Kristin Davis
Borman has organized lectures for the Town Hall series for the past four years, following in the footsteps of his father, Earle Borman, Town Hall co-director and one of the founding members of THE Forum. The lecture series showcases government leaders, authors, journalists and other high-profile figures from around the world. The speakers this season include genomic scientist Dr. J. Craig Venter, former U.S. Senator Dr. Bill Frist, Forbes Inc. president Steve Forbes, and historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin.
1. What is THE Forum?
The group consists of 10 members who [together] represent about 30 venues in 15 different major cities in the U.S. You might book a speaker who doesn’t show up, or who was supposed to speak for an hour and only spoke for 30 minutes. Before, there was no good way to share that information. We decided to find a place where we could discuss trends, experiences, difficulties, and share marketing concepts. It’s helpful for a guy out in San Francisco to be able to look on our Web site or pick up the phone and ask us about a speaker we’ve used before that he is thinking about. We talk about how to get a good quality speaker whose name people will recognize and that won’t cost a loss in profit.
2. What’s your role with the Town Hall series?
I bring the immediate knowledge of what’s happening nationally back to the local area. What we’ve done is create a place where [the audience] can talk to each other and the speaker. It’s like bringing the world to Naples.
3. How is the Town Hall series relevant to the broader business community?
We are an important industry bringing relevant speakers to the market. It’s a way to entertain clients and reward employees. [In 2008], we’re having Steve Forbes. We have had economists and financial commentators such as Stuart Varney, who was previously on CNN and FOX News. I always come away with at least one thing that I wouldn’t have been able to find out if I wasn’t there that day.
Many of these speakers are always on the record, so they have to be particularly careful about the things that they say. When you get them in a closed room with a group of people, they release stuff that they wouldn’t have the comfort level or the opportunity to share anywhere else. It is a brilliant way to keep your finger on the pulse of the community, first the business community, but beyond that, the community at large.
4. What plans do you have for the future of THE Forum?
I’d like to increase communication and have more participation on our Web sites. I’d also like to include agent participation on the Web site and at our annual meetings. One of our members who just celebrated his 40th year in the business just met an agent in person for the first time that he’s been working with for years. When you look into someone’s eyes and shake their hand, you form a bond.
5. What is the biggest lesson you’ve gotten from listening to Town Hall speakers over the years?
Things are not always as they appear to be. If you take the time to really listen and ask the right questions, you’ll see a different side to every story. It’s not just a great evening out, although it is that as well. I draw from it on a daily basis.