Leading a Milestone Event: The Success Story of the TTA Convention in Seattle

Recently, I had the privilege of serving as the convener for the Telangana American Telugu Association (TTA) convention. This role involved orchestrating a complex event aimed at delivering an exceptional experience to guests from around the world. My responsibilities spanned ensuring timely execution of entire convention, managing hospitality for 2000 guests (including accommodation, food, and transportation), adhering to budget constraints, and leading a team of around 600 volunteers.

A Historic Achievement for the Pacific Northwest

Hosting this convention in Seattle was a significant milestone, as TTA became the first organization to choose a Pacific Northwest city for such an event. This achievement was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our President, Mr. Vamshi Reddy, and brought immense pride to every Indian in the region. However, with this opportunity came substantial challenges, notably the high costs of hosting in a tier 1 city like Seattle, where hotel and food expenses were nearly equivalent to the entire budget of our previous convention.

Overcoming Financial Challenges

To navigate these financial hurdles, our team embarked on extensive fundraising efforts. Over three to four months, we traveled to major cities every weekend, seeking donations from generous donors. Additionally, we made strategic budget cuts without compromising the quality of the event.

Engaging the PNW Indian Community

Another challenge was engaging the Pacific Northwest Indian community, many of whom had never attended a convention before. To capture their interest, we introduced unique events, such as the TTA Tech Summit, which invited CxO-level leaders from top tech companies to share their success stories and offer networking opportunities. Startup Cube and Youth Tech Summit also catered to the interest of the local tech community. We also celebrated India Day with a parade showcasing the diverse cultures of India, attracting significant community attention.

Leading a Large-Scale Event

With an expected attendance of 15,000 people daily over three days, organizing this event required a robust team. We formed 40 committees, each led by experienced leaders of local nonprofit organizations. Trust was key; we empowered these leaders to select their team members and manage their tasks independently while maintaining regular reviews and providing feedback to ensure alignment with our common goals. Empathy and Trust played a crucial role in effectively leading a team of 600 volunteers, despite having no formal authority.

Anticipating and Managing Challenges

Despite meticulous planning, we anticipated potential issues, including global events like the Palestine conflict, which impacted our sea shipping needs from India. Contingency plans were crucial. As leaders, we enabled our teams to make quick decisions and adapt to both planned and unforeseen scenarios.

A Resounding Success

The convention was a tremendous success, showcasing our culture to the next generation and amplifying the social impact of our organization through its charity work in India and the USA. It inspired many community members, particularly the youth, to join our mission of cultural preservation and societal contribution.

Gratitude

This achievement would not have been possible without the support of our generous donors, members, volunteers, support personnel, founders, leadership and our families. I extend my sincere thanks to each one of them. I am especially grateful to Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy, Dr. Vijayapal Reddy, Dr. Mohan Patalolla, Bharath Reddy, and President Vamshi Reddy for entrusting me with this significant responsibility. I extend heartfelt gratitude to my execution cohort, whose dedication ensured the success of our event. Over nearly six months, we devoted our personal time, experiencing moments of agreement, disagreement, tears, and laughter. Along this journey, we forged lifelong friendships while creating a platform to showcase our cultural and social impact work. This event will greatly inspire future generations and will be cherished as a landmark in the history of the Pacific Northwest and the Indian community.

Vamshi Reddy Manikyam Thukkapuram Ganesh Madhav V. Manohar Bodke Pradeep Mettu