What's Ahead for the CMP Program
Gee, how time flies when you’re having fun. It seems like the summer months just breezed right by us, and in a few months we will be celebrating the end of another year. If I had a crystal ball, I would wish for world peace and extra spending money. Since I don’t have a crystal ball, my hope is that individuals who are seeking to become certified in their career profession will be able to do so. Recently, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) officially launched the new CMP Health Care Subspecialty certification. Beta exams will be administered via computer based testing starting in the fall. Read on for an update on that exam. Detailed information about the CMP-HC can be found on the CIC Web site. We can use your help in spreading the word about this new initiative.
Speaking of certification, members of the CMP Board are working on a white paper that outlines the value of certification in whatever career profession you’re in or seeking. This document will not only address the value of being certified but how one can use their credentials to help enhance their professional development. Do you remember how excited you were when you obtained your CMP designation? I do, and I still answer questions about the initials behind my name. For some, being certified has its perks and it has helped many land employment or get to the top because they are considered experts in their field. In this issue, we feature once such story from Christina Desmond, a meeting planner who sought her CMP certification after being laid off. She took a leap of faith; read on to see how it fared.
Additionally, this year, to date, nine of our fellow CMPs obtained Emeritus status. Please join me in congratulating Pamela C. Myers, CMP; Lynn K. Kletzkin, CMP; Brian Kampschroer, CMP; Katherine Winans, CMP; Sharon J. Vojtek, CMP, CEM; Lorraine Cruz, CMP; Diane G. Keen, CMP; Betty S. Helm, CMP; and Julie Carroll, CMP.
Looking ahead, the CMP Board of Directors will host Town Hall Meetings in the same cities where we hold our board meetings. In fact, the first-ever CMP Town Hall Meeting will be held on October 28, 2013 in Birmingham, Alabama. We invite our fellow CMPs in Alabama and the surrounding states to join us for a face-to-face dialog about evolving trends in the profession, how to better market your CMP credential to colleagues and employers, and how we can best serve the CMP community. Read on for more details.
Speaking of industry updates and trends, the CMP Board recently developed an information-sharing tool that allows us to enhance our communication between the CIC member organizations and how we can continue collaborating together during these challenging times.
Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to publicly recognize and congratulate one of my fellow board members, Eduardo Chaillo, CMP, CMM, who will be inducted into the CIC Hall of Leaders on October 12, 2013.
As always, I welcome your feedback and thoughts.
Melody Kebe, CMP, CGMP
Chair, CMP Board
(Society of Government Meeting Professionals)
Events Industry Council