They called ARB and within one week, we were moving and grooving with the Federated Sample team to plan SampleCon 2013.  SampleCon was a huge risk for Federated Sample because any costs not covered through sponsorships and registration fees would fall on their shoulders.  With ARB on their team, Federated Sample was successful in launching a conference that brought together over 70 leaders in the sampling industry, generated revenue and increased brand awareness.  As a result of ARB’s involvement, SampleCon will be hosted annually and will continue to be the conference for users and buyers in the sampling industry.

Since 2009, ARB has managed every component of the National Association of Medicaid Program Integrity’s (NAMPI) Annual Conference. The annual conference brings together more than 450 professionals in the Medicaid program integrity sector. ARB has created year upon year growth, since being brought on board to support the annual conference. In addition, each year new components have been added to enhance the attendee experience. Below is a list of the services ARB provides NAMPI as their conference management partners:

• Host city search
• Hotel/venue search
• Hotel/venue contract negotiation
• Attendee recruitment
• Web registration
• Attendee registration/management
• Attendee correspondence
• Develop conference agenda
• Secure and coordinate conference speakers
• Marketing and promotion of NAMPI exhibit hall
• Exhibitor registration and billing/payment
• Coordinate exhibit hall set-up
• Secure conference sponsorships
• Food and beverage coordination
• Ground transportation
• Hotel rooms
• Opening reception
• Off-site events
• Develop all creative elements
• Financial management, which includes a profit/loss sheet, revenue snapshot and final conference reconciliation
• Website development and ongoing site management and upgrades

The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) was created in 2010. It launched in direct response to the legislation creating universal healthcare as a national policy. It is focused on assisting Medicaid Directors coming together and uniting to influence national healthcare policy.

Upon creation, NAMD began a national conference program that has grown to more than 800 attendees. The program’s success was challenged by limitations in developing and implementing a cohesive event. ARB Meetings and Events was selected as their strategic partner to oversee and enhance their annual conference. In the first year of this partnership, ARB has increased sponsorship and exhibitor participation, while instituting financial accountability systems, driving to cost effective spending. ARB provides a comprehensive list of services. Some of the services ARB provides, include:

• Hotel/venue research and contract negotiation
• Attendee recruitment
• Website development to include attendee registration and exhibit booth purchase
• Attendee registration/management
• Attendee correspondence
• Marketing and promotion of the exhibit hall
• Coordinate exhibit hall set-up
• Secure conference sponsorships
• Food and beverage coordination
• Develop all creative elements
• Graphic Design development and production
• Ground transportation
• Venue and Hotel Liaison
• Opening reception for 800 people
• Audio/Visual
• On-Site Management
• Financial management, which includes a profit/loss sheet, revenue snapshot and final conference reconciliation

ARB serves as logistical managers for their annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW). NOEW is the nationally-recognized festival of entrepreneurship that celebrates and supports the network of talent that has enabled New Orleans to become a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Since NOEW first started the partnership has continued to develop,  and has been a successful one for The Idea Village. ARB’s participation allows The Idea Village to focus on high level management tasks such as securing Google as a premier sponsor and Jim Coulter as a keynote speaker, while we manage the logistical details such as lodging, transportation, meals, kick off parties, AV, and décor.  As NOEW concludes each year and The Idea Village staff reflects back on the tremendous success of pulling off a seven day, city wide event they all comment that it couldn’t be done without ARB.

ARB’s management’s responsibilities include:

• Hotel Selection
• Hotel Contract Negotiation
• Venue and Hotel Liaison
• Vendor Contracts
• Vendor Coordination
• Attendee Management
• Attendee Correspondence
• Grand opening reception for 300 people
• VIP event for 400 people
• Closing event for 1000 people
• Offsite events
• Food and Beverage Coordination
• Décor and Entertainment
• Audio/Visual
• Ground transportation
• On-Site Management
• Budget Control and final accounting

Senior Helpers was hosting their annual conference in New Orleans and needed support on the ground to secure local entertainment. ARB was selected by their marketing team to manage the entertainment for their three signature events of the conference.  ARB was successful in creating and implementing a theme that embodied the true New Orleans experience for attendees.

• Securing a quintessentially New Orleans band for the conference’s kick-off event
• Delivering Dragon Master Showcase, a local break dancing troop, to turn what would be an otherwise sleepy, early morning session into a high-energy, unique and electrifying morning
• Organizing a mini Mardi Gras parade and “second line”, a traditional brass band parade, from the conference hotel to the House of Blues for over 350 people.

ARB masterfully organized all of the moving pieces and ensured that when the conference was over, the attendees’ time in New Orleans was one they would never forget.

This success translated into ARB’s expanded role for the Senior Helpers 2012 Annual Conference.

• Food and Beverage
• Audio/Visual
• Transportation
• Closing event for 350 people
• Décor and Entertainment
• Attendee Management
• On-Site Management

GNOF is a non-profit organization who serves as a philanthropic partner to members of the donor community throughout Greater New Orleans and the surrounding region. Every two years GNOF hosts a donor appreciation event, New Orleans Now, for over 300 of New Orleans most notable civic leaders and philanthropists.  ARB worked with GNOF to assist with the overall planning and execution of their New Orleans Now event.

• Budget development and allocation
• Food and beverage
• Rentals
• Lighting and audio
• Entertainment
• Décor
• Creative development
• On-site management

The Idea Village is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 2000 with the mission to identify, support and retain entrepreneurial talent in the New Orleans Region.  In 2009, The Idea Village launched the First Annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) and to ensure the event was a success, they enlisted ARB to manage all logistics.   In addition to being the logistical partner for NOEW, ARB has also assisted The Idea Village with their 2010 entrepreneurial class graduation event. It was a night to remember as The Idea Village graduated their inaugural IDEAxcelerator class of 23 members.

ARB was retained to provide support services for several components of their annual conference in New Orleans. As local experts, ARB was able to give the Volunteers of America conference planners an added level of confidence that their attendees would not only experience a flawless conference but would also experience all of the charm and beauty of New Orleans.

• Coordinating a one-day community outreach project for over 300 conference attendees; responsibilities included vetting community projects, coordinating with project staff, coordinating volunteers, transportation and meals
• Providing 10 different tour options and transportation over four days for all conference attendees, spouses and guests
• Managing entertainment for the conference Welcome Reception at the Aquarium of the Americas for 400 people; entertainment included Mardi Gras Indians, a brass band and scone line, a gospel choir and a party band