The Greater Summerville / Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce staff member Melony Are, who serves as Director of Special Events, recently completed an advanced event management training seminar. Boot Camp II, Special Events Advanced Training was presented by the South Carolina Festivals and Event Association and held on August 12th at the River Conference Center at Saluda Shoals Park, Columbia. The intensive panel-led seminar, specifically designed for professional and volunteer planners of public festivals, events and other community and corporate programs, provided in-depth coverage on topics of event planning from developing successful planning committees to working through logistic nightmares and marketing in new mediums. Attendees benefited from the working knowledge of panel members as well as event planners from across the state with a fresh look at focus areas, new concepts, ideas and networking opportunities.