10 years at VISTA...

VISTA officially began on 6th April 1995 so in 2005 we celebarate our 10th birthday.

Here are a few of the things we have done in those 10 years...

10 places we have been to

Ann Arbor, Michigan - The venue was a beautiful boating clubhouse, the company was creative talented people we were looking forward to working with for the next 3 days, but the date was Sept 11th 2001.
Breckenridge, Colorado 5 days in snow caped mountains and the very start of what has culminated in 'You Don't Have To Do It Alone'. The company and venue were both superb - not sure about sharing a room with Jake & Frank, especially after pea soup!
Brussels - A couple of trips here. One an event with Masterfoods with the participants cooking their own evening meal - from preparation of food, to table layout, and even washing up. The other doing 'live' mind-mapping with 400 people - you certainly had to be sure of the technology and your spelling (the topic was Foot & Mouth Disease).
Galveston - Yes, from the song... The hotel was a superb venue with a tropical rain forest in a dome. Seeing the participants at the event who were geologists and geophysicists respond to the environment was special.
HMS President, London - A boat built in 1918 moored on the Thames - not for those who suffer from sea-sickness but a great event venue.
New Orleans - First big contract that really set us on our way. Mardi Gras, fighting for beads and being 'blown away' by hurricanes (and not the weather variety!).
New York & The Waldorf Astoria - The venue with the most expensive sandwiches we've ever tasted and the only venue in the world where we have had stationery stolen prior to an event.
South Africa - Working with Power Construction and South African Airways in the early days of post-apartheid. The video produced of their event still makes your skin tingle.
Upper Tean, Staffordshire - We ran a Future Search with this small village in Staffordshire on a Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Hearing the children speak passionately about the future of the village is something we will all remember.
Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare - Wonderful venue (service was first class) and the story by Richard Wilson of him as a small boy coming to the Winter Gardens to the flower shows.

10 sporting venues we've been to...

Aintree Racecourse - Merseyside Health Action Zone (as was)
Aston Villa Football Ground - Defra and Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust
Bescott Stadium, Walsall - Sandwell Health Authority x 2 events
Edgbaston Cricket Ground - NHS x several events
Lords Cricket Ground - Cabinet Office, Home Office and BBC
Newcastle United Football Ground - Cabinet Office and British Council
Norwich City Football Ground - Norwich Union
Sandown Racecourse - Surrey County Council
Wembley - Nurses Standing Conference
York Racecourse - Workforce Development Confederation

And that's not including Murrayfield and Old Trafford for two smaller meetings

10 years of history...

1995 - We left our jobs with the Employment Service on 17th March 1995. Formally began as 'Associates' on 6 April 1995 and became a limited company on 13th October 1995
1997 - 12th February Kees Jan became a director. We began PWST which is still going strong in 2005. Anne moved to 16 Old Birmingham Road in the November where the office is still located.
1998 - March 1998 Martin died
2000 - 2 May formed 'Meetings by Design Limited'
2001 - Jo joined us in January and Susan in September
2002 - February - Meetings by Design published. Susan left in November
2003 - Jo moved in September joining BAA at Terminal 5
2005 - 17th March 2005 - celebrated our 10th birthday in Dublin watching the St. Patrick's Day parade and with plenty of Guinness!

10 roles in VISTA...

CEO - Julie Chief Executive Officer
MD - Paul Managing Director
CS - Anne Company Secretary
BM - Anne Business Manager
CFO - Anne Chief Financial Officer
HIT - Anne Head of IT
HRD - Anne HR Director
DS&C - Julie Director of Strategy and Creativity
Consultants - Julie & Paul Strategy development, leadership alignment and organisation design consultants
Consultant - Anne Logistics consultant