For HFMA’s Tennessee Chapter, the NCAA Tournament is cause for a special event.
“Our March Madness watch party is purely an entertainment and networking event,” said Chase Wunder, director of business development at Wakefield & Associates in Knoxville, Tenn., and current Tennessee Chapter president. “It allows folks to sneak out of work a little early on a Friday afternoon to enjoy the craziness that comes with the NCAA Tournament.”
The Chapter’s 9th Annual March Madness watch party took place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on March 22 at the Corner Pub centrally located just south of Nashville. The free event included appetizers and a limited open bar. There also was a pick-3 contest.
The players
Three other local organizations joined HFMA Tennessee in hosting the event: The American College of Healthcare Executives of Middle Tennessee, the Tennessee HIMSS Chapter and Nashville MGMA (Medical Group Management Association). This special collaboration allowed attendees to network not only with people from their own chapters but also with some of the state’s most involved healthcare leaders.
“With this being a networking event, we aim for folks to make connections and learn about what each organization has to offer when it comes to understanding the different sides of healthcare,” said Wunder. “It sounds cliché, but you really do get to meet amazing people from other organizations you wouldn’t otherwise see.”
The game plan
According to Wunder, a small committee comprising representatives from each organization planned the event. The main goal, aside from providing a fun networking opportunity, was to promote organic attendance growth while maintaining a reasonable budget. Because it’s not a sponsored event, each organization contributes.
“After nine years with such great leaders, the event essentially runs itself,” said Wunder. “Honestly, the biggest challenge we face while planning is determining what games we want to have on the TVs.”
The outcome
Just over 100 people registered for this year’s event, with 85 checking in on site throughout the day. Attendees came from across the state — some driving more than three hours to get there.
“To no surprise, we received excellent feedback,” said Wunder. “It was a thriving event.”
He advises other chapters interested in hosting a similar event to reach out to local healthcare organizations to gauge interest, plan at least three months in advance, find a central location and, most important, implement a strategic marketing outreach cadence through multiple channels. If planned right, the benefit to membership exceeds the cost to the chapter.
“It’s something we all look forward to every spring,” said Wunder. “You don’t even have to like basketball to attend! Sure, your bracket may get busted in the first round, but at the end of the day, it’s about having a good time in a laid-back atmosphere.”
