Attendees at the 2016 NCRA Firm Owners Executive Conference being held April 17-19 at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, are invited to attend a special networking reception being held April 18 from 6:30-10:30 p.m., at El Livin, a unique restaurant located in the heart of the historic Luis Muñoz Rivera Park. The networking reception is being hosted by Verbatim Reporting, based in San Juan.
“Puerto Ricans in general are very gregarious people. We open our hearts and our homes to all,” said Elsie M. Parra, managing member of Verbatim Reporting. “When we knew NCRA was going to have its Firm Owners and Executives Conference here, our first thought was to welcome them with an activity. After all, they are coming to our island.”
Parra said she and other staff from Verbatim Reporting are registered to attend the conference, and they are looking forward to meeting other firm owners and increasing their knowledge of the business trends driving today’s court reporting and captioning firms.
According to Parra, El Livin sits above the park and offers views of both the park and ocean, backed by a décor that infuses a hint of the times of clandestine operations from the 1920s Prohibition Era to the sleek retro styles of the 1960s.
Attendees at the 2016 Firm Owners Executive Conference will enjoy an array of networking opportunities, the first of which kicks off at an opening reception on the evening of April 17. On Monday morning, attendees will hear a two-part keynote speech presented by Jane Southren, the first of two keynote speakers presenting at the event. Southren, a former commercial litigator turned coach and collaborator for the attorneys at her law firm, Lerners LLP, Toronto, Ontario, will share insights with attendees about recognizing and cultivating the relationships firm owners need to fuel their business successes. Her keynote address will explore the differences between transactional relationships versus loyal relationships, how to identify them, and how to build more loyal relationships.
Other sessions during the first day of the conference will include a panel discussion about the findings of NCRA’s latest State of the Industry Survey report, led by NCRA President Steve Zinone, RPR; Kim Neeson, RPR, CRR, CRC, Chair of the Association’s Firm Owners Committee; and Mike Nelson, CAE, CEO & Executive Director of NCRA. The day will wrap up with another networking session in the afternoon.
Tuesday’s schedule includes a two-part presentation by a second keynote speaker Ann Gomez, a productivity consultant and founder of Clear Concept Inc., Toronto, Ontario. She will take the stage and address how business owners can improve time management by controlling chaos in their lives, planning priorities, and understanding how to own their time. Her presentation will introduce attendees to the key work habits needed to thrive in today’s busy environment and enable achieving more with less effort.
The schedule for the day also includes additional networking sessions, as well as a two-part session led by Jeanne Leonard, CAE, NCRA’s Senior Director of Marketing, Membership & Communications, which will include a scavenger hunt.
Finally, a closing reception will provide another networking opportunity where attendees will be able to secure new connections and catch up with old friends.
This year’s event marks the first time NCRA is traveling to the Caribbean, as well as the first time the schedule will feature two keynote speakers who will address the tough issues of relationship-building and time management.
The 2016 NCRA Firm Owners Executive Conference, which is designed exclusively for owners and managers of court reporting and captioning firms, is considered the Association’s most prestigious event.
A special hotel rate of $179 per night plus taxes and fees for NCRA members expires March 25, and rooms are filling up fast. With an easy flight from the mainland and no passport required, San Juan promises attendees the perfect opportunity to shake the winter blues and return home motivated to build their business in the coming year.
Hotel registration is available online at NCRA.org/forsv; by phone at 787-721-0303, ext. 2156, or 800-468-8585; or by email at reservations.caribe@hilton.com. If booking via phone or email, please refer to group code NCRA16 to secure the discounted rate. Please be advised that a credit card is required to guarantee room reservations.
For more information, the full schedule, and registration information for the 2016 Firm Owners Executive Conference, visit NCRA.org/FirmOwners.
More information about Ann Gomez can be found at clearconceptinc.ca. More information about Jane Southren can be found at southren.ca.
