MPI is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 15-21. We are thankful for our community of volunteers and are delighted to share stories from volunteers who have influenced and made an impact in the event and meeting planning industry. We spoke with Brent Taylor, member of the MPI IBOD, who have shaped the industry in innumerable ways, about his thoughts on the value of volunteering. To learn more about becoming a volunteer visit our Global Volunteer Center.
Question: What has been the biggest challenge in your career?
Answer: Building our business has been my greatest challenge. It takes resources to grow a company. We never had capital to invest and thus have grown it slowly, one client at a time over the past two decades. Great people are vita to our success and we all know how difficult they are to find.
Question: What is the biggest challenge facing our industry today and what should we do about it?
Answer: It is challenging to communicate the value an event professional brings to the table. Events are complex undertakings and some clients don’t comprehend the limitations of their own ability to provide effective and efficient management. When anyone can set up shop and call themselves an event professional it is difficult to prove the value in utilizing an event professional. We need more barriers to enter our industry, which are created through education. The more education we have, the more difficult it is for those without to enter.
Question: What are you most passionate about outside of your career and the meeting industry?
Answer: Of course, this is my family. I am married with four children who are moving fast into their teenage years. I know they grow up fast and I want to treasure every moment I have with them before they move on to begin lives on their own. I am also very fortunate to have my wife as my business partner. It is amazing to share so much in common in our personal and business lives.
Question: What’s the best advice someone gave you?
Answer: I have never really had anyone provide me with advice that was life changing—at least none that I can recall at the moment. However, through my upbringing, it was instilled in me to always leave things better than how I found them. This is a motto I live by. No matter what I touch, I inherently want to add value to it. I can’t help but do so.
Question: What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering
Answer: Just do it. There is never a right time. Begin the adventure and see where it takes you. Volunteering is the best opportunity to stretch yourself—to try things out of your comfort zone and see what you are capable of. It has been 11 years since I first volunteered. I would never have imagined back then that I would be doing what I am doing now in my volunteer roles. Also, so much of what you learn in volunteering will translate into greater performance in your career.
BIO:
Brent Taylor
Brent is a partner with Timewise and the founder of our audio visual division, Event Technology Solutions. Brent may have done very well in-front of the camera, but he was too fascinated with the magic behind it so he decided to gear up and bring #eventprofs a company that focuses on delivering stress-free AV services. He has 25 years experience as an audio visual technician, professional cameraman and producer. Brent has his CMP and CMM and was recently as Event Professional of the Year by the 2018 Canadian Event Industry Awards. He is a member of several advisory boards and just began a 3-year term on MPI's International Board of Directors. He is a Coca-Cola addict (although he may not admit it) and loves connecting with people.
Corporate Meetings Network
Timewise Event Management’s managing partner Brent Taylor received national recognition at the 21st Annual Canadian Event Industry Awards hosted in Toronto. He was selected from among numerous nominations and five finalists in the Event Professional of the Year category, the most prestigious and coveted of the awards. Read more >>.
