2020 has been a challenging year. The seniors housing and care sector was thrust into an adrenaline-fueled, 24/7 pitched battle to protect millions of America’s most vulnerable citizens from the deadly COVID-19 global pandemic. Leaders across the sector have been challenged by regulatory inconsistencies, sweeping changes in public policy, an intense media spotlight, evolving consumer attitudes, changes in healthcare delivery, the implementation of new technology, mental and physical health concerns of staff and residents, and uncertainty in capital markets – just to name a few.
NIC has responded to these challenges by doing what we do best: provide data, analysis, and a platform for connections. Since mid-March, we have launched a number of initiatives designed to improve our understanding of the impact of the pandemic on the seniors housing and care industry. Much of this information can be found on the COVID-19 Resource Center on NIC.org.
As the situation evolves, it is essential that industry leaders be able to share lessons learned, discuss strategies, hear the latest insights and continue to connect with one another, even as travel restrictions and risk of infection continues to make in-person gatherings and networking nearly impossible. NIC is therefore temporarily shifting from its traditional emphasis on a major in-person spring conference event.
For the first half of 2021, NIC is pivoting to provide a program of online opportunities for seniors housing and care leaders both to stay informed and connected across the industry.
To that end, NIC is extending the extremely popular “Leadership Huddle” webinar series and enhancing it with the addition of post-webinar ‘peer-to-peer’ breakout sessions designed to facilitate further discussion, moderated by webinar hosts and experts. Made possible by our generous partners and sponsors, the entire series of Leadership Huddle webinars will be complimentary and open to attendees across the industry.
The series of enhanced Leadership Huddle webinars will kick off on Wednesday, January 27, and then will continue, with additional events to be held on the 2nd and 4th weeks of each month, through the first half of 2021. Attendees of NIC conferences can expect the same high level of expertise, analysis, insight, and thought-leadership typically found in our conference programming. The program will enable NIC to be able to provide the most relevant, timely, and impactful subject-matter, keeping pace with change as it occurs.
2021 will likely bring further change, hopefully bringing America, and the seniors housing and care industry, beyond this crisis and into a new normal, in which in-person events are again possible. Until then, NIC will continue to take a nimble, adaptive approach, in order to continue to offer industry leaders and stakeholders the most efficient, effective means to stay informed, share information, and connect with one another.
Partners and sponsors, who typically enjoy opportunities for recognition and visibility at the NIC Spring Conference, can, instead, now choose to gain visibility and associate their brands with NIC’s via Leadership Huddle webinar presentations, as well as a variety of other opportunities, some of which are unique this coming year. Interested parties can sign up to receive up-to-date information on all upcoming sponsorship opportunities here.
In the absence of large, in-person events, NIC’s pivot to develop the industry’s premier digital properties, with the support of partners and sponsors, is a major opportunity to gain visibility and recognition with industry leaders, where they will safely and efficiently convene online, throughout the entire year.