The 25th anniversary of September 11 is a time to remember the lives lost, including Jay R. Magazine, an MPIGNY member and catering sales manager at Windows on the World. Jay was overseeing a breakfast for 500 guests atop 1 World Trade Center when the first tower was attacked. Remembered as a devoted family man, respected colleague, and dedicated hospitality professional, Jay made a lasting impact on MPIGNY and the wider industry. In his honor, the chapter established the Jay Magazine Memorial Fund in 2001 to assist members experiencing financial hardship. Over the past 25 years, the fund has continued Jay’s legacy of service and community, providing vital support during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors to the 9/11 Memorial are encouraged to find Jay Magazine’s name among the bronze plaques and remember a beloved member of the MPIGNY community whose legacy lives on.

AI doesn’t need to be intimidating—think of it as a smart, fast, but inexperienced summer intern. It can brainstorm ideas, draft content, organize information, summarize feedback, streamline repetitive tasks, and save event professionals significant time. But like an intern, AI needs clear instructions, context, examples, and human supervision. Its work should always be reviewed for accuracy, tone, privacy, and important details before it represents you or your organization. The more you develop strong prompts, templates, and workflows, the more useful AI becomes. The goal isn’t to let AI run your business—it’s to manage it well enough that it helps you run your business better.