GMID Collective, a rebirth of the group behind April’s #GMIDGoesVirtual, launched a formal nonprofit organization today with the goal of creating a global community to share ideas, knowledge, research and perspectives that promote the understanding that events and hospitality foster human connection.
And the organization’s leadership wants you.
The group’s first initiative will be Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2021 on April 8. Members of GMID Collective are currently collecting personal stories about meaningful transformations that happen at meetings, with plans for a 2021 GMID activation to highlight those moments.
The Backstory
Last April, founders of the Collective received an overwhelming response to a thoughtful tweet about Global Meetings Industry Day and drew more than 12,500 people for a virtual hug and an attempt at breaking the world record for the largest audience on a livestream conference (close but no cigar).
The cadre of event professionals from around the world behind that effort decided to keep the momentum going by including everyone who produces experiences in any capacity.
The GMID Collective Board of Directors is made up of industry leaders Anh Nguyen, principal at Spark Event Management; Shawn Cheng, a 2019 planner of the year and project manager for MCI Group; Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey, a 2020 Smart Women in Meetings award winner and CEO of Nifty Method Events + Marketing; Rachel Stephan, snoballer-in-chief of Snoball event influencer marketing; Miguel Neves, social strategist with Miguelseven.com; and Rutger Hoorn, vice president of global sales with Ovation Global DMC.
Endless Possibilities
Board Chair Nguyen explained the guiding principle of the organization this way: “We were created by the community, built for the community and directed by the community, so that leaves us open to lots of partnerships, suggestions and ideas.”
The group is dedicated to collaboration, community, grassroots growth and breaking barriers. While the group is still very much in its infancy, it is open to new members who want to be part of the long-term solution.
GMID Collective is seeking volunteers, partners and underwriters, along with Moments that Matter stories that will be used to raise global awareness about the important work meeting professionals do to improve and change the lives of people around the world.
