Published on December 4, 2018
Note: The following is a guest blog post prepared by Shaw Centre’s Senior Account Manager – National Convention Sales, Corporate, Delia Lapensée.
I’ve been working in the meeting, convention and trade show world for nearly 20 years and in this time, I’ve enjoyed every opportunity ensuring clients execute the event of their dreams. As Shaw Centre’s Senior Account Manager for National Convention Sales, I have a true love for all aspects of event planning, not to mention a passion for people.
It is this passion for people that I think about frequently throughout the course of each year, even more so as the holidays approach. Just as clients come to me with a wish list for their event, many of us have wish lists of items to gather for the holidays; covering everything from baking to entertaining to decorating and, of course, finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones.
Being part of a community-minded organization, I’m conscious of the importance of giving, not only to my family and friends, but also to those in need. One of the things I am most proud of as a Shaw Centre employee is our collective effort to give back throughout the year. One example that really resonated with me was our #SoupForStorm campaign that took place after a series of catastrophic tornadoes devastated multiple neighbourhoods in the Ottawa-Gatineau region in late September. In response, our kitchen brigade prepared 3000 portions of delicious soup which were delivered, piping hot, over the course of ten days to nourish victims and tireless volunteers in the town of Dunrobin.
Similarly, Shaw Centre’s Leave a Legacy program, which sees surplus materials donated at the end of a conference or event, is another charitable endeavour which continually impresses me. Whether it’s tractor trailer loads of food and personal hygiene products, tens of thousands of square feet of gently used carpet, or boxes and boxes of binders, folder, paper and pens, we find a home for anything our clients no longer need. These items make their way to deserving charities and organizations within our community or even around the globe.
As I reflect on a happy and successful year both personally and professionally, I am also looking forward to the year ahead and excited about future opportunities to collaborate with my clients in more ways to ensure their events can have a positive impact, be it locally, nationally or internationally. I encourage anyone who shares in this spirit of giving to reach out to me to learn more about how I can go the extra mile to ensure your event achieves all its objectives while creating meaningful and positive impacts.
