Carolina BlitzOctober-November 2014

New Member Spotlight Lu Ann Debolt

Page 8

Pine Needles & Mid Pines Golf ResortsSouthern Pines, NC | November 20-21, 2014

Carolina Blitz

Where great meetings happen

NORTH CAROLINA

Keep it fresh. Meet in My Durham…really.

My Durham, NC is a creative, diverse, colorful, and entrepreneurial destination that is easily accessible with an international airport just 11 minutes from Downtown, an affordable selection of over 7,500 hotel rooms, and the home of the world-famous Research Triangle Park.

My Durham is also unique. It’s not like everywhere—or anywhere—else; there is no location amnesia here. You will know you have been to a unique city that literally has something new for your attendees – fresh daily!

Come see what My Durham is all about!

Corey D. Bizzell Vice President, Group Sales & Business Development

The Cotton Room at Golden Belt

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Durham Convention Center

RDU International AirportFood Trucks in Downtown Durham

Rizzo Conference Center

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 1

in this issue...

in every issue

features

Do You Buy MPI? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

The Right MOVE(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Legacy of Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Our Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Helping Hand Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

MPI-CC Board of Directors Meeting Highlights . . . . . . . . . . 20

magicflute00

2/iStock/ThinkStock

2 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

Carolina BlitzThe Carolina Blitz is the official publication of the Carolinas Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is published every other month . All contributions, articles, and photographs should be submitted to Director of Publications/Editor one week after the meeting . Ginny Fountain, CMP - Ginny .Fountain@ncemcs .com

EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

Director of PublicationsLaura Barnes, CMP • Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

EditorGinny Fountain, CMP • North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives

Contributing WritersMalinda Harrell, CMP, CASE, Greater Raleigh CVB; Jeanette Keys, Greenville Convention Center; Colleen Schwoerke, CMP, PlanIt Right; Rod Abraham, The Rod Abraham Group; Christian Savelli, MPI; Molly Johnson, CMP, Hilton Wilmington Riverside; Tonya Miller, CMP, Embassy Suites Greensboro-Airport; Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP, Marriott Columbia;

PhotographerMica Parekh – IWP Photography

ProofreadersKathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Cathy Mauldin, CMP, DESA, Inc .; Melanie O’Bryan, Biltmore; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial; Myron Jones, Fayetteville CVB; Connie Hayes, Student

PublisherVince Chelena • The Management Office704-377-5648 • Fax 704-333-6927 • staff@themanagementoffice .com

AdvertisingAmy Johnson • Courtyard by Marriott, Carolina Beach Oceanfront and Fairfield Inn & Suites, Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach • 910-458-2617

DesignKistin Jordan • Kistin Jordan [Graphic Designer] • 704-724-9188

MPI-CC Web Site: www .mpi-cc .org

ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINESAD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER NON-MEMBER RATE RATEQuarter Page 1X $220 $290(3 1/2”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $200/issue $270/issue 6X $160/issue $230/issueHalf Page Horizontal 1X $420 $550(7 1/4”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $400/issue $530/issue 6X $360/issue $490/issueHalf Page Vertical 1X $420 $550(3 1/2”W x 9 1/2”H) 3X $400/issue $530/issue 6X $360/issue $490/issueFull Page 1X $640 $840(7 1/2”W x 9 1/2”H) 3X $620/issue $820/issue 6X $580/issue $780/issueFull Page Insert 1X $700/issue $910/issue 3X $680/issue $890/issue 6X $640/issue $850/issue(Produced and provided by advertiser)

There are 6 issues of the Blitz published yearly -FEB/MAR, APR/MAY, JUNE/JULY, AUG/SEPT, OCT/NOV, DEC/JAN

NOTE: Rates are published as of January 2011 and are subject to change without notice . All published rates are net non-commisionable . Any cost incurred by the BLITZ for art that is not fully press ready (e .g . reductions, halftones) will be billed to the advertiser, or art that is not press ready may be refused .

DUE DATE: Due by the 15th of the month prior to publication . Artwork is due to the publisher within 10 days after deadline for space reservations .

SEND MATERIALS TO: Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office, 1800 Camden Road, Suite 107, #213, Charlotte, NC 28203Christine@TheManagementOffice .com • Fax: 704-333-6927

For more advertising information contact Amy Johnson at amy .johnson@crestlinehotels .com or 910-458-2617 .

Visit our website at www .mpi-cc .org for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities!

Visit us online at www.hickorymetro.com or contact us by phone at 1.800.509.2444 for more information.

• Over 76,000 square feet of usable meeting space

• 1,900 hotel rooms

• Easy access off I-40

• Free Parking

• Free Wireless Internet

Come Experience Our Hickory Hospitality

Where Meetings are Well Crafted.

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 3

Welcome New Members!

our members

Lisa Burzotta

PNC Bank

lisa .burzotta@pnc .com

Patricia Byrd

Spartanburg Convention &

Visitors Bureau

sales@visitspartanburg .com

Chia-Li Chien, CFP

jolly@chialichien .com

Shannon Dubuisson Cone Health

shannon .dubuisson@conehealth .com

Barbara Evans Burroughs Wellcome Fund

bevans@bcofunds .org

Diane Gregory BCD M&I Onsite at Cisco Systems

digregor@cisco .com

Gregory Hussar

Kingston Plantation,

A Hilton & Embassy Suites Resort

greg .hussar@hilton .com

Jan Kelly

North Carolina Egg Association

egglady@ncegg .org

Wes Kitashima, CMP Hilton Head Island Visitor &

Convention Bureau

wkitashima@hiltonheadisland .org

John McCants Charleston Area Convention

and Visitors Bureau

jmmccants@explorecharleston .com

Chantel Post Marriott Greensboro Downtown

chantel .post@marriottsales .com

Lauren Powell JHM Hotels

LPowell@jhmhotels .com

Kelly Pratt Hilton Garden Inn Myrtle Beach

kelly .pratt@hilton .com

Faye Robinson

berica .robinson@gmail .com

Dixie Smith Duke Energy

Dixie .Smith@duke-energy .com

MPI-CC Anniversaries20 years

Andrew Schmidt, CHME, MPA Greenville-Pitt County

Convention & Visitors Bureau

15 yearsJanice Roberts, CMP, CMM

10 yearsKarolyn Stone, CMP, CHSP

Marriott Columbia

5 yearsBridget Stalvey

Hyatt Regency Greenville

Congratulations to each of you for reaching a milestone in MPI!

New Members: Wes J. T. Kitashima, CMP - Hilton Head Island Visitor &

Convention Bureau; Bree Nidds – Wilmington & Beaches CVB; LuAnn DeBolt - Domtar

First Timers and New Members

4 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

MPI-CC THANKSOUR ANNUAL SPONSORS!

We Appreciate Your Support!

Silver Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Diamond Sponsor:

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 5

Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE, Associate Director of Sales, Greater Raleigh Convention

and Visitors Bureau; 2014-2015 MPI-CC President

president’s message

“With great power comes great responsibility.” ~Voltaire by Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE

One Saturday afternoon, my four-year-old grandson asked me a question that changed my

perspective .

He said, “Mimi, do you know what superpower Spider-Man has?”

In my mind, I was thinking, of course I do! He can leap from building to building, use his

spidery sense to find danger and save lives…everyone knows that . But on the outside I

remained silent and waited for him to tell me what I thought I already knew .

And then, in his innocent little voice, he stated, “He swings and takes pictures .” And he ran off

to play .

I thought to myself, “takes pictures--when did that become a superpower!?” As I overanalyzed

the answer of my grandson, I had an epiphany; I realized that the power is in the eye of the

beholder . To him, Spiderman (Peter Parker) taking pictures was extraordinary .

How many moments in history were captured by someone simply taking pictures? That is

when I realized that the simple things we do can make a huge impact . That made me rethink

my version of what I thought were Spiderman’s powers . As I dug deeper, I realized that what

was most important to me was that he always did the right thing . Yes, Spiderman has ethics!

And, as I thought further, so do the other heroes I admire: Superman, Maya Angelou, Bono,

Mahatma Gandhi and more .

Having a strong sense of ethics creates an environment of trust . Our industry shapes the world

by providing powerful opportunities for learning, peer to peer connections and the growth of

humankind . Each and every exchange has the potential to create a positive experience . That is

extraordinary, that is our superpower . “With great power comes great responsibility .” Embrace

your inner Superhero, recognize the power within to change the world just by doing the right

thing . Your mission is never to miss the chance to be extraordinary . n

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President

Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE

Greater Raleigh CVB

919-645-2668

mharrell@visitraleigh .com

President-Elect

Christian Schroeder

Visit Winston-Salem

336-728-4218

Christian@visitwinstonsalem .com

Vice President of Administration

Colleen Schwoerke, CMP

PlanIt Right

919-808-1902

colleen@planit-right .com

Vice President of Communication

Corey Bizzell

Durham CVB

919-680-8315

corey@durham-cvb .com

Vice President of Education

Barbara Dragan

The Westin Charlotte

704-335-2114

Barbara .Dragan@westin .com

Vice President of Finance

Alyce Kelly, CHSP

Hampton Inn Morehead City

252-240-0775

alyce .kelly@hilton .com

Vice President of Membership

Tarshi McCoy, TMP

DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern

Riverfront

252-638-0304

tarshi .mccoy@hilton .com

Immediate Past President

Erin Moye

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

919-313-2160

emoye@wdigc .com

MPI-CC 2014-2015 Board of Directors and Committees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Awards/Recognition

Lindsay Myers

Caesars Entertainment

919-628-8836

lmyers1@caesars .com

Marketing/Community Outreach

Alison Jenkins

The Umstead Hotel & Spa

919-447-4122

Alison .Jenkins@theumstead .com

Strategic Partnerships

Amy Johnson

Courtyard by Marriott

at Carolina Beach

910-458-2617

amy .johnson@crestlinehotels .com

Meeting Planning

Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMM, CMP

Burroughs Wellcome Fund

919-991-5105

lhedrick@bwfund .org

DIRECTORS

6 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

Scholarship Liz Guertin Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4231 liz@visitwinstonsalem .com

Silent Auction Kathy Flowe, CMP Alabama Theatre 843-272-5758 kflowe@alabama-theatre .com

Business Exchange Chair needed

Education Stephen Valliere Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa 904-813-3307 svalliere@ sawgrassmarriott .com

Hospitality Gloria Refinati ON Event Services 336-292-9700 grefinati@ oneventservices .com

Recruitment Kimberly Harrelson Kingsmill Resort 757-253-3980 Kimberly .harrelson@kingsmill .com

Membership (Co-Chairs)Melissa Riggle New Bern-Craven County CVC 800-437-5767 mriggle@cravencountync .gov

Rick Cammer The Ballantyne Hotel 704-248-4033 rcammer@theballantynehotel .com

Publications Ginny Fountain, CMP NC Association of Electric Cooperatives 919-875-3050 ginny .fountain@ncemcs .com

Meeting Planning Molly Nelson Spartanburg Marriott 864-591-3113 Molly .Nelson@marriott .com

Leadership & Volunteer Development Alison Harding, CMP Global Knowledge 919-461-8698 Alison .Harding@globalknowledge .com CMP (Co-Chairs) Sarah Sharkey, CMP Ernst & Young LLP Sarah .sharkey@ey .com

Amelia Hodges, CMP North Carolina Association of CPAs 919-469-1040, ext . 8 ahodges@NCACPA .org Awards Wendy Bassett, CMP HelmsBriscoe 843-243-0554 wbassett@helmsbriscoe .com

Strategic Partnerships Chair needed

Marketing Sandi Owen Embassy Suites Columbia 803-744-8134 sandi .owen@jqh .com

Community Outreach Chair needed

COMMITTEES

Auctions

Diane Weems

NC Aggregates Association

919-782-7055

Diane@ncaggregates .org

Exhibits

Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP

Marriott Columbia

803-744-6922

Karolyn .stone@marriottcolumbia .com

Membership

Jeanette Keys

Greenville Convention Center

252-321-7671

jkeys@greenvilleconventioncenter .com

Education

Tonya Miller, CMP

Embassy Suites Greensboro-Airport

336-668-4535

tonya .miller@jqh .com

Publications

Laura Barnes, CMP

Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

843-341-8010

lbarnes@omnihotels .com

Management Office

Christine Irwin, CMP

The Management Office

704-377-5648

Christine@themanagementoffice .com

DIRECTORS (continued)

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 7

8 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

Lu Ann has been in her current

position for over two years as the

Events and Operations Coordinator

at Domtar, and held her previous

position there for three years .

When asked what is unique about her

destination, property or position, Lu

Ann replied, “My position falls within

the Sustainability and Business

Communications department;

however, I work with various business segments within

Domtar as well as Corporate Communications . Among

other responsibilities, I manage our customer events,

industry events and tradeshows .

“I first heard about MPI from the passenger seated next to

me on a flight as I was returning home from a customer

event . Unfortunately, I do not remember her name or the

company she worked for, but she was a member of MPI

and highly encouraged me to join . Another reason I am

looking forward to being a part of MPI is for the networking

opportunities . I believe creating a bank of resources will

be a valuable tool to enable me to perform my job well and

efficiently .”

I asked Lu Ann what is the one thing that has happened

in her life that has made the biggest impact on who she

is today . She responded, “I would say hitting the restart

button . I have relocated several times, thus started new

jobs with new companies in new industries, ultimately

meeting and working with new people . This may sound

like a disadvantage, but, instead it has offered me a

magnitude of opportunities and experiences . I do love the

Carolinas, however, and believe I am here to stay!”

Lu Ann, if you could meet someone living or deceased,

who would it be and why? She said, “There are so many

people, but one who always comes to mind for me is

Phil Mickelson . Phil along with his wife, Amy, originally

created the Smart Start Foundation, primarily focused on

supporting youth and family initiatives, and the Birdies

for the Brave Foundation supporting troops injured

during combat . They are also big supporters of the Special

Operations Warrior Foundation, as well as Homes for Our

Troops . In my opinion, Phil Mickelson is not only a great

golfer and philanthropist, but also an extraordinary role

new member spotlight

model for youth and adults alike . He hasn’t let his success

change who he really is .”

Lu Ann, have you achieved balance between your personal

and professional life? “I believe I have achieved a balance

between my personal and professional life . As with any

profession, you put in the extra hours when necessary and

savor the days when the load is a little lighter . Plus, I am

grateful my dog loves going to “kennel camp!”

I asked Lu Ann, “What do you think is the biggest challenge

of our industry today?” Her response was, “I’ve noticed that

with the economic rebound, the need to plan events further

and further in advance is key . Coming up with innovative

and fresh ideas for repetitive events is always essential in

keeping your audiences interested and engaged . I also find

that how we most effectively communicate (face-to-face,

social media, etc .) continues to change .”

What is your advice for anyone considering hospitality as

a profession? Lu Ann said, “Keep your eyes and ears wide

open! We are surrounded by a group of very creative people

and there is always something to glean from one another

and add to our own bag of tricks . Also, try to carve a little

sliver of time, even if it’s just an hour or two, for exploring

wherever your travels may take you .” n

New Member Spotlight: Lu Ann DeBoltby Jeanette Keys

Jeanette Keys Greenville Convention CenterMPI-CC Director of Membership

Lu Ann DeBolt

November 20-21, 2014 Southern Pines, NCPine Needles& Mid Pines Golf Resorts

Pine Needles & Mid Pines Golf Resort Southern Pines, North Carolina — November 20-21, 2014 For nearly a century, golfers have reveled in the serene ambiance of Pine Needles & Mid Pines Resorts. Two 18-hole Donald Ross designed resort golf courses have earned us our place amongst the country’s best golf resorts—and one to which our guests and USGA Championships return to time and again. We are located just one mile from Southern Pine’s historic downtown and four miles from the Village of Pinehurst. Being 60 miles southwest of Raleigh and just 75 miles east of Charlotte, NC we are easily accessible by car. Accommodations 73 rooms at Pine Needles, 89 rooms at Mid Pines Conference Facilities 6 Meeting Facilities at Pine Needles 4 Meeting Facilities at Mid Pines Largest Seating Capacity: 400 AV Equipment Available On Site Golf To play at Pine Needles and Mid Pines is to live and breath Donald Ross golf. Couple this with impeccable course conditioning and our attentive service and you have a truly memorable golf experience. Dining There are four difference dining options between the two properties. One formal dining room at each hotel and one bar at each location, offering a variety of choices for every palate

Meeting Professionals International

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 9

9951537

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It’s All in the Numbers170,000-Square Feet of Meeting Space

5th and Cherry Streets • Winston-Salem NC 27101336.725.3500 • www.twincityquarter.com

10 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

Know a Helping Hand?

Know anyone that has lent a helping hand?

Committee Chairs, please nominate one of your

members that has volunteered her time and efforts

this month and thank her for helping to make your

goal possible. Let me know who she is and how she

went above and beyond for your committee.

Please send nominations to Lindsay Myers

at lmyers1@caesars.com

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTYCONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Find yourself in good company in Greenville, NC

www.visitgreenvillenc.com • 800-537-5564

Meetings executives find themselves well attended to in Greenville, North Carolina. Planners enjoy unmatched event services and visitors find themselves the absolute center of attention in our two hospitality areas: the newly-expanded facilities of the Convention Center District, and the Uptown Greenville District hub for dining, arts and recreation opportunities. Point your meetings in our direction. You won’t find better company!

Stephen has just jumped in with

both feet . His enthusiasm is only

matched with his creativity and

the energy that he is bringing to

the Education team . It was his

idea to put together the panel for

Concession Confessions at the

September meeting and he has

some more great ideas for future

meetings .

Congratulations, Stephen! Thank

you for your dedication to MPI-CC!

To nominate a fellow MPI-CC

member for the Helping Hand

Award, please email Lindsay Myers

at lmyers1@caesars .com . n

MPI-CC is proud to present the Helping Hand Award to Stephen Valliere

Stephen Valliere Chairman of the

Education Committee

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 11

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If you’ve been a member of MPI for a while, then you may remember several years ago the Buy MPI campaign was rolled out. well, we are bringing it back!

The concept is really quite simple: buy from people within

the organization first . Keep in mind, buying doesn’t always

happen solely between Planners and Suppliers–– often it’s

Supplier to Supplier . Either way, with a network of 20K+, the

odds are you will find what you need within MPI .

Our September Business Exchange was the perfect

opportunity to get the Buy MPI concept in front of our

chapter members; you may have seen Linda Ilsley, CMP,

Brent Lancaster and myself at registration asking for your

success story of business you gained through your MPI

network . We knew that it might take a little bribing to get

people to tell their story, so we came prepared with two

awesome prizes and we got some great stories . Kathy Flowe,

CMP with the Alabama Theater won a $25 .00 Amazon Gift

Card and Donna Thompson with the SC Coalition against

Domestic Violence won a two-night stay with breakfast at

the Don Caesar Hotel in St . Petersburg, FL .

We have lined up some amazing prizes that will be given

away at each chapter meeting: all you have to do is send

your story to BuyMPICC@gmail .com and you will be entered

into the drawing . One chance for each success story you

send and you do not have to be at the meeting to win . Don’t

have a story yet? Well, there are many vendors from our

Business Exchange that will be happy to assist you with

your story . In fact, I know they will fill out the form for you…

Buy MPI!! n

Molly Johnson, CMPHilton Wilmington RiversideMPI-CC Past President

DO YOU Buy MPI? by Molly Johnson, CMP

Look Who We Spotted at the...

... September Chapter Meeting in Durham!

Look Who We Spotted at the...

... September Chapter Meeting in Durham!Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

Join us at the November chapter meeting as we dive into the RFP

process and learn how suppliers build their offer based on the

information provided in an RFP . Have you been using the same RFP

time after time? Remember, “There’s S’MMore” to RFP’s . How much

is too much information, what is not enough? Together we’ll discover

how to create a dynamic RFP that will result in receiving qualified

proposals! n

14 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

Education & Business Exchange Recapby Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP

education

MPI-CC held the Inaugural Education & Business Exchange on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the Doubletree by Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park . It was a success! The event started with a panel discussion, CONCESSION CONFESSIONS led by Tonya Miller, CMP . In this informative session, we learned from planners and suppliers what to ask for and how to get what you need . After the panel discussion, we flowed into the Business Exchange . Gone were the big displays and handouts replaced with a sleek, innovative set up and much time to connect with a myriad of suppliers . Our main goals this year were to exchange, emerge, and evolve . The new design of the show and the excellent educational opportunity allowed for all of this and more! A big thank you goes out to all of our sponsors and

exhibitors . MPI-CC appreciates your support . n

Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMPMarriott ColumbiaMPI-CC Director of Exhibits

There’s S’MMore to RFP’sby Tonya Miller, CMP

Tonya Miller, CMPEmbassy Suites Greensboro-AirportMPI-CC Director of Education

Panel Members: Left to right, back to front

Wendy Sprintz, Nancy Lowe, CMP, Amy Heiskell. Nancy Smythe, Molly Johnson, CMP, Alison Jenkins

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I only attended the Thursday event. It was by far one of the best MPI events I have attended in a long time. Great panel discussion, loved the room set up and new look, small Business Exchange, networking opportunities, and the buzz at the reception, and great food. It produced the WOW factor for sure; and hope there are more like it to follow. I could not attend on Friday because I could not be out of the office. Great job to the committee who planned Thursday. Thursday was so beneficial to me because of the components above and because it felt like the MPI Carolinas Chapter I joined in 2006 and miss.

Sandie Holley Events & Educational Services Director NC Association of Pharmacists

Here’s What We Heard About the September Meeting...

Awesome meeting! Relevant and timely educational sessions with great conversation and takeaways. Fabulous look and feel for the streamlined meeting format and phenomenal room sets. Felt the energy and excitement the minute I walked in the door! Great job in creating a very worthwhile and engaging experience – can’t wait for November’s meeting!

Karen Knox, CMP, CMM Junior Sales Manager Visit Winston-Salem

I was really excited about the new format of MPI-CC’s Business Exchange in September (formerly known as the Annual Tradeshow)! The education on both Thursday and Friday was seriously some of the best I’ve ever attended at our chapter meetings; and, I loved the audience involvement and the sharing of ideas at both sessions. I thought the room set up with various seating arrangements was absolutely brilliant, and the attendees seemed to like being able to sit in their own preferred seating. I also think this arrangement made the attendees more comfortable and willing to be honest and “real” in sharing their industry stories. Having the Business Exchange partners around the perimeter of the room with beautifully decorated cocktail rounds made the Business Exchange so much more open to “exchanging”, when compared to the more formal 10x10 booth. It’s nice to see our Chapter leaders working hard to change our meeting formats to better accommodate our membership and our ever-evolving industry. THANK YOU MPI-CC!

Loretta Yingling, CMP National Sales Manager Greater Raleigh CVB

Engaging topics, stimulating conversations, versatile use of meeting space – the new MPI! The September meeting was refreshing and energizing, very well done!

Cheryl Mironczuk, CMP Project Planner Cisco Systems

Scintillating, fresh and informative! The meeting was very engaging and I loved the new seating design. It was not your typical meeting, and the contract session made you say “hmmmmmmmmmmm.” Content was very eye opening and I left wanting more.

Yolanda R. Hamer, CMPEvent Logistics ManagerBCD M&I onsite at Cisco

16 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

• Over 16,000 area hotel rooms

• One of the Southeast’s largest

convention centers

• 23,500-seat coliseum

• More than 500 restaurants

• Easy access from 3 major Interstates

VisitGreensboroNC.com

• PGA Championship golf courses

• World-class museums, festivals

& entertainment

• International airport

Greensboro

5 HRS. FROM

Washington D.C.

5 HRS. FROM

Atlanta

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 17

My first weeks at MPI were a whirlwind; so much happened

so quickly .

The 2012 Chapter Business Summit marked my first day

in the “office .” The positive energy and the talent that

surrounded me as I interacted with MPI members were

overwhelming . After 12 years in a strategic meetings

management program (SMMP) environment, I got to

interact with key players, people who make it real, live and

vibrant—far away from the cold reality of SMMP where

savings, risk management and efficiency prevail .

Then, came a couple of weeks in Dallas at the “Mothership,”

before I was off to Orlando for my first encounter with

the International Board of Directors . Despite the stress

of presenting for the first time in front of this impressive

group, I felt more professionally alive than I had in years .

In those first couple of weeks, I learned so much by

interacting with MPI members that I could not consider

supporting the organization if I were to lose that connection

with them . So, I decided to join the local chapter in the

Carolinas . My first meeting was in Greenville, and I was

happy to reconnect with former colleagues Corey Bizell

and Loretta Yingling, co-workers from our days at hotels

in Durham and Chapel Hill . I also reconnected with Lynn

Royal and John Cruz, who I worked with when I supported

the GSK (Glaxo SmithKline) SMM (Strategic Meetings

Management) program . And I met so many other members

who make this chapter so lively . Much to my chagrin, it

has been challenging to attend meetings often due to my

travel schedule . However, interaction with our chapter

members has been enriching at the annual World Education

Congress, CBS and other events .

Just last April, the internal MPI staff nominated me to

lead the MOVE Team, a group of eight employees from

all departments—from marketing and events to IT and

membership—who represent the voice of the organization

in a safe environment . Our first task: Re-define our core

values . The MOVE Team took that assignment to heart, and

its first recommendation was to rewrite all the values with

the first emphasis being on our members . For example,

“Carried out with Energy and Passion” was modified from:

“We have unrelenting passion for quality; personal accountability

for our choices and performance results; and fanatical support for

our members, our industry and our teammates’ success.”

To: “We have unrelenting passion for our members, our

industry and our teammates’ success, carried out with personal

accountability for our choices and performance.”

Leadership embraced the recommendations and

implemented the members-focused core values right

away . One of our key recognition programs now rewards

employees who personify these values .

These are the moments that have led me on an amazing

journey for the last two years, as you, our members,

have given me the opportunity to learn so much . As an

organization, we are on a road to transformation and

change, and we will all travel that road together .

This is more than a job . Thank you for your enthusiasm,

passion and dedication to MPI . I look forward to meeting

more of you at an event in the beautiful Carolinas .

Christian SavelliSr. Director Business Intelligence & ResearchMeeting Professionals International (MPI)

by Christian Savelli

The Right MOVE(s)

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16 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

As a charter member of MPI, I have witnessed MPI and the meetings and events industry grow in both size and influence .

Forty plus years ago, when a group of us sat around late one night at something called the World Meeting Planner’s Congress at the O’Hare Hyatt, we talked about the need for an organization that could help us grow . And share . AND connect!

As an aside, talk about a group of optimists – I think there were about 16 of us and it was called WORLD Meeting Planners Congress .

Our life’s work wasn’t recognized and education materials didn’t exist . In MPI’s 40 + years, so very many individuals have shared their time and talent to bring about the evolution of MPI and our industry . That’s a legacy!

Why is it important to talk about the past and how we got to where we are today – as individuals and as an industry?

• We can learn from and build on the legacy left by those who came before us

• It can motivate each of you to focus on the legacy you want to create

• It can help you identify the values you want to portray

Let’s start with some dictionary definitions:

LEADERSHIP: “a position as a leader of a group, organization, etc .; the time when a person holds the position of leader; the power or ability to lead other people .”

LEGACY: “Something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past .” Even in our very recent past . In fact, many of our legacy makers are current members!

THE LEADERSHIP

LEGACYA Charter Member’s Thoughts on How We Got Here

by Rod Abraham

18 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 19

Rod AbrahamThe Rod Abraham GroupCharter Member of MPI

Thus the expression A Living Legacy. Here’s another perspective that I think gives context to the notion of our responsibilities to each other and to our life’s chosen work . Sir Francis Bacon was an English writer and philosopher in the 16th & 17th centuries . Look at what he said (forgive the sexism of his times): “I hold every man a debtor to his profession . . .” “I hold every man a debtor to his profession”. I translate that to: every person has an obligation to give back. I see that as our legacy . A leadership legacy .

Without getting political, we can all agree on world leaders that have left a legacy . In recent times, a partial list includes, in alphabetic order, North Carolina’s Maya Angelou, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Florence Nightingale, Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa . I could go on and on . How about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates? They have changed billions of lives . And, their legacies are still growing .

I have survived and even thrived a bit in this business because I was able to sit at the feet of some leaders who were willing to share . And, old though I am, I still get inspiration and guidance from some of these people as well as the younger leaders .

One leadership legacy contributor was the late Jim Jones . Jimmy was the director of meetings at Connecticut General Life Insurance Company . Among other things, he was a founder of MPI, ICP (now the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners - FICP) & SCMP – the Society of Company Meeting Planners . A few years ago, when I heard that he died, I immediately remembered two things I learned from him . One, a big picture, strategic philosophy and one very tactical process . Here they are, as I remember them:

1 . Always understand the difference between personal power & positional power . We may have a lot of power because of our position, but the real test of a professional is their personal power .

2 . Always have them cut the Danish in half .

Another of the same vintage who is still going strong is an industry treasure and a “neighbor” in Blacksburg, Virginia, Howard Feirtag . Now in his mid-80’s, Howard is still active and a perfect example of a leadership legacy . A few years ago I witnessed first-hand both the passion that he brings to the classroom and the responsiveness of young students to his teaching .

Two years ago I had the honor of emceeing the RISE Awards at MPIs 40th anniversary gathering in St Louis . The overall theme was “Connections” – how we need to connect with each other to become stronger as individuals and as an industry .

I cited a number of links or “connections” to our leadership legacy . Then outgoing MPI Chair was Sebastian Tondeur from Geneva, Switzerland . For nine years I worked with his dad, Roget . And MPI’s incoming Chair was Kevin Hinton . His dad was Dave Hinton . We worked and played together for years . He was all business and at the same time all fun . Dave’s legacy – especially to me – was that he was the 1st professional salesperson I had encountered . He would often say to me “. . . a great hotel but not right for this meeting.”

This relates to our legacy in another way . I think being passionate about what you do and doing it the right way is what attracts a son or daughter to follow in their parent’s career footsteps . What greater legacy? And I am proud to say that my son, Warren Abraham, followed me into this industry and is now a Vice President of audio visual giant PSAV . In his early days, he was asked “are you related to Rod Abraham?” Now I get: “are you related to Warren Abraham?” I get great pleasure in that . Forgive the personal reference but I consider that one of my legacies and I am darn proud of it .

Jimmy Jones, Howard Feirtag, Jonathan Howe, Joan Eisenstodt, Jeff Rasco and our own Nancy Holder are a few who have been strong influencers of my professional life . Living leadership legacies, indeed!

But for any of us to be receptive to the influence of another, we have to have the right outlook . To me, the foundation of the right outlook is the ability to distinguish right from wrong and the shades of gray - ethics in its basest form . Remember, how we conduct our life’s work can also create a negative legacy . If we do not conduct our business lives in a professional, ethical manner, not only are we misbehaving but we are also sending a message to those who look up to us that it is okay .

The young professionals of the next generation - including some of you reading this - will take our industry in new ways and to new places we cannot even imagine .

So, have you thought about your legacy? Don’t be afraid to awaken your passion and to share it with others because you never know whose interest you will pique and whose life you may change .

In the 17th century Francis Bacon said: “I hold every man a debtor to his profession” . In this century, I hope you’ll agree with me, that every person has a responsibility to give back . And the more you give, the more you get . Leave your legacy through leadership! Start with your Carolinas

MPI Chapter . n

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20 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

board meeting highlights

Attendees: Lindsay Myers, Diane Weems, Amy Johnson,

Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP, Alyce Kelly, CHSP, Christine

Irwin, CMP, Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE, Erin Moye, Colleen

Schwoerke, CMP, Laura Barnes, CMP, Alison Jenkins, Lori

Hedrick, CMP, CMM, Tonya Miller, Corey Bizzell

Excused Absences: Christian Schroeder, Barbara Dragan,

Jeanette Keys, Tarshi McCoy

Minutes: Colleen Schwoerke, CMP presented the minutes

from the July 17, 2014 Board of Directors meeting and made

a motion to approve .

Motion: Colleen Schwoerke, CMP made a motion to approve the

July 17, 2014 Minutes as presented.

Second: Karolyn Stone, CMP, CHSP

Vote: Approved

Financial Reports: Alyce Kelly, CHSP reviewed the August

P&L statement, balance sheet and aging report . She

reported that the Chapter is trending ahead of year-to-date

budgeted income at this time .

Motion: Alyce Kelly, CHSP made a motion to approve the financial reports as submitted. Second: Malinda Harrell, CMP Vote: Approved

The Finance team reported that they are looking at

additional fundraising activities at each meeting going

forward . They will begin in November at Pine Needles .

Ideas included putt-putt, wine raffle, Christmas gift

exchange and more .

It was recommended that MPI-CC create a signature

event similar to what other chapters do around the

holidays . This event does not necessarily have to have

an education component, but should include a fun

networking opportunity .

Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE confirmed that we do not

need a Board vote on the committee ideas for additional

fundraising efforts . The Meeting Planning committee will

prepare to make a recommendation for the signature event

during the Mid-year retreat in January . The event will be

planned for the next fiscal year so it can be planned and

executed effectively .

Chapter Office: Christine Irwin, CMP reviewed the August

metric report . All board members can access this report

at any time on the Chapter Leaders Resources page on

International’s website . The September meeting registration

came in at around 135 . Thirty-three vendors signed up for

the Business Exchange . The Chapter membership retention

as of August 1 is at 72 .9% for non-student retention .

Consent Agenda: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE asked for a

motion to approve the consent agenda .

Motion: Corey Bizzell made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Second: Alison Jenkins Vote: Approved

President: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE requested that board

members need to fill out the percentage of metric complete

on each months Board reports . We as a Board need to be

strategic in recruiting committee chairs so we can shape

our future MPI-CC leadership and where our chapter is

going . Starting in October, Malinda, Erin and Christian will

begin monthly leadership calls to each team to check in on

progress and provide any guidance needed .

Membership: There is a new membership campaign

through International called “Grow More Earn More”

campaign . The Chapter receives $75 for each new member

that signs up between May 1, 2014 and December 31,

2014 over our meet goal of 43 members . In order to begin

receiving this $75 per new member/rejoin, we need over

11 new members by December 31, 2014 . We have about

25 – 30 first timers/new members at this meeting . Another

membership campaign International is currently running

is “Refer a Friend” . With the voucher, a new member will

receive a $50 discount on their new membership fee and

the current member will receive a $25 credit towards their

next renewal . There is no limit of referrals .

The board agreed to identify first time attendees with a VIP

ribbon rather than a First Timer ribbon .

Board of Directors Meeting MinutesSeptember 18, 2014 | Durham, NCby Colleen Schwoerke, CMP

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 21

Colleen Schwoerke, CMPPlanIt RightMPI-CC Vice President of Administration

Communications: Laura Barnes, CMP discussed ideas to

make The Blitz geared more toward Education topics we

will be having at future meetings . She is working with the

committee to help get people who specialize on these topics

to write articles .

Meeting Planning: Lori Hedrick, CMM, CMP, MHA reported

that the committees met to discuss the 2015 locations and

they decided that it would be a priority to find the appropriate

education format before securing the locations .

The committee is moving forward with an Education

Breakfast Meeting in February in South Carolina . It will run

from 8:00 am to 10:00 am with a speaker for one hour . They

are working on a location for an evening event the night

before .

The committee is planning on Charlotte for the March

meeting and is making contact with Johnson & Wales and Le

Meridien for availability .

The April meeting will be a breakfast meeting at the Carolina

Inn or the Burroughs Welcome Fund office . Lori Hedrick,

CMP, CMM, MHA is checking on availability for Burroughs

Wellcome Fund .

A contract is signed for the May Annual meeting in

Charleston . Jim Spellos will be speaking on technology .

Education: The November Education topic is “There’s

S’MMore to RFPs” . Participants will break out into Campfire

sessions .

Tonya Miller recapped survey results from the July

meeting in Cary . The main issue was that the speaker

went over allotted time . Other comments were that the

information was redundant and to bring Denise Ryan back .

Members want something they can learn, take back and

use, including multiple tracks . There was a lot of positive

feedback on new format and speaker .

Helping Hand Award: There were three nominees for the

September Helping Hand award . After a board vote was

taken, Steven Valliere, Chair of Education Committee, won

the September Helping Hand Award .

The next Board Meeting will be held in Southern Pines, NC

on Thursday, November 20th .

Meeting adjourned . n

22 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014 | 23

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Meeting Professionals International coming attractions

24 | Carolina Blitz | October - November 2014

The Neighbor Chapter Spotlight is intended to give our

chapter members a little insight about other chapters .

Enjoy!

Name/Location of Chapter : New England Chapter

Current Membership Count: 464

What is the Planner vs. Supplier Ratio?

40% planners/60% suppliers

Does your chapter have a signature event and if so when is

it and what makes it so unique?

MPI New England holds an annual Fall Institute, which is

a 1 .5 day program of education, featuring great speakers,

panels, and presentations on a variety of topics pertaining

to the meetings industry . In 2013, the Fall Institute was

held on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, which

proved very successful . Our attendance numbers for this

event skyrocketed, especially planners – as this week is

typically not a busy travel time for them . We made the

decision to hold the Fall Institute on these days every year,

which will help with advance planning, securing venues,

and continuity moving forward .

MPI Neighbor Chapter Spotlight

Position Name Company Name

President Mark Bice, CMP HPN Global

Immediate Past President Michelle Johnson The Anchor Group

President Elect Susan Prue VDA Productions

Vice President - Finance Mark Goodman Experient Sales Network

Vice President - Special Projects Anne Roberts Discover Newport

Vice President - Education Cecil Dorman AVFX, Inc .

Vice President - Membership

Molly Hudson Joseph B . Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School

Vice President - Marketing & Communications

Meghan Kelleher, CMP Scout Hotels

Director, Leadership Carlos Rojas Hyatt Regency Boston

Director, Operations Annmarie Anderson ATR/Treehouse

Director, Sponsorship & Fund Raising Bill Wilson Pinnacle Event Partners, Ltd .

Director, Member Recruitment Denise Banach DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Westborough

Director, Member Care & Retention Elizabeth Panciera Sullivan Custom Planning, Inc .

Director, Monthly Programs Nancy D’Ercole Bright Horizons Children’s Centers LLC

Director, Institutes Michele Maguire Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Director, Publications Janet Lincoln Scout Hotels

Director, Social Media Cezanne Macary DoubleTree by Hilton -Boston North Shore

Director, Special Events Lauren Maiellano Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf

CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR Vanessa Thompson

New England Chapter

Share a chapter success story (perhaps a best practice

you implemented or something that could help inspire

another chapter).

MPI New England decided to dedicate all of our Corporate

Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts for 2014 to benefit the

American Red Cross . Our members participated in many

different ways during the year, from volunteering at the

Boston Food Pantry, to sending holiday cards to our military

overseas, to giving blood, to helping serve the needy in our

own communities . Having a central focus for our CSR efforts

proved very successful and helped introduce and establish

MPI New England as a wonderful and worthy organization to

many people outside of the meeting industry .

List your upcoming events dates (as many as you have

available) and the location. Please indicate if the event is an

education program or a networking event.

2014 Fall Institute

November 24-25, 2014 – Granite Links Golf Club (education)

2014 Holiday Event

December 8, 2014 – Laugh Boston (networking) n

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You’ll fi nd our meetings as legendary as our golf.

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©2014

Pin

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LC

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14PNH163.CarolinaMPIAugSeptAd.indd 1 7/29/14 9:55 AM

November 20-21, 2014 November Chapter Meeting

Register Now Southern Pines, NC Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club

and Mid Pines

January 21, 2015 January Chapter Meeting

Morrisville, NC Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Durham Airport

February 11, 2015 February Breakfast Meeting

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March 18, 2015 March Chapter Meeting

Charlotte, NC Johnson & Wales University

May 18, 2015 May Annual Meeting

Charleston, SC Charleston Marriott

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next

Carolina Blitz is November 28, 2014 . Please submit

any articles or photographs to be considered for

publication to Editor-In-Chief Ginny Fountain

at Ginny .Fountain@ncemcs .com

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