MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter’s 2026 Annual Membership Awards

The Awards Program recognizes outstanding members of the Meeting Professionals International Rocky Mountain Chapter
more information and nominations...

 

 

MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter

The MPI Rocky Mountain chapter strives to provide its 300+ members across the meetings and events community with relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges. Founded in 1973, MPIRMC was MPI’s first recognized chapter, and today it remains a leader in the development of unique member programming and events.

When you join MPIRMC, you become part of an organization dedicated to your personal and career success. You’ll connect with the innovative learning, passionate people and big ideas that will empower you to become an agent of change and reinvent the world.


MPI Vision Statement: Lead the business events community in changing the world.

MPI Mission Statement: Be the premiere, inclusive business events association for professional development.

Key Words: Innovate, Educate and Connect


September Dynamic Duo

September 17, 2026
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Boulder Marriott
2501 Walnut St
Boulder, CO 80302
Organizer
MPI Rocky Mountain
Phone: 720-733-8000

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lunch  
12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. - 1 HR Leadership / Think on your Feet Intro Session
1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.  (Board meeting - 15 min report outs)
3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - New Member Orientation & Registration
3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. - Announcements & Educational Session

5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - MPI After 5 Networking

The ROI of Human Connection: Designing Moments That Matter

Human connection doesn't happen by accident, it happens by design. In this keynote, Braden Eads makes the business case for treating connection as a strategic outcome of great meetings and events, not a byproduct of good luck. Drawing on his background in organizational psychology and years on stage, Braden shows event professionals and industry suppliers how intentional event design creates real engagement, and how that engagement translates directly into attendee satisfaction, loyalty, and measurable business results. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building connection into every stage of event design, from first touchpoint to follow-up, so that meaningful engagement becomes the expectation rather than the exception.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Understand why human connection is one of the most valuable, and most measurable, outcomes of meetings and events.

  • Learn practical techniques for designing intentional moments of engagement rather than leaving connection to chance.

  • Connect attendee engagement directly to customer experience outcomes like loyalty, advocacy, and retention.

  • Walk away with strategies that resonate with both event planners and industry suppliers.

  • Gain a framework for demonstrating the ROI of live events through relationships and community, not just attendance numbers

Planners Member Suppliers Non-Member Suppliers Student Member Student Non Member
$25 
Package: $65
Education Only: $50
After 5 Only: $25
 
Package: $85
Education Only: $70
After 5 Only: $30
 
Package: $20
Education Only: $0
After 5 Only: $20
 
Package: $25
Education Only: $30
After 5 Only: $20

Speaker

Braden Eads
Keynote Speaker

Braden Speaks

Braden Eads is a professional keynote speaker, Strategic Customer Success Manager, and former member of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. He holds an MBA from the University of Utah and a background in industrial organizational psychology, and he spent years on stage before ever giving a keynote.

Braden speaks on the power of authentic connection and the courage it takes to use your voice. His signature keynote, The ROI of Human Connection, shows corporate, sales, and leadership audiences why real relationships still drive real results, even in a world built on automation and efficiency. His second keynote, Finding Your Voice, draws on the stories of Rosa Parks, Noor Abdalla, and Cori Bush, along with his own journey from choir risers to keynote stages, to help audiences show up authentically even when it's terrifying.

Braden has spoken for organizations including ATD, IIA, Pikes Peak Learning Center, Douglas County Libraries, NACA Milwaukee, and Customer Success Summit Denver. Audiences leave with practical tools and a renewed sense of what genuine connection can do for their teams, their careers, and themselves.

He lives in Colorado Springs with his family. 

Sponsors
  

 

 






 



Venue Details

Effortless Boulder charm meets the rugged grandeur of the Flatirons at the Boulder Marriott. Set at the foot of the mountains where downtown energy meets alpine calm, the hotel serves as a premier home base for those who want the best of Boulder within easy reach. From sun-drenched guest rooms framing sweeping Flatiron views to the full-service spa and indoor pool built for unwinding after a day on the trails, every detail is crafted for comfort.Beyond the doors, the eclectic spirit of downtown Boulder awaits. Guests can wander the shops and street performers of Pearl Street Mall, pick up a trailhead straight into the Flatirons, or stroll to the University of Colorado campus. More than just a landmark in the city's most walkable corridor, the Boulder Marriott is a destination where laid-back hospitality and mountain-town energy converge, offering an experience that is as down-to-earth as it is inspiring.

Congratulations to the 2026 MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter Board of Directors

bod2026c

President - Viveca McDonald, MBA, DES
President Elect -  Jeanette Stensgaard, MBA, CMP, HMCC
Immediate Past President - Matthew Kalb, CMP CEM-AP
Vice President of Communication - Hayley Harmon
Vice President of Education - Meghan Keelean, CMP
Vice President of Finance - Iliana Ruminski
Vice President of Membership - Ben Wood

Director of Leadership Development - Resa Meagher
Director of Education - Jennifer Hinton, CMP
Director of Member Care - Pablo Zacarias
Director of Recruitment - Vivian Butler
Director of Outreach - Rachel Milligan
Director of Marketing - Jared Bunn
Director of Publications - Meg Caldwell
Director of Special Events and Partnerships - Richelle Kemper
Director of Fundraising - Eric Holmes
Director of Fulfillment - Meaghan Ellis

The outgoing and incoming Boards have been working together closely to ensure a smooth transition into the new year. 

 

- Angela "Fig" Wirkler, CMP, MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, Past President


MPI Chapter Membership Population

Planners: 132
Suppliers: 176
Students: 22
Faculty: 3
Other: 7

 

 

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