MPIKC Times
MPI - Kansas City Chapter
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Did we do it? Did we bring sexy back to KCMPI? I hope that you found our events and new initiatives supportive of you and your career in regards to education, ideas and networking. As a quick recap, we started our year with a sold out Dine Around at Leawood’s Park Place. This was quickly followed by our sold-out signature event Field 2 Table at Cider Hill Family Orchard. Our membership team took you to a Night in Brazil with a reception and auction at Fogo de Chao, and we finished out 2011 with a Naked Negotiating educational program at Arrowhead Stadium’s newly renovated suites. We started the New Year with a Howling good After Holiday Party at Howl at the Moon. We talked about The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at our February program hosted by Hotel Phillips and the KCMPI Past Presidents Council. We rounded out our spring with some great education including The Evening Variety Show in March at the Uptown Theatre, Networking in April at One 8 Oak , the Event Technology Boot Camp in May co-sponsored with PCMA, and our annual Professional Education Conference at The Elms Hotel & Spa. To end our year on a high note, we celebrated 30 years of the Kansas City MPI chapter with a celebration banquet filled with honor, appreciation and fun. In addition to our events, our leadership team created a program recognizing our leaders quarterly, our membership team created an affiliate membership option, and our communications team has launched a new website. The "I am KCMPI and I Love What We Do" campaign featuring KCMPI members was also new this year; look for it on the website and in KCMPI Times. As another KCMPI fiscal year draws to a close and a new board is preparing to take the reins leading us into our 31st year as a chapter, let us take a moment to look back at the friends we have made, the events we have experienced and the time we have shared together. I know I have enjoyed every moment and look forward to another great year with you.
In hospitality,
HUSCH BLACKWELL, LLP |
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Please email information and suggestions for articles to Michelle Lizak, KCMPI VP Communications, Michelle.Lizak@sprint.com Please join KCMPI on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!
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The 2012 Professional Education Conference (PEC) was held on May 16, 2012 in the newly reopened Elms Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. If you did not attend, you missed a renovated venue and rekindled educational options – not to mention surprise entertainment that will keep everyone talking until the 2013 PEC. Attendees had the rare opportunity to hear from a representative of the MPI International Board of Directors. Michael Dominquez, Vice President of Global Sales for Loews Hotels & Resorts, energized the crowd with his 25 years of hospitality experience. Meeting planners and suppliers were also rejuvenated through personalized education by choosing between six different breakout sessions. Choices ranged from an expert panel discussion to trade show strategies to food trends, giving everyone new ideas to put into practice. The highlight of the day was definitely the surprise entertainment at the closing reception. The crowd was dazzled by an Areal Dancer dangling from ribbons in the ceiling of the Grand Ballroom. As if that wasn’t enough, a team of Fire Dancers lit up the pool with a fabulous display. Photos of the event were taken by Bob Compton Photography. Thank you to all of the exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, and attendees that made PEC 2012 such a huge success! We’ll see you next year! |
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KCMPI celebrated the past present and future - 30 years of good times, friendships and success as the premier organization for meeting professionals in Kansas City's thriving hospitality industry - Thursday, June 7 at the beautiful Intercontinental Hotel Kansas City at the Plaza. The celebration centered around YOU, our members, who have truly earned this recognition for all of your amazing achievements for 30 years and still going strong. During the festivities, the 2011-2012 award nominees were honored and award winners announced. The evening of celebration kicked off with a VIP reception for the 2011-2012 award nominees. During this fun reception, the award winners were announced: Committee Chair of the Year - Andrayana "Andi" Getchell, CMP Nominees included Matthew Wiggins, Celia Fritz-Watson, Cheryle Grinter, Abby Ledbetter, CMP, Debra Sweeten, Kathleen Murray, Patti Jo Gaughan, CMP, Molly Lieberknecht, and Lorie Salts, CMP. Rising Stars - Celia Fritz-Watson and Matthew Wiggins Nominees included Shelby Thario, Andrea Heldt Coates, and Brandi Brumback. Employer Appreciation - The National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc. Nominees included Konover Hotel Corporation, The Aloft Hotel and AGENDA: USA. Supplier of the Year - Phil Allemang, CAS Nominees included Alton Hagen, Tricia Clement, Kurt Dietz, Kara Brady and Lori Salts, CMP. Planner of the Year - Michelle Lizak, CMP Nominees included Shana Hoy, CMP, Shari Hockenbery, CMP and Victoria Green. Social Event of the Year - A Night in Brazil – Nos Adoramos Nossos KCMPI Associados Nominees included Field 2 Table 2011, Dine Around the Park, Howling at the Holidays: After Holiday, Holiday Party and the 2011 Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet. Education Program of the Year- PEC: Education Day at the K Nominees included The Evening Variety Show: KCMPI Style, Naked Negotiating: Who Has the Power and The Fine Art of Small Talk. Catering Event of the Year - Field 2 Table 2011 (Olive Events) Nominees included Howling at the Holidays: After Holiday, Holiday Party, PEC: Education Day at the K, Dine Around the Park, A Night in Brazil - Nos Adoramos Nossos KCMPI Associados! CMP Achievement - Shana Hoy, CMP and Andrayana Getchell, CMP 20th KCMPI Members Anniversaries - Ann D'eon, Patti Jo Gaughan, CMP, Gwen Knight, CMP and Belinda "B" Waldo After the awards festivities, the evening continued with the musical talents of the Skip Hawkins Band during the reception and dinner. Brad Plum, CMP, emceed the program, announcing the award winners from earlier in the evening and taking the attendees through memory lane with a slide show of the fun times had of the past 30 Years. Past President Shana Hoy, CMP, recapped the amazing 2011-2012 year and President Kara Brady kicked off the 2012-2013 year with the vision of KCMPI being Membercentric. The program portion of the evening wrapped up with the inauguration of the 2012-2013 Board of Directors. Photos of the event were taken by Bob Compton Photography. KCMPI's 30th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting was very well attended, including several Charter members and Past Presidents. Cheers to the last 30 Years and to the next 30!
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It’s hard many times to know where to start! I love KCMPI and I love what we do. I truly mean that statement. I love the education and networking opportunities that we bring to our local industry. I love the support that we get from all our industry partners and the strategic partnerships that we’ve formed over time. Education has always been important to me and our chapter offers some of the best options in the industry! I earned my CMP while a member of this chapter. I would not have been able to do so without the support of my peers and the chapter study group offered to me as a member. I continually learn new and exciting things from our monthly programs and annual conference. In addition, I’ve found many job opportunities within this industry as a result of the relationships that I have formed in this chapter. For that I am grateful to the organization for affording me the networking opportunities to build those relationships. While all the items above are extremely important to me from a professional standpoint, the organization has also given so much to me on a personal level. Over the years, I have developed so many friendships because of my involvement in this organization. Many of which I will keep for life. So to sum it all up.... I love KCMPI and I love what we do! |
As a Past President of KCMPI, I am always asked the same three questions about the organization.... why I enjoy it, why it is important to me and what do I as a "seasoned" member get out of my involvement?|
Since 2007, Debra has been a member of KCMPI, donating her time and effort to our organization. She has helped plan and emcee the KCMPI Holiday Party and has served on various committees, including the programs committee and the communication committee. Since 2009, Debra has been the Chair of KCMPI Times, entering all articles and ensuring the newsletter gets emailed to all KCMPI members on schedule! Debra has helped at many fundraisers for KCMPI, even slinging hot dogs and beer during concerts for Levy Restaurants at the Sprint Center. At the time Debra joined KCMPI, she was a corporate meetings and event planner while serving for ten years as the Human Resources Manager at Child Health Corporation of America. Since leaving CHCA in 2009, Debra has worked with No More Homeless Pets KC, Kansas City Dog Advocates, Bonner Springs Animal Rescue, and Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption to provide animal welfare and coordinate fundraising events. She has traveled to hurricane and tornado-stricken areas to reunite pets with lost owners and provide shelter and health care to animals suffering after deadly storms. Currently, Debra enjoys planning meetings and events for several non-profit organizations in Kansas. Debra’s volunteerism, enthusiasm and professional demeanor have made her quite the award winner at KCMPI. In 2011, Debra won the KCMPI annual membership scholarship and was again nominated for Committee Chair of the Year. In 2010, the Board of Directors named her the KCMPI Leader of the 4th Quarter to recognize her leadership within the chapter for the 2009-10 calendar year. Please share your congratulations with Debra, as we are grateful for her commitment to our organization. She is a role model to us in the meetings and events industry and, especially, to our community as a whole. |
Congratulations Debra Sweeten! Not only is KCMPI member Debra Sweeten selected as the KCMPI Leader of the 4th Quarter this year, she is also nominated as the Committee Chair of the Year for her dedication to the KCMPI newsletter!|
Where is Andrea Foulkes? You'll find her back at the Doubletree Hotel! Andrea sent us this: I want to let you all know that I have resigned my position at the Country Club Hotel & Spa. I have been offered an opportunity as Outside Sales Manager with my former employer, the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, KS. It was an extremely difficult decision and I was not planning to make a job change at this time, but ultimately I decided to take the position. My last day with the Country Club was June 7. I will send out my new business email address next week. If you need to reach me before then, use my personal email andrea.foulkes009@gmail.com. Andrea Foulkes has been on the move and now you'll find her in her new role as Outside Sales Manager at the Doubletree Hotel, 10100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210. The Doubltreee Hotel's phone is 913-451-6100, and Andrea's direct line is 913-323-1915.
Find her now using Rebecca Elliott. She is still at the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association, but was married on March 31st so is now Rebecca Elliott! Rebecca and Jon were married at Colonial Church in Prairie Village with a reception at Loose Mansion. They spent their honeymoon in St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s.
Davis is responsible for growing the resort’s Meetings and Conventions business and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Sales Department. Davis represents 20 years of Hotel/Resort Sales experience. Most recently, Davis worked for The Lodge of Four Seasons where she was tasked with maintaining and developing convention business from the Association, Corporate, Government, and SMERF (Social, Military, Education, Religious, Fraternal) sectors and also executed the Lodge’s very first and highly acclaimed Chef’s Table. In Kansas City, she has worked for the Doubletree Hotel (Overland Park, KS), Station Casino (now Ameristar Casino), and the Embassy Suites at the Plaza. Internationally, she worked at the Holiday Inn Convention Hotel, Hyatt Regency Manila, and Club Paradise Resort in the Philippines. Davis is a past recipient of Meeting Professionals International - Kansas City Chapter’s (MPI-KC) Supplier of the Year Award as well as a Scholarship recipient for both MPI-KC and the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP). She has also served as "Professor For The Day" in College of the Ozarks in Branson, MO. In 2009, she earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation thru the Convention Industry Council (CIC), an organization that represents 31 member organizations in the Meetings, Conventions, and Exhibitions business. "I am very excited to be back at The Resort at Port Arrowhead and to be a part of a team that is highly professional and eager to deliver memorable experiences to all our leisure and business guests. I look forward to contributing to this effort," said Davis. Davis is a member of MPI – Kansas City Chapter and the Missouri Society of Association Executives (MSAE). |
Are you looking for Rebecca Hensel? Rebecca got married. 
Maria R. Davis, CMP has a new position as Director of Sales for The Resort at Port Arrowhead, located in Lake Ozark, Missouri. |
We would like to welcome the following people to the KCMPI family: Rhonda Baker, NACADA Jill Davis, Ambassador Hotel Kansas City Kayla Hadley, Student Sanford Hipsh, Swank Audio Visuals, Inc. Tracey Kemper, HNTB Brent Raymond, Swank Audio Visuals, Inc. Joyce Robinson, Surroundings Leslie Sargent, Hotel Phillips Kimberley Walker, CMP, Conklin Company, Inc. Rob Wilson, MCSE, Meeting Evolution |
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Here’s to YOU! Let’s celebrate our members who celebrate anniversaries in May and June. 26 Years! 24 Years! 15 Years! 13 Years! 12 Years! 10 Years! 9 Years! 6 Years! 5 Years! 4 Years! 3 Years! 2 Years! 1 Year! |
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On behalf of the MPI RISE Award Judging Panel, it is my pleasure to share the recipients of the 2012 MPI RISE Awards. These winners were unanimously selected by the Judging Panel and ratified by the MPI Executive Committee. This is the third year that the awards will be given for all three categories within the program. "Each year the RISE Awards offer a glimpse at the possible. MPI articulates what these people and organizations have done in ways that inspire our members and the industry to new heights," said Brian Palmer, CMM, Chair of the RISE Awards Judging Panel. We hope you will join us in recognizing these remarkable achievements at the RISE presentation luncheon event July 29, 2012 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the America’s Center in St. Louis. Thank you for your continuing support. |
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3/27/2012 - 2011/2012 March: The Evening Variety Show: KCMPI Style Dennis Dupont Desserts by Angie Hilton Kansas City Airport Keith Barany Entertainment Show-Me Audio Visual The Magnetics Speaker Exchange Agency, LLC In-Kind President's Host Venue |
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4/10/2012 - 2011/2012 April: The Fine Art of Small Talk Lynne Fleenor Taste Catering In-Kind President's Host Venue |
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3/14/2012 - 2011/2012 Nomination Committee Meeting 4/6/2012 - 2011/2012 April Board Meeting 5/10/2012 - 2012/2013 Board Orientation VAE In-Kind Partner |
