A Year Full of Possibilities | January 2023

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A Year Full of Possibilities | January 2023

20 January 2023

Newsletter
January 20, 2023

Director’s Note

Hi friends,
 
It is truly bittersweet to announce that after 16 years, today, January 20th will be my last day at Yale. I have accepted a new position at Vanderbilt University as their Senior Director of Vanderbilt Hospitality (Conferences & Events). 
 
It has been an interesting and inspirational journey, and I am beyond grateful to all my staff and to all the people that have crossed my path from Yale and beyond. I raised my kids during these years, met the most amazing people, got to travel the world, evolved into a leader, became a professor, and even wrote a book! 
 
Susan Adler Wigler started this department in the late 80’s and recruited me to come join her team from Quinnipiac University in 2007. In late 2013, I was offered the opportunity to build an amazing new team and department, with a new vision. Fast forward to today, Yale Conferences & Events is a thriving and successful conferences, events, and housing department. Some would say that YC&E has evolved into a full-service campus services office, and is one of the best. YC&E not only follows best practices, YC&E continues to set and hold to the highest of standards. 
 
I’d like to share the special ingredients of what encompasses the YC&E culture: 
 
  • Empower staff and each other 
  • Dare to grow
  • Be fearless
  • Stay proud and know that the small details are important
  • Stay humble
  • Pay attention to what’s outside of your box
  • Always listen to your gut
  • Insist on teamwork
  • Dream big
  • Pay attention to each other and be responsive
  • If it’s not good enough, do something about it
  • You are only as successful as the people who work for and with you
  • Work smarter
This change will allow staff to advance and the department to take on a new shape. The department is and will continue to be in good hands and new leadership will be announced soon. 
 
A heartfelt thank you to all the clients, staff, campus partners, and colleagues for 16 amazing years. You all will continue to be my inspiration and will never be forgotten. 
 
Cheers to new beginnings in 2023! 
 
Sincerely,
 
Suzanne
Executive Director 

Department Updates

Welcome, Joseph DiMaggio! 

 
Please help us welcome Joseph DiMaggio, YC&E’s new Program Manager, to our team! Joseph is an experienced development and event management professional who ran his own non-profit consulting company prior to joining our team. 
 
 

Congratulations, Nicole and Maen!

 
A heartfelt congratulations to our very own Nicole AbouAkar and Maen Adileh! Nicole and Maen recently began roles on the Housing Operations team at YC&E: Nicole in a new capacity as Housing Assignments Coordinator, and Maen in an expanded role as Office Manager (M&P). Best wishes to you both! 
 

Opening New Haven’s waterfront for adventure, discovery, and growth 

 
YC&E had the pleasure of recently taking a tour of the Canal Dock Boathouse located in New Haven’s Long Whard waterfront district. This is a wonderful organization deeply rooted in the local community that just happens to also have evenet space with spectacular waterfront views for rent! 
 
 

Class of 2023 takes the stage 

 
Cambria Hotels, a brand-new upscale hotel in New Haven, officially opened its doors this past September. The six-story, 130-room hotel features multi-purpose indoor/outdoor spaces, onsite dining, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, to name a few! 
 
 

Yale & Beyond

Yale to support city students with new Pennington Fellowship 

 
Yale’s newly launched Pennington Fellowship aims to support New Haven public school students who choose to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Funded by Yale and administered by the New Haven Promise program, the scholarship will support 10 to 12 students in each college-bound cohort for four years. 
 
 

Research-based suggestions for a better 2023 

 
Yale Insights, published by the Yale School of Management, surveyed faculty from Yale SOM to “put a scholarly lens on improving our personal and professional lives in the coming year”. From adding more art into your life to creating a financial plan, here is some advice on smarter ways to look ahead in 2023. 
 
 

Martin Luther King III commemorates father’s life and legacy with Yale address

King’s address, “Sanctuary in the Storm: Healing in Action,” was the first in-person commemoration of Dr. King in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was attended by 2,300 people from across the campus and Greater New Haven communities. 

Read more ⪼

New York Times names New Haven among places to visit in 2023

New Haven is the only northeastern destination in the United States to make the global list! The Elm City was recognized for being “one of the best food scenes in the country for a city of its size” and “is a historic, mostly walkable and bikeable seaside town with distinctive neighborhoods”. 

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Event Planning Insights

Cvent and Zoom team up to deliver world-class hybrid events

 
Organiations that are already working with the Cvent platform for in-person events will soon be able to integrate with Zoom Events to deliver an engaging and impactful end-to-end hybrid experience. 
 
 

Taking accessibility at meetings and events one step further

 
JMax Starkov, adjunct professor at New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality, makes his predictions on what we can expect to see unfold within the hospitality industry with regards to travel, hotel branding, and automation. 
 
 

One More Thing

Add these events to your calendar

Catch a show or take in an art exhibition. See what’s hapening in New Haven! 

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