By Clare Babcock, Event and Facilities Manager at Training Umbrella
Who, here, in the (metaphorical) room loves to hear someone talk passionately about their work? I know when I hear my friends tell me about their jobs and the niche and interesting things that happen in their day-to-day lives it makes me proud and excited FOR them!
Fortunately, I work for a company that has such a rare and unique business model. We help all sorts of companies and people bring corporate education and personal relationship building together! One of our most recent bookings was with the University of Kansas Athletic Department. Being a K-State family, it took a lot of will-power for Christy and Jason to turn the other cheek. 😉
The Kansas Athletics student-athlete development team reached out to us back in March inquiring about our facility and what we offer. Of course, our response was, “Well what do you need?” We pride ourselves on being flexible and able to accommodate almost anything. This meeting in particular was for the student-athletes from fall and winter sports teams joining any KU sports team in the fall, and they wanted it to happen on a weekend. It was going to be an interactive, team-building experience for these student-athletes to get used to working together on and off the field.
They were looking for three meeting rooms for up to 20 people in each room, over the course of two days. Fortunately for them, we had just finished renovations on a new 50-person classroom on the 6th floor – Room 612 (pictures to come soon!) So, this meant we had three rooms for them all on the same floor, rather than going back and forth between floors! Each room was set essentially as an “open” classroom, with no tables and only a few chairs. The facilitators wanted these students to be engaged in group activities to work together as teams.
Saturday afternoon we ended up with 24 student-athletes, but we had 34 total with staff and student-athletes that came walking through our doors, and they weren’t hard to miss, that’s for sure. I am 5’1”. I felt tiny compared to these Division One athletes.
Saturday evening, we had a nice dinner catered for them from our exclusive local caterer (that offers no taxes or delivery fees!) and everyone ate to their hearts desire! Sunday morning, we had a big buffet breakfast delivered, and afterwards they got right back to their lessons. When everything was finished, they shuttled all the students back to campus in Lawrence, and hopefully they learned a thing or two while at our facility!
One of the things I love most about my job is how diverse our clientele is. We handle anything from nurses, to insurance agents, to college athletes! No matter what your booking needs are, reach out to us and we will do everything in our power to best accommodate you and your group!
