Lisa Messina - MPI Southern California Chapter

My uncle was a successful restaurateur who had tremendous passion for the business. As an infant, I was present at his graduation from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. Ironically, I would follow in his footsteps, taking jobs in restaurants and hotels and then eventually graduating from Cornell.

One day I was reading an industry magazine that was recognizing up and comers in the business. One person that I had recruited and hired earlier in my career recognized me as a mentor and inspiration. We all should take time to let someone know how we feel about them when appropriate. Leading is often lonely and requires difficult decisions. It’s nice to know when someone appreciates the role you play and the impact you had on them.

My parents were school educators. Teaching is in my blood, so to the extent that I can continue to share stories of incredible opportunities this industry has to offer and help young people get engaged, I would like to do more of that. Our career paths are underrated, and we can really tap into some youthful, energetic talent if we talk about it more.

If you’re not growing, you’re dying. I enjoy learning and trying new things. I know our industry can be so much more progressive and creative, but it does get challenging when we commoditize our business and leave it to the same old availability and pricing conversations. That isn’t helping anyone achieve their goals.

I learned so much about business in general by being part of the meeting and event industry. If you are preparing properly and have meaningful conversations with your customers, then you are learning a lot about their organizations and industries to best serve them.

I have been blessed to have so many people in my personal and professional life that are a part of who I am today. I try to make every interaction a learning experience, whether I encounter you in a brief meeting or work with you over a long period of time.

My first MPI World Education Congress in Philadelphia was exciting and overwhelming all at once. There were so many meeting professionals and suppliers to network with at varying levels of experience. Networking and education have always been the two most impactful values of MPI for me. I was away from MPI for a while, but under President and CEO Paul Van Deventer’s leadership and the invaluable volunteerism of people like Brian Stevens and Michael Massari, I’m engaged more than ever and excited about the future.

We need to continue to elevate the conversation as it relates to the meetings profession. There is more work to be done. Some planners are still not recognized by their own organizations for the value they provide to achieving organizational objectives. Meetings and events are some of the most important marketing initiatives an organization undertakes. I encourage my team to have meaningful conversations with their customers and understand their business so that we can partner with them to achieve their goals.

I have remained disciplined as it relates to exercise, eating right and mindfulness. It is the one thing that I can control to be the best version of me whether it is for my employer and team members, my husband and family or my two dogs. You cannot be the best version of you if you aren’t healthy and present.

BIO

Lisa Messina is vice president of sales for Caesars Entertainment. She first joined MPI in 1998.