Check out the brand-new MPI Foundation 2025 Annual Impact Report to hear more insights from these leaders and learn about the Foundation’s many accomplishments from the past year.
Can you tell us how you got involved with the MPI Foundation and why you’re passionate about its mission?
I first became involved with MPI by volunteering with the U.S. Council, which provided an opportunity to learn more about the Foundation. I’m so honored to serve as a trustee and help share our mission and how we advance the industry. From the educational opportunities at the Thought Leaders Summit to the grants and scholarships that allow individuals to attend events like World Education Congress, the Foundation keeps our industry moving forward!
Angie Ahrens, CMP Fellow, CMM, Head of Growth Experiences, Intuit Mailchimp
After finishing my two-year term as president of MPI Caribe Mexicano Chapter, I felt the need to continue supporting the MICE industry in México and in my local community the Mexican Caribbean. I decided to continue volunteering as part of the MPI Foundation, whose mission is to help advance the meeting industry globally with grants and scholarships for all members of the industry.
My passion for the MPI Foundation’s mission lays on my strong belief in giving back. The meetings industry has given me the most amazing experiences and, most important, many lifetime friendships. Being able to help our members to achieve their goals, get professionalized and giving them access to the largest meetings and events network is for me the most rewarding volunteering role.
Valeria Serrano, PCS, Founding CEO, CTA DMC Events Designer
I became involved with the MPI Foundation because I believe deeply in its mission to invest in people, elevate our profession and strengthen the global community that drives the meetings and events industry forward. As a chapter leader and then president for the Northern California Chapter, I had the opportunity to spearhead initiatives supporting the Foundation, which gave me firsthand insights into the impact of its work. My interest in taking on a larger role led me to pursue a position as a board trustee. For me, this work is both professional and personal: I’ve seen how scholarships, research and chapter support can open doors and shape careers, and I’m passionate about ensuring those opportunities remain accessible for our industry.
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM, DES, Vice President, Global Sales & Industry Relations, Teneo Hospitality Group
I became involved with the MPI Foundation because I’ve always believed that our industry rises or falls on the strength of its people. As a destination leader, I’m deeply indebted to the professional planners who invest their time, their talents and their trust in places like St. Louis and leaders like me. They’re the ones who turn ideas into impact and bring communities together. And they’re the ones who ultimately shape the future of meetings and events.
The Foundation exists for one purpose: to invest in those very people. Whether someone is just starting out or looking to take their career to the next level, the Foundation removes barriers, opens doors and gives our industry’s talent the lift they deserve. That mission resonates with me because it’s the right thing to do, and because the future of our field depends on it. When we invest in the people who make this industry work, we strengthen the entire ecosystem. We don’t just fuel careers; we build the capacity of an industry that fills convention centers, elevates destinations and drives economic and community progress around the world.
That’s why I’m committed to the Foundation. It’s strategy, not charity. It’s how we safeguard the next generation of planners and honor the loyalty and partnership they’ve shown us for decades.
Brad Dean, President & CEO, Explore St. Louis/America’s Center Convention Complex
What’s a personal MPI Foundation highlight from your time as a volunteer?
MURAKAMI: One of the most meaningful highlights of my volunteer journey has been meeting recipients of the Foundation’s scholarships and hearing directly how these opportunities have shaped their careers. Those conversations bring the Foundation’s mission to life—you can see the impact, access and possibility that our support creates. Becoming a member of the 1972 Society was an extension of that experience for me. It represented my personal commitment to ensuring that these transformative moments continue for future professionals who will lead and inspire our industry.
DEAN: One moment stands out above the rest. During the pandemic, an unforgettable period, the MPI Foundation stepped up in an extraordinary way. While the world shut down and the future of face-to-face meetings was uncertain at best, the Foundation invested heavily to keep professional planners engaged, connected and hopeful. It was risky but absolutely necessary.
A couple of years later, I met a planner who told me she received one of those WEC scholarships during that dark time. She said, very candidly, that without it she might have walked away from the industry altogether. Instead, she stayed, she grew and she’s now shaping the next wave of in-person experiences. This was a powerful reminder that what happens at the MPI Foundation is very personal. It launches careers and changes lives. And during one of the toughest chapters our industry has ever faced, it kept talented professionals from drifting away. That’s precisely the kind of impact that lasts.
AHRENS: A personal highlight has been serving on the grants and scholarships committee. Reading through the scholarships and knowing we help people when they need it brings my volunteering full circle. It only happens because of the support we get through donations and those committed to the organization that we are able to help those in our community.
SERRANO: One of my most memorable experiences as a volunteer with the MPI Foundation occurred in 2022 when the Foundation committed $20,000 to directly support Ukrainian hospitality students through scholarships. This initiative was particularly meaningful to me, as it demonstrated our commitment to helping those in need during challenging times.
The scholarships enabled several students to attend the MPI's World Education Congress in San Francisco, where they not only gained invaluable knowledge and insights from industry leaders but also had the opportunity to network with professionals from around the globe.
Witnessing the impact of this initiative firsthand was incredibly rewarding. It reinforced my belief in the mission of the MPI Foundation—to uplift and support future leaders in the meetings and events industry. Knowing that our efforts contributed to opening doors for these students and helping them achieve their dreams was a highlight of my volunteer experience.
This initiative exemplified the power of community and collaboration within our industry, and it motivated me to continue my work in supporting education and professional development for all members of the hospitality sector.
