Meet the Member

Melissa Woodruff Maritz Global Events

Where do you currently work?

I work for Maritz Global Events from my home in Columbia, S.C.! I've been with them since October 2022. However, I previously worked with them 2013-15.

Tell me about your position and your organization.

Maritz Global Events is a leader in the events industry for sourcing and planning. We have clients from the corporate world, incentive meetings, and the association market. As a Meeting Event Manager, I have three association accounts that I manage the logistics for their annual meetings. These meetings range from 1,000-18,000 attendees.

What are your hobbies?

When I'm not planning meetings, I enjoy traveling, visiting breweries, wineries, reading, live concerts (anyone got an extra Taylor Swift ticket they want to give me?!), and playing tourist in my state and the neighboring states.

Why did you join MPI Carolinas Chapter?

I joined MPI-CC because of the community and the great reputation MPI has. Living here in Columbia and working from home, it's hard for me to get out and meet new people and make meaningful connections. Joining the Carolinas Chapter will allow me to do that!

If you were able to meet a famous person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

It would have to be RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg] due to her work to fight for gender equality. She broke barriers that allow women in the U.S. today to be seen as an equal in the workplace. She was a powerhouse!

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in our industry?

Find a mentor! Find someone that has been in the industry for a little bit and learn from them. Don't be afraid to make mistakes but learn from them. And, keep your options open. The hospitality and meetings industry is vast and there are many opportunities in different roles in the planning of a meeting.

What is your ideal vacation/vacation spot?

The beach! A chair and umbrella, SPF 50, a drink with an umbrella in it and a great book!

Rachel Whitten, CMP Visit Greenville NC MPI-CC VP of Membership

“I enjoy traveling, visiting breweries, wineries, reading, live concerts, and playing tourist...”

Centrally located in North Carolina, Winston-Salem is a welcoming meeting destination with a history committed to reinvention and innovation. Named one of the South’s Best Cities on the Rise by Southern Living, Winston-Salem boasts the recently expanded 150,000-square-foot Benton Convention Center in the heart of our vibrant, walkable downtown. Elevate your next event in Benton South’s reimagined meeting space featuring the 24,000-square-foot Gallery Ballroom. Winston-Salem will have you looking forward to playing, meeting, and staying in our hip and historic city.