A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Day

Roundtables (and moderators)

Social Networking Discussion: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and Beyond – Suzanne Richey, Director of College Communications, Tusculum College

Small School, Big Voice: Making Your Size Work for You

Being a small school doesn't mean that your alumni communications have to be a whisper. Come learn what Bridgewater College and other small private schools are doing to communicate creatively with their alumni. Discover ways to use your size as an advantage, using unique and personalized communications approaches that larger schools might not be able to consider. We'll discuss trends using technology, social networking, segmentation, and personalization. And be sure to bring your small school success stories so we can learn from each other!

SPEAKER: Wendell Esbenshade, Director of Alumni Relations, Bridgewater College

It's the Annual Fund!

This session will focus on the bread-and-butter campaign of independent school fundraising initiatives – the Annual Fund! Support of the Annual Fund not only meets financial goals, but builds community, enhances the School’s mission and lays the groundwork for future philanthropy. When donors understand the impact of their gifts and when they are actually asked to participate, our experience shows they will give!

SPEAKERS: Susan Depatie, Director of Development, Robin Kennedy, Director of Communication and Alumni Relations, and Lindsay Bowman, Assistant Director of Development, Tampa Preparatory School

Running a Successful Alumni Program at an Urban University

Learn how Florida International University grew their membership program from 1,600 to 20,000 dues paying members in 5 years. This session will explore the benefits of forming key partnerships on campus, getting top administration buy-in, and mobilizing alumni at the grass roots level.

Business Analytics for Management & More

Responsive reporting is critical to making informed business decisions.  Learn how Emory University addresses this challenge with simple-to-use tools to respond to senior management’s need for quick information about campaign results, portfolio management and prospect and alumni leadership identification.    Using “visual data analytics” business intelligence tools, Emory has developed a series of dashboards for management to make informed and nimble business decisions to help support and guide its $1.6B campaign.

SPEAKERS: Benjamin Tompkins, Executive Director for Information Services, Emory University; Bernardo Villasenor, Director of Prospect Management, Emory University

Relationship Mapping: The Science and Art of Uncovering 'Hidden' Connections

We know how our donors are connected to our institutions. But how, exactly, are they connected to our volunteers, other supporters and other organizations? And how can this knowledge help us to spin a networking web that allows us to reach more people in a more personal way? This session provides new ways to engage in relationship mapping to uncover hidden relationships that open doors and escort you inside. Through the analysis of social networks and constituent interactions, you can revolutionize your prospect research and management efforts.

SPEAKER: David Lamb, Blackbaud

The Brand is YOU - Professional Development for Development Professionals

SPEAKER: William D. Nicholson II, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for External Relations, Glenville State College

Buying a BMW Online

Student recruitment has been forever changed through technology — more specifically, through the increased reliance of prospects and their parents on the web. From our own web sites to the almost insurmountable task of managing the infinite social networking sites, it's time to work smarter, not harder. Most colleges feel compelled to keep up with the trends (your college probably has a Facebook presence, or perhaps many), but what are they doing to really analyze the role that the web plays in student recruitment? This session answers some difficult questions about the realities of the web in your marketing mix. Join a Director of Web Services and Assistant Director of Admission for an honest conversation about the value and role that the web should play in recruitment. People don’t buy a BMW online, but we’re trying to sell them the equivalent through that channel. We’ll cover content, social networking and technology, but also talk about the value of a personal touch and the things that technology can’t provide. We’ll help answer the question of whether you should spend your time and money on a flashy new gadget, or a handwritten note at the bottom of an acceptance letter.

SPEAKERS:Casey Paquet, Director of Web Services, Eckerd College; Brian Zaun, Assistant Director of Admission, Eckerd College

Creating a Smarter, More Integrated Development Program

Development programs have become increasingly compartmentalized.  Separate internal agendas cause operational strain and competition and create a sense of confusion among donors.  Because of the Internet, new life has been given to phone, direct mail and major giving programs.  The reach has been expanded, the messaging more focused, the communication more efficient -- all thanks to donor intelligence.  It's time to embrace a smarter way to fundraise.  In this session, Lola Mauer and Jason Mitchell will explore the benefits of sharing a program-wide integrated developmental goal, defined by donor metrics that increase your probability of reaching the right donor with the right ask every time.

SPEAKERS:  Lola Mauer, Director of Annual GIving, Unviersity of South Carolina; Jason MItchell, Executive Vice President, Pursuant Group

CLOSING BRUNCH AND SESSION: The Science of Persuasion

Institutional advancement is a business of persuasion — getting others to understand a point of view, then identify its relevance to them.

So, CASE III is extremely fortunate to have Dr. Gregory Neidert, an Arizona State professor of psychology and expert in the "science" of persuasion, as our closing speaker. As the Director of Training of INFLUENCE AT WORK, a consultancy, Dr. Neidert trains those who help organizations strengthen their ability to build a compelling and actionable case for support.

On he consulting side, he also deals with management and employees in shaping a culture that can adapt to ever-changing internal and external factors.

After hearing Dr. Neidert, you'll  understand why Motorola, Intel, Merrill Lynch and other Fortune 100 companies have hired him. (You're also sure to replay his remarks on the trip back to your campus...)