have responsibilities in addition to typical executive director duties. I negotiate all contracts to include hotels, McCormick Place and any vendors utilized for the conference. I’m also responsible for exhibit, advertising and sponsorship sales, and I do all planning and scheduling for the conference.
What type of meeting did you hold in Chicago?
We are a nonprofit educational music conference. We hold an annual conference in Chicago each December.
Was anyone particularly helpful in executing your event?
We just finished our eighth conference at McCormick Place and each year has been a huge success for us. I would have to thank the entire team at McCormick Place, including Jennifer Schramm, my on-site event manager, and my sales contact there, as well as the staff I work with at Choose Chicago, including Roz Stuttley and Dawn Young.
I also have to give credit to all of the vendors I use for production, exhibits, electrical, security, registration, shuttles and hotels. From the setup/meeting room staff and security to housekeeping and electricians, my event runs flawlessly each year. Overseeing the execution of the conference that week is probably the easiest part of my job and the reason is the staff at McCormick Place and those who work for the vendors I use. It’s very much a team effort!
What do your attendees seem to enjoy the most about Chicago?
One of the main reasons our conference is held in Chicago is because our attendees travel from all over the world and it’s easy to travel to the city. It’s hard to pinpoint what they love the most about Chicago, but I can say they take the time to go to a concert or museums or shopping. They also enjoy the restaurants and seeing the city at night. In the summertime I would highly recommend boat cruises and architectural tours.
Would you recommend Chicago to other meeting planners?
I would highly recommend Chicago as a meeting destination. Any planner can find what they need to make their conference a success and a memorable experience for their attendees. I may be accused of being biased, but the individuals that work in all aspects of hospitality in Chicago are experienced, creative, well-organized, hardworking, knowledgeable and truly a joy to work with. They become part of your team and do everything they can to make you look good and make your conference a success.