Get to Know Soundings Connect, a Network for Freelance Event Pros
December 4, 2019
You may have never heard of Soundings Connect, but it’s a group you’ll want to get familiar with — and maybe even join. Founded in San Diego in 2018, it’s a network of 200 (and growing!) freelance meeting and event professionals, all of whom have professional experience in the fields of trade show management, meeting planning, event marketing and more.
The goal of the organization is to strategically match companies in need of these services with professionals whose skill sets and talents line up with their objectives. “We focus on both hard and soft skills to ensure the right fit,” says Tracy Judge, founder and chief connector with Soundings Connect. “At the same time, we help our freelancers grow their businesses by providing a platform that helps them find clients so that they can focus on their area of expertise.”
Intrigued? So are we. Soundings Connect’s business model is based on the flexibility and versatility of its talent pool: It has consultants and specialists available for any type of event you can think of and is able to provide supplemental talent for any client’s needs. Its website provides clickable options to “Find Talent” or “Find Work” depending on your position, so you can immediately begin searching for opportunities.
But Soundings Connect is not only about creating business for event professionals — the group is also focused on advocacy, both for entrepreneurship in the industry and the advancement of social issues affecting the world. Last month, for example, Soundings Connect announced it had signed The Code and supports the 20BY20 campaign, an initiative by ECPAT-USA working to eradicate sexual exploitation of children by July 2020 (more on that here).
As an incentive to professionals to take the online e-learning course for 20BY20, Soundings Connect has pledged to donate $10 to Refuge for Women for each freelance event professional who takes the course (the course also provides credit toward your CMP, just FYI).
Judge speaks frequently at industry events such as IMEX, MPI’s WEC, PCMA and MPI chapter events on topics like the freelance economy, pricing and profitability, stakeholder management and more. She will also join the MPI International Board of Directors in 2020.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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