NEtWorKiNg guidE
B y j a M i s o N s t o i K E
Tips for Networking at the ISPA Conference & Expo
( Even If that Means Going Outside Your Comfort Zone )
the best part about the ispa conference & expo ? the people . Whether you ’ re a first-timer or
a seasoned veteran , making connections to new friends , swapping ideas with your peers and cultivating professional relationships is the key to maximizing your ISPA Conference experience .
Of course , networking with ISPA ’ s more than 2,400 attendees is easier said than done , especially if you ’ re an introvert or new to the industry . Fortunately , you can kickstart your efforts with a few simple tips and tricks from networking experts and perennial ISPA attendees .
First-Timer ? Get there early . On Sunday ,
1 . September 23 , members of ISPA ’ s Volunteer Committee will lead a First-Timer ’ s Orientation . Consider it a one-stop-shop for strategies and advice straight from some of ISPA ’ s most experienced Conference-goers . Not only will this help you network once the big event begins , but it will also be a great opportunity to meet other first-timers who are in the same boat as you .
Do your homework . With three full days of the
2 . ISPA Conference & Expo , it ’ s likely that you ’ ll end up bumping into someone you ’ ve been dying to meet . When that happens , it pays to be prepared . Pick out a few people you want to meet while you ’ re in Phoenix . Look them up , learn about their business and see if you have any common interests that you can talk about when you strike up a conversation .
Planning and strategizing before you arrive also eliminates a source of stress — and a time-waster — once you ’ re onsite . Download the ISPA Conference & Expo app ( available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play ) so you ’ ll have all the info you need to draw up a plan of attack . Try doing your prep work on the flight to Phoenix to put you in the best position possible for networking success from the get-go .
Michael Conte , director of spa and wellness at Meadowood Napa Valley , agrees that preparation is paramount : “ I like to go in on day one , walk up and down all the aisles , and note which vendors and booths I want to connect with . The vendors are busy too , so be considerate of both your time and theirs : don ’ t stop by just for a freebie .”
Use the connections you ’ ve already
3 . made . Conte offered up this tip , too : “ If you work with vendors that are exhibiting at the ISPA Conference & Expo , ask them to introduce you to some of their other buyers or partners . It ’ s a great way to network because you ’ ll already have something in common .”
58 PULSE ■ July 2018