Registration is now open for America's largest and most inspiring tradeshow – IMEX America (Oct. 14-16 at the Sands Expo®, Las Vegas). This year's show is set to be bigger than ever with more exhibitors from all sectors of the industry and from around the globe.

For the first time ever, CIC is hosting a group of buyers for IMEX America, and we couldn't be more delighted to be working with the IMEX team to bring our CMPs to the show. We would love you to join our group and take advantage of the outstanding business opportunities available, an unrivaled free educational program, plus the many networking activities that we've planned for you. 

APPLY TODAY to be a CIC Hosted Buyer.                                        

Why join the CIC/CMP Hosted Buyers Group?

• Attend the prestigious CIC Hall of Leaders Dinner on Sunday Night.
• Only our buyers will receive a free ticket to attend the CIC Hall of Leaders & Pacesetter Awards Gala on Sunday, October 12.
• Rub elbows with industry icons and rising stars during the industry's preeminent recognition gala, attended by all of the industry organization leaders, as well as past inductees into the Hall.
• Attend unparalleled education on Smart Monday.
• IMEX will extend your hotel accommodation to begin on Sunday night IF you are attending the CIC Gala. Come to Las Vegas a day earlier and take advantage of the opportunity to attend all of the outstanding free educational programs or other co-located events on Smart Monday (Oct. 13).
• Enjoy an efficient appointment schedule.
• Fulfill your appointment requirements on Tuesday, Oct. 14 and Wednesday, Oct. 15 and be back in the office Thursday afternoon. The unique IMEX appointment system means that your time at the show is driven by you and highly productive.
• Network with your fellow CMPs at CMP only events.                     

What about the hosted buyer program?
Qualified hosted buyers enjoy complimentary travel to the show, accommodation in a top Las Vegas hotel and ground transportation. At the show, hosted buyers can recharge in the private hosted buyer lounge and take advantage of a range of personalized services. Find out more.
                                           
CIC Hall of Leaders & Pacesetter Awards Program: For more information on the Hall of Leaders and Pacesetter Awards, check out CIC's website.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity. Apply today through CIC's Registration Link

Please contact me at events@conventionindustry.org if you would like further information, and I look forward to welcoming you to IMEX America 2014.

Kind regards,                    

Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP

 

By Karla Wheeler, MA, CMP-HC
Associate Director of Educational Activities and Continuing Medical Education
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Late last October, I received an email from the Convention Industry Council asking if I would like to be a part of the group beta testing the new healthcare subspecialty certification. The timing wasn't ideal. My organization’s Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) reaccreditation was due in early December, and it was a very busy planning time for our large annual conference. I didn't see how I could have any extra time to devote to studying. However, this was an opportunity I could not pass up.

As soon as I was officially accepted to take the exam, the first action I took was to join a virtual study group. There was a lot of information to cover, and with only five weeks until the exam, I needed help. The study group provided structure and direction, and it kept me accountable, since the rest of the group was dependent on my practice questions and input. The exam has a number of questions containing real-world situations, requiring more than just a reiteration of facts. Writing practice questions was invaluable as it made me look at the material in a different light, similar to how a test writer would. This helped me to read for understanding and not just for factual memorization. The experience with the study group proved to be instrumental in my success with the exam.

The members of my study group came from diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise. This allowed us to effectively address each other’s knowledge gaps. Study group participants were such a valuable resource to me that I would advise anyone signing up for the CMP-HC exam to join a similar group, whether local or virtual. If you are unable to join a study group, then I would encourage you to seek out experienced people at your company, or join an organization and read through message boards. Above all, ask questions.

Outside of the study group, I did my own review of the exam topics with which I felt comfortable in terms of my level of knowledge. I was in the middle of my ACCME reaccreditation, so I scanned the suggested reading regarding the ACCME. I didn't need to spend as much time with it, since I already used this information on a daily basis. I focused the bulk of my time on the study materials with which I was less familiar. In my case, these were PhRMA, CMS and the Open Payments Act. This approach gave me an update on all the subject matter, but it allowed me to concentrate on the content areas where I needed the most work. I was able to go into the exam feeling prepared.

Achieving a higher level of education and industry awareness opens many doors for a career. The CMP-HC designation identifies you as a healthcare professional. The certification reflects a commitment to excellence and demonstrates the CMP-HC designee as someone who is a well-informed partner and resource in the medical meeting planning process.

Was it worth it? Studying was quite a bit of work during a period in which I did not have a lot of time to give, but when I got the email saying, "Congratulations, you were successful in achieving a passing score on the Certified Meeting Professional-Healthcare (CMP-HC) Examination!" it was all worthwhile.

 

By Eric Rozenberg, CMP, CMM
The Events Network on BOB.tv

I was privileged to be one of the first to take the CMP exam in Europe back in 2004. I recently had the opportunity to be part of the team reviewing the last manual. What has changed in between? Many things of course, but two elements are coming to mind:

1. In the last year, more people are accessing the web through mobile devices. Videos as a means of content consumption is exploding!

Why should you, as a CMP, care? Well, imagine that you could learn about any topic related to our meetings and events industry, anywhere, anytime and for as long as you want. Imagine that you could see content from various workshops, webinars, conferences or associations’ congresses that you were not aware of, or unable to attend? Imagine you could consume this content and share it with your fellow CMPs or CMP candidates. Imagine that the entire content you would be watching has been curated. In other words, you would be guaranteed to watch excellent content. Imagine that by watching those videos, you would accumulate continuing education hours towards your CMP recertification. Imagine you could access this content at no cost because you are a CMP.

Well, stop imagining and connect to The Events Network on BOB.tv because this is where almost all of the above is happening ... right now! I write "almost" because the review of the The Events Network on Bob.tv content for CMP applicability should be complete by the end of the year.

Two and a half years ago, Tony Lorenz, a seasoned industry professional and entrepreneur, had the idea for BOB.tv. (BOB stands for "Best Of Business). He managed to bring around the table, as Founding Industry Partners, ASAE, IAEE, PCMA and MPI. Those associations, joined since then by other associations and corporations, are all providing content to The Events Network on BOB.tv. The content is curated and, if it is educational and non commercial, it is uploaded and made accessible to all the registered members. In other words, you and I are not wasting time sifting through thousands of pieces anymore when we search for a specific topic.

As you will see under the tab "supporting partners" on The Events Network the "crème de la crème" of organizations are already involved in this revolutionary idea and, even if it was launched last summer, you have already access to an amazing variety of content ... and we are adding new pieces every week.

Let me give you an example. As a CMP, I want to stay atop of what is going on in my industry and be aware of the changes and trends that could be affecting my work. As an industry professional, I like to hear regularly from thought leaders and be exposed to their knowledge. I wish I could sit down and listen to people like David Peckinpaugh (Maritz CEO and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition) or Michael Dominguez (MGM Resorts International senior vice president of corporate sales and current MPI chair). Guess what. I had the opportunity to speak with the two of them together a few weeks ago ... and it is all available on The Events Network

At this stage, I could go on and on for hours, but I think it is time for you to check for yourself. So, please go to http://events.bob.tv/, sign up or sign in, search by their name and listen to the conversation or go straight to http://events.bob.tv/media/envision-interview-mike-dominguez-david-peckinpaugh/

I’m convinced you will learn a thing or two ... at least I did!

Let me know what you think. I’m reachable on eric.rozenberg@bxbgroupllc.com and tweet as @yoda18.

 

Canadian CMPs and candidates, please remember to opt in to receiving electronic communication from CIC! On July 1, Canada's New Anti-Spam Law (CASL) will go into effect. CASL requires that senders of all commercial emails must obtain expressed consent of opt-in from their recipients prior to sending them emails.

How does this affect you? In order to continue receiving electronic communication from the Convention Industry Council, you must verify that you are opting into our digital communications. Please click the link below and respond to our brief survey ASAP.

After July 1, CIC will not be able to send electronic communications (including emails, newsletters, recertification reminders, invitations and announcements) to any Canadian subscriber who has not responded and opted in. Thank you in advance! Canadian email opt-in survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SZFV83N. 

 

 

The Convention Industry Council is proud to announce that the 9th Edition of its Manual is now available (for the first time ever) as an e-book! While the manual is a primary text for candidates studying and applying for the CMP exam, its new strategic approach to presenting the material makes it a great reference tool for all planners and meeting professionals who need information about industry best practices.

The e-book is available in DRM PDF format for Windows and Mac tablet users and in DRM ePub format for mobile device users. And for those who would like both versions of the manual, we offer a discount on all combo orders.

Please click here for more information about the manual and to order your copy.

 

 

Experience! 2014 Conference and Expo
National Association for Catering and Events
July 13-16, 2014
More information 

BREAKOUT SESSION | July 14, 2014 | 2:45 p.m.- 4 p.m.

Business and Leadership Track
Are You on the Cutting Edge? Stay on the Forefront of the Industry With Professional Development and Certification

Facilitator:
Donnell Bayot, M.Ed, CPCE, CFBE, CHE, Director of Academic Affairs, The International School of Hospitality

Panelists:
Gayle Dahlman, Certification Director, Convention Industry Council
Lyn Gleasure, CPCE, CMP, National Event Sales Manager, Biltmore
Ellen Harte, CPCE, CSEP, Director of Key Accounts, Tasty Catering 

Staying on the cutting edge is expected for success in the catering and events industry. To be ahead of the curve, there are a variety of professional development opportunities that can take your career to the next level. Join our panel as we explore how to set yourself apart with professional development and industry certification opportunities. After this session, you will be able to:

• Utilize experiences of successful industry professionals to determine a plan to advance your career
• Identify the benefits of the CPCE, CMP and CSEP designations
• Develop steps toward preparing to become certified

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100 Years of Advancing Destinations
Destination Marketing Association International Annual Convention (DMAI)
July 21-23, 2014
More information

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World Education Congress 2014
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
Aug. 2-5, 2014
More information 

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MEET National Conference
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Sept. 3-4, 2014
More information   

 

Ryan Barth, CMP, is now a Global Account Executive at ConferenceDirect working directly with Dan Sherman, Vice President, ConferenceDirect. He worked previously as a Sales Manager at Visit Indy.

Ashley Kesack, CMP, recently accepted a Senior Event Manager position with Rapid7, relocating to Boston from Washington, D.C., where she formerly worked as a Meeting & Event Manager for Courtesy Associates.

Darnella Parks, M.A., CMP, has been named Director of Conferences for the International Dyslexia Association, overseeing all meetings and conferences for this international organization. She has worked at the IDA for seven years and was formerly the Manager of Conferences. 

Renée Siuta, CMP, has been promoted to the Director of Exhibitor Services for Freeman Audio Visual, Inc.

Karen Waggoner, CMP, CMM, is now a Trade Show Innovator working with Pacific Exposition Decorating Company to provide new ideas and opportunities for show managers to maximize attendee and exhibitor experiences. She was previously with the Northwest Food Processors Association for close to five years.
 
Julie B. Walker, CMP, will serve as President of the Middle Pennsylvania Chapter of MPI beginning July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. 

Make an awesome career move? Let us help you celebrate! Send the details of your latest career triumph to cmptoday@conventionindustry.org. And while you're at it, be sure to log into www.conventionindustry.org and update your official CMP record.