SMART MEETINGS // Soundings Connect Founder & Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, honored with Smart Women Entrepreneur award. The quest to be our highest and best selves is never an escalator ride straight to the top. As women work to elevate their careers, their peers and the industry as a whole, the path often requires detours, taking a step back, evaluating obstacles in the way and calling on others to help chart a new course.

SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS // It’s one thing to get enough people to register for a conference but enticing them to stay for the duration of the event is another. At conferences, the attention of our attendees is often pulled in many directions and some might be tempted to duck out of a multi-day event early. With a little extra effort, we can revamp our agendas and work wonders that will keep participants on site until the very end!

PRESS RELEASE // San Diego, CA - Jan. 6, 2020 - Soundings Connect Founder and Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, will serve a special term on the Meetings Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors in 2020. Judge will represent freelancers, solopreneurs and small business owners who make up a growing segment of MPI.

Press Release// San Diego, CA - Jan. 6, 2020 - Soundings Connect Founder and Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, will serve a special term on the Meetings Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors in 2020. Judge will represent freelancers, solopreneurs and small business owners who make up a growing segment of MPI.

CORPORATE EVENTS NEWS BLOG // Founded in San Diego in 2018, Soundings Connect is a network of 200 (and growing!) freelance meeting and event professionals, all of whom have professional experience in the fields of trade show management, meeting planning, event marketing and more.

Press Release // San Diego, CA - Nov. 26, 2019- Soundings Connect, an innovative network of freelance meeting & event talent, is excited to announce its partnership with ECPAT-USA, a trailblazing organization committed to raising awareness, advocating for policy and providing community education about human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children around the world.

MPI Blog // If meeting professionals have learned anything from the Great Recession, it’s that the travel industry is hit hard during an economic downturn. Throughout the recession, companies made significant cutbacks on corporate travel expenses. As a result of the reductions in spend, major meetings were canceled and non-revenue-generating departments such as meeting planning were downsized.

The Meeting Professional magazine // In case you haven’t heard, the gig economy is here to stay. Small businesses and freelancers alike are reaping the benefits of a modern-day labor market that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit. In a recent LinkedIn study, 70 percent of small businesses surveyed had hired freelancers in the past. Of those companies, 81 percent plan to hire freelancers again in the future.

MPI Blog // After Mexico’s new president shut down the country’s Tourism Promotion Council of Mexico earlier this year, IBTM Americas attendees share their thoughts on the importance of having this two-day show take place in Mexico City.

SITE SoCal // Tracy Judge led an educational session on decision-making strategies through Data Driven Event Design as part of the San Diego State University Senior Professional Master’s Series.