Stakeholder Engagement: How to Turn Partners into Advocates
Building strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders is essential for driving success in the sports events and tourism industry. In this interactive session, you’ll learn proven strategies to transform your partners into powerful advocates. Discover how to effectively communicate your organization’s value, align goals with key stakeholders, and foster long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Through real-world examples and practical exercises, you’ll gain insights into:
- Identifying and prioritizing key stakeholders.
- Crafting compelling value propositions that resonate.Leveraging advocacy to enhance influence and impact.
- Strengthening stakeholder buy-in for future growth.
Attendees will leave with actionable tools and techniques to cultivate stronger partnerships and elevate their organization’s reputation and influence. This session is eligible for 4 STS credits, applicable toward earning or maintaining your Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) designation.
Don’t miss insights from industry pros Meg Winchester, CDME, and Mike Robertson of Fired Up! Culture, experts in building high-performing organizations through culture transformation, leadership development, and team building. You'll walk away with the skills to grow your partnerships and your career.
This STS Course will be led by industry pros at Fired Up! Culture
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Meg Winchester, CDME
Vice President
Fired Up Culture
Meg’s experience and expertise are in facilitating organization change, talent management and executive coaching. She is a thought leader in the travel and tourism industry, holding the Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME). Meg served as the President and CEO of Visit Spokane and served as Vice Chair of the State of Washington Tourism and on the executive committee of the Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations. Prior to joining Visit Spokane in 2019, Meg held the position of Director at Visit Galveston for 13 years where she was instrumental in creating the Galveston Sports initiative. She also served on the boards of Travel Texas Tourism and the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus during her tenure. Meg holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Texas State University.
Mike Robertson
Director of Customer Experience and Development
Fired Up Culture
Mike brings over a decade of experience in hospitality, tourism, and client service to his role as Director of Customer Experience and Development. Before joining Fired Up! Culture, Mike supported over 600 conferences and events during his seven-year tenure with VisitPITTSBURGH and SportsPITTSBURGH. Mike leverages his experience to support leaders and high-performing teams in numerous areas, including coaching, retention, stakeholder engagement, team building, and strategic planning. He has presented on leadership, culture, and emerging leader development at events across the country, including Destinations International's Annual Convention, California Travel Summit, and the Event Service Professionals Association. Mike is a 2019 member of Destinations International’s 30 Under 30 class and was named a “Dukes From the Last Decade” award winner in 2022, which recognizes alumni of Duquesne University who graduated in the last 10 years.
Mike leverages his experience to support leaders and high-performing teams in numerous areas, including coaching, retention, stakeholder engagement, team building, and strategic planning. He has presented on leadership, culture, and emerging leader development at events across the country, including Destinations International's Annual Convention, California Travel Summit, and the Event Service Professionals Association. Mike is a 2019 member of Destinations International’s 30 Under 30 class and was named a “Dukes From the Last Decade” award winner in 2022, which recognizes alumni of Duquesne University who graduated in the last 10 years.
About Fired Up! Culture
Fired Up! Culture ignites organizational change. We partner with executive leadership to build high-performing organizations, bringing our solutions, tools, and expertise to drive lasting impact by placing a focus on culture change, leadership development, team building, and HR people solutions.