President's Corner - January 2026

Happy New Year, Texas Hill Country Chapter!

I want to give you my "Why?" as the 2026 chapter president. I have been working in meetings and events for twenty-three years. I have been a member of the chapter for 12 years. I made the decision to pursue board leadership for a couple of reasons. I was an active member of the chapter for 6 years, but I still felt like I wasn’t getting the connection or community I thought I would gain. That might have been because I didn’t really see the diversity I wanted to see. So, what do I do about that? I have to decide if that's something that I can help change. One of the ways to make that change was to join the board. I have been a board member since 2020. I did every job on the education team, then I moved over to Strategic Partnerships, now Fundraising. I learned as much as I could because I felt that would make me an effective president for this chapter, eventually... Eventually, came a little sooner than I thought, but I am ready for this challenge.

People say this is how we make change. We must get involved and do the work. I want our members to see a diversity of leadership. I also want our members and potential members to understand how important MPI is to the meetings and events industry.

We play an integral role in professional development. Continuing education is so important to maintaining the skills and service we offer to our associations, clients, and partners. Every one of us who is a kick ass professional and brings it every day wouldn't be so great if we didn't strive to learn more, take advice, and give back. This shouldn't be devalued. It should be a priority. Trained and knowledgeable professionals will always be an asset. Invest in your people, and they will invest in you. It's pretty simple.

I commit to trying new strategies to benefit our members and reach our soon-to-be members. This chapter needs to increase its visibility and viability. I can commit to leaving it better than I found it. So, let's get better and create that success. I know you believe this, too.

That's why you belong here, at MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter.

Michele Gonzalez, CMP
president@mpithcc.org
Strategic Association Management