The 2023 National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Policy and Issues Forum was held in Washington, DC. NACHC is the leading voice for Community Health Centers, which serve 30 million people nationwide. This dynamic, hybrid forum drew more than two thousand Community Health Center professionals and leaders from around the country. Roughly a month and a half before the forum, NACHC chose CEAVCO as their production partner.
The last in-person Policy and Issues Forum was held back in 2019 (the conference switched to virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic), so the stakes were high. Challenges included tight timelines and event planning at a new venue, the Marriott Marquis, which is connected to the Washington Convention Center. NACHC goals included improving pre-conference strategic planning, implementing production efficiencies, and elevating the event production – all on a tight timeline.
With a condensed planning schedule, CEAVCO hit the ground running. CEAVCO’s team led a weekly production call to learn about the organization and its event goals and to discuss meeting specs, evolving AV production needs, and team priorities.
The complex, weeklong conference required a collaborative team effort, and CEAVCO worked closely with all other event vendors to form one cohesive team and execute the conference. Our Boston office handled the general sessions and an awards ceremony, while our Denver office handled the breakout sessions. Hot topics included health center funding and the federal 340B low-cost prescription drug program. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a speech at one of the general session.
In addition, the event had five concurrent breakout sessions during two to three time bands per day, with breakout sessions also held in the general session room and three overflow rooms. The forum included education sessions, committee sessions, and prep sessions for advocate visits to Capitol Hill, as well as roughly 50 meetings held at the hotel. Several meeting rooms with push-to-talk mics were set up to accommodate up to 85 attendees in any one meeting.
Looking ahead, CEAVCO’s AV production and creative services teams plan to modernize and amplify the AV and décor used on the general session stage and explore the use of video mapping, all within reasonable financial parameters. CEAVCO is already working with NACHC to start planning and creating renderings for the high-profile Community Health Institute annual conference, which will be held in San Diego in August. All in all, CEAVCO will support five shows each year. The other shows will take place in Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Louisville.
With little lead time, CEAVCO stepped up to the plate and handled the AV production for the NACHC Policy and Issues Forum, including equipment and labor. Their team showed they really care about making our show the best it could be. Continuity of support is important, and already we can see the value and benefits of our partnership with CEAVCO. Their team really did an amazing job, and we look forward to evolving our future shows together.
Lisette Garrity, CMP – Director of Meetings, NACHC