Name:  Jay Brian Kochendorfer

Company:  djay sound + light

Email:  jay@djaysound.com

Web Address:  www.djaysound.com

What does your company do?  We are musical guides that set the stage for a magnificent wedding reception, fancy corporate soiree or ravishing party.  We have been making memories for signature events for two unforgettable decades.  Ultimately, we never forgot whose day it is.

How many years have you been in the event industry?  I have owned and operated djay sound + light for the past 21 years.  

What is an average day in your life like?  Crazy, but fun!  I have 2 kids (Lyric and Croix) that are very active in sports, particularly hockey.  At the office my daily focus is "the djay sound + light experience" so that "we never forget whose day it is".  I am extremely proud and fortunate for my passionate support staff in the office.  They are amazing!

Why should someone use or refer the services you offer?  You can trust us!  We are flexible and customize everything we do.   At the end of the day it's your way, since 1989!

How did you become involved in the industry?  When I was 14 years old I had a dream of being a Radio DJ.  I was intrigued by being heard by thousands and thousands of people over the microphone.  My idle back in the day was "Cadillac Jack @ 101.3" - I was probably his favorite listener!  Then decided being a mobile DJ was the thing to do - the only trouble was at the age of 14 I was doing weddings and 50^th anniversary parties and I could not drive or run the business because of being in Middle School.  My family was very supportive.  While in school my mother was my secretary answered my phones all the way up to high school during the day and my grandmother drove me to my gigs, dropped me off and then picked me back up!  God Bless my family.  Jim Knoblauch @ Jukebox Express another inspiration - from time-to-time played at my grandmother's restaurant Wiederholt's Supper Club - I was never so excited to bus tables.   21 years ago Jim, hooked me up with my very first "Onkyo" double cassette deck that had "play forward" to find the next song on the tape - let me tell ya that was a BIG deal.  Thank you Jimmy!

Why are you a member of NACE?  I am a member of NACE to learn and share ideas.  It's always fun to connect and re-connect with friends in the business.  I really am interested in learning more about what others do so that I can bring more to the table for my clients and to be a great resource.  There is a lot of talent at NACE and I am fortunate to be a part of it all. 

What have you learned, what would you like to learn through NACE?  I have learned that industry leaders are looking for people to connect with, trust and rely on. It's been a great opportunity for djay sound + light to be a part of NACE.

Do you have any professional and personal role models?  Banquet Managers and Wedding Planners!  There is so much work involved; they always deserve more praise a round of applause for the work they put forth in planning events.  We see it unfold every weekend.

Do you have a career or industry tip that you would like to share?  Deliver an experience and create a desire for folks to do business with you.  Ask questions, listen and do not interrupt, you might be surprised at what you hear.

Twin Cities NACE Education Conference 2010

Minneapolis Hilton

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST/TRADE SHOW 8:00AM - 9:00AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Sonny Ganguly
Chief Marketing Officer, WeddingWire

Social Networking - Tweet, Twitter, Friend Request, Eblast......what's next in social networking?

It's the craze in today's world!  Learn first hand how to connect with your clients and the new and ever changing world of promotions and advertising not to mention the next generation of clients and how they interact with you and how they expect to work in this fast paced world. Sonny will present on social media, ie Twitter, Facebook  etc., not to mention his  laundry list of FREE websites to help you with your marketing program...of course only available to those who attend the conference.  Sonny predicted in 2007 Twitter and Facebook would be the force behind future news broadcasts and the next generation communication style.  Sonny has presented at numerous international conferences including the NACE National Conference. Sonny holds a B.A. in Economics with a focus in Management and Marketing from The University of Pennsylvania and attended Harvard Business School for his M.B.A. where he served as President of the Marketing Club.  Today Sonny is the Chief Marketing Officer for WeddingWire the engine that drives the vendor side of Martha Stewart's web site.

TRADESHOW 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

BREAKOUTS 10:30AM - 11:30AM

"Stop Crying and Start Sweating" - Training your leads to lead in tough times

There's no sense in wallowing in it so jump in and get started.  Lead, follow or get out of the way!  Do these ring a bell?  In tough times it's really tough to keep people motivated not just to do their everyday job but also to create and enhance what they do.  So as the saying goes, when it's tough the tough get going and strive for excellence, this is when real leaders shine!  Learn how your staff can enhance your customer loyalty with actions that cost nothing and how to develop your stars to be mentors.

Set yourself up for Networking Success

What's Your Elevator Speech?  If someone asked you to say what you do in 10 seconds could you do it well?  If not you need to learn what your elevator speech is!  Those quiet awkward times are not just in elevators and never should be when you're with a potential client.  You are not just a title; learn how to be a proud billboard for you and the company you represent and do it with polish, poise and confidence in all networking environments.

LUNCH 11:45AM - 1:15PM

Artistic Food Styling and Presentation

Food styling is the buzz-word.  Four local Chefs will discuss their tips in making beautiful and artistic presentations with food costs and labor in mind.  Each Chef will create a course of your lunch and discuss the most avant-garde food styling tips that are trending."   First impressions are lasting impressions even before the food is tasted.

BREAKOUTS 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Buffet Equipment Trends - Panel Discussion

Do you want some new ideas to spice up and bring a current feel to your buffet presentations?  This session will concentrate on more than 20 "must have" contemporary pieces that are multi-purpose and inexpensive to incorporate into your program.  A panel of catering buffet tabletop experts will present their top picks for 2010.

Up-Selling the Experience - Panel Discussion

Up-selling is more than just money, up-selling is all about creating exceptional experiences thus evolving into client loyalty.  It allows your staff to be energized and excited while staying on trend with unique experiences.  This panel of event professional experts will talk about their secrets in rounding out every event for success. 

Final Trade Show / Silent Auction Close 2:30 - 3:00 PM

GENERAL SESSION 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Game On!  Catering Jeopardy

This general session will be led by Leslie Jones, from NACE National.  With a game show format, she will take us through the seven catering disciplines - Sales & Marketing, Contracts, Event Management, Catering Services, Beverage Management, Food Production and Accounting required to be certified as a CPCE - Certified Professional Catering Executive.  Sound intimidating? No worries.  This session will be informal, fast paced. You will learn while you have fun. 

CLOSING SESSION - WEDDING RECEPTION 4:15PM - 6:00PM

Experiential Weddings

The Wedding Guys^® Bruce Vassar and Matthew Trettel invite you to a wedding!  From the ceremony session to the unveiling of their new serving style for a reception.  The Wedding Guys always placing an ultra modern - forward thinking twist to all things weddings, show how to fast track trends into weddings and display their new creative five course dinner reception butler style!

Cost:

$95.00                                   Members

$125.00/Person                    Non Members

$95.00/Person                      Four or more from one company

$60.00/Person                      Student

$75.00/Person                      Half Day Rate-Breakfast through lunch or Lunch through closing session

$150.00                                 Trade Show Booth - One Entry to Conference

So join NACE today.

1. Offer valid for new members. Renewals are only accepted as part of this offer if membership has lapsed for more than one year.

2. Offer not valid with other NACE discounts or promotions. Discount applies only to professional members, young professionals are excluded.

3. The offer will not be available to campaign participants prior to March 22, 2010

4. If no local chapter is in your area, your membership will be designated as "At-Large".

NACE members blossom with talent in every specialty:

On-Premise Catering

Off-Premise Catering

Specialty Venues

Chefs

Florists

DJs

Vidoegraphers/photographers

Event planners

Entertainment specialists

Linens

Designers

Food and beverage vendors

And everyone passionate about catering and events.

You advise your clients to choose wisely when it comes to planning events and you help them make smart spending decisions for maximum value. Why shouldn't you follow your own advice?

A membership in the National Association of Catering Executives provides you with an instant network of more than 4,000 professional friends and colleagues, who are leaders in the industry, experts at their craft and more than willing to help. Talk about a social network! NACE practically invented the concept. In addition, NACE gives you regional and national educational workshops and webinars, the Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) certification, chapter programs and networking, sponsorship opportunities and business partner advantages. And that's just the start of it.

During March 22 through May 21 you can join NACE at a discounted rate of $295. In addition, we are throwing in a little something extra, a $25 discount to the NACE store, where you can pick up CDs from past events and merchandise that lets everyone know you are a member of the best professional association for catering professionals and event designers.

Here's what NACE brings to the table:

• The Experience!^TM annual conference
• Local chapter networking and education programming
• NACE career center just for industry professionals
• The Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) designation
• Access to NACE national business partners
• National and local sponsorship opportunities
• Industry-wide awards recognition program
• NACE's membership discount program, the "NACE Advantage"
• And much more

And your career, your business should be no exception.

Membership in the National Association of Catering Executives brings immediate rewards, including job leads, career and business advice, industry certification, training and networking with leaders in the catering and events field, both regionally and all across the country.

Join online at www.nace.net using code SPR10