June 24, 2021
WACA Best Practices: Programming Beyond COVID
TODAY, June 24, at 3:00 PM ET
We are pleased to host the next WACA Best Practices Session today, featuring a presentation by Nathan Hermiston, Senior Vice President of Sales and Services for Visit KC. He will discuss the post-pandemic landscape of event trends, event spaces, hybrid opportunities, and more. 

Then John Krieger, Executive Director of WorldDenver, will guide us through a conversation with fellow Council representatives Marian Shima, Vice President of Events and Public Affairs at the Los Angeles WAC & Town Hall, and Trina Medarev, Executive Director and CEO of WAC Jacksonville.

After hearing from these insightful colleagues, stay online for small-group discussions. Different groups will cover in-person safety considerations and hybrid event considerations. When you register, please indicate which group you would like to join! (If you can, do hold an extra 30 minutes for extended informal discussion from 4:00-4:30 PM ET.)
Note: Registration is open to Council staff and boards. More than one person per Council may attend.

Today's Speakers:
Nathan Hermiston is the Senior Vice-President of Convention Sales & Services for Visit KC. Nathan has been in his position with Visit KC since June 2019. Visit KC is a 26-person organization (reduced from 48 due to the global pandemic) that serves as an economic development organization dedicated to tourism and a mission to ignite global passion for visiting Kansas City. Prior to his time in Kansas City, Nathan worked with Hilton hotels and the Convention & Visitors Bureaus in both Detroit & Minneapolis, most recently serving as a Senior Director of Sales for Meet Minneapolis prior to coming to Kansas City.
John Krieger, J.D., LL.M. is Executive Director of WorldDenver. Krieger holds a Master’s of Law in International Law from American University and a law degree from University of Richmond. Over the last 12 years, he has held multiple leadership positions focused on communications, outreach, staff development, and membership growth at national and Colorado-based non-profits. Most recently, he was Director of Campaigns at ACLU of Colorado, where he led communications strategy, volunteer recruitment, outreach, education, and community events during a period of more than 500% growth in membership for the organization.
Trina Medarev is the Executive Director & CEO of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville. Under her direction, the Council has grown from a small organization sponsoring a modest speaker program, to reaching thousands of individuals every year through several acclaimed speaker series, educational programming, special events and an expanding network of young professionals. She has enjoyed serving on the nominating committee, as well as the planning committee for the annual World Affairs Councils of America National Conference in Washington, D.C. This gathering connects Council members throughout the U.S. with leading international policy-makers and experts.
Marian Shima is an award-winning executive with experience in marketing communications, public relations including events, public affairs, brand and relationship management, fundraising and development. In her role at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall, Marian is responsible for strategic development of livestreams and in-person events and fundraising-development for LAWACTH programs. She served as Vice President, Events & Public Affairs, at Town Hall Los Angeles prior to the merger of the two organizations. Her previous career experience include management positions at the Los Angeles Times and the Disneyland Resort, where she led high-profile events and strategic initiatives. 
Note: Registration is open to Council staff and boards. More than one person per Council may attend.

WACA's July Best Practices Session: Organizational Mergers

Mark your calendars for our next Best Practices Session — Thursday, July 8 at 3:00 PM ET — on Organizational Mergers involving World Affairs Councils. Registration to be announced.