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 clients. Today we introduce you to Senior Global Experience Manager – Production, Bart Alazio. With over 14 years as a production industry entrepreneur, Bart now leads the MTA production team bringing next level innovation to our clients through technology and creative production services.
He is also our ’21 Theme of the Year Award recipient.
Meet Bart Alazio
Tell us about your current role with MTA? What are your primary responsibilities?
As a senior global experience manager for production, I have the privilege of leading our supremely talented team of global production managers. Along with managing and growing the team, I develop and implement MTA’s strategy for all things production including emerging event technology.
How long have you been with MTA? I just celebrated my 1st year with MTA!
Is your background in media production? What did you do before MTA?
I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve been in production my entire life. As a little kid, I would help my father develop and mount 35mm film for carousel slide trays. I built my first PowerPoint deck for an investigator meeting when I was 12. The past 14 years before joining MTA, I ran my own production company that specialized in clinical and commercial events for life science clients.
You are currently based in New Jersey? What do you enjoy most about where you live?
Born, raised, and still reside in northern NJ. I love the easy accessibility to NYC while maintaining the tranquility suburban life provides. There is always something new to do in NYC, but one of my favorites is Saturday morning brunch on Stone Street in lower Manhattan, outside tables on a cobble stone street quietly tucked in among the chaos. After brunch you can grab a coffee, walk to Battery Park and people watch.
What do you enjoy most/favorite aspect of your job?
I’m a forward-thinking person; I enjoy being in the forefront of event technology. Contextualizing potential services and equipment then integrating it in a meaningful way for today’s events for MTA clients is one aspect I enjoy.
What interests do you have outside of your professional pursuits?
I love coaching youth sports. It’s sports at its purist form. Because I have a travel-based career, it’s a way I can prioritize my quality time with my two young kids.
What’s been your most favorite location for a meeting and why?
Scottsdale, Arizona. The amount of quality event properties is unparalleled, and I’ve never had to use backup space for an outdoor event due to weather.
What makes Miller Tanner Associates stand out as meeting planning company, in your opinion?
MTA cultivates an internal environment that stimulates innovation. Team members are encouraged to explore ideas and solutions outside the box. This culture is not only instrumental in the constant evolution of proprietary products like EPIC, Attend and VALTs but the smaller everyday solutions and expansion of our services. This allows MTA to produce events and products that elevate client experience beyond a standard meeting planning company.
What’s your best advice that you would give to a client when it comes to planning their media needs?
No matter the size of the event, your “message”, whether educational or inspirational is the core that all production elements need to be built around. Production provides tools to deliver, enhance and reinforce the message, but can easily overshadow the event when underestimated or more commonly misused. Production is foundational to your storytelling, the visual, audio, and engagement aspects are key to optimizing retention of your message post event.
Any trends in media production that you are noticing?
For over a decade, the most highly debated topic among production professionals and clients has been – What is the cost vs. value of hybrid events? The pandemic has forced stakeholders to assess that the true cost of not having a virtual component to a face-to-face event is isolating a large portion of potential attendees. When stakeholders shift their perception of a hybrid’s core function to one of accessibility and inclusion, the advantage of a hybrid becomes transparent. Hybrid events need a carefully curated strategy to create an equitable experience that is considerate of the participants’ time and commitment, no matter the attendees’ pathway.
Since you travel a lot for your position, tell us some of your best travel tips.
Be nice and smile. Nobody enjoys being in an airport, but we’re all in it together – from the gate agents to flight attendants and even fellow passengers. Kindness goes a long way, and it might even get you out of a middle seat on a long-haul flight home.
Why do you think that the MTA Workshops are important? What do you get most from this time together?
As a global and remote company, it’s our time to unplug from devices and connect on a human level. It’s also an amazing opportunity to flip the switch from planner to attendee and gain valuable insight from a different perspective.
Visit www.millertanner.com to learn more about MTA or follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes with our team members.
