Video Update: Silo District

Hey everyone, we have a new video here at CES! It features the Silo District, an area in the heart of campus where you can host your event. If you're looking for a lecture hall or a rustic setting for a small conference, the Silo District is the place for you. From the restored dairy barn the district is named after to the patches of warm sunshine bathing the grass, the Silo District is full of charm and the perfect venues for your next event. Play the video to see for yourself!

The Scoop on Being Greener: Setting the Green Bar

Friday May 15, 2009

In order to achieve a goal, you must visualize it. To make yourself or your organization greener, you're going to have to set adequate and realistic goals that are achievable. You don't want to aim to high because you might discourage yourself or your coworkers. You don't want to aim to low because you might not achieve your maximum potential. It is important that you communicate the goals throughout your organization and discuss them with all departments; hold a meeting just about your future green practices. If you need ideas on certain goals, simply Google: green tips for 2009, and you'll surely find out some goals you can set. Remember, visualization is the key to success. Plan green!

Office Word of the Day: Trust

Thursday May 14, 2009

TRUST is something that we all need, but when you're planning an event,it is impartive that you trust your event planning team. Campus Events and Visitor Services reaches out to all of our clients, making sure that they know they can trust that we will do their job not only fast, but well. There takes a current trust level where you know that you can relax and not have to stress about peripheral items for your event, and we hope we're the organization that can give you that trust. Plan with use today, and trust that you will be satisfied tomorrow. We're here to help you.

Out and About: TGFS Picnic 2009

Wednesday May 13, 2009

This afternoon our office participated in the Thank Goodness for Staff (TGFS) Picnic celebrating staff members on campus, as well as UC Davis's centennial. The event was full of fun games, and not to mention great lunch brought to us by Sodexho Catering. From 11:30 am to 1:30pm, we were all able to relax and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather Davis has to offer. This year's TGFS proved to be a lovely afternoon, and hopefully next years will be even better. Woo Hooo!

Office Word of the Day: Communication

Tuesday May 12, 2009

Keeping fluid COMMUNICATION among clients and the office personnel is something that is done by all professional organizations, or at least they should. Here at CEVS we make sure that we have all forms of open communication in order to enhance our business with clients, as well as our collaboration within the office. Trading ideas, making sure what the your client wants, and resolving issues respectfully, are all things that mandate communication. Do your part to make sure that your communication is on point today.

It's a Celebration!

Monday May 11, 2009

This past week marked an event to remember here at UC Davis with the groundbreaking for our new hotel and conference facility that will be opening in January 2010. The hotel and conference center will be 40,000 square feet of hotel, 75,000 square feet of conference space, one pub and restaurant, and a spacious 100 on-site parking spaces. This facility will become UC Davis's newest prize and shall be a big plus for us here at CEVS. Stay tuned for more details and news on the grand opening!

Office Word of the Day: Flexibility

Wednesday May 6, 2009

You're going to have ideas that are going to come during crunch-time during you're event planning experience. You're going to need a group of people that are going to be willing to be flexible with your requests. At CEVS we believe in FLEXIBILITY, and we want to make sure that we can accommodate all of your needs if possible. We understand that you never know exactly what you may want until the you've explored all of your options, and that things do come up during the event planning process. We're here for you, just let us know what you need and we'll do what we can to help you! In order to succeed, you have flexibility!

Say Cheese!

Campus Events & Visitor Services is responsible for marketing the UC Davis campus as an event location. We are constantly working on new marketing materials to help us showcase the campus and help our potential clients get a feel for the atmosphere here at UC Davis. Some of our recent marketing projects include brochures, quick screens, folders, and even a new website that will be launched next month. Part of the process of creating these materials is to collect pictures of UC Davis facilities and of people attending meetings and other events. Campus Events has hired professional photographers to shoot photos of our meeting facilities, but we have used the photography skills of our own staff (Mark Sy, Christine Patel, under the artistic direction of Lina Layiktez) to capture staged shots of UC Davis staff attending meetings and conferences. Here are some of my favorites:

We are in the process of scheduling another photo shoot to add to our stock photos. Right now we are trying to find people to be in photos, so if you are interested in having your face on UC Davis marketing materials, leave a comment!

The Scoop on Being Greener: The Computer

Monday May 4, 2009
Something as simple as turning off your computer when you're not on it is a green practice. In order to do very large scale tasks, you have to be able to execute the smaller ones. Doing something as simple as turning your computer on sleep when you go to the restroom, or making sure to power it down before you leave, is an act that will go a long way. It's not hard, it's not tedious, and it's not overwhelming, simply just turn it off. Take the step today! Go Green!

Office Word of the Day: Commitment

Friday May 1, 2009

When looking to do business with someone in the event planner's industry, you are looking for someone that will have COMMITMENT to make your event a success. There is nothing more reassuring that you have made a commitment to an organization that is going to make a commitment toward you. A business relationship is a two-way street that requires comfort, confidence, and energy from both the organization called into service and the client. At CEVS we want to build off your excitement about planning your event and make a commitment to give you the same amount of energy back if not more.

Office Word of the Day: Speed

Wednesday April 29, 2009

If you're dealing with CEVS, you don't have to worry about a bunch of "slow-pokes." We're here to make sure that your event is completed and executed with speed. That's why today's office word of the day is SPEED. Look to our event coordinators to make sure your event is done at a speed that is desirable and consistent. We strive to make sure that all steps in your event planning process bring upon positive feedback from you, and how can one be angry with a job well done so fast? Beep Beep!

Twitter: To Twit or Not to Twit, That is the Question

Wednesday April 29, 2009
So the current rage in our office is about the new web 2.0 service called Twitter. Twitter basically is an internet site that allows you to update your activities, whatever that may be, and share it to the world or just a group of friends. A few of the people in our office have started to do it and it does promise some funny responses between friends! It seems like this may just be another technological phase, but it is very fun with your friends. Will twitter die out? Will twitter amount to nothing but a fad? All we know here is that we're loving it because it's bringing us some extra laughs!

Office Word of the Day: Resourceful

Tuesday April 28, 2009

Marriam-Webster's dictionary defines RESOURCEFUL as being able to meet situations, and at UC Davis Campus Events, we are prepared to meet any situation you throw at us during your event planning experience. Need audio/visual accommodations? We got you covered. Need multiple meeting rooms that are multiple styles and formats? We got you covered. Need fast pace and motivated people to get your event off the ground and running? We got you covered. CEVS is dedicated to being resourceful and allowing to take the pressures off of the event planning experience. We are here to work for you, and by all means may we do all the work for you in order to make sure you have the best time possible at your event in our backyard. We got you covered.

A Day in the Life of a Team Member: The Rap Sarmiento Stories

Hello there, my name is Rap Sarmiento and I'm one of the amazing interns at Campus Events and Visitor Services. I've worked here for over a year and have loved it since my first day. It'll be hard to leave this place when I graduate in a couple months. Everyone in the office has an fun personality, which brings a lot of energy to the office. I do a lot of work doing leads research and process management.

I am also very involved with the Philipino American community here in Davis. Today, in the office we are exchanging Chuck Norris jokes and talking about the recent Twitter rage! Just another typical, silly day in the office!

Office Word of the Day: Experience

Monday April 27, 2009

EXPERIENCE is something that we have at CEVS and something that our customers and colleagues know and appreciate. We as an organization are able to contribute to the event planning industry in grand fashion, allowing us to give our customers the proper service for all their planning needs. Here we are able to take off the added pressure and stress of any event on the individual and alleviate that pressure and stress by entrusting it into our team members here in our office. Experience is something that comes with time and we have been doing our job for quite sometime and we are proud to say we're good at it. Trust in our experience to help you.

A Day in the Life of a Team Member: The Masha Keylin Stories

Thursday April 23, 2009

Hi my name is Masha Keylin (aka “Mosh, mashmash”). I’ve been working at the LOVELY Campus Events and Visitors Services as a marketing intern for over a year now, and I’ve definitely grown to love this little community on the fourth floor of the MU. This job has provided me with an array of work experience. Essentially, I started out working on a Returns on Investment project, and now I’m on a completely different track planning familiarization tours and creating a Meetings Facilities Guide. Wow-it’s strange to think how far I’ve come in just over a year! Hmm…let’s see….something about me: I’ve been ballroom dancing for about 10 years now, and I’m currently choreographing a Cha Cha piece for a ballroom club on campus! However, the biggest reward from dancing came just a few days ago when my fellow intern Kevy, called me a “Dancer”. It’s a completely different feeling when you know you’re a dancer than when somebody actually acknowledges the fact. Anyway, Kevy rocks and so do all my other fellow interns, so in the words of Mr. Long-blow it uP!

Office Word of the Day: Anticipate

Tuesday April 21, 2009

Having the ability to anticipate any obstacle in front of you is key to being able to be very successful in whatever profession or activity that you use. You have to expect the unexpected. Today's office word of the day is ANTICIPATE. It is defined by Webster's Dictionary as the ability to: to foresee and deal with in advance. In the event planning and management profession, we have to anticipate any problems or requests you may have for us. It is our job to be the expert and proceed to make your conference or event a stress free process where the work falls on our shoulders not yours. UC Davis Campus Events and Visitor Services has to anticipate your needs because for you we want to hit a home run every time you throw something at us.

Office Word of the Day: Progress

Monday April 20, 2009

Today's office word of the day is something we have all heard in the past year: PROGRESS. During these tough times not only for businesses, but for individuals, we must all take the time to make sure we take the proper steps forward, always continuing to achieve maximum progress. UC Davis Campus Events and Visitor Services is a top ranked educational institution, but we are also one of the most top ranked facilities in California, as well as across the nation. We not only offer great educational degrees, but quality service in the event industry that is just as promising. We pride ourselves in progressing forward, making sure that our facilities suit you and your business, as well as maintaining manageable prices across the board for all. Progress is something we all need, and it is something we are proud to say we are doing. Have an event with people who want to take your event to the next level, and are constantly looking for ways to progress.

The Scoop on Being Greener: Whole Earth Festival

Monday April 20, 2009

Within the next coming weeks, Whole Earth Festival will be among us again! This year's festival promises to be just as good as previous years, but it will be HOT so make sure to bring extra water canteens! The dates for this year's WEF will be May 8th, 9th & 10th. If you are not familiar to Whole Earth Festival, then you are missing out on one of the most progressive events to promote environmental issues as well as resourceful ways for you, your family, or your business to be more green. The event will be held on the Quad here at UC Davis as usual for all three days the event is held, so make sure to come out and relax with the UC Davis and Davis city community. For more information please visit wef.ucdavis.edu! Go green!

Office Word of the Day: Perspective

Tuesday April 14, 2009

PERSPECTIVE is defined by Webster's Dictionary as: the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed. Today's office word of the day is dedicated to CEVS always keeping and open and fresh perspective in the event planning and management field. To stay steps ahead of the game we must be open to new ideas and feedback from our clients, in order to better serve their needs, as well as our future client's needs. Without an open perspective there would not be advancement in our industry, and we wouldn't be as good as we are today.