WSAE Summit Explores New Pathways to Innovation
Thinking of ways to repurpose toilet paper as a path to innovation? Sounds more than a bit unconventional, but for Wisconsin executives and suppliers who gathered in downtown Milwaukee last month at the WSAE National Summit, it was an eye-opening exercise. The Innovation for Associations held at the Frontier Airlines Center promised to show attendees how to put ideas to work and discover practical applications for innovation.
In the interest of growing our community and staying relevant, on day one attendees engaged in a series of exercises that could be applied in the workplace to stimulate innovation. For example, in a partner exercise we were instructed to take something as ordinary as toilet paper and list as many non-conventional uses for it as possible. This was followed by a challenge for the groups at each table to develop the most creative design from materials comprised of mixed dry edible and non-edible supplies, all while learning from Innovation Award winners how they had implemented their own innovative ideas. The take away from our success or failure at these exercises was that there is no right or wrong answer. Innovators know that when an idea fails, or even when it succeeds beyond all expectations, you can always take away something more from the innovation when you try again.
Day one concluded with a lovely evening reception hosted by Levy Restaurants, followed by a jazz and dessert cruise on the Milwaukee River, hosted by Visit Milwaukee.
Day two featured Milwaukee-based Harley Owners Group Marketing Director, Rebecca Bortner, and Director of Customer Experience, Steven Piehl. This dynamic duo shed light on how they applied innovative ideas to strengthen their business and become a recognized leader in innovation, not only in the motorcycle industry, but as a brand. Their presentation was followed by an Innovation Lab presented in a round table format. After a break for lunch, attendees were given the opportunity to join break-out sessions, choosing three of five topics which included Membership of the Future, Branding Your Association, Creating a Culture of Innovation, Measuring Customer Satisfaction and an Open Forum. The conference concluded with a lab facilitator wrap up, and a challenge to attendees to put their ideas to work following the conference.
For more information about Wisconsin Society of Association Executive’s (WSAE) or future conferences and events, visit http://www.wsae.org.
In the interest of growing our community and staying relevant, on day one attendees engaged in a series of exercises that could be applied in the workplace to stimulate innovation. For example, in a partner exercise we were instructed to take something as ordinary as toilet paper and list as many non-conventional uses for it as possible. This was followed by a challenge for the groups at each table to develop the most creative design from materials comprised of mixed dry edible and non-edible supplies, all while learning from Innovation Award winners how they had implemented their own innovative ideas. The take away from our success or failure at these exercises was that there is no right or wrong answer. Innovators know that when an idea fails, or even when it succeeds beyond all expectations, you can always take away something more from the innovation when you try again.
Day one concluded with a lovely evening reception hosted by Levy Restaurants, followed by a jazz and dessert cruise on the Milwaukee River, hosted by Visit Milwaukee.
Day two featured Milwaukee-based Harley Owners Group Marketing Director, Rebecca Bortner, and Director of Customer Experience, Steven Piehl. This dynamic duo shed light on how they applied innovative ideas to strengthen their business and become a recognized leader in innovation, not only in the motorcycle industry, but as a brand. Their presentation was followed by an Innovation Lab presented in a round table format. After a break for lunch, attendees were given the opportunity to join break-out sessions, choosing three of five topics which included Membership of the Future, Branding Your Association, Creating a Culture of Innovation, Measuring Customer Satisfaction and an Open Forum. The conference concluded with a lab facilitator wrap up, and a challenge to attendees to put their ideas to work following the conference.
For more information about Wisconsin Society of Association Executive’s (WSAE) or future conferences and events, visit http://www.wsae.org.
