Educated Planners

Washington — Reversing the typical role of meeting planners organizing education for others, a marketing firm here is bringing out some education designed to help independent meeting planners get organized.

The Harris Group, a firm that helps independent planners run their companies, last month started offering workshops on sales organization skills, contracts, web design tips and tools, managing finances, and "guerrilla marketing." Two such seminars will be held per month in Washington; each session will be repeated, often in subsequent months, for those who wish to participate via teleconference.

Said Shelley Harris, the company's president, "Meeting executives are asking for more opportunities to identify future strategic partners, to learn how to improve business operations and to share information with their peers. These workshops provide that."

Workshops cost $20. For a complete schedule, see www.GroupHarris.com and click the calendar tab.