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MeetingsNet
On the Scene at Pharma Forum 2018
Sue Pelletier Apr 04, 2018

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Communications, Cat Style
Frank Veronsky

Cat Greenleaf, creator and host of the NBC and USA Network show Talk Stoop, opened the first day's general session by sharing tips for making every conversation count.

Seeing It All Come to Fruition
Frank Veronsky

CBI's Melanie Demakis welcomed participants to this year's Forum.

He's with the Band
Frank Veronsky

To get the conference anthem started, SongDivision asked for an audience member to hop up on stage and play a few chords on the guitar. Richard Godfrey (center) was happy to oblige. When he's not acting as complex director of sales and marketing with the Crowne Plaza Princeton in New Jersey, Godfrey plays in a local band.

What Was Your First Concert?
Frank Veronsky

SongDivision, which over the course of the conference crowdsourced a Pharma Forum anthem, warmed up the audience by asking them to pair up and tell each other about the first concert they ever attended.

Getting Serious About Security
Frank Veronsky

Jocelyne Cotè, far left, American Express Meetings and Events, moderated a high-powered panel of safety and security experts (left to right): Alan Orlob, vice president, global safety and security, Marriott International; Kenneth Dixon, VP security and safety solutions, Javits Center; John McCormack, detective JTTF Special Events, FBI, NYPD; Michael Dominguez, chief sales officer, MGM Resorts International; and Jonathan Spero, MD, CEO, InHouse Physicians.

Kicking off Pharma Forum 2018
Frank Veronsky

Michael Mahoney of Genentech, Pharma Forum's chairman for day 1, challenged participants to discover three actionable takeaways during their time at the conference.

Meet the Grateful Patient
Frank Veronsky

Pharma Forum participants were reminded of just how important the work they support is when Cat Greenleaf used her Talk Stoop format to interview Rolf Benirschke, founder of the Grateful Patient Project and former NFL placekicker. Rolf's story of how pharmaceutical companies saved his life really hit home.

It's All About the Footwear
Frank Veronsky

Cat Greenleaf's boots were the envy of many, but Rolf's socks were pretty snazzy too.

Welcome to the Show
Frank Veronsky

The show floor was bustling as participants grabbed some lunch in between appointments.

Meet You on the Show Floor
Frank Veronsky

Left to right: Lisa Truelove and Carolyn Maloney, both with BCD Meetings & Events, on the show floor with day 2 chairwoman Monica Dickenson, Shire Pharmaceuticals.

Brainstorming Solutions
Frank Veronsky

Life sciences planners relished the opportunity to share experiences and best practices.

Flower Power
Sue Pelletier

Hilton teamed up with Repeat Roses to challenge the inner flower arranger in Pharma Forum participants. Planners reorganized the flowers, which were left over from weddings and other recent special events, then tied on well-wishing notes. Participants made 104 arrangements, which were delivered to Philadelphia's Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. The activity also diverted 785 pounds of floral waste from the landfill.

They're Game!
Frank Veronsky

The Monday evening reception was held next door to the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown at the Field House, where dueling pianos, Philly cheese steaks, and some crazy face painting were all on the menu. The reception was sponsored by Marriott International.

Funky Face Painting
Frank Veronsky

MeetingsNet editor Sue Pelletier got her weird on at the face-painting area at the Monday night reception. Don't worry, it came right off with soap and water.

We Be Jamming
Frank Veronsky

The dueling pianos were a big hit with the crowd.

Diving Into the Think Tank
Frank Veronsky

Michael Varlotta, director, medical education, with Janssen Biotech, led a closed-door think tank session tackling hot topics for senior corporate and third-party life sciences planners.

Taking a Walk in the Attendees' Shoes
Sue Pelletier

Left to right: Hara Hawthorne, Eisai; Ryan Mazon, Educational Measures; and Katie Koziol, CMP, HMCC, Ashfield Meetings and Events, led an experiential learning session designed to walk participants through the entire attendee experience from the healthcare professional's perspective.

Hallway Conversations
Sue Pelletier

Cornered in the hallway in between breakouts: Alain Barathe and Marlize Eckert, both with Global Conference Organizers BV.

Leveraging Brain Science
Frank Veronsky

Janet Sperstad, program director at Madison (Wis.) College, explained the science behind how people behave at meetings.

Breaking Out
Frank Veronsky

Participants learned a little RFP magic during a breakout led by independent planner Meghan Palm, CMP, HMCC.

The "Therapy Session"
Sue Pelletier

Planners and hoteliers dove into some of the topics that tend to cause the most friction between life sciences planners and their supplier partners, from RFPs to meal caps. From left to right: Julie Morey, Cogentix Medical; Nicole McCoy, Bishop McCann; Lori Schreiber, Siemens Healthineers; moderator Kristi Casey Sanders, CMP, CMM, DES, director of Meeting Professionals International's MPI Academy; Julie Hills, Hilton Worldwide; Bonnie Weiss, HMCC, Hyatt Hotels Corp.; Stephanie Russo, Marriott International.

Goal Getter Spotlight
Sue Pelletier

Laurie Cooke, RPH, CAE, CEO of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, provided strategies life sciences meeting professionals can use to reignite their careers.

Coloring from Soul to Sole
Frank Veronsky

The CSR booth run by Access Destination Services was a hub for would-be artists as participants used markers to decorate pairs of TOMS shoes. In all, 68 pairs of decorated shoes were donated to Ronald McDonald House, and 32 pairs were donated for kids to decorate themselves.

A Budding Talent
Frank Veronsky

One participant showing a real flare for shoe design at the CSR booth run by Access Destination Services.

Getting Jazzy
Frank Veronsky

Day 3 chairman James Vachon provided some of his highlights from the conference, some of which required "jazz hands."

Find Your Fire
Frank Veronsky

Heather Hansen O'Neill, president of Find Your Fire, got the crowd fired up as she explored strategies to face fear, increase confidence, deepen relationships, and ignite passion for their work.

Playing Through
Frank Veronsky

SwarmWorks was a hit with the crowd, who got to compete in a virtual soccer game and collaborate on a virtual sailing trip through New York Harbor by holding up sensors that controlled the action on the big screen. 

Getting to Know You
Frank Veronsky

Heather Hansen O'Neill challenged the audience to share something they're passionate about with a neighbor.

What's-Next Technology
Frank Veronsky

Cramer's Brent Turner, together with his colleague Julie Walker, took the audience through a whirlwind tour of what's now and what's just around the corner in meeting technology.

Congratulations!
Frank Veronsky

Experience Innovation Trailblazer Award winner Robin Macario, Genentech, gets a congratulatory hug from Pharma Forum co-chair Monica Dickenson.

And the Winners Are...
Frank Veronsky

Pharma Forum’s three inaugural Trailblazer award winners were honored by the conference co-chairs and organizers. From left: Melissa Fromento, MeetingsNet; Monica Dickenson, CMP, SMMC, Shire; Michael Mahoney, Genentech; Collaboration Trailblazer Award winner Brian McArdle, Allergan; Passionate Leadership Trailblazer Award winner Donna Grissom, Ashfield Meetings & Events; James Vachon, CMM, Takeda Pharmaceuticals; Experience Innovation Trailblazer Award winner Robin Macario, Genentech; Melanie Demakis, CBI

So Glad to Have You in House
Frank Veronsky

Gail Frazer, vice president, global sales—corporate accounts with Marriott International, welcomed this year's participants to the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown during the opening general session. 

They're Playing Our Song!
Frank Veronsky

SongDivision closed the conference with a rocking rendition of the anthem they had crowdsourced with participants over the course of the meeting.

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On the Scene: Pharma Forum 2017 Gallery
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