I Am KCMPI and I Love What We Do!

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Name: Patti Gaughan, CMP
Title: Independent Planner
Company: Meeting Management & Consulting
Number of years: 20

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."
 
Patti Gaughan, CMP
816-941-2122