The 2025 RISE Awards are sponsored by IMEX Group. Photos courtesy RVRB.

MPI chapters are, for many members, the greatest touchpoint they have with the association, driven by local volunteer leaders who are dedicated to providing essential professional connections, education and support.

The RISE Awards for MPI chapters not only celebrate the innovation, camaraderie and selflessness of volunteer chapter leaders and their skilled local cohort but also elevates that recognition and disseminates chapters’ proven best practices by bringing them to the attention of MPI’s global meeting and event community.

MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter

Membership Achievement

This award recognizes an MPI chapter, club or student club for achievement in membership growth, engagement and retention. Chapters and clubs must demonstrate the impact of their campaigns, programming, overall membership numbers and involvement in chapter/club activities and/or improvement in retention.

Are there any specific factors that you feel contributed the most to your chapter’s success and, subsequently, this RISE Award recognition?

Paul Bailey, MBA, HMCC, SES, immediate past president of the MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter: At one point, we weren’t just struggling, we were on the brink. The MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter was up against the wall, with declining membership, minimal engagement and a shrinking presence in the region. It wasn’t just a matter of needing to change; it was a matter of survival. That level of urgency became a clarifier. It gave us the license to stop clinging to legacy systems that no longer served us and instead ask: What does a future-forward chapter look like in Atlantic Canada?

It started with bold leadership. Denise Bradbury (2023 president), myself (2023/2024 president) and Sandra Daudlin (VP of membership), alongside the broader board, made the call to reset everything: from the way we structured our board to how we thought about programming, communications and member value. We admitted we couldn’t please everyone. We anticipated that some longstanding members might leave. And we made peace with that, because we were building for those ready to lead, to grow and to reimagine.

We weren’t alone. Our supporters, sponsors and members didn’t just watch from the sidelines, they stepped in. They showed up for new ideas, brave programming and inclusive leadership. That collective energy turned a struggling chapter into a case study in resilience.

So yes, the stats matter—historic growth, retention, profitability—but behind every number is a decision to prioritize relevance over comfort, vision over nostalgia and people over politics. This award affirms that strategy. But more than that, it affirms the community that said “yes” when it mattered most.

Did you encounter any challenges with inviting non-members to take on key roles within your chapter board? What benefit did you realize by making this bold move?

Bailey: It was a bold move, and we knew it would raise eyebrows. Some saw it as a break from tradition. We saw it as a breakthrough.

We were honest with ourselves: Our board had gaps in key skill sets, in diversity, in perspective. So instead of pretending otherwise, we opened the door. Mary-Eleanor Power brought years of leadership experience from Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Open Learning and Continuing Education. She didn’t just contribute, she elevated how we think about communicating about adult learning, online education and professional development within the chapter.

Kerra Aucoin Mansfield, meanwhile, was a game-changer. A powerhouse entrepreneur and social media strategist, she didn’t just improve our digital channels, she rebuilt them. Under her lead, our social presence became a narrative engine: increasing engagement, reach, event attendance and overall brand perception. She translated our chapter’s boldness into a visual and digital language that resonated with both members and non-members alike.

Inviting non-members wasn’t a risk, it was a revelation. It proved that when you prioritize potential over pedigree, you don’t just fill seats—you change the game!

What advice do you have for other chapter leaders who may be struggling with membership growth, engagement and/or retention?

Bailey: Stop obsessing over numbers and start obsessing over meaning.

If your chapter is stuck, it’s not a marketing problem, it’s likely a culture problem. People don’t stay for programs; they stay for belonging. And belonging begins when your chapter has the courage to evolve, to listen deeply and to create space for new leadership, fresh ideas and underrepresented voices.

Ditch the cookie-cutter programming. Say something with your events. Inject fun, risk, relevance. Our Drag Queen Bingo wasn’t just quirky, it was strategic. It brought visibility, joy and fundraising together in a way that no spreadsheet could replicate.

Give young professionals real roles. Give seasoned members real reasons to stay. Be honest about what’s working, and what isn’t. Then rebuild around that truth.

Chapters don’t grow by accident. They grow when leaders show up with vision, humility and the will to build something that doesn’t exist yet. If you’re willing to do that, the members will follow. The momentum will come.

MPI New Jersey Chapter

Marketplace Excellence

This award recognizes an MPI chapter for developing an exceptional program (event, website or other business exchange) for members. Chapters will have launched an innovative program that offers valuable opportunities for members to market their services.

Are there any specific factors that you feel contributed the most to your chapter’s success and, subsequently, this RISE Award recognition?

Kellie Cahill, CMP, immediate past president, MPI New Jersey Chapter: We are an innovative, member-focused chapter that is always looking to set ourselves apart. We have had a successful golf event for more than 30 years and finding ways to bring new guests to engage with the members has been our focus.

Can you share more about the mobile app you used for your golf event? How was the app created?

Cahill: The MPI New Jersey partnered with Mosaic Apps to set up and manage our new app. Mosaic Apps was introduced to us by a committee member who uses their services for her own company events and connected us, which led to a wonderful partnership. Mosaic Apps was able to work with our chapter on an in-kind basis, so outside of some minimal setup costs there was no fee to our chapter for their services. Mosaic Apps helped our chapter every step of the way with setting up developer accounts, building the infrastructure of the app and making sure that it worked properly. We were fortunate to have a committee member that already knew how to input information and adjust the style within the app so it was perfect for our event. As this product is a mobile app, not specifically for golf events, we also used this app for our 2025 MEETS Education Program with great success. 

Were there any unexpected challenges associated with any aspect of the app, from conception to release? If so, how were those resolved?

Cahill: There were certainly some unexpected challenges in developing the app, as this was something new to most of us on the team. One of the biggest challenges was setting up the developer accounts with Apple and Google. The App company was great in helping us navigate this challenge and ultimately our accounts were not ready in time for the event, and Mosaic Apps allowed us to use the app from their developer accounts. The other challenge was educating attendees on the app and how to access it. There were several emails that went out to attendees before the event with instructions and we also had a Help Desk onsite at the event to assist during the day if anyone had challenges accessing the app.

Do you have any advice for other chapter leaders who may struggle with member/attendee engagement?

Cahill: Succession planning, reach out to new members to be active and gain personal growth and reach out to current committee members to recruit others.

What is something that your chapter is most excited about in the year to come?

Cahill: Celebrating our 40th year of being a proud MPI chapter and making a difference to our members through networking, education and personal and professional growth. New volunteers, enhancing our events and finding new ways to engage.

MPI United Kingdom and Ireland Chapter

Innovative Educational Programming

This award recognizes an MPI chapter, club or student club for achievement in advancing the education and professional development of its members through innovative programming.

Are there any specific factors that you feel contributed the most to your chapter’s success and, subsequently, this RISE Award recognition?

Brian Hand, president of the MPI United Kingdom and Ireland Chapter: Our chapter’s success really comes down to three things: collaboration, creativity and member-centric thinking. The board worked hard to create an experience that felt fresh and relevant, especially at a time when our industry needed connection and inspiration. We also leveraged strong partnerships, especially with Fáilte Ireland and Meet in Ireland, who helped bring the event to life. Ultimately, this was a full-team effort with input from every board member and the wider MPI community.

Among the new aspects of your most recent “MPI Impacts” event, what components do you plan on including in future chapter events?

Hand: One standout element was the focus on real conversations and member-led content. Rather than sticking to a traditional speaker format, we introduced interactive sessions and storytelling from within our own community, which created a sense of ownership and engagement among attendees. We also used unique venues and placed a strong emphasis on experience design, ensuring that every moment felt purposeful. These components really resonated, and we see them as key ingredients for future events.

On the flipside, were there any new aspects that you are not keen to considering for future chapter events?

Hand: We experimented with a few digital engagement tools to enhance interaction on the day, but honestly, they added complexity without significant benefit. Feedback showed that people preferred simple, face-to-face connection without too many tech layers in between. Going forward, we will keep things straightforward and focus on formats that encourage genuine human interaction.

Can you share some advice for other MPI chapter leaders who may be struggling with member engagement?

Hand: Start by listening to your members. Ask what they really want, even if it challenges your traditional event formats. Keep things simple, relevant and social. Involve your board and volunteers early so they feel part of the process, and do not be afraid to try something new. Even small changes can make a big difference in how engaged your members feel.

What is something that your chapter is most excited about in the year to come?

Hand: We are building on this momentum and already looking at new ways to deliver impact, both educationally and socially. Our focus is on creating more opportunities for connection across the UK and Ireland, offering events that feel fresh and inclusive. Most of all, we are excited to continue growing our community and showcasing the talent and energy that exists within our chapter.

MPI Ottawa Chapter

Social Impact

This award honors an MPI chapter, club or student club for exceptional efforts in advancing social responsibility within the meeting and event industry. It recognizes a product or service initiative such as promoting inclusivity, diversifying leadership, implementing EDI training, sustainability, amplifying marginalized voices and raising awareness of human rights issues, such as human trafficking.

Are there any specific factors that you feel contributed the most to your chapter’s success and, subsequently, this RISE Award recognition?

Lira Buschman, CMP, DES, director of community outreach and charity auction, MPI Ottawa Chapter: There are several contributing factors to our chapter’s success. It’s not just one thing.

The chapter board made a conscious choice to have a position dedicated to community outreach and corporate social responsibility. This helps focus our chapter’s efforts in this direction.

Our charities are chosen by our membership every two years. Our criteria for what charities to support include seeking smaller charities that have smaller funding sources and have a big impact on our members or our community.

We also recognize that our community is not just where we live. It includes our professional community as well. That’s why the MPI Foundation is one of our charities of choice.

The MPI Ottawa Charity Auction & Dinner has been around for more than 25 years. How have you managed to keep it fresh and appealing to chapter members and your local meeting/event community?

Buschman: There are a variety of factors that contribute to keeping the event fresh and appealing. Because chapter members choose the local charities that we support every two years, they are vested in supporting these organizations. With our sponsors we try to find creative activations. Thanks to the MPI Canada community, we get amazing prizes donated that range from handmade blankets to trips to the Yukon. The committee also gets creative with the event theme year over year—sometimes we dress up, sometimes it’s highlighting a decade and other times we may showcase an activity or a season.

Did you do anything new for the most recent Charity Auction & Dinner that you can share?

Buschman: We are always trying new things. At the 2024 event, we tried to profile the charities more in our marketing. We did more storytelling about the good work that each of them does and the differences they make. We also invited a representative from each of the charities to the event so that they can interact with the membership.

Regarding the planning process, we tried to maximize the capability of our project management tool, Basecamp, as well as Google Drive. By having one central spot where we collaborate, the committee volunteers were able to stay on top of things more effectively. This will also allow future committees to have historical information about the event in one spot.

What advice do you have for other chapter leaders who may be unsure of how best to incorporate social impact into their activities—or perhaps how best to enhance and build upon existing CSR elements in an engaging and meaningful way?

Buschman: I have three pieces of advice.

You need a champion. The MPI Ottawa Chapter does this by a designated position on its board. It doesn’t have to be a board position, but you need someone who will help build relationships and keep this top of mind for everyone as you plan your chapter’s activities and direction.

You need to try. Terry Fox once said, “I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try.” Pick something small to do like organize a euchre tournament or review your policies with the goal of making them more sustainable or inclusive. Just take that first step. Try anything.

Remember your “why.” Your purpose is what grounds all your actions and decisions. It would be easy to focus on the activity or the event, but you can’t lose sight of why you are going through all that effort. When you stay focused on the goal, collaborate intentionally and lead with your heart, you can never fail.

What is something that your chapter is most excited about in the year to come?

Buschman: The MPI Ottawa Chapter Board has been challenged by our membership on different ways to create connections. For the 2026 Charity Auction, the theme will be Canadian Festivals because who doesn’t like a festival!