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2020-2021 Annual Conference Committee

Committee run concurrently with EACE's fiscal year, July 1 - June 30. To view the 2019-2020 Annual Conference Committee page, click here.

Committee Purpose/Mission:

Develops, organizes, and coordinates the EACE 2021 Annual Conference which will be held August 4-6, 2021 at the Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ. Within the conference committee there are several sub-committees that manage functional areas of the conference:

  • Conference Experience (entertainment, newcomers, hospitality)
  • Exhibitors & Sponsors 
  • Keynotes (opening & closing speakers)
  • Pre-Conference & Community (pre-con workshop(s), PE site visits, community services)
  • Programming (break-out & speed sessions, HRCI/SHRM credits)
  • Publicity

For more details on the responsibilities of these sub-committees, see Requirements of Committee section below.

Committee Roster:

Board Liaison
Jill Milon, President-Elect, Stevens Institute of Technology
Annual Conference Committee Co-Chairs
Jennifer Grauso
St. John's University
 Amy Smith
New York Institute of Technology
Annual Conference Sub-Committees
Conference Experience
Co-Chair: Bob Bullard, Rowan University
 Co-Chair: Philip Wilkerson, George Mason University 
Committee Member: Maggie Becker, Wheaton College Committee Member: Leigh-Anne Cobb, Rutgers Univiersity -Business School
Committee Member: Whitney Kerr, Drexel University (D&I rep) Committee Member: Jenny Nesenjuk, William Patterson University (D&I rep)
Exhibitors & Sponsors
 Co-Chair: Gerald Tang, Baruch College, CUNY Co-Chair: Laurie Hollister, New York Institute of Technology 
Co-Chair: Sonya Lawyer, Stevenson University
Committee Member: Debra Klokis, The College of New Jersey Committee Member: Juli McDonald, Thomas Jefferson University
Committee Member: Rachel Noto, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Committee Member: Susan Zankel, Pace University
Keynotes
Co-Chair: Christina Butler, Villanova University
 Co-Chair: Rachel Wobrak, University of Maryland, College Park 
Committee Member: Susan Beddes, Fitchburg State University Committee Member: Jon Lopes, York College of Pennsylvania
Committee Member: Amber Ridgeway, University of Delaware
Pre-Conference & Community Service
 Co-Chair: Kyle Thomas, Cenlar FSB
 Co-Chair: Christine Falcone, Saint Joseph's University
Committee Member: Laura Craig, Temple University Committee Member: Dayna DeFiore, Stockton University
Committee Member: Lisa Hansinger, Saint Joseph's University Committee Member: Rena'e Love, University of Delaware
Programming
 Co-Chair: Joe Santacroce, Salem State University  Co-Chair: Kristin Eicholtz, DeSales University
Co-Chair (also serves as PD Grants Sub-Committee Chair):
Cheresa Fewell, St. John's University 		 Committee Member: Jessica Dow, Penn State University - Lehigh Valley
Committee Member: Danielle Fichter, Saint Joseph's University
 Committee Member: Reesa Greenwald, Seton Hall
Committee Member: Iram Khan, Rider University Committee Member: Marisol Rosado-Perez, Widener University (D&I rep)
Committee Member: Jessica Smith, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Committee Member: Melanie Vallone, DeSales University (Employer focus)
Committee Member: Shannon Zelek, Merrimack College
Publicity
Co-Chair (also serves as PR & Marketing Social Media Sub-Committee Chair): Mary Alice Barrows,
William Paterson University		 Co-Chair (liaison from PR & Marketing Committee with focus on employer outreach): Alma Diaz, William Patterson University
Liasion for Sub-Committees

Jennifer Grauso

Conference Experience Sub-Committee
Exhibitors & Sponsors Sub-Committee
Pre-Con Events & Community Service Sub-Committee

Amy Smith

Keynotes Sub-Committee
Programming Sub-Committee
Publicity Sub-Committee

The committee should include two diversity and inclusion (D&I) focused members ensuring that D&I voices and concerns are heard and considered. These positions are noted in the roster above and will also serve as a D&I representative working with the Director, D&I.  

Requirements of the Annual Conference Co-Chairs and Sub-Committees:

Co-Chairs

  • Organize, facilitate and prepare agenda for monthly leadership meetings (includes board liaison, sub-committee chairs and HQ). Meetings held every other week beginning in June and weekly in July leading up to the 2021 Annual Conference August 4-6, 2021
  • Develop and work toward goals and report to board
  • Review web-pages related to your committee’s activities and work with HQ to make sure they are accurate throughout the year.
  • Responsible for ensuring all committee-related dates and deadlines are added to the EACE Master Calendar

Conference Experience Sub-Committee

  • Entertainment Night – Decide theme, make arrangements with vendors, including (if applicable) DJ, photo booths, banquet orders, etc. within allocated budget. Coordinate with HQ on all contracts and payments
  • Newcomers Experience – Arrange the newcomers’ activity at the conference
  • Hospitality Suite – Assigns 1-2 volunteers responsible for restocking the Hospitality Suite periodically if suite is not sponsored
  • Morning Energizer (if applicable) – Arrange the activity (morning walk, yoga etc.) from 6:30-7:30 am on day two of conference

Exhibitors & Sponsors Sub-Committee

  • Works with HQ to determine the Annual Conference sponsorship opportunities
  • Develops and conducts outreach campaigns to potential exhibitors and Annual Conference sponsors
  • Assists in development of exhibitor-specific events at the conference such as Showcase event, Exhibitor Passport etc.
  • Assists HQ on-site with exhibitor check-in 

Keynotes Sub-Committee

  • Finds viable conference opening and closing keynote speakers under direction of the board liaison/co-chairs
  • Initiates speaker terms within budget and works with HQ on contracts and payments.
  • Assists on-site to greet keynotes

Pre-Conference & Community Service

  • Pre-Conference Workshop(s) – Finds speaker(s), initiates speaker terms within budget and works with HQ on contracts and payments.
  • Dine for a Cause – Make arrangements with local restaurants to participate in Dine for a Cause.
  • Community Service Project (if applicable) – Make arrangements for community service project in conjunction with the conference. Sub-Committee is responsible for management of project through EventBrite, GoFundMe etc. and providing HQ the link and verbiage to communicate on the EACE website and other promotional materials.
  • Professional Exchange site visits – Work with the Connections Committee to schedule Professional Exchange site visits with local employers in conjunction with the conference. Conference attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from PE site visits.

Programming

  • Responsible for all break-out and speed sessions
  • Works with HQ to open call for proposals form. Monitors submissions and, if applicable, works with PR to solicit topics of need to ensure a variety of programming is received by the deadline.
  • Evaluates and selects programming. Works with HQ to collect presenter confirmations and notify those not selected.
  • Updates App Sheet template (spreadsheet used for mobile app upload) and arranges sessions into scheduled break-out slots ensuring at least one employer session per slot.
  • Creates Session Manager schedule and works with Exhibitors & Sponsors to assign sponsor introductions to break-out sessions.
  • Works with HQ to purchase presenter gifts. Responsible for gift assembly on-site, if applicable. Creates volunteer schedule for manning the on-site presenter gift collection table.

Publicity

  • The PR & Marketing Committee works to publicize the Annual Conference throughout the year. This includes developing marketing campaigns, managing social media and increasing awareness with a special focus on employer outreach and engagement.
  • Two liaisons from the committee also serve on the Annual Conference Committee in order to maintain collaboration throughout the year.

Click here to view complete committee charter, including timeline and resources.

Must be logged-in and a member of EACE Leadership or Annual Conference Committee to access.