Welcome to the SPIN April 2026 Newsletter
Contributions from:
Carolynn Santos, SPIN, Executive Director
Christine Gaudet, Gaudet Event Strategy + Advisory, President
Lisa Silver, DLA Promotions, Senior Brand Consultant
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April Articles
💐 Spring Cleaning Your Planning Strategy (Without Burning It Down or Starting Over) 💐 Carolynn Santos, SPIN, Executive Director 💡 Member Spotlight - Megan Allday, CMM 💡 Christine Gaudet, SPIN, Executive Director 🍃Planting Seeds with Sponsors & Suppliers 🍃 Lisa Silver, Senior Brand Consultant, DLA Promotions |
April Contents
SPIN Events and Programs AMA, Monica Graves, Soulbare, April 14 SPINCon miniRegional, Hybrid Program, April 28 Shape What's Next. Share Your Voice. SPIN Insight Survey Request Strategic Alliance Partners and Sponsors Talkadot, Innovia, Wildly Different & Soulbare Newsletter Guest Writers Wanted! Share your Experience and Insight on anything |
💐Spring Cleaning Your Planning Strategy
(Without Burning It Down or Starting Over)💐
Written by Carolynn Santos
SPIN, Executive Director
SPIN, Executive Director
There’s something about April that makes us want to fix everything. It’s a new season, we have fresh energy, the days are getting longer – we are feeling great, but in the moment, we look at what we’ve always been doing and suddenly decide that workflows, systems, and processes suddenly seem like they need a full overhaul “I should probably redo all of it.”
Wait. Don’t. Stop yourself in the moment of that thought.
As senior planners we don’t burn things down in the name of progress, we want to, but should we? Instead, we can refine. We can adjust. We can strategically evolve everything that is not working. Right? And, truthfully, deep down we know that not everything needs to be replaced – likely only cleaned up, modernized or retired.
Refine vs. Retire: Know the Difference
Not every frustration is a failure of our planning — sometimes the system itself just needs a look. This is when we start to notice that something is broken, cluttered, or a bit clumsy — we get the idea.
Before you completely eliminate the process or activity from your planning ask yourself a few questions:
Refinement is about fine-tuning what is working. Retiring a process is making space for a better way to do the same activity, maybe faster and more efficient, or delegated to the team.
We have been doing the job long enough as senior planners to know the difference between the two – so we don’t have to burn it down and start all over.
We think through and make these changes strategically and with focused intent. When we determine what stays, what shifts, or quietly exits the room is our leadership in thought, influence and action.
Wait. Don’t. Stop yourself in the moment of that thought.
As senior planners we don’t burn things down in the name of progress, we want to, but should we? Instead, we can refine. We can adjust. We can strategically evolve everything that is not working. Right? And, truthfully, deep down we know that not everything needs to be replaced – likely only cleaned up, modernized or retired.
Refine vs. Retire: Know the Difference
Not every frustration is a failure of our planning — sometimes the system itself just needs a look. This is when we start to notice that something is broken, cluttered, or a bit clumsy — we get the idea.
Before you completely eliminate the process or activity from your planning ask yourself a few questions:
- Is this truly ineffective or inefficient in my planning process
- Do I tighten up this process or eliminate it for something better
- Am I solving the right problem? Or creating more work with changes?
Refinement is about fine-tuning what is working. Retiring a process is making space for a better way to do the same activity, maybe faster and more efficient, or delegated to the team.
We have been doing the job long enough as senior planners to know the difference between the two – so we don’t have to burn it down and start all over.
We think through and make these changes strategically and with focused intent. When we determine what stays, what shifts, or quietly exits the room is our leadership in thought, influence and action.
Streamline Noise (Especially Communications)
If there’s one place strategy can get messy fast, it’s in communications — where one missed message or one too many platforms can quietly derail momentum.
Too many emails (missed action items anyone?). Too many platforms (why?). Too many “quick check-ins” that somehow turn into 30-minute calls (we have all been there). The communication creep is real — and it’s one of the fastest ways to drain time, energy, and focus across a team.
Spring could be the perfect time to simplify your teams’ communications:
Clearing your communication isn’t about more touchpoints — it’s about the right ones – keeping the touchpoints that are necessary to keep momentum and planning moving forward.
Streamlining your communications opens time for the team and planning becomes more efficient – your timelines, expectations, execution. Less confusion. Less stress. More time.
If there’s one place strategy can get messy fast, it’s in communications — where one missed message or one too many platforms can quietly derail momentum.
Too many emails (missed action items anyone?). Too many platforms (why?). Too many “quick check-ins” that somehow turn into 30-minute calls (we have all been there). The communication creep is real — and it’s one of the fastest ways to drain time, energy, and focus across a team.
Spring could be the perfect time to simplify your teams’ communications:
- What channels are actually necessary?
- Where do our decisions get stuck?
- What can be documented and accessed by everyone?
Clearing your communication isn’t about more touchpoints — it’s about the right ones – keeping the touchpoints that are necessary to keep momentum and planning moving forward.
Streamlining your communications opens time for the team and planning becomes more efficient – your timelines, expectations, execution. Less confusion. Less stress. More time.
Update Expectations (Before They Update Themselves)
Senior planners know that when expectations aren’t clearly defined, they don’t disappear — scope creep shows up and can grow. Timelines stretch and responsibilities can blur. And suddenly you’re managing more than you agreed to, without ever having the conversation.
April is a good time to reset that. With your team, your clients and your partners.
No dramatic announcement needed. Quick, small, and clear adjustments can be easily made with little to no disruption to the team:
A Smarter Way Forward
April is a good reminder not to rebuild everything. Small changes create big impact — for us, the team, and our planning efforts — without disrupting what is already in motion. This is senior planners quietly implementing strategy and putting leadership in action.
We don’t need April to remind us to burn it down and start over. We know better. We refine. We adjust. We strategically evolve. And in doing so, we keep the magic of what we do — planning and executing — moving forward.
We don’t need a new season to remind us of what we already know. We’ve been doing this long enough to recognize what stays, what shifts, and what quietly exits the room. That’s not spring cleaning — that’s senior planner leadership in action.
Senior planners know that when expectations aren’t clearly defined, they don’t disappear — scope creep shows up and can grow. Timelines stretch and responsibilities can blur. And suddenly you’re managing more than you agreed to, without ever having the conversation.
April is a good time to reset that. With your team, your clients and your partners.
No dramatic announcement needed. Quick, small, and clear adjustments can be easily made with little to no disruption to the team:
- Reconfirming roles and responsibilities
- Clarifying timelines and decision points
- Reinforcing how and when communication happens
A Smarter Way Forward
April is a good reminder not to rebuild everything. Small changes create big impact — for us, the team, and our planning efforts — without disrupting what is already in motion. This is senior planners quietly implementing strategy and putting leadership in action.
We don’t need April to remind us to burn it down and start over. We know better. We refine. We adjust. We strategically evolve. And in doing so, we keep the magic of what we do — planning and executing — moving forward.
- What’s working well enough to keep?
- What needs to be refined?
- What’s quietly ready to go?
We don’t need a new season to remind us of what we already know. We’ve been doing this long enough to recognize what stays, what shifts, and what quietly exits the room. That’s not spring cleaning — that’s senior planner leadership in action.
⭐💫⭐ Member Spotlight - Megan Allday, CMM ⭐💫⭐
Celebrating Leadership, Humanity and Impact
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In an industry driven by connection, complexity, and constant evolution, there are professionals who not only navigate it with excellence but elevate everyone around them in the process. Megan Allday, CMM, is one of those rare leaders.
Recently honored as a TSNN 50 Over 50 award recipient, Megan’s recognition reflects a career defined not just by achievement, but by meaningful impact across the global meetings and events community. Megan serves as both a valued member of the SPIN Advisory Board and a key contributor to the SPINCon Planning Committee. In these roles, she brings a distinctive combination of strategic insight, creativity, and executional excellence. Those who have had the opportunity to work alongside her quickly recognize that Megan is not only deeply knowledgeable, but also incredibly generous with her time, ideas, and support. What sets Megan apart is not just what she does, but how she does it. |
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She is known for her creativity and problem-solving, her tireless work ethic, and her ability to bring people together across cultures, perspectives, and experiences. She leads with both intellect and heart, balancing high standards with humor, and ambition with empathy. Whether collaborating with industry peers or engaging with global communities, Megan consistently shows up with authenticity and purpose.
When asked what she is most proud of, Megan does not point to a single event or milestone. Instead, she reflects on the relationships she has built around the world. “Probably my relationships around the world, from school-age volunteers to village elders, who are all focused on providing help to the most vulnerable.”
This perspective speaks volumes about her leadership philosophy. For Megan, success is not measured solely by outcomes, but by connection, shared purpose, and the ability to uplift others.
Her advice to fellow professionals is equally powerful:
“Pay attention on the way up. You will have a chance to work with people from all over the world and many cultures and faiths. Any of them can be one of your champions, and you can be a champion to any one of them. Open eyes and heart; forward motion; bring people together for the greater good.”
This mindset has clearly shaped her career and her influence within the industry.
For those of us who are fortunate enough to collaborate with her, Megan is more than an industry expert. She is a collaborator, a mentor, and a source of inspiration. She reminds us that while events may be what we produce, people are at the heart of everything we do.
Her recognition as a TSNN 50 Over 50 honoree is not just well deserved, it is a celebration of a career built on purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.
On behalf of the SPIN community, we are proud to recognize and celebrate Megan Allday for her contributions to our industry and for the example she sets every day.
When asked what she is most proud of, Megan does not point to a single event or milestone. Instead, she reflects on the relationships she has built around the world. “Probably my relationships around the world, from school-age volunteers to village elders, who are all focused on providing help to the most vulnerable.”
This perspective speaks volumes about her leadership philosophy. For Megan, success is not measured solely by outcomes, but by connection, shared purpose, and the ability to uplift others.
Her advice to fellow professionals is equally powerful:
“Pay attention on the way up. You will have a chance to work with people from all over the world and many cultures and faiths. Any of them can be one of your champions, and you can be a champion to any one of them. Open eyes and heart; forward motion; bring people together for the greater good.”
This mindset has clearly shaped her career and her influence within the industry.
For those of us who are fortunate enough to collaborate with her, Megan is more than an industry expert. She is a collaborator, a mentor, and a source of inspiration. She reminds us that while events may be what we produce, people are at the heart of everything we do.
Her recognition as a TSNN 50 Over 50 honoree is not just well deserved, it is a celebration of a career built on purpose, leadership, and lasting impact.
On behalf of the SPIN community, we are proud to recognize and celebrate Megan Allday for her contributions to our industry and for the example she sets every day.
About the Author: Christine Gaudet is an event executive with more than 20 years of experience advising organizations on strategy, education, and engagement across meetings and events. She brings a disciplined, outcomes-driven approach to aligning stakeholder objectives, strengthening professional networks, and maximizing the impact of live experiences. Connect with Christine on LinkedIn or reach out at [email protected].
SPIN Events
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ASK ME ANYTHING Series
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SPIN Ask Me Anything: Leadership, Self-Trust & Regenerative Wellness with Monica Graves García
In the meetings and events industry, leadership rarely happens under perfect conditions. We’re constantly navigating shifting priorities, tight timelines, stakeholder expectations, and decisions that come without a clear roadmap. And when uncertainty is part of the job, the question becomes: how do planners stay clear, grounded, and confident enough to guide others through it? |
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Join us for a SPIN Ask Me Anything with Monica Graves García, international speaker and certified master educator whose work explores the intersection of self-trust, mindful leadership, and cultures of belonging. After nearly two decades working in the arena of regenerative wellness and transformational events, Monica’s work centers around a simple but powerful idea:
The real challenge leaders face today isn’t just stress or burnout - it’s uncertainty. And the skill that allows us to navigate uncertainty is self-trust.
In this conversation we’ll explore how cultivating self-awareness, self-trust, and courageous action can help leaders make clearer decisions, develop stronger teams, and design environments where creativity, collaboration and compassion can thrive.
Together, we’ll talk about:
As always with SPIN conversations, this will be candid, thoughtful, and grounded in real experience. Come curious. Bring your questions.
The real challenge leaders face today isn’t just stress or burnout - it’s uncertainty. And the skill that allows us to navigate uncertainty is self-trust.
In this conversation we’ll explore how cultivating self-awareness, self-trust, and courageous action can help leaders make clearer decisions, develop stronger teams, and design environments where creativity, collaboration and compassion can thrive.
Together, we’ll talk about:
- The nature of uncertainty as an unavoidable aspect of life and leadership
- How to build self-trust that fosters individual courage and collective belonging
- What regenerative wellness means for professionals working in high-demand industries like meetings and events
- Practical ways planners can design experiences that support both short-term desired outcomes and long-term human vitality
As always with SPIN conversations, this will be candid, thoughtful, and grounded in real experience. Come curious. Bring your questions.
SPINCon Regional miniCon - Tuesday, April 28, 2026
2:00 pm - 4-30 pm, Pacific
2:00 pm - 4-30 pm, Pacific
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SPINCon Regional miniCon - Leadership and Ethics. What? How? Which Lens?
Join SPIN for an afternoon designed with intention — where connection, conversation, and a bit of fun come together. Whether you’re joining us in beautiful St. Helena, California with Carolynn Santos, or gathering with fellow SPINners in Dallas, Texas with Megan Allday or logging in virtually with Monica Graves Garcia guiding the experience, this regional event is all about bringing our community together in real time. We’ll dive into an interactive discussion on Leadership and Ethics — and because it wouldn’t be SPIN without a little personality woven in, we’ll also be celebrating National Blueberry Pie Day and National Poetry Day along the way. Thoughtful dialogue, shared insights, and a touch of creativity… exactly the kind of space senior planners thrive in. Registration is now open — and with only 25 seats available at each in-person location, we encourage you to secure your spot early. |
**SPINCon Regional miniCon is Hybrid - Choose Your Location **
$ 15.00 (includes service charges) Event Time: Pacific: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM Central: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Eastern: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM REGISTER HERE! |
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What does it truly mean to lead ethically in today’s event landscape? As senior planners, we operate at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and influence — making decisions that impact not only our events, but the people, communities, and organizations we serve. Yet ethics is often misunderstood, oversimplified, or reduced to compliance. This SPIN Regional session introduces a practical framework for ethical thinking — one that moves beyond instinct, policy, or cultural norms, and into intentional leadership. Together, we will explore:
You will leave with:
Because how we lead matters. And how we decide matters even more.
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Speaker
Ann (Gregg) Skeet is the senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Her research explores how to make ethics pervasive in organizations and responsible AI practices in corporations. She teaches ethics literacy and technology governance for boards in the Leavey Executive Center at Santa Clara University. Skeet is a co-author of “Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap and “Voting for Ethics: A Guide for U.S. Voters Second Edition.” Skeet is a member of the AI Research Group at the Vatican Dicastery on Culture and Education, and the Partnership on AI’s Enterprise AI Steering Committee.
Previously, Skeet served as CEO of American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley for 8 years and worked for a decade as a Knight Ridder executive, serving the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Newspapers as Vice President of Marketing. She was also president of Notre Dame High School San Jose. Skeet earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Bucknell University, where she spent an undergraduate semester at the London School of Economics. She has a master of business administration degree from Harvard Business School. |
SPINners - Where in the World is SPIN?
Help Us Map What's Next.
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The Senior Planners Industry Network is evolving—and we want to evolve with you. With new leadership in place and a data initiative underway, we’re refreshing our member information to better understand where you are, what’s changed, and how we can serve you in more meaningful ways.
SPIN has always been more than a network—it’s a trusted space for senior planners to share insights, ask for help, exchange ideas, and connect with peers who truly understand the work. We’re committed to keeping that strong—and making it even more relevant to you. Take a few moments to share your updates and help shape what’s next: Share your input here Tell us where you are—so we can meet you there. Complete our survey and be entered into a drawing for one of our $10 Starbuck gift cards, and one lucky winner will receive a registration for SPINCon 2026. |
🍃 Planting Seeds with Sponsors & Suppliers 🍃
Sponsored Article
Lisa Silver, Senior Brand Consultant
DLA Promotions
DLA Promotions
A fresh look at how intentional relationships in Q2 can shape the rest of your year — and maybe even save a life along the way.
You know that moment in spring when you finally deal with the pile on your desk that has been quietly judging you since January?
Same energy, different pile: your vendor relationships.
Q2 is the season when senior planners who have it together (you) stop reacting and start aligning. It's when the seeds you plant with the right suppliers determine whether fall programs bloom beautifully or leave you panic-sourcing branded tote bags at 11:30 p.m. the week before the conference.
You know that moment in spring when you finally deal with the pile on your desk that has been quietly judging you since January?
Same energy, different pile: your vendor relationships.
Q2 is the season when senior planners who have it together (you) stop reacting and start aligning. It's when the seeds you plant with the right suppliers determine whether fall programs bloom beautifully or leave you panic-sourcing branded tote bags at 11:30 p.m. the week before the conference.
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We'd like to introduce you to a supplier that might just change the way you think about your promotional products spend altogether: DLA Promotions.
Wait - what? "Buy Swag. Save Lives." Yes, really. DLA Promotions is a national promotional products distributor — branded merchandise, custom apparel, kitting, fulfillment, webstores, the works. They have access to the industry's largest buying group (think: over $1.5 billion in purchasing power), 50+ years of expertise, and the kind of end-to-end service that makes your "can you just handle it?" dreams come true. But here's the part that makes them genuinely different from every other promo vendor you've ever ghost-quoted on a Tuesday afternoon: 100% of their net profits go directly to Donate Life America - the nonprofit that funds organ, eye, and tissue donation education and advocacy across the U.S. Every. Single. Dollar. So that branded pen? Conference polo? Attendee gift kit? It's doing double duty. Your client's logo is out in the world, and someone gets a second chance at life. That's not a tagline — that's actually what happens. |
About the Author:
Lisa Silver is a Senior Brand Consultant with DLA Promotions, based in California, with a long-standing career in branded merchandise. Outside of her professional work, she is the founder of The Silver Lining, a female a cappella group that sings to raise funds for cancer research. Lisa is also part of the global Idealist movement, which encourages taking simple, meaningful action once a month—on dates like 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4 etc.—to help make our corner of the world a little better. |
Three things senior planners told us they wish they'd done earlier in the year:
1. Have the alignment conversation before you need to.
Late-year chaos almost always traces back to an early-year assumption. ("I figured they'd just... know.") DLA Promotions does A-to-Z: warehousing, fulfillment, kitting, pop-up stores, creative support, and bespoke project management. One good conversation now = about fourteen fewer frantic emails in October. You're welcome, Future You.
2. Use transparency as a storytelling tool.
When was the last time you could tell a client that their swag order was literally saving lives? DLA Promotions' mission isn't buried in fine print; it's the whole model. Reach certain annual spend thresholds, and your organization gets recognized as a Donate Life America sponsor, with your brand featured at conferences and events throughout the year. That’s a value-add conversation your competitors aren't having.
3. Stop treating vendors like one-offs.
The planners who thrive are the ones who curate a small, trusted circle of partners who actually know their business. DLA Promotions is built to be that kind of relationship — they show up the same whether it's your first order or your fiftieth. Consistent. Accountable. Rooting for you. (Pun absolutely intended. It's Q2. We're in our gardening era.)
1. Have the alignment conversation before you need to.
Late-year chaos almost always traces back to an early-year assumption. ("I figured they'd just... know.") DLA Promotions does A-to-Z: warehousing, fulfillment, kitting, pop-up stores, creative support, and bespoke project management. One good conversation now = about fourteen fewer frantic emails in October. You're welcome, Future You.
2. Use transparency as a storytelling tool.
When was the last time you could tell a client that their swag order was literally saving lives? DLA Promotions' mission isn't buried in fine print; it's the whole model. Reach certain annual spend thresholds, and your organization gets recognized as a Donate Life America sponsor, with your brand featured at conferences and events throughout the year. That’s a value-add conversation your competitors aren't having.
3. Stop treating vendors like one-offs.
The planners who thrive are the ones who curate a small, trusted circle of partners who actually know their business. DLA Promotions is built to be that kind of relationship — they show up the same whether it's your first order or your fiftieth. Consistent. Accountable. Rooting for you. (Pun absolutely intended. It's Q2. We're in our gardening era.)
SPIN Member Exclusive Offer
Mention SPIN Q2 when you reach out to Lisa Silver, and she'll waive your first-order set-up charge — up to a $50 value — as a welcome gift from a company whose whole thing is giving. Valid for new DLA Promotions clients through June 30, 2026. Ready to make your swag spend do more? Reach Lisa at [email protected].
Remember: what makes DLA Promotions different is the difference they make
Mention SPIN Q2 when you reach out to Lisa Silver, and she'll waive your first-order set-up charge — up to a $50 value — as a welcome gift from a company whose whole thing is giving. Valid for new DLA Promotions clients through June 30, 2026. Ready to make your swag spend do more? Reach Lisa at [email protected].
Remember: what makes DLA Promotions different is the difference they make
About DLA Promotions:
DLA PROMOTIONS - Buy Swag/Save Lives
DLA Promotions is a national promotional products distributor built on a fundamentally different model: every dollar of profit is returned to charity. Founded to align everyday business spend with meaningful social impact, DLA Promotions provides high-quality branded merchandise, apparel, and fulfillment services while proving that commercial excellence and purpose can coexist.
What makes DLA Promotions truly unique is its commitment to full philanthropy. One hundred percent of net profits are donated directly to Donate Life America, the nonprofit organization that supports organ, eye, and tissue donation across the United States. Imagine that every client logo produced, every order fulfilled, and every campaign executed helps fund education, registration, and advocacy efforts that save and heal lives.
By choosing DLA Promotions, clients transform routine marketing and operational spend into a force for good without sacrificing service, quality, or scale. It is a simple but powerful idea: buy merchandise, support your brand, and help save lives. Through this model, DLA Promotions turns corporate purchasing into a lasting investment in communities and in the mission of Donate Life America.
DLA PROMOTIONS - Buy Swag/Save Lives
DLA Promotions is a national promotional products distributor built on a fundamentally different model: every dollar of profit is returned to charity. Founded to align everyday business spend with meaningful social impact, DLA Promotions provides high-quality branded merchandise, apparel, and fulfillment services while proving that commercial excellence and purpose can coexist.
What makes DLA Promotions truly unique is its commitment to full philanthropy. One hundred percent of net profits are donated directly to Donate Life America, the nonprofit organization that supports organ, eye, and tissue donation across the United States. Imagine that every client logo produced, every order fulfilled, and every campaign executed helps fund education, registration, and advocacy efforts that save and heal lives.
By choosing DLA Promotions, clients transform routine marketing and operational spend into a force for good without sacrificing service, quality, or scale. It is a simple but powerful idea: buy merchandise, support your brand, and help save lives. Through this model, DLA Promotions turns corporate purchasing into a lasting investment in communities and in the mission of Donate Life America.
Strategic Alliances Program
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We are excited to announce our first alliance is with Talkadot!
Find the Right Speaker Every Time Talkadot makes it easy to discover your perfect speaker match by using feedback from over 11,000 speakers and over a million data points. Our tool leverages our unique database and AI to match you to the perfect speaker for any topic, budget, or audience size, Talkadot helps you book with confidence. Best of all, there’s no cost or obligation, just smarter, data-driven matches. EARN A COMMISSION! SPIN receives a small commission for each speaker a SPIN member books through our link with Talkadot. YOU receive $100 commission that can be sent directly to you, your organization, or you can donate your referral fee back to SPIN. NOTE: TO GET YOUR REBATE, YOU MUST BOOK THROUGH SPIN's referral link!! Please reach out to Carolynn with any questions. Note: Please let us know when you book a speaker with Talkadot. We are recruiting senior-planners who have used the service for an upcoming white paper. Please let us know if you are interested. |
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Recommend Sponsors & Receive a Referral Fee!!!
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SPIN is actively doing outreach for our 2026 Annual SPIN Sponsors.
The sponsorship program has been completely revamped and includes many new and exciting opportunities for Sponsor to engage with the SPIN community. If you know a supplier company that would be a great partner for SPIN, please send contact information to Carolynn. If the Sponsor signs on the dotted line, the SPINner will receive a $100 referral bonus that goes right into your pocket (or your company's, or you can gift it back to SPIN). Winner-winner chicken dinner! Send contact details to [email protected]. |
Easter Fun
SPIN SUPPORTERS
Strategic Alliance Partner
In-Kind Sponsors
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