About Us

image - puzzle pieces with questionsThe Balcom Group is a women owned and operated conference planning and management company. For over 15 years, The Balcom Group has been dedicated to providing quality services to non-profit organizations, associations and other agencies at affordable costs.

Our work enables our clients to receive superior meeting and conference management services that facilitate furthering their organization's mission and allows our staff the opportunity to work with people that champion issues that affect societal change.

Everyone who has ever planned a meeting, conference, or event without the assistance of an outside firm is aware of the strain on the everyday operation of the organization. The Balcom Group allows your staff to direct their energy towards their assigned responsibilities and eliminates staff organization disruptions.

The Balcom Group is a powerful management force that allows your organization the benefits of a successful meeting or event without the anxiety involved in the planning and saves you money at the same time.

Explore Our Services to learn about how we customize our features to fit each client's individual needs.

Our Partners

At The Balcom Group we have built great relationships with everyone we do business with, from the caterers to the hotel chain executives. We value everyone's role in making your event a success. The partnerships we have formed through the years are priceless to us.

Listed below are a few testimonials from Our Partners.

 

 

 

ArenaGraphics logo

"I have worked closely with Marti Balcom and The Balcom Group since 1989. I can say without hesitation that Marti has assembled one of the best administrative teams that we have had the privilege to work with in the 20 years we have been in business. In an industry where paying exceptionally close attention to details is of the utmost importance, Marti (and her team) are surpassed by no one that we are aware of - and we have worked on some rather significant events from White House functions to the Summer Olympic games.

Anyone in the event management business knows that the only thing you can predict is the unpredictable. If I were hosting an event when the unpredictable occurred, I would want The Balcom Group in my corner."

Jim Lutz, President and Founder, Arena Graphics, Inc.

 

 

 

Green Moon Solutions logo

"Green Moon Solutions has worked in partnership with The Balcom Group since 2000. In that time, The Balcom Group has continuously demonstrated that they will accept nothing less than the highest quality for their clients. They have helped us to push the limits of technology while still providing their clients with cost-effective solutions. In addition, their energy and their enthusiasm for this work makes them delightful to work with. We look forward to many more years of collaborating with The Balcom Group to provide the non-profit sector with the best event management technology."

John Dukovich, President, Green Moon Solutions

 

 

 

Hilton logo

"You can always count on The Balcom Group. They hold high standards for how each facet of the project is delivered, no detail is left unchecked. More importantly though, they wrap their arms around an account and take ownership for the big picture success. They do impeccable work."

Dorothy L. Capson, Director of Sales - Worldwide Accounts - Mid Atlantic Region, Hilton Hotels Corporation

 

 

 

Logo

"Over the past 10 years we have worked with The Balcom Group on numerous meeting and conference planning projects. Their dedication to getting it right shines through in projects both large and small."

Douglas Norris, Logo Notions Inc.

 

 

 

Meet Us

We are a team of professionals whose complementary skills and experience are interwoven to provide our clients with the most complete conference management expertise that money can buy.

Marti Balcom is the President and Founder of The Balcom Group. Marti has the unique ability to see the big picture and to run a conference that satisfies the goals of her clients while surpassing their expectations. At the same time, Marti understands the myriad details required to pull off a successful event. Her experience in the business, along with her deep knowledge of what it takes to make an event work, gives her the ability to put together a package that is unmatched by any other meeting planner.

Terry Balcom is the Vice President of Technology for The Balcom Group. Terry builds the systems that keep The Balcom Group at the forefront of event management. He has refined our systems over the years to achieve maximum efficiency and flexibility. Time and again, Terry's work has produced smooth event management results while saving our clients money.

Harriette Lott is the Vice President of Operations for The Balcom Group. Harriette takes care of the details that can make or break an event. She does everything from making sure the keynote speaker is given the VIP treatment, to ensuring the audio/video equipment is working for your workshop, to getting the "night owls" up and moving so that they don't miss their morning bus tour.

We have several other staff members who serve in the roles of administration, communications, and event staffing. We have the staffing flexibility to scale up to manage any size event, from a 30-person board meeting to conventions accommodating more than 5,000 people.

 

 

Our Services

Toolbox of puzzle pieces image The Balcom Group is a full service conference planning and event management company. After many years of experience in the meeting and conference planning industry, we realized the need for a comprehensive, full service company that provides high quality, cost effective service to its clientele. We offer our services either as a full package or you may take advantage of our expertise in individual areas such as on-line registration, full conference registration, badging, exhibit sales and management, hotel contract negotiation, or conference management. All of these services are performed in-house.

    AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

    SITE SELECTION

  • Host City
  • Hotel and/or Conference Center
  • CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

  • Hotel or Conference Center
  • Airlines
  • Audio Visual
  • Entertainment
  • All Other Vendors (signage, awards, special items, etc.)
  • HOTEL LIAISON

  • Logistics
  • Food & Beverage
  • Special Events
  • Preliminary and Final Specifications
  • Total On-Site Management
  • Final Review of Bill
  • REGISTRATION

  • On-line Registration
  • Custom Database Design
  • Registration Form Design
  • Processing Mail/Fax Registrations
  • Customer Service
  • Pre and Post Conference and Special Reports
  • Conference Confirmation
  • Badging
  • Total On-Site Management
  • EXHIBITS

  • Custom Database Design
  • On-Line Registration with ExhibiTerrific! Software
  • Exhibitor Marketing and Sales
  • Liaison with All Exhibitor Vendors/Decorator
  • Logistics
  • Total On-Site Management
  • LIAISON WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF ASSOCIATES

  • On-Line Registration - The Balcom Group has developed a customized On-Line Registration and Custom Database Design that are so good that we've dedicated a seperate page to highlight their unique features.

Event Management

Event planning is our core business. As a part of our comprehensive event management strategy we provide the following services to our clients:

  • Event Planning & Managememt
  • Negotiating Economical Contracts
  • On-Line Registration
  • Custom Designed Databases

From the planning stages through event break down, The Balcom Group is your partner in event management. We take care of every detail so that your conference is a complete success.

A detailed description of all of our services is provided on the following pages.

Registration

The Balcom Group developed the most sophisticated and technically advanced process on the Web for conference registration. On-line registration is an effective and an efficient method that allows The Balcom Groups' clients immediate confirmation of their registration, and it also allows clients to view the data in the on-line database.

Other advantages of The Balcom Group's On-Line Registration are as follows:

  • Reduces Errors
  • Encourages attendees to visit the website of the hosting organization so that they can obtain information about the organization and about the conference.
  • When an attendee registers on-line they are immediately generated an invoice and a receipt
  • Ability to Print Reports
  • View The Number of Tickets Sold
  • See Workshop/Event Attendance
  • View Financial Data

The Balcom Group provides a full-service registration process which includes the following services:

  • Customer Service
  • Complete On-Site Management
  • Creating Registration Form
  • Custom Designed Database
  • e-Commerce/Credit Card Processing
  • Pre-Conference & Post Conference Reports
  • Conference Confirmations
  • Laminated Badges
  • Conference Supplies & Mailing Supplies
  • Processing of Mail/Fax Registrations
  • Phone Calls & Postage

RSVP Registration is another Registration option provided by The Balcom Group. It's a system that allows our clients to invite potential attendees to a specific event. The client provides us a database of email addresses and contact information and The Balcom Group does the rest!

You can learn more about The Balcom Groups' Custom Registration options by contacting us.

Custom Designed Databases

The Balcom Group custom designs a proprietary database for each client. The database can be changed at any time during the registration process to include additional registration information. The database contains all the information on the registration form and any other additional information provided by the client.

  • The Custom Designed Database is taken on-site to the conference or event so that The Balcom Group staff members are able to generate reports during the event.
  • When a client wishes to retain customer service in-house The Balcom Group can design a custom database that's provided under a limited proprietary license.
  •  

Exhibits

The Balcom Group and ExhibiTerrific! Software are pleased to announce the custom creation of an exclusive Exhibit Hall Software. This custom designed database works hand-in-hand with the On-Line Registration process. It also goes a step further by providing an Interactive Exhibit Hall Map where clients and their customers can choose their exhibit hall booth locations, purchase event advertising, and register for the event with just a few clicks of their mouse!

ExhibiTerrific! Software's Exclusive Features include:

  • On-Line Interactive Exhibit Hall Booth Selection
  • Custom Database Design
  • On-Line Registration
  • e-Commerce/Credit Card Processing
  • Exhibitor Marketing and Sales
  • Description & size of Exhibit Hall Booth

 

Our Clients

The Balcom Group has developed strong, long-term relationships with a variety of clients from small foundations to large government departments. Our commitment to customer service and our focus on every detail has resulted in many of our clients choosing The Balcom Group year after year to manage their event. We are dedicated to providing quality service to socially-responsible non-profit organizations at affordable costs.

The Balcom Group has managed conferences and meetings to clients in the fields listed below, such as:

  • National Associations
  • Government Departments
  • Health Care Professionals
  • Grantmakers
  • Social and Religious Foundations
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Political Organizations

You can obtain a referral list by contacting us.

Please read some testimonials our clients have written about us.

 

image of puzzle pieces

Client Testimonials

The following are testimonials provided by some of our clients.

ASF logo    "The Balcom Group has been an integral part of our success in hosting seminars and conferences for nearly five years. They've almost become a part of our staff, and we wouldn't run a conference without them. We offload our worries to them, and Marti and her team have never let us down. The skills and experience they bring have enabled us to accomplish far more than we would've on our own, and they've saved us lots of money, too."

Tim Walter, CEO
Association of Small Foundations

NAWB logo    "For the past 7 years, we have had the very good fortune and privilege to have The Balcom Group as an indispensable member of our meeting planning and design team for our annual meeting (Forum), our signature event. The consummate professionals, The Balcom Group provides a level of client service unsurpassed in their industry--performed with the highest level of energy, passion, dedication, and commitment to the task at hand. No job is too large or too small...their "can-do" attitude is a huge reason why our Forum is considered the premier workforce development conference year in and year out."

Mark Schultz, Former Chief Operating Officer
National Association of Workforce Boards

NAWDP logo    "The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals has relied on The Balcom Group since 2000 to manage our national conference. They are more than a conference management company -- they are like an extension of our staff. Without their extensive expertise, honest advice and generous moral support we never would have survived the difficult relocation of our conference from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina."

C. Paul Mendez, Former President
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals

NFG logo    "The Neighborhood Funders Group has used the services of the Balcom Group for over seven years. They have been a critical part of our conferences and we have only received rave reviews from members and conference participants on their work. They have saved us thousands of dollars in conference expenses over the years and have provided us with creative solutions to problems and issues that arise as we have worked together to organize our annual conferences."

Spence Limbocker, Retired Executive Director
Neighborhood Funders Group

TWA logo   

"TWA has never run a conference without the help and guidance of the folks at The Balcom Group. I first met Marti and her team when they were managing a complicated event for my former employer, and that experience convinced me to make TBG the Alliance’s conference planner when I started the organization. They were incredibly patient and helpful when we first started out, providing more hands on assistance (and anxiety reduction) than I could have asked for. TBG consistently pays for itself in what they save us on event costs—and I’m sure they’ve probably prevented the loss of a staff-person or two by making things so easy on us at crunch time. And did I mention they’re a lot of fun to work with? It’s always a pleasure."

Andy Van Kleunen, Executive Director
The Workforce Alliance (TWA)

Women Work! logo    "I am proud that Women Work! was one of the Balcom Group's first clients. For the last 15 years, the Balcom Group has provided outstanding conference management services to our organization with the highest degree of professionalism and integrity. Our conference attendees are made to feel that they are the our organization's highest priority. Our staff know there is no request too large or too small. The Balcom Group is the model of what a consultant should be."

Jill Miller, President/CEO
Women Work!

Hot Clients: Cool Ideas

 

Women Work!

Jill and Hillary Women Work! CEO Jill Miller discusses issues with Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) at a rally on Capitol Hill, April 2007. Women Work! organized the Equal Pay Day Rally to coincide with Women Work!'s 2007 annual conference. As part of the conference, attendees were encouraged to attend the rally. Senator Clinton brought the rally to a triumphant conclusion with the words "Equal pay is fair for women, good for families and right for America!"

 

JFN

Hard Hat Tour David Ezer (Jewish Funders Network) and Marti enjoy a hard hat tour at the newly renovated art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

 

 

 

PRI Makers Conference - January 2008 in New Orleans

PRI Makers A diver welcomes the PRI Makers Network during the host event at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans.

 

 

 

WEAVE - 10th Anniversary Gala

WEAVE  - 10th Anniversary Gala The Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project performs for WEAVE's 10th Anniversary Gala.