Upcoming Events

January 2026

January 8, 2026– 11:30-1:00
Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint
7840 NC 751, Durham, NC 27713

Session Title: Events are Risky Business! 

Session Description: Planning local government meetings and community events comes with unique risks that extend beyond logistics. Public trust, taxpayer accountability, and community safety are all at stake. This session emphasizes that risk management is not just about insurance but about proactive preparation. From managing crowd safety and transportation issues to ensuring compliance with local health and safety laws, planners must anticipate potential problems and put structured contingency plans in place. By walking through common scenarios—technical failures, adverse weather, or public safety incidents—attendees will learn how to safeguard participants, protect municipal reputation, and demonstrate responsible stewardship of public resources.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Public safety and accountability are top priorities: 
   Attendees will leave with a clear framework for prioritizing attendee and community safety while maintaining transparency in decision-making, ensuring that public trust is protected at every stage.
2. Structured contingency planning ensures faster responses:
   Planners will gain a repeatable template for contingency planning that can be applied to any future meeting or event, allowing them to respond quickly and confidently when issues arise.
   
3. Compliance matters for public sector events: 
   Attendees will understand key compliance requirements specific for events, enabling them to confidently navigate health, safety, and liability obligations.
4. Reputation management is critical:
   Planners will walk away with practical communication strategies to protect their personal and departments reputation, knowing how to prepare for and mitigate potential damage

Speaker: Sally Webb

Sally Webb, CSEP is the former CEO of The Special Event Company,  founded in 1986 in the UK, then NC in 2005. Her first US clients were Duke University and Coach K. Sally won over forty international awards including International Event Producer of the Year,  Top 25 Greatest Industry Influencers,  Special Events Leadership Award  and Special Events Lifetime Achievement Award. She lectures in event management globally, and recently designed a course for Wake Tech. She co-authored the Event Management Certification Program for Duke University and Chaired the Event Industry Exam Committee. 

Register Online

Event Pricing

$20.00 Planner Member
$25.00 Planner Non-Member
$40.00 Supplier Member
$50.00 Supplier Non-Member
$20.00 Virtual Member/Non-Member
$10.00 Student/Educator/Retiree

2025-2026 Planned Education

PR and Media Relations

Thursday, January 8, 2026
Sally Webb, CSEP, Non-Executive Director
Core Competency: Facilities & Services 

Leadership / Logistics

Thursday, March 19, 2026 

Carolinas Chapter Conference

Friday, May 15, 2026