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

Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

This Takes the Cupcake

The setting: You are at a late afternoon meeting and the host offers a plate of cupcakes. The one you choose reveals much about you. So which do you choose? Your choices are: Chocolate Vanilla S’mores Raspberry Lemon Cream Red Velvet Carrot   If you chose Chocolate you are not afraid to take chances. You[...]

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[...]

On Being Thankful

I love the food, I love the day off, I love the parade, but my most favorite part of Thanksgiving is the opportunity to be with my family and the opportunity to pause and say “Thank You!” I am thankful for so much in my life. I am thankful for my husband, Rick. We have[...]

More Haunted Hotels

Last year we peeked in on hotels that have been deemed haunted! This year I thought I’d scare up a few more to share with you – will you book with any of them? I dare you ; ) The Hotel Alex Johnson is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and has a legendary history[...]

One on One with My Client, Dewayne! Part 2

This article is  a continuation of the article that appeared in a recent HelmsBriscoe newsletter. I shared the first part in my blog last week, so if you missed it, please be sure to read it now. Here is the remaining part of the article: When asked if there are any distinctive qualities to the[...]

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[...]

A Taxing Situation

As a meeting planner you are all too aware that taxes can do quite a number on your budget. Taxes must be figured into the meeting-planning equation; the price of rooms in one city may sound quite reasonable at first, but once taxes come into play, those rooms can quickly go from affordable to astronomical.[...]

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[...]

Stress Relief – Meeting Planner Style

I was once on your side of the meeting equation; I too was a meeting planner. Oh yes, I do remember the stress! But I have to admit that I did not really get how stressful the job was, on the scale of stressful jobs, until the career report came out earlier this year.  Since[...]

QR-azy

I have talked about QR Codes in the past and I dare say that at this point QR codes are more popular than ever! The potential for their application is ever more diversified, offering a greater range of possibilities. A recent feature from M&C highlighted that the team at VisitPittsburgh wear custom lapel pins which[...]