Board Spotlight

Want to get to know your board of directors a little better?

Meet Vice President of Communications – Heather Warthen (H1 Marketing and Events)!

 1.  How long have you been with MPI-CAC?

I joined MPI-CAC in January 2017.

2.  What committees, if any, were you on before joining the board?

When I signed up, I joined the Golf Classic Committee because I know how important it is to get involved in a committee to get the most out of your membership. I spent two years on the committee, including one as co-chair, before joining MarComm as a co-chair.

3.  What is your role on the board?

I am vice president of communications, so I work to ensure our messaging — emails, e-newsletter, social media, website updates — is consistent and engaging. We are the marketing arm of the chapter, so we work hands-on with the committees to promote their events or initiatives.

4.  What is one goal for MPI-CAC you have in your position this year?

We really want to continue the great strides we have had with our Instagram engagement as well as the success we have had with our MarComm liaison program. We also have a strong social media team who has been working hard on documenting everything and putting together a cohesive guide for marketing for our committee.

5.  What do you like to do when you’re not working?

My boyfriend and I love to check out new restaurants and have dined in several Michelin-star restaurants in Chicago as well as rediscovered some classic eats. We also are big Dave Matthews Band fans and travel to see the band quite often. We’ve seen them in Chicago, Alpine Valley (Wisconsin), Noblesville (Indiana), Boston and The Gorge (Washington).

Volunteer/Join a Committee

The best way to get the most out of your MPI-CAC membership is by joining a committee. It’s a great way to network, utilize your skills or challenge yourself to try something new! We know everyone has busy schedules, but many of our committees have a variety of tasks that can be done in just one hour a month!

Committees are always looking for members with leadership skills, creative mindsets and the drive to collaborate with fellow industry professionals. Click here to see the full list of committees and to fill out the committee interest form.

Committee Spotlight – Training & Development Committee

Director of Leadership Development – Hilary Saurer (Ravinia – Levy Restaurants)

Co-Chair – Holly O’Donnell (Slone Solutions LLC)

What is your committee responsible for? – Our committee is responsible for Leadership Days (two times per year) and our Spotlight Awards (monthly awards given to committee members doing a great job).

How often does your committee meet? – We meet monthly and always by Zoom (even before COVID).  We hope for an in-person meeting soon!

What are some tasks people do for your committee? – Some tasks include Leadership Day planning as far as date, times, theme, content, special touches. We also get to vote and recognize outstanding committee members.

What makes your committee fun or stand out? – Our committee is really fun. We get to recognize members and help them grow both professionally and personally. It’s always positive in our committee, and we are constantly trying to find ways to spread that positivity through the committees.