2025 Annual Meeting

Optional Beaufort Outings for Your Free Time

We’ve carved out a few hours just for you to enjoy beautiful Beaufort, NC. Whether you’re drawn to sightseeing, shopping, dining, or simply relaxing by the waterfront, this is your chance to experience the charm of one of the South’s most beloved coastal towns. To help you make the most of your time, here are a few favorite recommendations from the locals.

Yoga on the Pavilion

Nov. 3, 3:00 - 4:00 PM, Pavilion at The Beaufort Hotel

Join this gentle, all levels flow. Mats, blocks, etc. will be provided. Space is capped at 15 people. Cost: $20 per person (cash or Venmo). 

Bourbon Tasting

Nov. 3, 2:00 - 3:30 PM, 34° North at The Beaufort Hotel

Enjoy a bourbon tasting at 34° North where you will be welcomed with an Angel’s Envy Old Fashioned before embarking on a 90-minute guided experience led by a whiskey expert. Guests will enjoy tastings of Angel’s Envy bourbons paired with curated bites from the Chef, making this a flavorful and memorable afternoon. Cost: $45 per person.

Beaufort Golf Cart Tour with Barefoot Wade

Nov. 3, Available tour times: 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM

Discover Beaufort’s rich history on a one-hour Beaufort Golf Cart Tour with Barefoot Wade, a private excursion in a luxury golf cart with forward-facing seats. Your local guide will share captivating stories of pirates, wild horses, historic homes, centuries-old cemeteries, and the town’s unique Civil War and African-American heritage. Tours begin at the Beaufort Hotel and end either back at the hotel or at any downtown Beaufort location of your choice. Cost is $30 per person with a maximum of five guests per time slot. Reservations must be made by October 31. Barefoot Wade accepts cash, check and most online payment apps (such as Venmo), but no credit or debit cards.

Interested? Reserve your spot by texting or calling (910) 340-9090.

Education

Securing Sponsorships That Deliver Value

For event planners and event suppliers, sponsorships aren’t just about logos on signage, they’re about creating partnerships that deliver measurable value for everyone involved. In this session, we'll hear insider strategies for identifying the right sponsorship opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and building relationships that turn one-time sponsors into long-term partners. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, convention sales, and sponsorship management, Kate Jansen will show you how to align sponsor goals with event objectives, enhance attendee engagement, and ensure ROI that keeps sponsors coming back. You’ll leave with actionable steps to secure sponsorships that not only fund your event but elevate its impact.

What you’ll learn:

• How to identify sponsorship opportunities that align with your event’s goals and audience. 
• Proven techniques for crafting sponsorship proposals that grab attention and drive decisions.
• Ways to strengthen relationships with sponsors for repeat and long-term partnerships.
• Strategies to align sponsor objectives with attendee engagement for maximum impact.
• Methods to track and demonstrate ROI that keeps sponsors invested year after year.

About the Speaker

Kate Jansen, CMP leads comprehensive marketing initiatives and cultivates high-impact corporate sponsorships that connect brands with hundreds of thousands of annual guests across The Complex (Raleigh Convention Center, Red Hat Amphitheater, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, and Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek). Having fallen in love with Raleigh as an NC State student, she is dedicated to showcasing her city as a welcoming crossroads for visitors, a hub for community activities, and a significant economic engine for the Triangle region.

Weaving Sustainability and Social Impact Into Events

Sustainability for events means taking action towards preserving our environment, promoting a healthy, inclusive society; and supporting a thriving economy. To achieve these goals, it takes both Planners and Suppliers to share responsibility.

In this session, we will review the EIC Principles for Sustainable Events which addresses all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and share best practices on how to add sustainability to our events.

What you’ll learn:

• Gain an understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Benefits of hosting sustainable events
• How social impact ties into sustainability
• Easy ways to add sustainability practices to your meetings and how to build on it.

About the Speaker

Molly Johnson, CMP Fellow has been in the hospitality industry since 1991 with experience ranging from operations to sales. After moving multiple times to six different states, Molly finally felt at home when she moved to Wilmington. She started at the Wilmington and Beaches CVB in 2015. She currently serves on the Meeting Professionals International Chapter and Member Advisory Council as well as the Sustainability Advisory Council. Molly is a Past President of the Southeast Chapter of Professional Conference Management Association and a Past President of the Carolinas Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. Recent awards include PCMA Southeast Chapter 2023 President’s Award, PCMA Global Chair’s 2022 Award, AENC 2022 Outstanding Affiliate Member Award, MPI-CC 2019 Corey D. Bizell Award of Excellence, MPI-CC 2018 Hall of Fame Award, MPI-CC 2017 President’s Award. Molly spends her free time serving on the board of directors for A Safe Place, a local non-profit and the Event Industry Council Governance Commission.

Ebony R. Loadholt is a visionary event strategist with more than 20 years of experience designing high-impact events across higher education, corporate, tech, and nonprofit sectors. As Events Director at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), she leads national gatherings that unite 600+ sustainability leaders from across the U.S. and Canada. Known for her strategic mindset and innovative approach, Ebony creates experiences that inspire action, strengthen collaboration, and deliver measurable results.

All education sessions have been approved by the Events Industry Council (EIC). Participants are eligible for up to 4.5 continuing education (CE) credits.