Corporate Insights

Communicating During a Crisis
Webinar: Rotary Charities of Traverse City

November 13, 2020

COVID-19. Uprisings for black lives. Elections. Wildfires. Q4 budgets. You're navigating a lot and so are your supporters. With the current state of the world many are wondering whether it’s already too late or it’s even okay to send out that year-end communication? The word from two Leadership Learning Lab faculty: No, it’s not too late and YES, absolutely you should send it. 

But how do you build a series of memorable, impactful communications, reaching donors that may have already given to other causes? What’s the best way to gain their attention and a share of their generosity, should they choose to offer it?

Christie Perdue and Mark VanderKlipp shared their expertise in fund development, storytelling and strategic communications as together we talked through the challenges of making the case to request critical year-end resources. Read their 10 Tips for Year-End Communications in the Resource Round-Up!

The Tourism Swivel: More Flexible Than the Pivot
Webinar: Rhubarb Collective

May 21, 2020

The Rhubarb Collective is a group of tourism advisors, small business operators and mentors that share a passion for the business of Canadian tourism. They’ve come together to convene experts and guests for a six-week webinar series free of charge to any who wish to attend. Mark VanderKlipp was asked to bring a State-side perspective to the group, recounting how he’d seen local businesses swivel during past disruptions: 911, the Great Recession and now with COVID-19.

The Webinar was recorded, then a blog post with content and references posted online.


TEN: Tourism Excellence North Best Practices Mission

June 16-18, 2017

Mark VanderKlipp partnered with client BC Hughes to plan, implement and facilitate an immersive mission to Traverse City involving tourism leaders from throughout Northern Ontario. We toured facilities, met with local movers and shakers, and experienced entertainment, civic and natural spaces in the full bloom of tourist season. As the official tour guide, Mark brought his perspective as an experience designer and 25-year local resident to the past, present and future of the region.


A World Without Signs: Does the advent of GPS mean we'll no longer need them?
Slate.com 

March 11, 2010

Post by Julia Turner with contributions from Mark VanderKlipp


Wayfinding System Shows the Way in the Show Me State
American City & County Magazine

A summary of the St. Louis Regional wayfinding system in American City & County magazine. The successful result came about due to the foresight and collaboration between Mark VanderKlipp, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Center and the Missouri Department of Transportation.


Destination Northern Ontario Wayfinding Strategy
Northern Ontario Tourism Summit

November 2015, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario

Presented an overview of the Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) Wayfinding strategy along with updates to the progress of ongoing initiatives that support visitor wayfinding across Northern Ontario.

Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association

January 2015, Thunder Bay Ontario

Presented the 2014 Tourism Wayfinding Strategy to this annual convention of elected municipal officials, sharing the primary ideas from the strategy and calls to action for attendees. Now approved, this Strategy will be implemented on the regional and municipal level and will include Visitor Information Centre (VIC) staff training, mapping and wayfinding signage. The DNO Wayfinding Strategy appears on the DNO Website.


The Reality of Your Surroundings | Industry experts discuss EGD Trends
Signs of the Times Magazine

June 2013

Article authored by Steve Aust with contributions from Mark VanderKlipp


”We just went to Canada and it was AWESOME!“

International Downtown Association (IDA) 60th Anniversary Conference: IntenCity

June 2014, Ottawa Ontario

Mark VanderKlipp created a shared presentation about visitor experience planning, wayfinding, brand and marketing development with clients Graham Gerylo, former Project Manager with the City of Calgary Land Use Planning & Policy; David MacLachlan, Executive Director of Destination Northern Ontario and Chris Hughes, Partner with BC Hughes, Inc.