EXHIBIT CITY NEWS // Soundings and Virtual Events Institute are joining forces to offer affordable and readily accessible learning opportunities for freelance meeting and event professionals racing to meet the demand for versatile skill sets and virtual event experience.

SMART MEETINGS // In honor of International Women’s Day, Smart Meetings announced their 2021 Smart Women Awards. Soundings is excited to announce Heather Black Cosgrave, Director of Operations & Customer Engagement, has received the Rising Star Award!

CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // In an effort to connect the many dots—that draw a picture of 2021—VEI has forged a partnership with talent platform Soundings that will benefit all affected groups. Under their new brand, Soundings Thrive, a vibrant members-only freelance community, the company is collaborating with VEI to offer offering additional education and networking opportunities for freelance event professionals to help them become workforce-ready for assisting virtual and hybrid events.

Soundings and the Virtual Events Institute announce exclusive North American partnership to offer freelance meeting and event professionals a launch pad into the world of digital experiences

EVENT CADENCE // Collaborative partnerships that create win-win situations for both parties are becomingly increasingly important. Partnerships help find and recruit adept talent for multi-channel market growth, and they harness creativity and innovative thinking for new avenues of inspiration.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Event Cadence for the next Platform Playground Mock Events program!

SMART MEETINGS // COVID-19, social distancing and furloughs, oh no. It has been a troubling year for those working in the meetings and hospitality industry, with pandemic precautions resulting in huge economic loss—and unfortunately, many unforeseen career changes. Throughout the year, Smart Meetings has been posting resources for the business owners, employees and independent planners navigating their way through this new reality. Whether you are job searching, adding new skills or trying to keep your business afloat, take a look at the best Smart Meetings career articles of 2020 can offer you some guidance.

CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // Take a behind the scenes look at how Soundings Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, live-streamed her presentation for the 2020 Intrado Digital Media Summit.

Live-streamed from Rev Studio in La Jolla, CA.

SMART MEETINGS // Earlier this year we launched Soundings Thrive, a platform providing tools for freelancers to stay relevant in the marketplace and accelerate their business. Since the launch, our primary focus has been to help freelancers embrace their potential in the virtual event world.

Read about the top 5 things we have learned from launching the Platform Playground mock events program for freelancers.

THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL // Soundings Connect Founder + CEO, Tracy Judge, breaks down the questions and concerns meeting professionals should consider before they take their next steps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the November 2020 edition of The Meeting Professional magazine.

MEETINGS MAGS // Freelancing has become a new ball game since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as many companies cannot afford to keep full-time positions, but still need those tasks completed. Although many more professionals have had to join the freelancing community since March, Tracy Judge had the passion for the freelancing community two years ago–long before the pandemic hit–and founded her company Soundings Connect in order to directly connect meetings and events industry freelancers with customers.

FORBES // Since March, the world has wondered when we can return to normal, including the tradeshows and exhibitions we’ve attended in the past—the way we’ve attended them in the past. It may be a while. While social distancing and proper health hygiene—which includes wearing a mask—can allow some people in the door, the days of crowded trade show floors are so 2019. It may be a year or two—hopefully not longer—before we see those crowded aisles again.

MEETINGSNET // Meetings and events have been devastated by the pandemic. Here are some agencies offering gig work for laid off professionals, and some advice from industry bigs.

Listen to Episode 4 of the Traveling Podcast with guest Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, Founder and Chief Connector at Soundings Connect. Hosted by Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP.

A weekly conversation with freelance event producers, agencies who utilize them, and many more! This week we chat with Founder & Chief Connector of Soundings Connect, Tracy Judge. She shares with us why she created a vibrant freelance producer network, how Soundings Connect is helping retool the freelance workforce and the launch of a new platform called Soundings Thrive to bridge the gap in professional development for freelancers.

Soundings Connect to launch Soundings Thrive™, the first of its kind membership-based platform for freelance professionals in the meeting and event industry

CVENT // Join Soundings Connect Founder + Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, and Cvent Lead Corporate Recruiter, Matt Syme, for a conversation on how to enhance your skills and beef up your resume. Matt and Tracy share what employers are looking for in a candidate and share tips such as how best to position your LinkedIn account as well as how to "brand" yourself.

Hospitality and Event Industry coalitions create a strategic partnership to reignite industries as COVID-19 continues to change the landscape for events and travel

THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL // The coronavirus. Is it possible to talk about anything else right now? Yes, because the meeting industry is critical for human connectivity and economies around the world, and we must prepare for what happens next. Here, a cross section of MPI members discuss wellness, F&B trends, diversity and inclusion, staying passionate and, of course, life during a pandemic.

PRESS RELEASE// San Diego, CA (April 27, 2020) Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, founder and chief connector at Soundings Connect, was recognized as a member of Connect Corporate magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The honor highlights the top young professionals in the events industry. Connect Corporate is a national, B2B magazine that provides resources and ideas to professionals and planners in the meetings and events industry.

PRESS RELEASE// San Diego, CA (April 23, 2020) The Hospitality + Events Fight Back coalition (HEFB-20) today announces their latest initiative, a Virtual Hackathon bringing together thought leaders from various industries impacted by the COVID-19 global health crisis. New partners to join the coalition with Syzygy Cities and Soundings Connect include Cvent, Access Destination Services, Hello! Destination Management, Bishop-McCann and The Center for Health Design.