Below are just a few of the comments shared from the attendees.

"Loved the elegant theme!  Great decor for the event."

"Great evening though - it was so much fun. Loved the Live! from the red carpet duo."

"LOVED THE AFTER PARTY"

"I thought that this year's event was a home-run!!  The nominee/past president reception was an excellent addition to the evening.  I loved the panels that highlighted the nominees - it really placed a higher level of acknowledgement to all of the nominees which is such an important part of the celebration."

"It was an excellent event, great pace, great food, exciting awards presentation - - -just all around FUN!"

Central Region

The Effects, The Booking, and The Behind the Scenes

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House

2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37214

 

You may recall taking the MPI Global Chapter Satisfaction survey in February.  We just received the results and MPI Tennessee ROCKS!  Our overall chapter satisfaction is a 9.14 out of 10!  The overall list of chapter rankings was not released, but with a score like that we have to once again be in the top four chapters in the world. 

To quote Adam Spivey, "That's freakin' awesome, Ya'll!"

We would like to invite you to come to our NEW MEMBER Orientation on June 21st at the Hutton Hotel from 4:30-5:30pm.  The orientation will introduce you to other members and provide you with information that will help make your MPI membership work best for you!   We are a fun and enterprising group, and we believe in utilizing our talents to help the chapter as a whole.  You are an important part of the chapter and we want you to feel at home and a part of your organization!!

Please RSVP to  [email protected].

As an international organization, and as a chapter, MPI and MPI Tennessee are committed to giving back to their members.  This includes educationally, professionally and personally.  One of the best ways we do this is through scholarships, which you, as a member, can apply for!

The MPI Foundation provides scholarships in varying amounts throughout the year.  You can visit http://www.mpiweb.org/foundation/grants-and-scholarships to learn more and apply, but here is a quick list of what is available:

• Conference Scholarships - These can be used to cover registration and/or travel to IMEX, WEC and EMEC, all conferences hosted by MPI
• Membership - Scholarships are available for planners and suppliers that cover the cost of one year of membership.
• Professional Development - These scholarships can be used to cover the registration, program fees and travel costs for obtaining the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC), and the Experiential Event Series.

Additionally, MPI Tennessee offers scholarships to our chapter members. Information and an application can be found at http://mpitn.org/scholarships.

Scholarships are awarded quarterly, with deadlines on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.

Similar to the MPI Foundation, the chapter offers scholarships for membership fees, WEC Conference Fees, and registration and exam fees for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM).

The Event Design Certificate course offered by Event Model Generation and supported by San Diego State University and Meeting Professionals International is a three day program that will help meeting professionals design better events and create value for stakeholders.  Click here to learn more.

The CMM, Certificate in Meeting Management, program delivers one global standard of excellence that will bolster your business management skills and advance your career.  Learn more about the CMM here.

MPI is seeking industry champions who are passionate about the meeting and event industry and wish to assist MPI in its strategic advancement toward being the first choice for professional career development and a prominent voice for the global meeting and event community. We are now accepting applications for the International Board of Directors as well as the International Council.  Below are the deadlines and the link to where you can find all the details on the MPI Global website.

IBOD applications are being accepted now through June 15th

International Council applications will begin accepting application on September 1-30th.

http://www.mpiweb.org/About/Leadership/IntlBoardInfo

Jackie Marko, DMCP, of Destination Nashville has received her CMP.

Way to go Holly Stevenson, CMP, on her recent promotion to Corporate Meeting Manager at Cross Country Education.

The winner of the MAY - The FORCE be with you - Referral Drawing - Michelle Harbin, Nashville & Visual Elements

Thank you to everyone who volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee on May 25.  MPI Tennessee members sorted, boxed and packed 2,209 pounds of food!
 

Name:  Anita Sullivan-Akers 

Current Employer and Position:  CrossBRIDGE Inc - Catering Manager

How long have you been in this position?   1 year

How long in the industry?  20+ years

Why did you join MPI:TN?
Networking possibilities.

What do you hope to get from your MPI:TN membership?
To meet like-minded planners and to introduce CrossBRIDGE Catering into the Corporate segment of Nashville.

What is your favorite meeting or event you have been involved with?  Why?
Blue Jeans and Boots Bash.  This is the annual fundraiser for CrossBRIDGE Inc. that is held at the Cordelle - a truly hope inspiring, spirit lifting event!

What would you like the chapter to know about you?
I've just recently starting riding bike riding hobby on the greenway and I love it!

Name:  Chemain Kellogg

Current Employer and Position:  Holiday Inn World's Fair Park - Corporate Sales Manager

How long have you been in this position?   2 months

How long in the industry?   2 years

Why did you get into the meeting and event industry?
Overall, I LOVE Hospitality. It is what I have been made to do, just hadn't ever tied it all together until now in my life. I have 27yrs of experience in caring for customers. 10+ yrs. of managing, motivating, building and training teams. And 9+ yrs. in sales. Added to which, travel, events, relationships and great experiences are passions and purposes of mine.

What do you enjoy the most and least about the industry?
I Love the relationship building and the trust building. The gratification of that accomplishment is downright addicting. Nothing like making a planner walk away a major Rockstar. I guess what I like the least are the inevitable incontrollables that pop up. But what can you do for that really? They will always be a part of the process and life is 80% how you react to it anyway.

What is your favorite meeting or event you have held?  Why?
I guess that would be the annual Recruiters meeting with TeamHealth. That was a diligently worked and sought after client and it was everything meetings should be. Energetic, fun, vibrant and business. That meeting was an in-house referral from TeamHealth, from one department to another and we have deepened our relationship and trust within that organization and it was a heck of a lot of fun getting there and room to grow as well!

Where is your favorite meeting or event location?  Why?
Well my property of course. We have a gorgeous park in our backyard that we are licensed to cater to. A museum of modern of art that we can cater to. An observation deck called the Sunsphere we can cater into. And an amphitheater in our backyard we can also cater into, all in our backyard. So in addition to the beauty of our property, our walls extend out into some really exciting areas that are gems to Downtown Knoxville.

What advice would you give someone entering the industry?
Be tough, be honest, be tenacious, be transparent, get out of your comfort zone, be turned on by "No's", raise your team up, and accept that not all business opportunities are a good fit for your property, be open and present because that is the only way that your creativity will flow, and have fun!

Tell us something about yourself...hobbies, little known fact, etc.
Happy wife of 22yrs, mom of two high schoolers, I cannot be outside enough, travel is my pulse if I have gone too long without it I get grouchy, I plan travel around food and I am deeply spiritual.

If you weren't in the meeting and event industry what would you be doing?
I could probably pretty easily be a park ranger, would love to be a travel writer with my AMAZING photographer husband and that's about it

It is with sadness and excitement that I send out my final newsletter as Vice President of Communications for MPI Tennessee.  The past two years have been amazing.  I'm confident Desiree Wooldridge, the incoming VP of Communications, will take the chapter's communications to a higher level.  Thank you for letting me serve you!

Jamie Hulet