April 2023 - Chris Yueh, CMP

Chris Yueh, CMP VP of Communications MPI Georgia

My career includes nearly a decade of events and meeting planning. Most recently, I served as director of programs for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

“Over the course of eight years, I was able to flex my creative and problem-solving skills by organizing monthly meetings, planning annual signature events, and even executing the complete revamp of the regional conference for the association,”

While I studied chemical engineering at Georgia Tech, my interest in planning events was evident early on – I just hadn’t realized it was a career option. But since shifting into my current career, I committed myself to understanding every facet of what makes an event successful, from negotiating large contracts to those who work in the background, often unnoticed.

I spent a couple of years as a contractor for event management companies to learn about the industry and even worked as a busboy to learn the ins and outs of the restaurant business. All my past work and life experiences have led me to become the practical and thoughtful planner I am today.

I currently serve as the Director of Events and Meetings at Philanthropy Southeast.  I manage the planning, development, and delivery of content for Philanthropy Southeast’s annual conference and other in-person events, as well as assist with developing and delivering virtual programming to the association’s members.

All this is to say that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. I would not have this great opportunity if it were not for the support of my MPI GA family. One of my first encounters with an MPI member was Jeff Whitney of Event Transportation Inc. Through Jeff, I met many other members, including Connie Bergeron, CMP; Allyson Wagner, CMP; Abby Freeman; and many other wonderful people. One of the reasons I decided to get involved and serve on the board of directors is because of the people and the opportunities that were given to me; I wanted to give back and pass it forward.