Annually MPI has the honor of presenting the Supplier of the year and the Planner of the Year award. These industry awards are given to suppliers and planners based on career involvement, professionalism, and dedication to furthering the Chapter, MPI, and the meeting planning industry goals. To earn the Planner and Supplier of the Year award, individuals must be nominated by their peers, and in this challenging year, the awardees were there when needed.

Suppliers and Planners within the meetings industry fell to their knees within a matter of days which none of us saw coming.  We will recover, we will rebound, and we will rise together. We will forever be bonded by this time in history that we shared.

Rachel Hickerson, Planner of the Year, and Melissa Drake, Supplier of the year, carried on with their professional jobs, personal lives and remained committed and dedicated to MPI.  They helped our Chapter navigate through these challenging times, which set them apart.  They believed in their roles within the Chapter and were, as they say, “In it to win it”!  They masterminded with the board, sharing new ideas for engagement and membership retention, amongst many other things.

These individuals held true to their course of action, believed in collaboration, and kept in close contact with their colleagues and clients.  They knew the importance of keeping MPI alive and giving back to the hospitality industry during this time of uncertainty.  One saying, “I jumped in with both feet, not knowing exactly what I was doing, but here I was” and “I’m still standing.”

MPISSN’s members appreciate Melissa Drake and Rachel Hickerson’s dedication and are honored to recognize them as Supplier of the Year and Planner of the Year.

Return to the Summer 2021 Connects Newsletter