Dear Fellow CMPs!

I am proud to have three great messages to share in July.

I hope that by now you have registered for CONCLAVE 2015! For those of you who have previously attended, I know I am preaching to the choir about the great educational components and wonderful fellowship you will find in Reno-Tahoe. To those of you who have never been to a Conclave, I hope to personally share with you moments that reflect your enthusiasm in participating! This morning I received a message from a brand new CMP who said: "Joanne, I am so excited to be attending my first Conclave."  Let’s all keep that excitement at a high level. This Conclave is sure to be a treat for all who attend!

I hope that you have all heard and read that this is the 30th anniversary year for the CMP.  In June we had a very successful celebration in Washington, DC, where more than 75 CMPs attended. It was a lovely evening with good fellowship and a fantastic way for the new CMP Governance Commission to get to know many CMPs in the DC area. The 30th Anniversary year will be celebrated in Reno during Conclave so that everyone has the opportunity to share in the festivities. This is another great reason to take part in Conclave this year.

Speaking of our CMP Governance Commission, we had the opportunity to meet face-to-face in June and take a look into the future of the CMP program. All members are dedicating their expertise to work for the greater good of the CMP community and we share our pride with all of you in holding and promoting our designation. The Governance Commission will hold another meeting prior to Conclave and I look forward to introducing this dedicated group of professionals to all of you during Conclave 2015. 

I would personally like to wish all of you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you at all the major trade shows and events this year!


With warm regards,
Joanne 

 

Whether this is your first time attending the CMP Conclave or you attend each year, the 2015 CMP Conclave is one you don't want to miss! The CMP Conclave is the only yearly networking and educational event just for Certified Meeting Professionals. Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge, build relationships and partner with other meeting professionals. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the designation, and we will be celebrating that milestone during Conclave. Register now and join us September 26-28, 2015 in Reno, Nevada. There are so many reasons why you should attend Conclave.  Here are a few:  

Award-Winning Keynotes

If you have previously attended Conclave, you know to expect top notch educational sessions on topics you need to stay on top (and ahead) of. This year's keynotes promise to exceed that expectation, with topics like: 

• The Assumpt! The Dangers and Opportunities of Your Assumptions | Andy Cohen, founder of Andy Cohen Worldwide
• How Hotels Evaluate Your Business (The Hotel Industry 2.0) | Michael Dominguez, CHSE, Senior Vice-President, Chief Sales Officer, MGM Resorts International,
• Front Row Leadership | Motivational speaker Marilyn Sherman
• Event Technology Trends for 2015 |  Julius Solaris, editor of EventManagerBlog.

But don't just take our word for it. Successful Meetings recently named two of our keynote speakers, Michael Dominguez and Julius Solaris, among "The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry for 2015." Come and hear them both speak at one event! 
  
Health Care Focus

The health care sector, once considered a niche area of meeting management, is growing, and so is the need for a similarly specialized certification. Along with required reporting and transparency, understanding compliance is critical for anyone involved in health care meeting management. This year, CIC is offering a pre-conference session dedicated specifically to health care meeting management at Conclave! The Healthcare Meeting Compliance session is designed for planners and suppliers who need a broader understanding of a full range of  global regulatory topics. Facilitated by Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, HMCC, director, Professional Development-Healthcare Sector, MPI, this session will provide attendees with the information they need to successfully navigate the increasingly complex pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device regulatory environment. If you work in the health care industry, this is a session you can't miss! 


Affordability 

The CMP Conclave is one of the most affordable conferences for meetings professionals. At $450 for two-and-a-half days of education and networking, it's practically a steal! Your CMP designation demonstrates that you know the importance of investing in yourself; Conclave helps you continue to do it wisely. Register now and take advantage of hotel and travel discounts  offered exclusively for CMP Conclave attendees! 

 

What’s in it for you?

This is the biggest meetings industry trade show in the U.S., uniting every sector under one roof. Here’s what truly makes it worth your while – the most bang for your buck. Attend for free. Save time and money by meeting the world’s best suppliers in one trip. 

• Do business. Up to a year’s worth and in only three days. 
• Innovation. Advancing the industry one show at a time. 
• ROI. Boost your value for the lowest cost. 
• An edge. Gain one on the competition and in the industry. 
• Brainpower. Return to the office with more info than Google while also learning from the best. 
• Support from your peers. You belong here, so compare notes and share challenges with others in the industry.
• Fresh ideas. Novel destinations, trends and technologies. 
• Connections. New and rekindled, learn from each other. 
• Growth. All you need to advance your association in a single place, earning rewards to last the year. 
• Association Focus. Dedicated education and networking, exclusively for you. 
• Association Evening. IMEX America’s unofficial opening party.

Do I qualify?

IMEX requires full details of three events - two must be past events occurring within the last 18 months (last 3 years for association buyers), and one can be a confirmed upcoming event which will occur in the next 12 months (next three years for association buyers).

• Buyers from within the USA - at least two events must have occurred outside of the U.S.
• Buyers from outside the USA - at least one event must have occurred within the U.S. and the other two events must have occurred outside of your home country.
  
  
  
  
  

 

Every year, MEET National brings together meeting professionals to share ideas, discover opportunities and find new solutions. You’ll network, learn and build strategic partnerships with fellow meeting professionals, industry innovators and vendor partners.  
 
There's no better place to discover "what’s next" in meetings planning and technology, prepare for industry challenges and explore new opportunities.
 
Attend MEET National to:

• Learn.  Attend essential forums on trends, technology and the future of meeting planning.
  
  
• Grow.  Take your career to the next level with our MPI Meetings Essentials and HMCC certification courses.* Government planners: attend the SGMP courses that will help you get your CGMP!
  
  
• Network.  Connect with hundreds of fellow planners, industry suppliers and experts who can help you stay ahead of the curve.
  
  
• Finalize deals.  Reach out to the suppliers you are most interested in prior to the event and continue the conversation on site.

Ready to meet the leaders and visionaries moving meeting planning forward?  Let us introduce you.  Register today
 
For more information and to register, please visit: MEETConference.com.  Class size is limited, so sign up now!
 
*There is an extra charge for our MPI pre-con on Meeting Essentials and for the HMCC certification course. 

 

 

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is proud to announce our new CMP and CMP-HC online application, recertification and submission process.

With this new application process, those applying to sit for the CMP or CMP-HC will no longer be tied to specific application, registration or scheduling deadlines. Education activities and employment experience can be tracked as they are accumulated, and once the prerequisites are met, the application can be submitted for approval!

Starting now, those applying for the CMP or CMP-HC will be able to take advantage of these new features:

• Keep track of continuing education sessions all in one place.
• Upload supporting documentation (such as event registration information, resume, transcripts, etc.)
• Once an application is complete, it can be submitted online AT ANY TIME.
• Once an application is approved, the registration fee can be submitted AT ANY TIME (within their approval year).
• Once the exam registration fee is submitted, an approved candidate can schedule to sit for CMP exam during any available testing window AT ANY TIME (within their approval year).

Those recertifying their CMP or CMP-HC designation will be able to:

• Log continuing education hours and industry support activities online as they are completed.
• When recertification is due (every five years), submit application online for review.

Since you are already a CMP, you already have an online profile – please do not recreate one! For more information on how to use the new portal and activate your account, click here.

 

This year, for the first time, CIC is introducing a new collaboration session at the 2015 CMP Conclave. The purpose of this program is to leverage the industry knowledge of CMPs in developing new resources and guidance for meeting professionals. This survey will be used to assess the issues of greatest importance facing our industry and, of these, which are in need of new guidance, best practices and resources to help meeting professionals address them. Click here to take this survey (you do not need to attend Conclave to participate): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CMPBestPractices 

 

 

A FREE Report for Event Professionals

90% of event professionals see engagement as a priority in 2015.

Engaging Events is a new free report by EventMangerBlog.com about live interaction - the fastest growing technology in the event industry.

Engaging Events is about understanding, choosing and implementing the right tools to increase engagement at your events.

Why This Book Matters:
This is an important milestone for the industry as this is one of the first times engagement has been researched with a technology perspective.

Engaging Events contains 107 pages of research, strategy, tactics and guidance on how to engage better at every stage of the event life cycle. This is essential reading for every Event Professional looking to use interactive tools to better facilitate event engagement.

Engaging Events Includes:

• Groundbreaking research into engagement at events and why it is important
• An overview of the 13 most exciting live interaction technologies
  
• Tactics and best practice for using live interaction technology before, during and after your event
• The questions to ask suppliers, pitfalls to avoid and things to consider
• Handy infographics for each of the different tools
• Case studies from real events
  

Download the Book
Get your copy for free, no contact details or email address required: Engaging Events: How to Use Live Interaction Technology to Create Successful, Memorable and Enduring Experiences.

About the Author
Julius Solaris is the editor of EventManagerBlog.com - the first blog for event professionals. He is an international speaker and author of the Event App Bible, Social Media for Events and the Good Event Registration Guide.

 

Introducing Meet Better: 167 Easy Ways to Make Your Events More Environmentally and Socially Responsible

Written by Mariela McIlwraith, CMP, CMM, MBA, of Meeting Change, Shawna McKinley, MAAEC, and Nancy Zavada, CMP, of MeetGreen, Meet Better is a book written to help meeting professionals easily incorporate sustainable practices into their events.

This book has three sections with each sub-topic containing easy tips and an associated infographic that explores topics in greater depth. The sections and topics include:

Part 1: Core Elements

• Food and beverage planning and service
• Site selection
• Waste management
• Transportation and travel
• Purchasing practices
• Onsite management

Part 2: Program Elements 

• Meeting design
• Trade shows, fairs and exhibitions
• Community service projects
• Participant actions
• Sharing your story
• Sustainability focused sponsorship opportunities
• Event marketing

Part 3: The Next Steps

• Sustainability strategy
  

To order a copy and to view a free excerpt from the book, visit: http://meetgreen.com/products/meetgreen-books/
Use the discount code CICCMP to receive a 20% discount on books ordered before the end of the 2015 CMP Conclave.

 

Meetings Focus names the "22 Industry Innovators who Push our Profession Forward" 
"Who are the planners, suppliers and educators who are helping move the meetings industry into the future? We tapped the 2014 Meetings Trendsetters, polled our readers and reached out to some key contacts to develop our 2015 list of people who are among the leading lights of our industry." Congratulations to the CMPs on this list: 

• Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP | CEO, Convention Industry Council
• Corbin Ball, CMP | President, Corbin Ball Associates 
• Bonnie Wallsh, CMP | Chief Strategist, Bonnie Wallsh Associates
• Robyn Mietkiewicz, CMP | Director, Global Meeting Management, Meeting Sites Resource
• Stuart Ruff, CMP | Director, Meetings, Exhibitions and Events, RIMS
• MaryAnne Bobrow, CMP | President, Bobrow Associates, Inc.
• Nancy J. Zavada, CMP | Principal, MeetGreen

For the full list of innovators, click here. 

Meetings & Conventions features the "Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry"
"The meetings industry is powered by a number of extraordinary people – many of them women. In this special report, M&C turns the spotlight on 25 high achievers, advocates and innovators who have helped to shape and strengthen our business." Congratulations to the CMPs on this list: 

• Jessica L. Levin, MBA, CMP, CAE | President & Chief Connector, Seven Degrees Communications, LLC
• Heike Mahmoud, CMP | Visit Berlin
• Pat Schaumann, CMP, CSEP, DMCP, HMCC | Director, Professional Development, Healthcare sector, MPI
• Debi Scholar, CMP, CMM, CTE, GLP 
• Martha Sheridan, CMP | President and CEo, Providence-Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Shawna Suckow, CMP | Founder, The Hive Network
• Nancy J. Zavada, CMP | Principal, MeetGreen

For the full list of top women in the industry, click here. 

Successful Meetings released its annual list of "The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry for 2015"
"Once again, we present our yearly list of luminaries, chosen because they have either contributed to the business of meetings, made it easier for meetings professionals to do their jobs, helped raise awareness of the industry, or in some way have had a significant impact on the industry." Congratulations to the CMPs on this list: 

• Pat Schaumann, CMP | Director, Professional Development, Healthcare Sector, MPI
• Carol Krugman, CMP | Chair, Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Kelly Peacy, CMP | Senior Vice President, Education and Events, PCMA
• David DuBois, CMP | President and CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE); Chairman, Board of Directors, CIC

For the full list of influential people, click here. 

MPI Announces 2015 RISE Award Winners
"Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has chosen the 2015 recipients of its annual Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence (RISE) Awards. The RISE Awards, which include awards in three categories – individual achievement, community achievement, and organizational achievement – are given to meetings industry recipients in recognition of their innovation, global transferability, impact and influence. This year's RISE Awards will be presented Aug. 3, 2015, during MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) in San Francisco."

• David Peckinpaugh, CMP, President of Maritz Travel Company and Co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, will receive the RISE Award for Meeting Industry Leadership for his role in the fight to end human trafficking; Maritz Travel was one of the first travel companies to partner with ECPAT International, signing ECPAT-USA's Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct.

For the full list of awardees, click here.

 

Looking for continuing education credit? Find a listing of upcoming educational opportunities that have been pre-approved. 
The added bonus is that these education opportunities also automatically get uploaded to your CMP portal if you use the same email address to register for the event! No more keeping track of your receipts or certificates as proof of attendance. 

CMP Preferred Providers are organizations that have formally registered with CIC and are committed to providing education that aligns with one of the 10 domains included in the CMP International Standards (CMP-IS). The CMP-IS domains are: strategic planning, project management, risk management, financial management, human resources, stakeholder management, meeting or event design, site management, marketing and professionalism.

 

Victoria Ascione, CMP CMM recently founded V Event Management, LLC, an integrated event services and management company, where she serves as the Chief Event Strategist.
 
Shannon Balun, CMP is now Chief of Staff, Deal Advisory at KPMG LLP.

Elizabeth Baranik, CMP is now a National Account Manager for Experient - A Maritz Travel Company.

Kelly Campbell, CMP is now Supervisor, Conference Services & Events Management at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Baltimore, MD. She was previously the Senior Project Manager at Attendee Interactive.

Nicole Chattin, CMP is now Program Manager for Spear One in Irving, Texas. 

Beth Hecquet, CMP, CMM is the Program Manager of Events for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH.  She was formerly with the National Association of Sports Commissions as the Director of Meetings and Events.

Ilene Kirby, CMP has joined Ashfield Meeting & Events as an Account Manager at the Ivyland, PA location.

Erin Moeller, CMP is now Conference Director at Institutional Real Estate, Inc. (IREI) in San Ramon, CA.