At the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), convenings are more than calendar entries; they're central to the organization’s mission of supporting collaboration across state borders.
Whether a board meeting, state-specific leadership dinner, or volunteer committee gathering, each MHEC event is crafted to drive connection and impact.
MHEC hosts approximately 20–25 events annually, focusing on meaningful engagements that typically draw 25 to 80 attendees. MHEC’s goal is to foster accessibility and inclusivity across the higher education community.
The Challenge
Fragmented Event Management... Before adopting EventsAir, MHEC managed events with a basic registration tool. As MHEC’s event program grew, so did the complexity of managing it. Communications, registrations, and logistics were handled across multiple systems, often requiring manual reconciliation of data and attendee records.
“There wasn’t a cohesive system in place,” says Katie Chock, Senior Director of Convenings and Operations at MHEC. “We were juggling spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected platforms. It was time-consuming and inefficient.”
The lack of CRM integration and limited customization options also meant MHEC couldn’t deliver the tailored, professional experience they wanted for attendees.
The Solution
In 2018, MHEC made the strategic decision to switch to EventsAir. The platform’s combination of customization, CRM integration, and user-focused support set it apart.
“We needed something flexible that could grow with us,” says Chock. “EventsAir offered the right mix of features and cost, and the team went above and beyond by developing a custom integration with our CRM, Microsoft Dynamics. We’ve since transitioned to EventsAir’s Smart Connector, and the process has been seamless.”
Overall, Chock says, the switch has improved the professionalism of MHEC’s events and made the planning process significantly more efficient.
The Results
Today, MHEC’s event management is centralized and streamlined. With EventsAir, the team can:
- Clone past events, saving hours of manual setup across 20+ annual events.
- Manage registration, communications, and reporting in one place, with the ability to customize for each audience.
- Deliver a personalized experience with automated custom emails and branded event websites.
- Maintain real-time CRM sync, eliminating duplicate data entry.
“The CRM integration has been a game changer,” says Chock. “It saves us from rekeying data and ensures our records are always current. Plus, I’m never starting from scratch. Cloning past events has saved me countless hours.”
For MHEC, the EventsAir experience isn’t just about the software; it’s about the people.
“The support team is incredible,” says Chock. “If I have a question or run into an issue, they respond quickly and work with me to resolve it. It’s not just tech support, it’s a true partnership,” says Chock. “I also love attending the EventsAir annual conference. It’s a chance to connect directly with other users and the EventsAir team, who genuinely care about our success.”
When asked what she’d share with other event professionals, Chock emphasizes the collaborative nature of the EventsAir team:
“EventsAir isn’t just a platform - it’s a partner. The staff take the time to understand your needs and work with you to make sure the solution fits. It feels like working with family.”
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