National Webinar: Plan It, Don’t Panic: Event Planning Without the Stress
Program Description:
A one-hour webinar on planning and executing in-person events—from lunch-and-learns to annual galas—with a repeatable framework and ready-to-use tools you can apply right away.
Planning a successful event takes more than booking a room and sending an email—it takes the right team, the right timing, and a clear sense of what kind of event you’re actually running. This one-hour webinar walks attendees through a practical, step-by-step framework for planning and executing in-person events, with dedicated guidance for both educational programs and social events. Whether you’re organizing a firm or organization’s lunch-and-learn, full-day workshop, or annual gala, you’ll leave with a repeatable process, ready-to-use tools, and a clearer understanding of what makes each event type succeed. (Based on an updated version of the SDA Chapter Guidelines).
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will distinguish between educational programs and social events—identifying the unique planning priorities, success metrics, and member outcomes that define each type.
2. Participants will apply a structured, ten-step planning framework to their next in-person event, from assembling the right volunteer team through post-event recognition and financial closeout.
3. Participants will develop a customized event planning approach for their chapter by selecting the appropriate format, budget strategy, and promotional timeline based on their event type, audience, and available resources.
4. Participants will translate the learning into virtual events.
Speaker Bio: Deborah Gill, CPA FSDA
Deborah Gill, FSDA, CPA, is the owner of Profit by Design, LLC, a consulting firm to the A/E industry. She formerly held the positions of Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Precision Measurements, Inc. (PMI), a 75+ person land- surveying firm located in Virginia Beach, VA. And Director of Business Operations at Clark Nexsen, PC, a 550 person multi- disciplined architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design firm located in VA, NC, GA, and DC. Deborah has worked in the A|E industry for over 40 years.
Deborah has provided many seminars on both accounting and human resources topics to SDA, AIA, NSPE, IFMA, and VSCPA in person, as well as, through webinars at both local and national levels. She is an SDA Past National President, where she has served as the National President on two separate occasions. She also volunteers with Women United and the d’Art Center of Norfolk, VA.