Blog FPO

Gardian of the Month: Michael Williams

michael williams headshot

Our Gardian of the Month is Michael Williams, Associate Director, Creative Design Services for MPHI!

Learn: What's one subject you'd like to learn more about?

I want to learn more about the political structure in the United States. When it comes to social issues, I have many passions and opinions. However, I want to expand my fundamental knowledge about forming legislation and policies through our government. I am always a fan of stating what you don't know and trying to do personal research to expand your understanding.

Thank goodness for Schoolhouse Rock (I'm just a Bill)!  <Pause for Laughter>

Network: Tell us about one of your favorite personal or professional networks. What makes it special?

My favorite personal network is the lasting friendships created in my twenties working on theatre productions. I had fantastic opportunities to direct and perform in various shows where I met remarkable people. This network became my support system and solidified long-lasting relationships in my life. I am thrilled that several of those individuals are my best friends and have remained in my life for almost 20 years.

Transfer: How do you think mentorship aids in knowledge transfer?

Mentorship is one of the most powerful and effective ways to share knowledge. The mentorship model goes beyond general education; the mentor's role includes guiding and planning a path to ensure the success of their apprentice. This attribute makes mentoring an excellent way to help someone grow because there is enough one-on-one attention and reflection time to honor everyone's individual experiences, identity, and areas for improvement. 

Please share a resource and why you can't live without it.

YouTube is truly a resource that I use every day. This platform includes tutorials, educational courses, Ted talks, and countless candy-making videos (for some reason I can't stop watching)! YouTube is a one-stop-shop for education and entertainment, which I love and hate because a quick five-minute search can last five hours if you find a funny playlist or other random videos of interest. However, YouTube is my primary tool for discovering available videos around my topics of interest. I am a visual learner and work best with small clips because the information is delivered quickly, and the format makes the content more dynamic.

Just for Fun: Which season represents you best and why?

Fall represents my personality the best because it's a time when everything in nature (and life) seems to be changing to adapt to the upcoming new year. I am in a constant state of self-reflection, always working on learning and evolving - this aspect reminds me of fall. Also, I am not a fan of sunny days (I know that may seem odd, but it's true), and fall offers the first glimpse of consecutive cloudy days after the summer, which I love!

Event Forecast 2023: The Top Trends You Can’t Miss!

Get ready to experience the future of event planning! As we enter 2023, the AV and event planning industries are embracing new trends and technologies to cater to the ever-changing needs and preferences of attendees and planners alike. This year, personalization, AI-powered event technology, sustainability, and immersive experiences take center stage.Get ready to experience the future of event planning! As we enter 2023, the AV and event planning industries are embracing new trends and technologies to cater to the ever-changing needs and preferences of attendees and planners alike. This year, personalization, AI-powered event technology, sustainability, and immersive experiences take center stage.

Read More >

Equitable Practices to Consider before Establishing Indigenous Land Acknowledgements

One of the main goals in doing an indigenous land acknowledgement is to respect and honor Indigenous People and their Tribal Nations and acknowledge the indigenous traditional lands where we do our work. However, one begs the question – is this enough; is it performative?

Read More >

Our Member’s Decisions to Engage are Evolving

If it seems more difficult to engage members these days - you are right. But don’t worry because Amanda Kaiser has got a whole passel of solutions for you!

Read More >

Gardian of the Month: Michael Williams

Michael Williams is our Gardian of the Month! Find out what he'd like to learn more about, his favorite personal network, how he thinks mentorship aids in knowledge transfer and which season represents him best!

Read More >
By: Kate Pojeta | Feb, 17 2023
Technology

Calendars are Organized! Organized Chaos…

Online calendars are our daily guides. Their ability to sync and be accurate is vital to our ability to effectively manage multiple clients, travel around the country for events, and easily schedule meetings at appropriate times. These calendars are needed to sync to a variety of places without having to enter things in 10 different places. If you have multiple calendars you are trying to wrangle, here are some tools that may be able to help you out.

Read More >

Creating Community Agreements

Community agreements are guidelines or norms created by a group to establish a mutual understanding. They can be used to ensure that a group’s behavior aligns with its values, they may be referred to when conflicts arise, and help set the tone and focus for your time together. Here's how the Event Garde team addressed this recently:

Read More >