From the Board - MPI WEC in St. Louis

Welcome to the first installment of our new “From the Board” series - where you’ll get insights on the industry and key topics from your MPI Ottawa leadership. For this edition, I wanted to share my experience attending MPI World Education Congress (WEC), held June 16–18 in St. Louis, Missouri.

I had the opportunity to attend, assisted by an MPI Foundation Scholarship, which covered registration and helped support my travel. If you’ve ever thought about attending WEC, the EVENT in Fredericton in September, or any of MPI’s global events, I highly encourage you to explore the available scholarships. MPI Foundation Scholarships provide invaluable opportunities to further your education and help move the industry forward.

St. Louis itself was incredibly warm and welcoming (quite literally - gotta love a good heat wave!), as were the members of the global community in attendance. One of the things I like most about MPI and our industry is that we are a friendly, passionate, and community-focused bunch. Participating in a global event and meeting other chapters gave me the chance to feel part of the larger organization that we all share.

Education was another key focus, with great keynotes, multiple content streams as well as learning sessions for chapter leaders to help us level up and contribute our best selves. Sessions covered AI, event trends, behind-the-scenes AV, planner and supplier challenges. There were so many things happening at once, I often felt like I should be in multiple places at the same time! And of course, the puppy area on the trade show floor, where you could stop by and snuggle a furry friend, was always a big hit for some downtime between sessions.

We were also able to experience the sights of St. Louis at the evening events, enjoying an opening reception at Busch Stadium (home of the Cardinals), a dinner at the historic Union Station and finishing off the event with a street party featuring circus entertainment and headlining local, Nelly.

It was also a week of celebration. The MPI Global Rise Awards recognize both individuals and chapters making significant contributions to the meetings industry. This year, the MPI Ottawa Chapter won in the newly created category for ‘Social Impact’, recognizing our long-standing Annual Charity Auction Dinner event and the funds raised for the local community.

It truly highlights the incredible passion and strength in our chapter, from all the hardworking volunteers over the years who contributed to its success, to those who attended and supported the great work of our charity partners. While Ottawa may be a smaller chapter on the global stage, we certainly punch well above our weight when it comes to the impact we make.

(Special shout out to our colleagues from Atlantic Canada Chapter for winning their own 2025 Rise Award for Membership Achievement)

One of my favourite keynote speakers of the week was Dr. Temple Grandin, author, scientist, and autism advocate, who spoke about the value of diverse ways of thinking and how understanding our strengths, and those of others, can help us approach problem-solving more effectively. By combining our diverse talents, we can create something stronger together. Limitations in one area don’t disqualify you from success in another.

Speaking of talents, I would be remiss if I didn’t use this opportunity to celebrate that the MPI Ottawa Chapter’s biggest strength is its volunteers, who do such critical work and help drive the chapter forward. So, I invite you to come talk to us—everyone has different talents, and we’ll help you make the most of yours!

 Article edited by: Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services