I fell into the meeting industry. While working in marketing for a software company I was asked to manage their regional user groups and then their user conference. It just steam rolled from technology to financial services to healthcare.
The highlight of my career was probably managing my first high-profile event with well-known speakers and executive-level attendees. Every event is memorable, for one reason or another, but to pull off something that has high visibility and get recognition from leaders is really rewarding.
All these years of planning and now I am finally getting my CMP. I’m legit.
So often we find in times of hardship that events are the first thing to get scaled back. Recognizing the importance of the face-to-face event in the execution of a well-rounded marketing plan is essential in elevating our profession.
I have a real appreciation for the creativity and hard work that goes into the events I attend. A well-executed event is a marvel to behold! I also find that people outside of the event industry think I have a very glamorous job. Insiders know how taxing, but rewarding, it can be.
My fellow planners are always willing to share best practices and experiences. There is a real camaraderie among event planners to give advice and recommendations freely and to help colleagues succeed.
I had been an MPI member in the late 1990s and had let my membership lapse. But I attended the World Education Congress last year in Indianapolis and was blown away by the event, so I joined again.
I have been attending MPI events for years. It is a great resource for education and information. It helps me to keep up with trends and I always leave with good ideas.
Technology has really made a mark on every aspect of planning, from communication to space utilization and beyond. And things change all of the time. It is a challenge to keep up.
It would be great to have some crossover events, or some type of agreement, between some of the event associations. That may be in the works already, but I am not aware of anything for members…like getting a member discount to attend an MPI event if you are a PCMA member, etc.
I’m passionate about my family and would like to spend as much time with them as possible.
