When Bertice Berry author,motivational speaker looked out at the group of 250-plus business people gathered for a Western Industrial Nevada networking breakfast, she said,"You people are crazy." She's spoken to a lot of groups, been to a lot of places.None of those other folks dragged themselves out of bed before dawn to eat scrambled eggs and chat each other up.
She was a hit with the group.Other big favorites have included
comedians, board chairmen, attorneys, and recently a rock climber.
"We look for an interesting mix," says Valerie Glenn,WIN's 2004 vice president of programs, as well as Rose-Glenn Group chairman, president and chief executive officer.
That's all.
Just Interesting.And that might mean entertaining, educational,motivational, even inspirational, but always it means the speaker keeps people engaged, she says.
"You have to at seven in the morning." The WIN audience runs the gamut.
Speakers need to connect with CEOs, middle managers, entrepreneurs, sales reps, educators a cross-section of the Truckee Meadows business community.Most do well with the challenge, says Glenn.
Adds Tim Ruffin,WIN president and a broker with Colliers International: The best surprise speaker of the year was McQueen High School teacher Jean Irwin,who stepped in with less than two days' notice when the scheduled speaker cancelled.
There have been some other favorites, too.
Ross Shafer, a comedian, game show host and author,was such a hit at March's breakfast meeting that he's coming back next year as the keynote for WIN's annual dinner.
And disappointments? The group is constrained by budgets, says James Cavanaugh, WIN special events manager.
For instance, it could not afford Robin Williams' $500,000 fee.
Neil Armstrong has proven a bit too pricey, too, and so has Lance Armstrong.
In her office, Glenn browses through a book of speakers, all with price tags attached.
Some for $2,000, some for $5,000,many for $10,000 and above.
She's been parceling out a budget of about $40,000 this year,making it last for fees and expenses for 12 month's worth of speakers.
Fortunately, some of the speakers are locals, such as this year's July speaker, Phil Satre, retired chairman of the board of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.And they donate their time.
That helps stretch the dollar.
But for the Annual WIN Lecture Series Dinner, a fundraiser for the Economic Development Authority ofWestern Nevada and educational scholarships, WIN has a $25,000 to $30,000 budget.
And that's just enough to cover the cost of the speakers it seeks out for the gala event, says Glenn.
Last year's speaker was Dave Barry, and preceding him have been other big names such as Larry King and Al Franken.
This year, it's David Gergen, a former White House communications director and U.S.News & World Report editor.
The event is expected to attract about 800.
Speakers is the basis of WIN's reputation.
And networking.The simple formula works.
The 19-year-old organization's breakfast meetings are drawing a record attendance this year, attracting as many as 350 people each month.
The WIN Lecture Series Dinner, scheduled for May 20 at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, is sponsored by Q&D Construction.
