The Business of Meetings

We're excited to welcome Jeremias "JMan" Maneiro, Chief Edutainment Officer of JMan AI in Rochester, New York, and creator of AI-Cademy and New York State's first AI Bootcamp, as our guest today. Jeremias is a speaker, MC, event planner, and AI trainer with years of experience across the events industry. Tune in as he explains how to use AI to create better conference experiences and engagement, o...

We're delighted to welcome Tom O'Malley, the CEO and founder of Meshi, as today's guest. Tom is a true tech entrepreneur. He spent more than 25 years in technology before moving into startups. Stay tuned to learn about a new approach to AI-powered networking that Tom is developing at Meshi that could change how we connect at events, in communities, and throughout our careers. Tom's journey Tom wen...

Today, Eric shares the session he gave at IMEX Smart Monday, called "From Overwhelm to Clarity." Stay tuned as he walks through his three-phase clarity exercise, discusses the power of community and peer learning, and offers a sneak peek at Eric AI. Feeling Overwhelmed You may be familiar with the overwhelm trap: everything feels urgent, nothing gets the attention it deserves, and your momentum st...

Next week, Eric and thousands of others in our industry will descend on Las Vegas for IMEX America. Today, Eric explains how to turn a trade show into an investment, not just an event. Stay tuned for more! Before IMEX Before you go, identify three main outcomes you want from your attendance. You might want three conversations with potential clients, two strategic partners, to understand what buyer...

Today, we're delighted to welcome Justin Donald, the founder of Lifestyle Investor and author of The Lifestyle Investor , as our guest! Justin has built a mastermind community where people come together to talk about investments, have fun, and enjoy life together. Stay tuned to hear about his fascinating entrepreneurial journey, learn more about the financial side of running a business, and find o...

We're excited to welcome Marco Giberti, the Founder and CEO of Vesuvio Adventures, as today's guest. Marco is well known within the events industry for his thought-provoking LinkedIn posts. He is incredibly smart, has a wealth of experience, and operates at the intersection of technology and events, making him the perfect person to discuss AI, private equity, and the industry's future. Stay tuned...

We're delighted to have Jayson Gaignard back on the Business of Meetings podcast today. Jayson is the founder of MMT and the author of Community Made: The Truth About Success and the Relationships That Create It . Eric had the privilege of reading Jayson's book, which includes many of the lessons he learned about relationships, community, and success. Stay tuned for more! Jayson's Journey Jayson d...

Today, we're thrilled to welcome Muhammad Younas, the founder and CEO of vFairs. Muhammad is a true North American tech entrepreneur. He developed the award-winning event technology platform, vFairs, which has powered over 50,000 and reached more than 100 million attendees worldwide. Stay tuned to hear about Muhammad's entrepreneurial journey and the invaluable insights he shares today. Mohammad's...

Most event professionals can tell you exactly what will happen on stage at any given time. Yet far fewer can tell you exactly what would happen if someone collapsed in the ballroom. Stay tuned as Eric tackles emergency preparedness and security. Emergency Preparedness A 70-page emergency manual that nobody has opened in two years is documentation, not a system. Emergency preparedness starts with t...

Today, Eric explores the value event professionals bring to the table and why that matters more than ever in the age of AI. Stay tuned to learn what you need to know about the client before designing an event, questions you need to ask to position yourself as a strategic partner, and how to maintain your competitive advantage. Ask Better Questions When a client gives you a brief, resist the urge t...

Today, Eric explores the role of failure on the road to success. Stay tuned as he clarifies why failure is part of the entrepreneurial journey, what you can learn if something goes wrong, and how you can keep moving forward. Failure When you build a business and take risks, things do not always work as planned. Failing is the price all entrepreneurs must pay to embark on their journey toward succe...

Summer is the perfect time for catching up on your reading. Today, Eric discusses seven books he read recently that have left a lasting impression on him. Stay tuned as he shares why these books stood out to him, what he learned from each one, and why he feels they are worth adding to your reading list. It's All About Relationships: Mastering the Art of Relational Leadership – Eddie Arriola Eric s...

Today, Eric explores why some of the world's largest investment firms are investing billions of dollars in the meetings and events industry and explains what they are seeing that many small business owners may not yet recognize. Stay tuned to discover how to build a business that captures the value investors seek. Private Equity Private equity is not buying event companies because they love events...

Today, Eric explores one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding AI. Stay tuned as he explains why AI will not build your business, and why building a successful business remains entirely your responsibility as an entrepreneur or business owner. Your Vision AI can help you brainstorm, improve your wording, and challenge your thinking, but it cannot define your vision. Only you can decide what ki...

We are excited to welcome entrepreneur Kimberly Hardcastle, another icon in our industry, as today's guest. Kimberly is the Chief Strategist at Freeman and one of the industry's most respected leaders in event marketing and strategy.  Kimberly is a speaker, a writer for the PCMA Convention, and a leader recognized by IAEE with the Educator of the Year and Woman of Achievement awards. Stay tuned fo...

We're thrilled to welcome Mark Mallchok, the Principal and Chief Event Strategist at Brella Productions, as today's guest. Mark has extensive experience within our industry. He joins us to share his entrepreneurial journey, explain how his company evolved over the years, and discuss why engagement, human connection, and clear event goals are becoming more important than ever. Stay tuned for more!...

After years of wondering how to scale his business, Eric is launching Eric AI!  Eric is passionate about coaching and mentoring owners, solopreneurs, and professionals across the meetings and events industry. Eric AI is a business mentor platform built from Eric's experience, methodology, and decision-making process, making his mentoring available 24/7 in 77 languages. Stay tuned as he shares how...

We are delighted to welcome the incredible Dr. Magie Cook as today's guest. Magie's remarkable journey has taken her from growing up in an orphanage in the mountains of Mexico to building one of the fastest-growing fresh salsa companies in the United States. Join us as Magie shares how mindset, perseverance, and taking inspired action helped her overcome adversity, build a nationally distributed b...

We are delighted to welcome another icon in our industry as today's guest. Bob Vaez, Founder and CEO of EventMobi, is a true entrepreneur, and his company is widely recognized throughout the events industry. Stay tuned as Bob shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned building a business through multiple periods of disruption. He also offers practical advice for business owners...

We are delighted to welcome Caleb Ralston as today's guest. Caleb's journey has been remarkable, and he is currently one of the most prominent voices in our industry in building brands and creating content people can actually apply. In 2025, he released a YouTube video that attracted more than 1.1 million views! Stay tuned as Caleb shares what he learned from working with people like Gary Vaynerch...

Today, we have the great pleasure of speaking with Cleo Battle, the President and CEO of Louisville Tourism and the new Chair of the International Board of MPI! Cleo is an amazing person! He joins us today to share his inspiring journey and dive into what matters most for tourism and why every seat counts. We hope you enjoy listening to today's captivating conversation with Cleo Battle! Cleo Battl...

Today, we're focusing on navigating the pressure of running a business while staying connected to your bigger vision for your life and business. Stay tuned as Eric shares a simple five-step exercise to help you gain clarity, direction, and long-term alignment. The Sandwich Generation Many business owners are part of the "sandwich generation," taking care of parents while also raising children. Tha...

Today, we are delighted to welcome Lyndsi Edgar, the Founder and CEO of eLuminate Marketing. Lyndsi talks to Eric about entrepreneurship, content marketing, LinkedIn, automation, AI, and staying top of mind with clients and prospects. She also shares how she built eLuminate Marketing, the lessons she learned while growing the agency, and the systems, processes, and mindset shifts that helped her s...

We're delighted to welcome audience engagement specialist Michael Kent as our guest today. In this episode, Michael speaks with Eric about audience engagement, corporate events, comedy, magic, workplace culture, and the growing role of AI in live experiences. Stay tuned as Michael shares how years of performing around the world shaped his approach to helping companies create meaningful events that...

We are delighted to welcome Eddy Arriola, a rock-star entrepreneur from South Florida, as today's guest. Eddy has tons of experience building and scaling businesses, including founding Apollo Bank, and he recently published a book on relationships and the art of relational leadership. Stay tuned for Eddy's expert insights on how relationships shape leadership, business growth, and long-term succes...