NYPCMA Education Day

NYPCMA Education Day: Building Connection, Community, and Inclusivity
Thursday, September 25 | 12:45 PM–5:30 PM EDT
STATE Grill + Bar, The Empire State Building, 21 West 33rd Street, New York, NY

Join us for an inspiring afternoon in the heart of NYC as we explore how events can foster deeper connection, stronger communities, and a more inclusive future. NYPCMA Education Day will feature dynamic speakers and thoughtful conversations designed to spark action and shift perspectives.

Program Overview

Our 2025 Education Day brings together meeting and event professionals from across the region for an afternoon of learning, reflection, and community building. This year’s sessions will center around three guiding themes: connection, community, and inclusivity—values that define the mission of NYPCMA and the future of our industry.

Attendees will learn how to design experiences that foster authentic connection, explore strategies for embedding inclusivity into every phase of event planning, and hear real stories and tools for building more connected, supportive communities through live events.

We’re thrilled to welcome our featured speakers:

🎤 Brian Drury

Brian Drury is an experienced global supply chain strategist and professional speaker with widespread recognition—his video content has been viewed more than 20 million times. Known as The Keynote Crafter, he specializes in helping leaders craft powerful signature talks that inspire action and drive business growth.  Brian delivers tailored workshops and coaching designed to sharpen presentation skills, enhance storytelling impact, and elevate audience engagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the Non-Cringey Networking method tailored for event professionals.
• Practice techniques to strengthen relationships with all event stakeholders.
• Use psychology-backed tools to improve connection with clients, vendors, volunteers, and peers.
• Explore inclusive, low-pressure icebreakers that help attendees connect more meaningfully.

🎤 Josh Klipp

Josh Klipp, CASp, Esq., is Founder & Principal of Made Welcome, an accessibility consulting firm serving workplaces and events.  With 16 years of practicing ADA-focused law and leadership roles at Salesforce—where he developed accommodations processes for over 15,000 employees and launched the first accessibility initiative for Dreamforce. Josh brings deep expertise in inclusive environments as a Certified Access Specialist (California CASp #812).

Key Takeaways:

• Inclusive Event Design: Understanding how to create environments that cater to diverse needs and abilities.
• Legal and Ethical Considerations: Navigate the legal landscape of event accessibility and learn about ethical considerations.
• Universal Design Principles: Discover the power of universal design principles and how they can be applied to various aspects of event planning.
• Technology Integration: Explore the latest technologies that enhance accessibility, from assistive devices to virtual solutions, and learn how to integrate them seamlessly into your event.

Agenda
12:45 PM–1:30 PM: Registration & Welcome Reception
1:30 PM–2:00 PM: Opening Remarks
2:00 PM–3:00 PM: Session 1: Non-Cringey Networking for Meeting & Event Pros
3:00 PM–3:15 PM: Break
3:15 PM–3:30 PM: Sponsor Remarks
3:30 PM–4:30 PM: Session 2: A Guide to Designing & Executing an Event Accessibility Strategy
4:30 PM–5:30 PM: Networking Reception

Venue Info:
Many thanks to STATE Grill + Bar for being the venue host for this event. STATE Grill + Bar is located at the Empire State Building, 21 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10118.

Registration Information:

• Membership in the PCMA New York Chapter is not required to attend.
• If you are not a member, click here to learn more about membership.
• If you are a member of PCMA, but not a member of the New York Chapter, please contact [email protected] to add the NY Chapter to your account. The cost to add a chapter to your membership is $30.00.
• Early registration closes on Friday, September 19, 2025, 11:59pm. After that, only onsite registration will be available beginning at 12:45pm on Thursday, September 25.
• Click here to register or click on the button below.

Education Credit:
PCMA has been approved by the Events Industry Council (EIC) as a Preferred Provider of the above-listed continuing education course, which qualifies for CMP continuing education credit. Determination of continuing education credit eligibility or Preferred Provider status does not imply EIC’s endorsement or assessment of education quality. If you plan to claim education credit, please register for this meeting with the same email associated with your EIC account. You will receive an automated message to claim credit after the meeting when the final attendee roster is uploaded to the EIC.

Accessibility:
STATE Grill + Bar is ADA accessible. If you require specific accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please contact [email protected].

Thank you to our sponsors and host!