The Miller Tanner Associates’ (MTA) difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our customers.
Today we introduce you to Global Experience Designer – Events Miranda Welgos. Fluent in three languages, and with a passion for community building and travel, Miranda assists our Global Experiences Team in bringing our customers’ events to fruition in cities around the globe.
Meet Miranda Welgos, Global Experience Designer – Events
Strengths (based on CliftonStrengths): Positivity, Strategic, Learner, Relator, Input
Languages spoken: I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I’ve learned some Italian and plan to one day speak this language fluently as well. I’m also currently learning some Vietnamese!
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
As a global experience designer, I work directly with our customers on the planning and execution of their events. We help bring what the customer envisions to life and we help guide that vision if the customer needs help with that part too!
What did you do before joining MTA?
Previous to MTA, I planned community events for a shipping container development that housed 15 different retail, drinks, and food vendors. These events ranged from game nights bringing in 30 people, to live music shows bringing in 100 people, to makers’ markets bringing in thousands of people. Some other events involved fitness classes, comedy shows, spoken word, and more!
Some other things I have done include teaching English abroad in Colombia and Brazil, working in the tech industry doing project coordination, and working in a social club connecting people together and creating a memorable space through events.
What’s the best part of your job?
I think the best part of my job is being able to travel to new places and meet new people – like our customers, vendors, and more! I’m also constantly provided the opportunity to grow, learn, and challenge myself, along with having an amazing team that supports and encourages me daily.
What’s been your favorite event destination as an event planning professional?
Soon I will be traveling to Brazil for an event, so I know that will be my answer once that happens! I lived in Brazil for a while, so I know how incredibly welcoming and warm the people are. In the meantime, my current favorite would have to be Orlando. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, so after my event was complete, I was able to go to Harry Potter World!
Do you have a few great travel tips that you could share?
Yes! I have so many! I’ve narrowed it down to these:
If you get motion sickness, get Hyland’s Naturals Homeopathic Motion Sickness (it works wonders). Also, pack your own snacks (something salty like pretzels will help). I also use earplugs and an eye mask and try to just sleep the whole way. Being in the window seat and as close as you can towards the front is also helpful.
Fill up your reusable water bottle before boarding, or buy a large water bottle! They never give out enough water on the plane in order to stay hydrated.
Bring a mini first-aid kit (my dad taught me to ALWAYS carry Benadryl with me – someone else might need it). Add Airborne/Emergen-C tablets to keep your Vitamin C up!
What’s been your most memorable event to date and why?
I would say my most memorable event was an event I had in Miami, mainly for the hotel location. The welcome reception/dinner was on a Riverwalk, and the views were beautiful at sunset!
For comfort, bring at least two sweaters/jackets for the plane; I always tuck one in at my lower back for support and use the other for warmth.
A travel app I love to use for planning is Wanderlog! You can put in travel, hotel, and other information, as well as add an itinerary and research places to go.
What do you do for fun?
I love to explore when I travel! Whether it’s nature or the city, I like to stumble upon new things and experience the culture in every place I go. I dance Brazilian Samba and actually perform occasionally too. I do other types of dancing for fun (Latin dancing, Zouk, Brazilian funk, etc.). I love to read, mainly fantasy fiction, and try new foods (my boyfriend is a former chef, so I am fortunate with this part).
You currently reside where? What do you enjoy most about living there? Any favorite spots that you would recommend to tourists?
I’m originally from and reside in North Carolina. We have a lot of fun activities here in Durham, and we’re close to the mountains and the beach. We also have some great food spots! For tourists, I’d recommend Kokyu for food (it’s not in a downtown area, but it’s worth checking out), Two Roosters for ice cream, and checking out the Duke Gardens (it’s beautiful, especially in spring and summer).
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as a meeting planning company?
My favorite aspect of MTA is our team and how genuine and supportive everyone is. What makes MTA stand out as a meeting planning company is that our planning process is incredibly efficient, and that is huge due in part to the products that MTA has created for use internally and externally. Our Attend app (attendee-facing) helps us reduce the use of paper on-site and helps attendees keep track of the meeting agenda, EPIC (client-facing) helps our clients see real-time information on registrations, and VALTs helps create a way to share meeting content securely with our customers and attendees. At the last meeting that I was on site for, I actually had a vendor tell me how efficient the Attend app was and that ALL meeting planners should be using this.
What makes MTA stand out as a meeting planning company is that our planning process is incredibly efficient, and that is huge in part to the products that MTA has created for use internally and externally.
Visit www.millertanner.com to learn more about MTA and our associates. Get to know our associates by following us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes with our team.
