MPIKC Times
MPI - Kansas City Chapter
|
One aspect of this occupation that I find uniquely delightfully is the uplifting messages we hear from top notch speakers at industry and work related events. I was recently fortunate enough to attend the FIVE Star Speaker showcase and I am always thankful for the tremendous messages the speakers share. I would like to share a few of them with you.
I hope that these uplifting ideas inspire you too. Speaking of speaker showcases, the Kansas City Meetings Industry Council (KCMIC) is hosting a half day speaker showcase on February 29, 2012 at the Overland Park Marriott. Go to www.kcmic.org for more information. As we venture into the holiday season, I would like to ask you, "What are you thankful for?" Join the conversation on the discussion page of KCMPI's LinkedIn group. In hospitality,
HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP |
As we enter the holiday season I am reminded how thankful I am to have a career in the meetings industry, along with the friendships and experiences it has afforded me.
|
What else can we include in your KCMPI Times to keep it interesting and relevant to you? Please email your feedback to me. What else is going on with you that may be newsworthy? News doesn't break on a schedule; it happens all the time. Have you recently received a promotion or received recognition in the industry? Have you recently had a new baby or celebrated another important milestone? KCMPI is a pivotal force in educating and preparing its members for their changing roles in business today. Take advantage of what KCMPI offers those in the meetings industry. Become involved with KCMPI by learning more about us, and letting us learn more about you. Let us know what you want to read about in KCMPI Times, and email your news to us. Please join me this year in communication and sharing the news. Also, please join KCMPI on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!
|
|
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then let us help you shake it all off, do some howling and bring your sexy back! Howl at the Moon and KCMPI invite you to the Howlin’ at the Holidays – After Holiday Happy Hour on Tuesday, January 11. Get ready for one of the most unique nightlife experiences in the country. You’ll be sure to have a howling good time from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. with us in the Power & Light District. Howl at the Moon will provide beverages until 8:00 p.m. KC Live! Catering will provide a complimentary appetizer buffet. Come sing, dance and howl the night away as the most versatile and talented musicians perform your favorite songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today on pianos, guitars, and more. From Lady Gaga to Billy Joel: you say it, they’ll play it! Howl at the Moon’s high-energy, live music show is centered around audience participation and two dueling pianos. It’s guaranteed to be a great time, so please join us on January 11 to howl away any leftover stress! About Howl at the Moon: The Space Eat, Drink & Sing Proud Mary! Howl is proud to work with the best caterers in the country to provide you with customized food packages for all sizes. Catering ranges from passed hors d'oeuvres to fully catered buffets. Did someone say cocktails? Howl at the Moon can provide your party with customized cocktails and drink packages! How about a Blackberry® Martini or an Orlando Magic® Margarita? Our creative bartending staff will create delicious original drinks for your special event! When it comes to drink packages, we can provide it all! Packages range from single drink tickets to a full open-bar service.
Thank you to Matthew Wiggins for writing this article for KCMPI Times. |
Do the holidays make you feel like the Grinch? Do you find yourself growling at friends and family that cross your path? Do you ever just want to jump up on your roof to at Howl at the Moon and blow off stress that surrounds the holidays?
Location:|
"Hotel Renovations" – the phrase send chills down the spine of meeting planners and conjures mixed emotions for hotel and convention bureau staffs.
The KCMPI Past Presidents will host a lively discussion session on hotel renovations and how they affect the meetings and events industry. Come with your own stories and questions. Learn and get input from our experts. What does "renovation" really mean? What can be expected during the process? How can a hotel continue to market itself successfully through the renovation phase, and what should they communicate to planners? What can planners negotiate when dealing with a property undergoing renovation? What are the legal implications on both sides? Receive examples of good clauses you can use in your meeting and event contracts. Following the program, network and catch up with colleagues and friends during our cocktail reception and tour the newly-renovated Hotel Phillips. Your KCMPI Past Presidents look forward to seeing you in February. Many thanks to Hotel Phillips for their sponsorship of this exciting event. |
|
It provided the perfect opportunity to network with friends as well as get a head start on holiday shopping for our loved ones, (including ourselves)! Many great items from local retailers and fantastic get-a-way packages were up for grabs in the auction! A huge thank you to our donors and sponsors, which will be listed in our next issue of KCMPI Times. We are especially grateful to Fogo De Chao on the Country Club Plaza, who provided an amazing traditional Brazilian dinner!
|
A great time was had at KCMPI's annual membership appreciation event and silent auction. 
|
Dozens of meeting professionals gathered at Arrowhead Stadium on Wednesday, December 7th and participated in Naked Negotiating!
Deborah Gardner, CMP, delivered a tough message about "Naked Negotiating: Who Has the Power In Today’s Hospitality Profession?" Shedding previous ideas and misconceptions, we listened to the bare bone truth on how buyers negotiate with sellers and how sellers negotiate with buyers. We learned methods on how to hone our skills in the art of negotiating.
Deborah Gardner is the owner of DG INTERNATIONAL, LLC a consultant, sales trainer, a vibrant International speaker as the competitive performance expert. Deborah is a member of National Speakers Association, 27 year veteran in the hospitality sales profession, Past President for the Arizona Sunbelt MPI Chapter and MPI/CMP on-line trainer. She is the author of "How to Sell to Men Without Wearing a Low-Cut Dress." To know more about Deborah go to http://www.deborahgardner.com/ or contact her at Deborah@DeborahGardner.com.
|
Shana Hoy, KCMPI President, welcomed attendees and made announcements of upcoming KCMPI events.
Engaging all our senses, the evening's educational session included audience participation! 
KCMPI thanks Arrowhead for hosting our event! Food and beverage from Levy Restaurants was delightful and delicious! From the greeters, to the bar attendants, to the food servers, each and every one of the event staff demonstrated that they are individuals that embody a guest service mindset and are committed to delivering the best service. They gave KCMPI meeting attendees the best kind of service that our attendees have come to expect at KCMPI meetings and events. 
The event was fun, sexy and relevant, providing ample opportunity for networking with our peers. Many meeting professionals enjoyed the face-to-face networking, both before and after the educational component, because of the potential for building higher quality relationships. Networking is an important element of KCMPI events because people tend to prefer actually knowing and meeting who they intend to do business with. 
Kudos to the Education/Program Committee for planning an evening where all attendees were comfortable getting naked ... the naked truth about "Naked Negotiating: Who Has the Power In Today’s Hospitality Profession?"
|
It’s no secret that Sprint is a leader when it comes to environmental sustainability. Their recent ranking as #3 on Newsweek’s list of the Top 25 Green Companies in the U.S. is evidence of their continued commitment. In fact, all areas of the company have embraced this initiative, including the Strategic Events Marketing (SEM) team. Events such as product launches, trade shows and incentives might not scream "eco-friendly" but the Strategic Events team has found creative ways to green them up. Recently, the team was recently named one of the 5 Top Organizations for Green Meetings by Meetings & Conventions magazine for their commitment to environmentally friendly events. Click here for the full story.
|
This photo of the 2012 Sprint Recharge Lounge at CTIA in San Diego features many of Sprint’s green practices, including use of reclaimed or recycled materials, living floral and limited use of printed materials.|
MPI Brings New Rules of Engagement to Vegas with Smart Monday, Member Engagement IMEX America initial reviews are in, and the business conducted and connections made in Las Vegas brought international meeting professionals together during the three-day trade show and exhibition for what many attendees call a resounding success. As strategic partner and premier education provider, MPI delivered on the new rules of engagement. What began in Orlando during WEC 2011 was front and center in Las Vegas. The MPI experience began on Smart Monday, with a slate of professional development that focused on successful adaptation, creativity and relevancy in today’s business environment. Hosted buyers attendees were at the day-long exploration of how to meet differently, where the new rules of engagement came to life:
The MPI team is already thinking about what to deliver to members and attendees at IMEX America 2012; will you be there? |
|
Professionals will receive reliable, research-based resources each month through June 2012 On November 29, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) introduced the Business Value of Meetings (BVOM) toolbox, a collection of resources created from research findings unveiled at AIBTM in June that indicated meeting and event professionals are challenged with five primary barriers to successfully proving the business value of meetings and events. The initial whitepapers are developed with a focus on solutions and examples for readers, and will address the primary barriers to successfully implementing BVOM practices into event portfolios. Those barriers include:
These papers lay the foundation for more tools being development, which will be added to the toolbox in the months ahead creating a blueprint for how meeting professionals can improve skills necessary to measure the business value of their meetings and events. For example, to address the perception of low ROI, MPI will add tools in December built from the first whitepaper that include instructional videos, a glossary of terms, two additional case studies and handout on benefits of change as well as a presentation featuring "A Tale of Two Meetings". Then in January, specific to getting stakeholder buy-in MPI will introduce tutorials on identifying objectives and key business owners, a "Question Bank" and an "Idea Bank" to help even the novice planner jumpstart initiatives in their business. "By identifying these key barriers, the research revealed a manageable path for MPI to lead event professionals down that will lay a strong foundation for the development of a more value-focused event portfolio," said Didier Scaillet, MPI and MPI Foundation chief development officer, "Each of the tools and resources we are creating will build on this foundation, and empower people to approach their business in a smarter way that enables them to be more successful." Tools under development include:
Each tool intended to provide more actionable information that equips individuals to succeed. MPI members will have unlimited access to the new tools and non-member professionals will be able to purchase them. |
|
20 years! Patti Jo Gaughan, CMP, Meeting Management & Consulting – Joined 12/30/1991 Belinda "B" Waldo, Associated Luxury Hotels – Joined 12/30/1991 19 years! Cathy Ewing, CMP, Cathy Ewing Event Consulting – Joined 12/30/1992 Kathy Thompson, CMP CMM, Bushnell Outdoor Products – Joined 12/30/1992 13 years! Ann Deuschle, Destination Crown Center – Joined 12/10/1998 11 years! Ward Wheeler, CMP, MRI Global – Joined 12/11/2000 10 years! Lynne Fleenor, aloft Leawood –Joined 12/13/2001 9 years! Kelly Malone-Kirby, CMP, Sheraton Overland Park Hotel – Joined 12/4/2002 6 Years! Phil Allemang, CAS, National Premium- Kansas City – Joined 11/30/2005 Michelle Lizak, CMP, Sprint – Joined 12/13/2005 5 years! Danielle Jodts, Bishop-McCann – Joined 11/10/2006 Cynthia Thompkins, UMB Financial Corp – Joined 11/28/2006 4 years! Chris Aquino, CTA, InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza – Joined 12/14/2007 Craig Deel, Kansas City Marriott Downtown – Joined 12/27/2007 Curtis Pickering, VPR Creative Group – Joined 12/10/2007 Lacey Spallitta, CMP, Teva Neuroscience – Joined 12/17/2007 2 Years! Polly Berkley, Aviva USA – Joined 12/22/2009 Maureen Hofrenning, Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau – Joined 11/12/2009 Kelsey Mikkelsen - Joined 12/17/2009 Megan O’Keefe, CMP, Hyatt Regency Dearborn – Joined 12/17/2009 1 year! Terra Heithaus, Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB – Joined 12/13/2010 Dustin Holcumbrink , Adams Pointe Conference Center & Courtyard by Marriott – Joined 12/09/2010 Carmen Johnson, Student – Joined 12/9/2010 Anthony Nigro, CTA, Holiday Inn KCI Airport – Joined 12/28/2010 Lisa Perez, Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB – Joined 11/30/2010 Ann Snyder, Think Big Partners/Evenergy Events & Sponsorships – Joined 11/30/2010 |
|
As a member of multiple committees, Celia is willing to get involved in very active roles and do what it takes to make KCMPI a success. Celia is also a volunteer mentor and Big Sister for Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City, and has been one for over seven years. Celia is currently looking for a new job in the event/meeting planning industry and is a part-time manager for Ann Taylor. |
Celia Fritz-Watson was nominated by two members of the KCMPI Board of Directors and voted as KCMPI's 2011-2012 Leader of the First Quarter for her hardworking, dedicated and cheerful contribution to the Awards Banquet, Programs Committee and Membership Committee. Celia helped secure several donations for the 2011 June Awards Banquet and volunteered to take on the role of Strategic Alliance (SA) liaison for the Programs Committee. This role is a large undertaking and Celia had a positive attitude towards all the training and orientations needed for this position. In addition to being the SA liaison for the Programs Committee, Celia has stepped into the role of Affiliate Membership Chair for the Membership Committee.|
Name: Patti Gaughan, CMP Why is KCMPI important to you? As I entered my twentieth year of membership and renewed by CMP for the third time, this question became very relevant. Why WAS I really paying this much money and taking this much time? I didn’t have to think long. KCMPI has and continues to afford me many professional and personal opportunities. I have built most of my independent planning business through KCMPI contacts. Most of my most trusted suppliers and vendors are people that I have met and gotten to know over the years. I also rely on KCMPI planner members when I need new ideas, suggestions or expertise in a planning area new to me. Being an active member in the chapter gave me a place to establish and build a reputation and referral base. This is important to me because as a planner, I am my brand. My membership has contributed to my professional growth in more ways than I probably even know. Being a volunteer gives me managerial and other work experiences that I would not have achieved through my jobs. I learned a lot from the generation before me and now I am excited to be learning from a new and different generation. I also rely on KCMPI for education since I am rarely able to the PEC and WEC. Last but not least, through KCMPI have made life-long friends. I guess I’m now a "tenured" member as we used to say, and I am proud to say that at 20 years of membership I am still an active member of the chapter. There are many people within KCMPI that I have known for 20+ years and that have helped me navigate some of life’s most difficult and interesting challenges. I have a huge network of friends, colleagues and supporters. Although I may not see them or talk to them on a regular basis. I know they are there and I can call any one of them at any time. I guess the question might not only be why is KCMPI important, but also what its value is to me. The answer would be "Priceless." |
|
Congratulations and best wishes to Megan O’Keefe, CMP, who was recently promoted to Sales Manager at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn-Metro Detroit. The hotel offers 733 rooms, 62,000 square feet of meeting space, complimentary parking and is minutes away from The Henry Ford www.hfmgv.org America's Greatest History Attraction. In her new role, Megan handles the Association, Government and Union Market for Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
Megan O'Keefe, CMP Hyatt Regency Dearborn Metro Detroit
600 Town Center Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126
Direct 816-734-0455 |
Megan has been a member of KCMPI since 2009 and has served on the Programs Committee. She co-chaired the 2010 Dine Around and 2011 Award Banquet. Megan plans to be active in both the Michigan and Kansas City Chapters of MPI.|
Congratulations to KCMPI member Cathy Easton, who got married on September 24, at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club, in New Bloomfield, MO. This is a pic of Cathy and her new husband Michael. Cathy joined KCMPI in October. 2006. She is a Meeting Planner for the Travel Services Department at MO Division of Professional Registration in Jefferson City. Cathy Easton, CGMP, |
|
Tricia is the Event Manager for Agenda: USA where she plans events for various corporations and associations throughout the Kansas City area. Tricia Clement, CMP
|
KCMPI member Tricia Clement reports, "Ryder Thomas Clement was born on Sunday, October 16 at 12:12 in the afternoon. He is 18 inches long and weighs 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Even though he was born almost 3 weeks early, we are both doing great!"|
When you need a product or service, please contact the companies who are KCMPI sponsors and who advertise with KCMPI. It is with sponsor support and advertising support that we are able to have numerous events, each of which are relevant, fun, hip, urban, new and fresh. Thank you to the following for having sponsored the KCMPI Dine Around on September 1, 2011. Cash Friend Francis Family Foundation Aloft Leawood-Overland Park Hotel Café Roux California Pizza Kitchen Cupcake a la Mode Gordon Biersch Ingredient Paciugo Gelato Trezo Vino VAE KCMPI sponsors are awesome! We invite you to utilize sponsors and advertisers of KCMPI and tell them "I saw your ad on the KCMPI website, KCMPI Times or at a KCMPI event." |
|
Please show your appreciation to these sponsors of KCMPI's Field 2 Table event, which was on September 22, 2011. Watch the event video on the KCMPI website. Cash Friend Kansas City KS Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. Simply Kansas - Kansas Department of Agriculture In-Kind Friend Adventures With Tea Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa Fern Expositions and Event Services FreshWata Grapevine Designs Holiday Inn Express, KC-Village West Jowler Creek Winery KDW, Inc. Overland Park Marriott The Westin Crown Center Hotel Wheat Photography In-Kind Partner Agenda: USA Olive Events
Cider Hill Family Orchard
KCMPI sponsors are awesome! We invite you to utilize sponsors and advertisers of KCMPI and tell them "I saw your ad on the KCMPI website, KCMPI Times or at a KCMPI event." |
