“ABA’s educational seminars are something I look forward to at Marketplace,” says Kathryn Fischer, vice president of sales for Transportation Charter Services Inc. “I always come away with valuable takeaways that I can use professionally and personally.”
Fischer attended “The 4 C’s of Celebrating Your Team” on Sunday, Feb. 2, where she learned how leaders can incorporate curiosity, compassion, connection, and courage into creating a motivated, engaged team. From the moment speaker Lois Barth entered the room dancing to Sara Bareilles’ hit song “Brave,” the human development expert and author of Courage to Sparkle, had the attention of the crowd. “It is speakers like her that keep me looking forward to what ABA continues to deliver year after year,” says Fischer.
Barth’s session also resonated with Madeleine Ivey, owner and CEO of Central Photo Company. “I appreciated how she encouraged us to have a ‘curiosity party’ and shift from criticism to curiosity—it’s such a powerful mindset shift,” says Ivey. In fact, says Ivey, all the sessions she’s attended have been “like pieces of a puzzle falling perfectly into place, coming together to create a masterpiece of learning and connection.”
As a recruiting consultant who has hired and coached thousands of top performers throughout his career, Julian Placino brought his expertise to Marketplace education this year, facilitating two sessions: “Mastering the Talent Puzzle: 3 Immutable Secrets to Recruiting Success” and “Personal Branding: Harnessing The Power of Your Reputation.” The latter is his personal favorite as he enjoys watching attendees leave the immersive session “with much clarity on who they are, what makes them great, and how they uniquely serve the world.”
Jeannie Sadaphal, business development representative for the Ark Encounter/Creation Museum, attended Placino’s session and left feeling empowered. “Julian Placino created a magical space where we could discover, develop, and celebrate our unique giftings and utilize those gifts to create our own personal brand,” she says.
Ivey was particularly struck by Julian’s discussion about trust being fundamental to economic success and “how focusing on our natural strengths can make us six times more successful. The practical approach to talent recruitment and the emphasis on ‘going slow to go fast’ were also valuable takeaways that I’m excited to implement.”
If you haven’t had a chance to attend an education session yet, you are in luck. Sessions continue into Tuesday with topics such as “Navigating Disruption in Business and Life” and “How to Be a Pineapple Person in a Prickly World.” If you are short on time, Education Bites are quick, 15-minute discussions that are conveniently located on the Networking Floor. Like their longer counterparts, they are conducted by top-rated national speakers and industry experts who share insight and knowledge on a variety of hot topics related to the motorcoach and travel industry as well as your personal and professional growth.
A big thank you to Cape May MAC – Southern Shore Region DMO Partner for being the Education Speaker Sponsor for ABA’s 2025 Marketplace.
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