Whether you are thinking of starting a new business, injecting your existing business with new products or services, altering your business model, or employing new strategies, you need to manage whatever financial, risk management and other support you need to achieve your goals. You may even learn new skills, advance existing skills, or lean into a new specialization. Join this lively session with members of MPI’s Independent and Small Business Owners Advisory Board and gain tips on defining a new path forward.
MPI Member - Free
Student - Free
Non-Member - $10
12:00pm - Opening Remarks
12:10pm - Presentation
12:45pm - Q&A + Closing
Rita Plaskett, CMP, CMM, has been in the meeting industry for over 25 years. Rita has pursued both the EDC (Event Design Certification) and the VEMM (Virtual Event Meeting Management Certificate) as well as being certified as a CMP and CMM. Rita is a partner in Experiential Experts, specializing in a strategic approach to flawless delivery of meetings, conferences and events from cradle to grave. Prior to her partnership in Experiential Experts, Rita is the owner of a meeting and conference management company called Agendum Inc. since 2003. Prior to being the owner of her own firm, Rita was Senior Consultant Meetings Consolidation and Manager of Operations for the Automotive Division for Maritz Canada. Prior to Maritz, Rita was Director of Conferences for The Pinnacle Group and Director of Conference, Education and Public Relations for The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Rita is fluent in both English and French.
Rita was a teacher at George Brown College in the Hospitality and Meeting Management Program for 10 years and in 2006 won the “Award for Teaching Excellence”. Rita is Past Chairwoman of the MPI Global Foundation, Founder of MPI Foundation Canada as well as Past President of MPI Toronto Chapter, CanSPEP and BEICC (Meetings Means Business). Rita was the Founder and Chair of the MPI Foundation Canada Economic Impact Study initiative lending her experience as Chair of the first Economic Impact Study to this new initiative. Rita was awarded both the Toronto Chapter Planner of the Year, as well as MPI Toronto Chapter’s President’s Award, Award for Teaching Excellence from George Brown College and Excellence in Leadership award from CanSPEP and the Joy Fox Award. Rita has been inducted into the Meeting Industry Hall of Fame for Industry Innovator.
Steve Kinsley has over thirty years in the hospitality and meetings industry. His career has taken him to such diverse properties as the Broadmoor, the Westin St. Francis, Keystone Resort & Conference Center and The Hotel Teatro in Denver. In 1999 he joined his wife, Allison, in their meeting and convention planning firm, Kinsley Meetings.
Steve has served on the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado Executive Committee, is a past President of the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, and has served on the San Francisco Travel Association Self-Contained Advisory Board, Vail Resorts/Rock Resorts Hospitality Advisory Board, Loews Hotels Advisory Board and the Fort Worth Convention Bureau Advisory Board.
In the community he is a director and past chairman of the board of Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc., has served as a Director of the Men for the Cure Foundation and serves on the Gamma-Tau Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity House Corporation. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Denver Hospitality School and the Metro State University of Denver Hospitality, Events & Tourism School.
All Essential Level members or non-members are limited to no more than two events in one fiscal year and must pay the Essential Level/Non-member rate. MPI Preferred or Premier Level members are welcome to attend all chapter events at the Member Price.
If you are unable to attend the event after you have registered, please inform us at mpiedmonton@gmail.com.