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2025 Spring Education Day Session Details

 

Morning Keynote 

 

Event and Personal Branding for People Who Aren't Kardashians
Session Workbook

- Leanne Calderwood

Personal branding is no longer reserved for celebrities and entrepreneurs, everyone is deserving of a personal brand; and companies are empowering their team members to use it as a way to build trust with clients and prospects.  It has become an emerging tool for our B2B industry to create trust, grow our careers and ultimately grow revenues for our organizations.  Join Leanne as she shares the truth about personal branding, and how you can start to think about creating your own brand.

Learning Objectives:
  • Discover the 5 most common myths about personal branding and the truths that we should be embracing instead!
  • Learn the 5 reasons why we should all build our brands, and how they can work alongside our organization's brand, mission and values
  • Discover 5 Ways you can grow your brand, without social media!
 

 

Leanne Calderwood

Leanne Calderwood, CMP is a trainer and speaker and one of Canada’s top voices in the meetings and events industry.  A self-professed raging introvert and tea drinker, Leanne’s content helps professionals “shine quietly”, harness their strengths and create impact and influence in a noisy world.

As a veteran meeting broker, Leanne has a unique perspective into both sides of a sale’s transaction. She shines a light on these best practices and helps professionals break through the clutter and stand out from their competition through her blog posts, LinkedIn content and digital courses.

Leanne is a regular columnist for the Canadian Meetings + Events Expo, and has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts.  She was welcomed into the Canadian Meetings + Events Hall of Fame in 2023.

You can connect further with Leanne at leanne@leannecalderwood.com, or find her on LinkedIn!

 


 

AM Breakout Sessions - 10:00 - 11:15

 

State of the Industry in Wisconsin

- Bill Elliott, CAE President & CEO Wisconsin Hotel Lodging Association

Bill Elliott has served as President & CEO of the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) since June of 2020. Bill also worked with WHLA from 2007 through 2011, when he served in various roles, primarily focusing on membership development, advertising programs, and operations. 

During Bill’s tenure he has championed the effort to put $95 million in grant funding into the pockets of hotel and lodging property owners who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also played a role in repealing Wisconsin’s archaic personal property tax that unfairly targeted hotels throughout the state, and every two years he helps WHLA take a swing at getting an increase in the per diem rate for state employees who are traveling to Wisconsin hotels. 

Bill strives to serve his community as well as professional organizations in both the lodging and association industries. He is the President of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin, the Vice-Chair of the International Society of Hotel Associations, and the Chair-Elect of the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives (WSAE). 

- Laura Nelson, Associate Director of Sales, Visit Milwaukee

With 18 years of expertise in the tourism and hospitality industry, Laura has held various leadership roles, including Director of Sales and Marketing for several hotel properties across Wisconsin. Laura's passion for destination marketing runs deep—she played a pivotal role in founding two Destination Marketing Organizations and spent eight years as an Executive Director. Her commitment to the industry is evident through her past and present service on several DMO boards. Currently, as Associate Director of Sales for Visit Milwaukee, Laura leads the meetings & conventions sales team, driving unprecedented growth at the newly expanded Baird Center and highlighting Milwaukee’s versatile hotels and unique venues. Laura is grateful for the opportunity to share her love for Milwaukee, introducing others to the authenticity of its people, the vibrant food scene, stunning lakefront, and unique local experiences, all with genuine and contagious enthusiasm.

 

 



Beyond the Plate:  Sustainable Trends in Food & Beverage 

  • Megan Seppmann, Vice President of Sales, Wisconsin Center District - Moderator
  • Julio Henriquez Vice President of Hospitality Strategy
  • Ryne Harwick, Executive Chef Levy Restaurants 

 

 


 

 

PM Breakout Sessions  -  12:45 - 2:00

 

I'm Just Following Up (And Other Things We Say That Compromise Our Value)

- Leanne Calderwood

They’re the words and questions we use everyday, things we learned in sales training so we come across as polite, modest, and anything but pushy.  

However the language we use can often diminish our position and our self-perception, to where our communications often go unacknowledged, unread and unanswered.

In this eye-opening session, learn how the language we use can unconsciously put us in a servant position, falling short of what we actually are - equal partners in the meeting's transaction.  

If your current communications are landing you in the backseat, come and discover ways you can lean into your own greatness and put you and your organization into the front seat of the meetings you help bring to life! 

  • Learn how simple words can diminish or elevate your position and how they feed into an unconscious power dynamic
  • Explore how identities and labels can change how you view your God-given talents and strengths
  • Create a plan that helps you correct your language in the act, move confidently into business relationships.


 


Ethical Approaches to Solving Problems

-  Elizabeth Schlicht, Association Accumen

 

We all face ethical dilemmas – situations where there are conflicts between our ethical values. This can be conflicts between personal values, organizational values – or where our personal and the organizational values collide. How do you assess and traverse these situations? How do you empower your team members to approach these situations with confidence? We’ll discuss these questions and dig into real-life dilemmas to practice these assessment skills and exercise our ethical muscles to approach these circumstances with confidence. If you have a case study you’d like included – please send it to me.  Any and all cases presented will be anonymized.

 

Elizabeth Schlicht, MMgt, CAE, is the Executive Director for the Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA) and Society for Mucosal Immunology (SMI), both Association Acumen, LLC clients. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Strategic Management and Executive Leadership from Penn State University and earned her CAE in 2017. Currently chair of the Wisconsin Society for Association Executives, she’s passionate for the crossroads of membership, governance, policies, and ethics – and the various puzzles they can present to associations.

 

     

     

    NSA Wisconsin Speaker Showcase




     Click here for resources from NSA-Wisconsin on working with speakers and emcees.

    The National Speakers Association Wisconsin (NSA WI) is excited to partner with MPI Wisconsin to present a dynamic Speaker Showcase at the MPI WI Spring Education Event. Hosted by professional emcee Roger Wolkoff, this fast-paced session features seven expert speakers delivering engaging 10-minute micro-keynotes designed to inspire and demonstrate the impact of professional speakers on events. Join us for an interactive and high-energy experience showcasing how customized presentations create meaningful audience connections.

    Speakers and Titles in Order:

    Eliz Greene:  Master the Mayhem: Event Stress Survival Guide
    https://elizgreene.com/

    Event planning is chaotic, but stress doesn't have to take over. Stress management expert Eliz Greene shares her proven 5-step strategy to help event professionals manage baseline stress, recognize early warning signs, interrupt stress reactions, focus on solutions, and actively recover. By identifying the signs, you'll be proactive and prepared, ready to manage stress on the spot, recover quickly, and keep the mayhem from following you home. 

    Jeff Kortes:  Give ’em C.R.A.P. to Secure Client and Attendee Loyalty
    http://www.jeffkortes.com  

    Event success relies on strong relationships, and C.R.A.P. (Caring, Respect, Appreciation, and Praise) is the key to building lasting connections with clients, vendors, and attendees. Just as these principles enhance employee engagement, they also foster customer loyalty and elevate the event experience. 'Giving Your Clients C.R.A.P.' is a must for event professionals looking to create impactful, memorable experiences that keep clients coming back.

    Paula Houlihan:  The ABCs of Choice: Reprogram Your Brain for Better Decisions
    https://paulahoulihan.com

    Event professionals constantly make high-stakes decisions, yet up to 95% of choices happen on autopilot. In this eye-opening session, you'll explore The ABCs of Choice—the three key parts of the brain that drive decision-making—and learn a simple four-step process to take back control. Through real-life examples and actionable strategies, you'll walk away with tools to make better choices, reduce stress, and navigate events with greater confidence and clarity.

    Gina Glover: Focus on the 5th Question to Improve Networking and Develop Deeper Connections
    www.ginaconnects.com

    Gina Glover’s Focus on the 5th Question framework empowers event professionals to move beyond small talk and create meaningful connections that drive results. In this interactive and engaging session, attendees will learn how to break through common networking barriers and foster conversations that lead to real relationships. With fresh strategies and a participatory approach, this keynote will leave event pros inspired to rethink networking and elevate their professional connections.

    Deborah Biddle: The Text That Changed Everything
    www.ppl-co.com

    Event professionals play a crucial role in creating spaces where everyone feels valued, yet true inclusion goes beyond policies and checkboxes. In this powerful and deeply personal talk, Deborah Biddle shares real-life experiences and eye-opening insights that redefine what belonging truly means. Through thought-provoking storytelling, she challenges attendees to move beyond surface-level diversity efforts and embrace inclusion as a commitment to fostering meaningful, transformative connections at every event.

    Kathie Rotz: Letting Go of Controls: Finding Balance in the Events Industry
    www.unityconsultingllc.com

    In the fast-paced world of event planning, the instinct to control every detail is second nature. But what if true stability comes from learning to let go of controls? Through a powerful personal story, this session explores the illusion of control and how shifting your mindset can lead to greater resilience, preparing you for any challenge and success. Event professionals will walk away with fresh insights on navigating uncertainty, regaining balance, and taking intentional action in high-pressure situations.

    Patty Hendrickson:   Fingerprints of Leadership: Leaving a Lasting Impact in the Events Industry
    https://pattyhendrickson.com/

    Great event professionals don’t just manage details—they inspire teams, set expectations, and create lasting influence. This high-energy, interactive session explores the shift from self-leadership to peer leadership, helping attendees strengthen their impact on people and organizations. Through reflection, storytelling, and a wealth of practical strategies, participants will uncover the success patterns of top influencers, refine their leadership approach, and learn how to foster mentorship and collaboration in high-pressure event environments, feeling equipped and prepared for the challenges ahead.

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