EEA Founder Recognized by SITE for Long-Term Commitment to Innovation and Service
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In accepting the Richard Ross Award for his innovation in the world of engagement and travel at the recent Society of Incentive Travel Executives annual conference in New York, Enterprise Engagement Alliance founder Bruce Bolger focused on what he thought Richard Ross might have told the group about setting out to make change in the world, business, or one’s community.
Bruce Bolger, Founder of the Enterprise Engagement Alliance and publisher or RRN at RewardsRecognitionNetwork.com and other media, was recently honored with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Richard Ross Past President’s Award for his long-term commitment to promoting the effective use of incentive travel, motivational events, and a strategic approach to engagement.In presenting the award, Cherie Weinstein, former SITE President and a Project Manager at Landry of Kling after retiring as a vice president from Carnival Cruises, said, “I’m here on behalf of SITE’s past presidents on this auspicious 50th anniversary of SITE to present the Richard Ross award. This recognition was created in memory of one of SITE’s early leaders, Richard Ross, who was killed in one of the planes that flew into New York CIty’s World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in the service of SITE and our global industry. It recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to integrity, honesty, faith in others with long-term service to SITE, the incentive travel and motivational events industry, for which Richard was a relentless innovator.
“To list Bruce’s career highlights and contributions to not just our industry but to business intelligence would take too much time, so I’ll invite you to read about them in the conference recap. Bruce was the first to bring IVY league university professors to our educational programs which engaged our minds in a new way and catapulted us to a higher level. In the early 90s, Bruce was key to working with SITE to explain incentives and incentive travel to corporations through the use of hard data. He worked with academics and the nascent SITE Foundation to create an ROI map for our industry—the Master Measurement Model. He was an early proponent of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices and of Stakeholder Capitalism. Bruce Bolger exemplifies the core business and social values of Richard Ross.” In accepting the award at New York’s Apollo Theater, Bolger said, “Thank you Cherie and past presidents for the honor of being in the great company of the eight people who have received this recognition before me and to receive it from such distinguished industry leaders in such a hallowed place as the Apollo Theater. It is especially meaningful to me, because I am still actively pursuing the same mission Richard Ross and others in this hall today set out to accomplish 30 years ago—to make business more strategically focused on all their stakeholders and to bring greater respect and knowledge for your industry and what you do for people, because as you know not enough people have heard of it.
“Richard Ross died on Sept 11 pursuing this dream. So, in 90 seconds, I’d like to share the advice Richard might have wanted me to share with you based on how I believe he lived his life. No. 1. No matter what, focus first on your family, loved ones, your communities, enjoy everyday life, and pay it forward, however thankless it can be. No. 2., without changing the world, everyone in this room can make an enormous difference right now by:
- Addressing the fact that this remains an unknown industry—use the new focus on people in business to change that.
- Challenge your clients to focus more on program design and return on investment because there is so much to be gained—properly designed programs enhance cultures and lives; and,
- Rethink event business formats in this post-Covid era to allocate much more time in your programs for town hall formats and other ways to build relationships by sharing ideas and authentic experiences in the vein of Anthony Bourdain and Parts Unknown. This was the vision of the industry’s founders.
“So, if you’re one of those throwing yourself into the arena to try to change business or anything the way Richard Ross was in the process of doing, or are even considering it, go back to the first piece of advice. Focus first on your family, loved ones, savor the everyday wonders of life, and turn the other cheek. That will help you persevere in your quest. You can do both. That’s the way I believe Richard lived his life, and fortunately I can say the same.”
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Profit From the “S” of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
Through education, media, business development, advisory services, and outreach, the Enterprise Engagement Alliance supports boards, business analysts, the C-suite, management in finance, marketing, sales, human resources and operations, etc., educators, students and engagement solution providers seeking a competitive advantage by implementing a strategic and systematic approach to stakeholder engagement across the enterprise. Click here for details on all EEA and RRN media services.
1. Professional Education on Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards
Strategic Business Development for Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards solution providers, including Integrated blog, social media, and e-newsletter campaigns managed by content marketing experts.
4. Advisory Services for Organizations
Stakeholder Management Business Plans; Human Capital Management, Metrics, and Reporting for organizations, including ISO human capital certifications, and services for solution providers.
5. Outreach in the US and Around the World on Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards
The EEA promotes a strategic approach to people management and total rewards through its e-newsletters, web sites, and social media reaching 20,000 professionals a month and through other activities, such as:
Through education, media, business development, advisory services, and outreach, the Enterprise Engagement Alliance supports boards, business analysts, the C-suite, management in finance, marketing, sales, human resources and operations, etc., educators, students and engagement solution providers seeking a competitive advantage by implementing a strategic and systematic approach to stakeholder engagement across the enterprise. Click here for details on all EEA and RRN media services.
1. Professional Education on Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards
- Become part of the EEA as an individual, corporation, or solution provider to gain access to valuable learning, thought leadership, and marketing resources.
- The only education and certification program focusing on Stakeholder Engagement and Human Capital metrics and reporting, featuring seven members-only training videos that provide preparation for certification in Enterprise Engagement.
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EEA books: Paid EEA participants receive Enterprise Engagement for CEOs: The Little Blue Book for People-
Centric Capitalists, a quick implementation guide for CEOs; Enterprise Engagement: The Roadmap 5th Edition implementation guide; a comprehensive textbook for practitioners, academics, and students, plus four books on theory and implementation from leaders in Stakeholder Management, Finance, Human Capital Management, and Culture.
- ESM at EnterpriseEngagement.org, EEXAdvisors.com marketplace, ESM e–newsletters, and library.
- RRN at RewardsRecognitionNetwork.com; BrandMediaCoalition.com marketplace, RRN e-newsletters, and library.
- EEA YouTube Channel with over three dozen how-to and insight videos and growing with nearly 100 expert guests.
Strategic Business Development for Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards solution providers, including Integrated blog, social media, and e-newsletter campaigns managed by content marketing experts.
4. Advisory Services for Organizations
Stakeholder Management Business Plans; Human Capital Management, Metrics, and Reporting for organizations, including ISO human capital certifications, and services for solution providers.
5. Outreach in the US and Around the World on Stakeholder Management and Total Rewards
The EEA promotes a strategic approach to people management and total rewards through its e-newsletters, web sites, and social media reaching 20,000 professionals a month and through other activities, such as:
- Association of National Advertisers Brand Engagement 360 Knowledge Center to educate brands and agencies.
- The EEA Engagement widget to promote, track, and measure customers/employee referrals and suggestions that can be connected to any rewards or front-end program management technology.
- The Stakeholder Capitalism free insignia to promote a commitment to better business.
- The BMC Brand Club and transactional storefronts to educate corporate and agency buyers on the IRR market.
- The EME Gold program to educate the top 3% of promotional consultants on selling engagement and rewards services.
