Industry Engagement Model Event Overview:

-Spark Networking Events

Description: Informal networking has wide appeal among many groups, and is a growing form of meeting others. A Spark event is a planned event where like-minded people meet and typically chat over cocktails and listen to a guest speaker. The goal is to spark conversations and ignite a fire of networking/relationship building. (Spark events are similar in style to a Meetup)

In general, the event organizer selects a topic, a speaker, date, time, and a location to gather. Through various social networking tools (IEEE Collbratec™, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) individuals become aware of the meeting and make the choice to participate.

Spark events are often planned as ‘add on’ events to IEEE activities (conferences, Annual Meetings, etc.) to provide another opportunity for specific groups to gather. Standalone Spark events frequently occur at local restaurants or bars, so venue costs are not significant, if at all.

Most groups do not charge for attendance. Some do charge a nominal fee to cover facility costs.

Target Audiences:

With a primary goal of engagement and networking, this event targets a broader segment of engineers across all industries and roles. As the topicschange for each Spark event, participants may self-select based on interests.

Sponsoring OU Goals:

  • Change perception of IEEE value for industry engineers by providing appropriate programming
  • Create engagement with industry engineers
  • Engagement with individuals and leaders from industry organizations
  • Reach industry engineers who are not IEEE members

Sponsoring OU Benefits:

  • Create volunteer engagement activities for industry engineers members
  • Improved satisfaction and increase engagement among industry engineers
  • Improved relations and new opportunities with industry organizations
  • Prospect list for new members
  • Content that can be curated and reused in other areas

Participant Goals:

  • Exposure to a diversity of ideas on a topic
  • Networking with others in my geographic area, in and outside my technical fields
  • Engagement with industry organizations
  • Enjoyable social and professional networking environment

Participant Benefits:

  • Low risk and low involvement activities in the technical area
  • Expended network of contacts and resources
  • Maintain contact with IEEE
  • Answers to their questions from instructors who are industry leaders

Coordinator role:

  • Select Spark topic and speaker, date and time
  • Secure a Spark event location and agreement
  • Communicate the event details through social media and other channels

Typical event size

  • Local Event – 10 - 50

Typical event length

  • 2 – 3 hours

Event Requirements:

  • Event coordinator
  • Social media account
  • Event Host/Facilitator
  • Day of event registration/Welcome committee
  • Vtools or other registration tool
  • Communication capabilities (email, social media, etc.)– before, during and after course
  • Payment platform, if a fee is charged in advance

Example Planning Documents

  • Prototypical budget – See Resource Documents
  • Registration fees:
  • Event Plan – Venue specs, F&B/ A/V specs and estimated costs
  • Event Run of Show
  • Marketing and communication plan

Example Event:

Boston Young Professionals