An Independent HelmsBriscoe Associate | 636-678-7661 | jstone@helmsbriscoe.com

Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

No Oops For You

When it comes to meeting planning, there are way too many places where mistakes can be made. With the myriad of details involved, mistakes are bound to happen at times. Even though, and this is fact, meeting planners are closer to super heroes than human. Let’s look at some common mistakes, place them in that[...]

One on One with My Client, Dewayne! Part 1

This article is in a HelmsBriscoe newsletter and I wanted to make sure to share it with all of you! It allows you some insight as to how I work with my clients, all of which I adore. I divided into two parts as it is a longer than usual read, at least when it[...]

Event Branding

You hear a lot about “branding” now-a-days. It is an important part of any company’s presence in the market place. The brand is an idea or image that brings people to a place of knowing; they know what the brand stands for, what service or product it provides, it’s overall message, and the emotion/feeling/statement behind[...]

On Budget

As meeting planners I know the word “budget” can cause a bit of  teeth gnawing and jaw grinding. You can create the best, most awesome, outrageously amazing meeting, but if it does not come in on or under budget, those powers that be will not be very happy. The next time you are in budget[...]

Negotiation Success is Key to Meeting Planning Objectives

It’s all a part of planning better meetings, capturing higher returns on investment and creating long term relationships with properties that are willing to demonstrate their knowledge of your expectations, and to fully support those expectations through contracts that speak to your particular meeting. For meeting planners, successful negotiation with a property is critical! The[...]

Meeting Planning is a Top 50 Career!

Meeting planners rejoice! Your career rocks and has made it into the top 50 careers of 2011. This is according to a report by US News and World Report. The US News shares the following positive outlook: “Employment of meeting and convention planners, who hold 56,600 jobs nationwide in 2008, is expected to grow faster[...]

All-Inclusive in the USA

The allure of the All-Inclusive Resort is quite enticing. Think of the easy budget planning; all the sleeping rooms, meetings space, food, beverage, gratuities, fees and more conveniently rolled into one price. Since meeting planners always seem to be short on time, this option may be a fantastic and easy way to go; especially for[...]

The Business of Business Cards

We all have them, we order boxes of them at a time, we hand them out to anyone who will take one; and, more than likely, we have stacks of other’s business cards in our “I will get to these someday” pile. With this in mind, we are going to look at some options and[...]

Speaking of Speakers

guest speakers

When you are choosing a speaker for your event, you are setting a tone, conveying a goal and sharing a timely message. And all of this is to be done in an entertaining, professional and inspiring manner. It is no small task. So before you hire your next speaker, here are a few items for[...]

From Farm to Table, From Roof to Restaurant

We continue to trend toward going local and knowing the source of our food. Many of my clients are in the agricultural business, and I was recently educated on food that goes straight from the farm and onto the table. Farm to table limits the negative impact on the environment and lessens the eco-footprint. Rather[...]