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With fall weather greeting the Kansas City area on October 27, 2011, over 30 PCMA Heartland Chapter members sped their way to the winners circle at Kansas Speedway for an afternoon of education, great food, and great friends. Our afternoon started with a special tour of the Kansas Speedway Presidential Suite. Giving us a bird’s eye view of the beautiful 1.5 mile track were the stars of NASCAR race each year. With the Kansas Speedway having over 72,000 seats (that’s a lot of steps to climb) our wonderful friends with Agenda provided transportation to and from the suite!

After a thrilling look at the track we gathered together for a discussion with a marvelous panel, Donna Valponi, VP of Communications & Membership, American Academy of Family Physicians, Lisa Miller, CMP, Meetings & Travel Manager, National Cable Television Cooperative, Phil Allemang, CAS, Promotion & Event Advisor, CAM Inc., a division of National Premium, and Zach Huston (my husband!), Corporate Account Manager, the Kansas Speedway, Teresa Hellman,

CMP, National Account Manager, Experient mediated the dialog. The focus of the panel discussion was on sponsorship trends and updates that are sweeping the meeting and convention industry. Highlighting how we as planners can maximize the exposure for our sponsors and really work together to create an unforgettable event that leaves both attendees and sponsors happy!

Congratulations to Ashley Broockerd with the National Association of Collegiate Womens Athletics Administrators. Ashley was the winner of the drawing for a complimentary one year planner membership as part of our membership drive!

by Elizabeth Huston, Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association

MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT RECEPTION & EDUCATIONAL PANEL AT THE KANSAS SPEEDWAY

Community Service Update by Stephanie Deel, Marriotts of San Antonio

What’s Your Favorite Charity and Why? Do you have a cause that is near and dear to you? New for 2012: the Community Service Committee will be asking for YOUR nominations for our November Service N Sync Project. Members will be asked to submit requests for our chapter to raise donations for the charity of their choice. Be thinking about your favorite charity so you’re ready when a survey comes out in early 2012. Watch your e-mail for this request and be ready to get involved in your community in a meaningful way!

Attendees enjoying the view from up high!

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2011 Heartland Chapter Board of DirectorsPRESIDENT Robin O’Connor Director of Sales & Services Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau

PRESIDENT-ELECT Mary Ryan Convention Sales ManagerKansas City Convention & Visitors Association

IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENTMissy Johnson, CMP Senior Manager, Meetings & Events Lockton Companies, LLC

TREASURERVicki Comegys Vice President of Sales & Services Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau

SECRETARY Ronda Vaughn, CMP Director of Meeting Services Optimist International

DIRECTORS Marilyn Koehler (thru 12/31/13) Director of National Accounts Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sherie L. Howell, CMP, CMM, CGMP (thru 12/31/12) Conference Manager A-S-K Associates, Inc. Amy Harper, CMP (thru 12/31/12) Senior Meeting Planner National Association of Insurance Commissioners Kristen Kimbrel, CMP (thru 12/31/13) Senior Meeting Planner American Academy of Family Physicians Jennifer Lion, CMP (thru 12/31/13) Meeting & Event Manager Experient Michelle Stoeppler (thru 12/31/13) Director of Sales DoubleTree Hotel - Chesterfield, MO

President’s Message ...Dear Heartland Chapter Members,

I have to admit, I’m kind of in shock that my year as President of the Heartland Chapter is almost over. It has been an amazing year for me, our chapter and thankfully the hospitality industry is rebounding!

During 2011, our chapter planned and participated in 11 events which included our Annual Meeting Reception, 4 educational programs, 3 community service projects, 2 membership education gatherings and our annual Installation Dinner and Silent Auction. I certainly hope you were able to attend at least 1 of these events.

I would also like to report that due to the hard work of our Board of Directors and Committee Chairs/Members during the past couple years, we were able to donate $2,000.00 to Operation Breakthrough, $1,000.00 to the PCMA Education Foundation and $1,000.00 to our student chapter at Kansas State University. What a thrill it is for our chapter to support such worthy causes!

The 2012 Convening Leaders, January 8-11 in San Diego, is right around the corner. I hope to see you there. And don’t miss our Heartland Chapter Annual Meeting Reception on January 8th from 5:00-6:30pm at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina - Presidio Room.

Also, our 2012 Installation Dinner and Silent Auction will be held February 9th at the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park. A portion of the proceeds from the auction go to Operation Breakthrough. The mission of Operation Breakthrough is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment. Operation Breakthrough also strives to support and empower the children’s families through advocacy, referral services and emergency aid.

Thank you to the 2011 Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and Committee Members for the fantastic job you did this year and your continued support of our chapter. Your dedication is unparalleled!

Happy Holidays!

Robin O’Connor2011 President, PCMA - Heartland Chapter

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Congratulations

to our President, Robin O’Connor, who was recently promoted to Director of

Sales & Services for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau!

Awards Committee Update by Marilyn Koehler (pictured below), LIttle Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

The PCMA Heartland Chapter is pleased to announce the following scholarship and awards:

Congratulations to Stephanie Sinn for being selected as the recipient of the PCMA Sponsored Scholarship to the PCMA Convening Leaders Conference in San Diego. Stephanie is Conference Coordinator for Investigative Reporters and Editors, planning over 25 workshops and three conferences throughout the country. Stephanie resides in Columbia, MO, and attended last year’s PCMA conference in Las Vegas. Stephanie says “It was a great opportunity and a fabulous training experience. I would be honored to represent the Heartland Chapter at the 2012 conference.”

Jennifer Lion was selected for October’s Extra Effort Award. As usual, Jennifer did a great job of getting the October program pulled together while being extremely busy with her full time job and working on other upcoming events for the chapter. She continues to go above and beyond in making our education programs successful.

Teresa Hellman was recognized for her Extra Effort on the recent membership program at the Kansas Speedway. Two years ago, Teresa had the idea of a PCMA event focused on sponsorship and then worked to make it a success by finding a sponsor and putting together a diverse group of experts to speak on the topic.

Thank you Jennifer and Teresa!

Welcome New Members!July – October 2011

JULY 2011 Jani TorrenceNational Sales ManagerSt. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission

Jonathan TerlouwManager, Shows & EventsWalmart

Tara ZamoraConvention Sales ManagerNew York-New York Hotel & Casino

Karen SchachtManager, Global AccountsHelmsBriscoe

Rachael MillerConvention Sales ManagerRogers Convention & Visitors Bureau

AUGUST 2011Leticia HickmanSenior Sales ManagerKansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel

Jill M. KawulokMeeting CoordinatorLP etc.

Jennifer KleinSales ManagerGrand Hotel Marriott Resort

Melissa EvansConvention Sales ManagerSpringfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

SEPTEMBER 2011Paula BommaritoProject CoordinatorCatholic Health Association

Margo M. ManningStudent, Kansas State University

Haley N. StephensonStudent, Kansas State University

Ziying CaoStudent, Kansas State University

Brooke E. NolteStudent, Kansas State University

Ashley N. PihlStudent, Kansas State University

Sherry NovickSenior Sales ManagerDoubleTree by Hilton Kansas City-Overland Park

John W. Bettag, CMPDirector Corporate Meeting Sales, St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Amy M. HuntleyVice PresidentTulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau

OCTOBER 2011Emma LeightonDirector of Education and MeetingsAmerican Society of Clinical Hypnosis

Shura GarnettGeneral Manager/Regional Vice PresidentSt. Charles Convention Center/Global Spectrum

Pam GrisafeDirector of Business DevelopmentMeetingTrack Inc.

Amy VanderwellStudent, Kansas State University

Jori GrafStudent, Kansas State University

2011 Heartland Chapter Committee Chairs

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPLauren Harlan, Co-Chair

International Association of Assessing Officers

Marilyn Koehler, Co-Chair Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

EMERGING LEADERSKristen Kimbrel, CMP, Chair

American Academy of Family Physicians

Kate Turner, Co-Chair International Association of Fairs and Expositions

COMMUNICATIONSMissy Johnson, CMP, Chair

Lockton Companies, LLC

COMMUNITY SERVICEStephanie Deel, Co-Chair

San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter & Riverwalk Hotels

Vanessa Kane, CMP, CMM, Co-ChairVeterans of Foreign Wars

MEMBERSHIP

Belinda Waldo, Chair Associated Luxury Hotels Incorporated

PROGRAMSMichelle Stoeppler, Co-Chair

DoubleTree Hotel – Chesterfield, MO

Jennifer Lion, CMP, Co-Chair Experient

SPONSORSHIP CHAIRMichelle Murdock, Chair Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa

PAST PRESIDENT’S TASK FORCEBelinda Waldo, Chair

Associated Luxury Hotels Incorporated

Dale Shuter, CMP, Co-ChairElectrical Apparatus Service Association

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K-State Student Chapter Happenings

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On Sunday, November 13, 2011 the K-State students of PCMA hosted a foreign film event at KSU’s Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art featuring the french film “Babette’s Feast”. The film won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Following the screening of the film, students then hosted a tasting of food and beverages inspired by the film from french cuisine.

Also, be on the lookout for approximatly 10 students and 2 professors from K-State to join us at Convening Leaders 2012 in San Diego!

L to R: Randy Shumaker, Donna Sanford, Susan Katz, Robin O’Connor, Michael Carrier, Ken Clayton, Kevin O’Keefe

L to R: Susan Katz & Betty Burns

The 2011 Annual PCMA State of the Industry Event was held on Thursday, November 10th at the Marriott Overland Park. Kevin O’Keefe with Marriott International moderated our panel of experts that consisted of Susan Katz, Director of Corporate Events for True Value Company and Chairman of the Board of PCMA, Randy Shumaker, National Sales Manager for Brede Exposition Service, Michael Carrier, President of the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau and Donna Sanford, Program Consultant for Virtual Edge Institute.

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE HIGHPOINTS:

• PCMA is partnering with Virtual Edge for the 2012 Annual Educational Conference. Additional opportunities for remote attendance at the conference will be added.

• It is predicted that by 2015 all national events will have a virtual component. This will provide new sources for member education as well as revenue opportunities.

• The Overland Park Convention Center will be the first convention center in the United States to offer streaming services as part of its in-house capabilities.

• Randy Shumaker shared with us that the tradeshow industry continues to consolidate. New technologies, such as GPS are being used to track product as well as attendees. More tradeshows are adding a preset appointment component to enhance the buyer/seller relationship.

• Michael Carrier shared with us that as suppliers in this economy it’s not about signing on the bottom line. The important question for the meeting planner is whether they can work with that supplier through all of the changes that might happen throughout the life of the meeting. Shumaker piggybacked by saying that now more than ever it is important to take care of existing relationships.

• As a seasoned meeting professional, Susan Katz challenged the students in the audience to go beyond the classroom and get real life experience. She suggested internships, paid or unpaid, find out what a planners needs are, see and be seen, and meet five new people at every meeting. Carrier told students not to be afraid of taking any job offered to them. Our industry is full of leaders that started out as dishwashers.

• PCMA Heartland President, Robin O’Connor returned to the stage and instead of presenting the typical speaker gifts, she announced that our chapter is making a donation of $1,000 to the PCMA Education Foundation. She also announced that the board voted to make a $1,000 donation to the PCMA student chapter at K-State.

State of the Industry Educational Panel on 11/10/11by Brad Plumb, Overland Park CVB

Mark your calendar for these upcoming chapter events:January 4th, 2012 – 5-7pm

Past-President’s Hosted Reception: PCMA Convening Leaders Kick-off Locations TBD, Kansas City & St. Louis

January 8th, 2012 – 5-6:30pm

Heartland Chapter Reception at Convening LeadersSan Diego Marriott Marquis and MarinaSponsored by KCCVA and St. Louis CVB

February 9th, 2012 – 5-8pm

Annual Installation of Officers & Silent AuctionDoubleTree Overland Park

L to R: Randy Shumaker, Donna Sanford, Susan Katz, Robin O’Connor, Michael Carrier, Ken Clayton, Kevin O’Keefe

L to R: Susan Katz & Betty Burns

Throughout the month of January, San Diego is home to 65 degree temperature highs and the 2012 PCMA Convening Leaders meeting! Have you registered? More than 3,000 industry professionals are expected to attend this year’s diverse program that allows registrants to participate in everything from luncheons, workshops & chapter receptions. Plus, attendees have a chance to give back to the San Diego community through Hospitality Helping Hands. An added bonus: a great opportunity to explore what San Diego has to offer through customized tours through the area, including a brunch cruise on the San Diego bay. Whether you are an association, independent, international, tradeshow/exhibit or corporate professional, there is something for you. Get ready for this year’s meeting to blow away the expected to make way for the unexpected. Here is just some of what you will experience:

• A 3 speaker opening session, that leaves you wanting more – which will be found in our in-depth Master Series

• Keynote experts that detail the shifts in your participant’s behaviors and desired experience and how you can put their findings to work for your own endeavors and that explore the seismic shifts in your meeting participant’s learning and social behaviors, personal and professional values and the experiences they desire

• No more tracks of predicable, back-to-back 90 minutes sessions – You’ll create your own customized agenda

• 3,000+ opportunities to network (pre, during and post) and meet potentially priceless, career-long resources

Now, you are probably thinking, I can’t wait to register, but there is no way this expense will be approved! During these economic times, every penny is scrutinized, but fear not, follow these 4 simple steps to help you be on your way!

• STEP 1: Review the PCMA Convening Leaders program and determine which sessions you plan to attend. Choose those that will most benefit you, your meeting, your attendees, your team, your organization. Each of the 50+ sessions gives you specific learner outcomes that can improve you/your team’s productivity and efficiency, better utilize resources, save money, increase revenue, build attendance, negotiate value and more!

• STEP 2: Review the list of attendees for the Convening Leaders - do you feel that you might learn something by sharing ideas and best practices with other planners that are attending; and/or are there supplier partners registered with whom you could build or strengthen business relationships to improve negotiating value and your bottom line – either now or in the near future?

• STEP 3: Review the “Save Money” information to take advantage of all applicable discounts.

• STEP 4: Complete the Request Letter and submit to your management. This letter will easily allow you to demonstrate why you should attend the PCMA Convening Leaders.

You still have time to register! Registration continues through Thursday December 15, 2011 at www.conveningleaders.org. See you in sunny San Diego!

On Thursday, October 13th, the PCMA Heartland Chapter welcomed Best in Class speaker, Jeff Hurt, for his presentation on Designing Next Generation Conference Education. The event was held at the St. Louis Hilton Ballpark Hotel and sponsored by our friends at the Little Rock CVB. Our chapter had a strong turnout for the event with approximately 30 local planner and supplier contacts in attendance.

Are you ready for us San Diego?by Jennifer Bergsieker, Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

Best in Class Educational Event on 10/13/11bty Jennifer Lion, Experient

Jeff Hurt, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

Attendees enjoying the luncheon

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ARKANSAS – THE NATURAL STATEBentonville – By the time you read this newsletter Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be open. November 11, 2011 marks the official opening day. Visit www.crystalbridges.org to read more about this exciting museum.

Fort Smith – Marcy 2011, Carolyn Joyce, Travel Sales Director, for the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau was inducted into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame.

KANSAS – THE SUNFLOWER STATEOverland Park - The Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched a brand new mobile application! Within the application, we are proud to feature a customizable Group Page FREE to meeting professionals and their attendees. To view a demo and see how we can customize your event/meeting page, visit www.visitoverlandpark.com/appdemo today!

IOWA – THE HAWKEYE STATEDes Moines - The 95-room Hyatt Place Des Moines/Downtown is open and ready for business. It offers 1,125 square feet of meeting space.

The Iowa Events Center is adding 223,000 square feet of combined meeting, exhibit and ballroom space schedule to be competed in January 2012.

MISSOURI – THE SHOW ME STATEKansas City - The historic Gate City National Bank building will reopen in June of 2012 as the Ambassador Hotel Kansas City. A 43-room luxury boutique property will also offer 2 Executive meeting rooms, a boardroom and banquet room.

MISSOURI – THE SHOW ME STATE CONTINUEDKansas City - Effective December 1, the Hyatt Regency Crown Center will be rebranded as the Sheraton Crown Center. During the next three years, Crown Center and Starwood will invest more than $18 million dollars in the Sheraton and their sister property the Westin Crown Center.

The InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza is undergoing some updates to include restoration of all guest room balconies, the Rooftop Ballroom and Bar and corridor carpet and wall covering.

The Hotel Phillips has completed a guest room renovation and will have a new lobby and mezzanine by the end of the year.

St. Louis – Check out the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website for the Top 25 things to do in their area. Oh what fun. http://explorestlouis.com/visit-explore/discover/25-things-to-do-in-st-louis/.

NEBRASKA – THE CORNHUSKER STATEOmaha – The Hilton Omaha will complete several upgrades in 2012 to include adding 150 guestrooms and 7,000 square fee of meeting space.

Lincoln - plans are under way to construct a 16,500 seat arena in the Haymarket District. This is to be completed in Fall of 2013.

The Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City will complete a full renovation of soft goods by the end of the year.

OKLAHOMA – THE SOONER STATETulsa - the Hyatt Regency (previously Crowne Plaza Hotel) has recently made several improvements to include a new fitness center, all new flat-screen HDTV’s, laptop safe and updated bedding.

AROUND THE REGION If you have events happening in your city, please email them to Cheri Jones, CMP at cjones@vistaprod.com. We would love to highlight exciting things happening in your town.

Something Extra…Several PCMA Heartland Chapter members had a brush with Little Rock Royalty during the recent Clinton 20 year reunion gathering in Little Rock at the Presidential Library. Lisa Miller, National Cable TV Coop, Heather Chatlos, IAAP, and Teresa Hellman, Experient, Past President, joined Catherine McKenna with Peabody Hotels just prior to Clinton’s speech. Later Heather was able to get past Secret Service and get a great photo with President Clinton!

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by Cheri Jones, CMP, Vista Productions

L to R: Teresa Hellman, Heather Chatlos,

Catherine McKenna & Lisa Miller

Teresa Hellman with Hillary Clinton

Thank You!A big thank you to Nonie Lowry with LP, etc., pictured here on the far right with Jill and Denise from her team. Nonie and her staff do an excellent job as our Chapter Administrators keeping bills paid, blast e-mails going out and anything else the Board and committee chairs request of her! Thank you Nonie and team for all you do to keep the Heartland Chapter running smoothly! We appreciate you!