JOIN MIRA for exciting networking opportunities to meet MIRA staff, learn more about MIRA’s latest and most popular rebate & discount programs, and hear from Industry Leaders on how to improve your company’s bottom line. If you want to MAXIMIZE your MIRA membership and get a jump on your competition, you won’t want to miss these events!
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This inaugural event, while not perfect, was successful in many ways,” said Bill Wild, President & CEO. “First, it allowed our Ohio membership to interact with MIRA staff and learn more about our membership programs and services. Secondly, it proved to be a format where members could network and meet MIRA business partners who administer several of the association’s most popular rebate, discount, and service programs. The focus was on helping our members improve their business’s bottom line.”
Bob Thomas, Executive Vice President of Resourcing Edge, shared insights with members on his new MIRA program, which offers business owners cost-effective solutions for HR, employee benefits, worker’s comp, and payroll. The MIRA office will soon take part in this new program to streamline its human resources department.
Members also heard from Louis Mosca, COO and Executive Vice President of American Management Services, a new MIRA Business Partner, who shared proven strategies to enhance margins and boost profits. These strategies, which have been successfully implemented by small businesses nationwide, can potentially increase a business’s profits by 3%. Mosca is a regular content contributor to MIRA’s BottomLine magazine.
MIRA’s Regional Roadshows are a new concept the association started this year. It is an event that brings MIRA’s services and programs directly to members. While MIRA has a lot of events that our suppliers, wholesalers, and distributors will attend, MIRA’s Regional Roadshows are events specifically designed for our retail members. “I wanted to add more retailer-focused events and I chose to kick off this event in Ohio simply because we have a lot of retailers in Cleveland, and I have not had a chance to meet many of them yet,” added Wild.
This roadshow was like an after-hours mini-trade show concept with plenty of food and beverages. Many MIRA business partners set up booths to share new services and programs. The event was not just a ‘meet and greet’, but a unique opportunity for our members to network, interact with MIRA staff, and learn more about the advantages of the membership.
“In Cleveland, we focused on the existing membership, which consists of nearly 400 members in the Greater Cleveland area. In the future, we will invite not only existing members but also prospective members to our recruitment list and turn it into a membership drive as well,” said Wild.
Resourcing Edge, American Management Services, Borden Dairy, Conifer Insurance, Great Lakes Data Systems, Pepsi, Sedgwick, and Team Sledd were sponsors of the event. Their support was instrumental in rolling out this new MIRA initiative. “We are grateful for their partnership and commitment to our association” said Wild.
“It was our first roadshow, and you never know what to expect,” said Wild. “We didn’t have the large attendance we had hoped for, but the members who attended were excited about what they learned. We even signed up some new members!”
With every first event, there are things you learn that help you improve. “This was also the first event MIRA’ new Event & Publication Coordinator Catherine Denha managed, and she did an excellent job,” added Wild. “I learned a great deal from this first roadshow, which we will build upon,” said Denha. “Our members gave us insightful feedback, and we look forward to improving what we started for the greater benefit of our members.”
Although Wild is planning more On the Road events, scheduling will be difficult as MIRA already has a full event schedule for 2024. “I would like to do another one of these events on the west side of Michigan, maybe the Grand Rapids area,” said Wild. “Most of our events are in southeast Michigan, and we do well there. We have many retailers on the state’s west side, and we want them to meet with our staff, so Grand Rapids, Michigan, may be the next stop.”
By Epiphany Communications: Coaching & Consulting