Hosting the perfect speaking event takes resources. Even if you have a comprehensive vision of what your event should look like, you need the right team to execute your vision without a hitch.
At Overland Park Convention Center, we’ve worked with clients from all different backgrounds and industries to organize keynote speaker events, and we wanted to give those clients a chance to talk about their experience at OPCC.
If you want a firsthand look at how our team of expert event planners can help you plan the perfect event, read our keynote speakers spotlight below. We’ll go over what makes a keynote speaking event stand out, the resources we offer, and how you can get started planning your event at OPCC.
Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium
For several years running, our center has hosted the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium.
This event offers a place for Midwestern estate planning professionals and students to meet and network with colleagues. The keynote speaking engagement also draws lots of attendance.
Guests come from all over the region to hear the professionals of their industry speak, so KCEPS needed their venue to have the necessary capabilities to help these keynotes stand out and go over smoothly. This made the Overland Park Convention Center an obvious choice.
A Partner to Count On
We were thrilled when the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium reached out to our team to host their event with us. If you’ve never heard of the Overland Park Convention Center, allow us to tell you a bit more about what we do.
We’re an award-winning convention center located in Overland Park, and we host a variety of events, from weddings, to banquets, to business conferences. With so many different events under our belt, we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes an event successful.
Our experts will work without every step of the way, answering your questions and making recommendations, so you can leave a lasting impression on your attendees.
Here’s a snapshot of the speaker support resources you’ll find at OPCC:
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
- Live streaming and hybrid event support
- Dual/split screens and confidence monitors
- In-house AV team with on-site support
- Flexible, fully equipped speaker-ready rooms
Speaking Up
For this keynote speaker spotlight, we wanted to hear from one of our very own clients. So we sat down with Lori McCombs, the third-party meeting planner who hosted the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium at our venue, and we asked her some questions about the planning process.
OPCC: What do you look for in a speaker when planning an event?
Lori McCombs: For this particular event, our speakers are national and international practice experts (as opposed to) a typical keynote speaker. Almost all the speakers for the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium are full-time practitioners or faculty.
Because KCEPS hosts such renowned speakers, we wanted to provide Lori with the technical resources she needed so all her guests could listen to the keynotes comfortably.
OPCC: What kind of AV or stage setup enhances a speaker’s presentation?
Lori McCombs: If the presenter has a presentation, dual/split screens are necessary. Confidence monitors also assist the speaker with smooth transitions.
We go beyond basic audio–our in-house-house AV team equips keynote speakers with the AV tools and resources they need to deliver an engaging and seamless presentation. Most audiences expect more from a keynote speaking event. So if any of your speakers have presentation slides, we can help them broadcast it to the entire audience, whether they attend in-person or online.
Experts On Your Side
We couldn’t create a keynote speaker spotlight without highlighting our incredible audiovisual team. Our tech experts can equip a large space with a robust AV system, so even the guests in the back row can see and hear your speaker’s presentation.
Our team members act as a resource whenever you need them, so don’t hesitate to let us know any ways we can take your keynote speaker presentation to the next level. Event planners have noticed the difference the right team can make.
OPCC: How did OPCC’s AV team help ensure smooth execution?
Lori McCombs: The AV team has always been very skilled in this regard, always utilizing the latest technology available.
High Tech, High Satisfaction
You should also consider OPCC for your keynote speaker event because we offer the latest technological resources. In the conference industry, centers like OPCC should prioritize understanding new and emerging technology. Guests have come to expect the latest and greatest for their events—but don’t just take our word for it:
OPCC: Are attendees expecting more interactive features, hybrid options, or AI-driven engagement tools?
Lori McCombs: Yes—conference apps and livestream options will not go away! Technology is key to attendee experience. Overall attendee feedback hinges on AV’s ability to deliver (or over deliver)!
At the Overland Park Convention Center, we focus on innovation. Experts all over the world constantly create groundbreaking new technologies, and we take advantage of that tech to bring our guests and our planners an advanced event experience.
In-Person or Online
As you plan your event, never forget to prioritize inclusivity. We’ve taken several steps to ensure that guests of all locations and backgrounds can attend your event, even if those guests can’t come to the event center at all.
While we don’t host virtual-only events, we understand in this day and age, people expect the option to attend an event online. Now, we provide resources for any event planners interested in hosting a hybrid event.
This way, if you have guests who can’t physically attend your event due to distance or unexpected circumstances, they can still join in online.
If you want to be certain that attendees or any absent guests can enjoy your event’s content after it’s over, then consider our Online Presentation Content Capture (OPCC) resource. OPCC allows us to capture presentations and live audio from speakers and upload that content online, so people can enjoy the full event experience for months or years to come. You can also use this footage to educate clients or train employees. Our Online Presentation Content Capture service allows you to get the most value out of your event indefinitely.
Making Connections
We talked with Lori McCombs for this keynote speakers spotlight because she and her team utilized virtual conference resources to push the boundaries of their event.
Lori wanted virtual attendees to feel just as much a part of the event as the in-person guests, and our hybrid capabilities made that possible. For the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, Lori and her team used a combination of Zoom and the Whova conference app. In 2025, Zoom needs no introduction, but we continue to emphasize the advantages it can offer event planners.
Whova allows planners to share important information about the conference through the app. Guests can access maps, agendas, documents, and more, so they have everything they need in one place.
Access for Everyone
To support you as you host the best hybrid event, we offer high-speed Wi-Fi to make sure your online guests stay up to date on everything that happens in the venue.
But Wi-Fi helps support in-person events too. As guests partake in your event’s activities, they still expect to stay connected to the outside world.
And during a business conference, they prioritize access to networking services like LinkedIn. Fortunately, you don’t need to pay extra to provide Wi-Fi to your attendees. At OPCC, we offer high-speed wi-fi as a free service to any and all of our event planners.
Drawing a Crowd
For a hybrid event, the virtual aspect only makes half of the equation. You want to be sure that your in-person attendees also stay comfortable and informed through the entire event, and that starts with the event space itself. OPCC has a number of different event spaces for different purposes.
Our many spaces facilitate successful speaking engagements. If your speakers will draw a crowd, you can take advantage of our spacious ballrooms or exhibition halls. These have enough space to host thousands of guests.
And if you’d like to provide your guests with a space to meet and discuss following a keynote speaker, consider adding some of our courtyard rooms for breakouts. These spaces can adapt, making them an ideal setting for larger groups or more intimate gatherings and discussion.
Educating New and Returning Clients
This keynote speaker spotlight just gives one example of how we provide our clients with important event planning information. The planning process goes smoother when you understand everything our space can offer. If you want to learn more about planning your next event with OPCC, then read through our educational blog.
We have dozens of posts showing how our services can elevate any event for your guests. These blogs don’t just highlight our conference technology, either.
We highlight our executive chef and catering menu, our methods for inclusive event planning, trends in audiovisual resources, and more. Read our blog and learn how OPCC cares for your needs throughout the event planning process.
Talk the Talk at OPCC
We’re proud to host events like the Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium, but whether you’re planning an industry-wide conference or a party with your friends, we have the resources you need to connect with your attendees.
To get started planning your event at OPCC, consider our online event planning tool. Just answer some questions about your goals, and we’ll provide you with a free estimate based on your responses. Schedule a keynote speaking event at Overland Park Convention Center, and we’ll make sure everyone hears what your guests have to say.
