By all accounts, the 2012 Professional Development Summit was a success.  Attendance was up 40% over the 2011 conference and survey results indicate that there is plenty to be happy about (including a record 70% response rate!).  Yet… there is always room for improvement.  At the top of the list is getting more people involved in the planning and pushing the timeline earlier.

We will be kicking off the planning of our premiere annual training event soon so this is a great time to get involved.  No experience required!

Innovation is the name of the game. 

According to a Fall 2011 survey of local executives about the key forces exerting pressure on the Future of Quality, innovation is one of their greatest challenges.  So we’ve decided the focus of the 2013 Professional Development Summit will be Innovation & Sustained Performance.  In addition, we will continue to deploy the new MNASQ vision by innovating the Professional Development Summit.

We need about a dozen fresh faces to help with just about everything – project management, administration, arrangements, registration, volunteer coordination & training, exhibitor coordination, sponsor coordination, division liaison, program coordinator, speaker liaison, survey coordinator, partner coordination, and more.  The more people that are involved, the better the ideas and the less burn out of existing volunteers.

One of the first challenges is to evaluate whether our current conference venue can support expanded attendance.  This committee will develop facility requirements, solicit bids and select the best venue for the Summit.

The Summit Planning Committee meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm at the GreenMill restaurant in Shoreview.  You are welcome to join us or you may volunteer offline.  Contact Conferences Chair, Jim Nelson or Conference Arrangements Chair, Rebecca Draxten.