March/April 2015
OnSite
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In this issue
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
What’s New At MPI-NJ? Page 4
Spanish Tax Change - A Boost to the Event Industry Page 5
Winter 2015 Event Recap Page 68
February Educational Program Page 1014
Membership Corner Page 15
The Art of Connecting People in the Event Industry Page 17
The MagicTouch Rebecca Wakefield Page 18
MPINJ Strategic Partners Page 21
New, Transfer & Affiliate Members Page 22
MPINJ Scholarships Page 23
MPINJ Executive Board Page 24
MPINJ Board of Directors Page 24
MPINJ Committee Chairs Page 25
2015 MPI-NJ Events Fri., March 20, 2015 Educational Program Ocean Place Resort & Spa Long Branch, NJ
Fri., April 24, 2015 Educational Program Wyndham Hamilton Park Hotel & Conference Center Florham Park, NJ
Wed., May 20, 2015 Educational Program The Kenilworth Kenilworth, NJ
Thu., June 25, 2015 Golf Invitational Royce Brook Golf Course Hillsborough, NJ
A
s the 2nd issue of the New Year is getting ready to be sent out, I cannot believe how quickly time is passing. We have already had two exciting educational events and a successful After-5 Networking event so far in 2015 and it isn’t even the end of the first quarter! We have some really great events coming up in the next few months. This week brings Joan Eisenstodt and Brad Goldberg discussing Preparation and Risk. April and May are starting to come into place and then we have the fabulous golf outing on June 25th at Royce Brook Country Club in Hillsborough. We are also planning a few After-5 Meet Up events before the summer break. I have spent a good bit of my first year talking to members about their satisfaction with the chapter events, educational offerings, and how we can do a better job bringing members together. One thing in common about all of the
answers – THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT! We have always known we cannot be all things to all people. We have gotten very high satisfaction ratings for educational sessions, have had stellar attendance at our after-5 events, and the golf event is sold out year after year for many years – so we must be doing something right!! As we end the nominations process and are gearing up to present the new slate for 2015/2016 we are challenged with a few open positions. We have many talented members that would be an asset to the Board. So many current and past Board members have told me that their experience on the Board has provided networking opportunities, leadership skills, personal and business opportunities, and the chance to make a difference for MPINJ and the meetings and events industry. It is very disappointing to see so few people interested in Board service and encourage you to consider serving on a
(Continued on page 21)
OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS PAMPI Wed., March 18, 2015
GBTANJ CHAPTER Thurs., March 19, 2015
11:30 am 5:30 pm Educational Program Pennsylvania Convention Center Click Here For Details
11:30 am 2:00 pm Annual State of the Airport Newark Airport Click Here For Details
MPIGNY Wed., March 25, 2015
August 1 4, 2015
5:30 8:30 pm Educational Program URBO Time Square Click Here For Details
MPIWEC 2015 San Francisco, CA Click Here For Details
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What’s New At MPI-NJ? Happy Springtime!
Wow! It’s hard to believe that it is mid March and spring is here! I don’t know about you, but I am ready to pack away the boots, gloves, and winter coat!
educational program or networking event, please contact rmarion@mpinewjersey.org. Happy Easter and Happy Passover! See you on Friday, March 20 at Ocean Place Resort & Spa! Enjoy spring and, as always, let us know how we are doing.
Our next program is sure to be a winner! March 20, 2015 is a must-see program with Joan Eisenstodt and Brad Goldberg, CMP – Meeting Contingencies: Playing it SAFE by Preparing for the WORST!© This Best Regards, educational luncheon program will be held at the beautiful Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, NJ. If you would like to spend the night at Ocean Place Resort & Spa, they are offering a special rate of $99.00. Please contact mpollack@oceanplace.com. For more information about this program, please click here.
Rut h Marion, CMP MPI-NJ Chapter Administrator 201-875-2476 rmarion@mpinewjersey.org
The official date of our biggest event and fundraiser of the year, the MPI-NJ Chapter Annual Golf Invitational, is Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough, NJ. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE! For information on sponsoring, please contact Melissa Ullmann, CHSE, at melissa.ullmann@wyn.com. The Nominations Committee, headed by Julia Ramos, CMP, did a fantastic job filling our Board slate. We will be having our Spring Leadership Retreat in April where we can give these talented individuals more direction regarding their job duties for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The MPI Member Satisfaction Survey is complete and we would like to thank everyone who participated! The results will be sent out to the MPI-NJ membership shortly. As a reminder, MPI-NJ is offering COST EFFECTIVE ways for YOU to reach meeting planners looking for exciting properties, unique venues, excellent meeting services, new products, technology and more! Also, if you are interested in sponsoring an
Membership DOES Have Rewards! Current MPI-NJ Chapter Members: Renew your MPI membership this month and you will be entered into a drawing for one of two great prizes. The winner will pick either one! Either a Complimentary CMP Study Kit or 1 year extended MPI membership Go to www.mpiweb.org/renew to renew and be entered into the giveaway.
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SPANISH TAX CHANGE WELCOMED AS A BOOST TO THE EVENT INDUSTRY “To be able to invoice without VAT, we just need to demonstrate that your event is a B2B transaction involving a ‘complex organisational service’ which, in effect covers the majority of events that require things like accommodation, transfers, meeting space, A/V equipment and outside dining.” The new legislation goes further than the provisions of the Reverse Charge Mechanism, the system by which clients based in European Community (EC) countries can have some elements of their event invoiced without the addition of VAT for projects operated within the EC.
E
vent organisers could be making savings of up to 21 per cent in Spain thanks to new tax laws.
The new regulations mean that there are more possibilities for Spanish destination management companies (DMCs) to invoice clients without the addition of VAT. The change comes after four years of lobbying by travel agencies in the country. For an event with a defined business content involving a number of related services, it will now be possible to invoice without adding VAT, representing potential savings of between 10 per cent and 21 per cent according to the service in question. DMC Cititravel, headquartered in Malaga, was one of the firms that lobbied for change. MD Carlos Charters said: “It’s fantastic news, not just for Spain but for all of Europe. It’s going to make Spain a much more competitive country, and if the rest of Europe follows this system it’s going to make the whole continent more attractive for MICE. “I think that justice has been done. The MICE business was not well treated, the clients were paying far too much VAT.” He also explained what the new regulations will mean for planners, adding: “The more services booked through your DMC, the more possibilities there are to qualify for this special tax arrangement and so, for example, it is definitely worth making your hotel booking through a DMC to save on VAT.
The Reverse Charge Mechanism cannot be applied to hotel reservations, transport services or payments for food and beverage requirements, all of which are major parts of event organisation. However, the new legislation extends the circumstances in which Spanish DMCs are able to invoice without the addition of VAT. Cititravel’s UK representative Jane Filler, of Five Star Filler, said: “This is a very big deal for the industry. The good news for agencies and end-user clients is that they can be billed without the addition of VAT which in Spain will save them between 10 per cent and 21 per cent according to the goods or services supplied. “The good news for the DMC is that it will be important to book the highest possible numbers of services through them for the event to be deemed as a requiring a ‘complex organisational service’ – so everyone’s a winner! “I think this shows the power of a DMC, and how important they are to any event. The industry couldn’t have done this without Cititravel’s bullish determination.”
This article is re-printed with approval from meetpie.com published by CAP Publications: http://www.meetpie.com/Modules/NewsModule newsdetails.aspx?newsid=20270 Meetpie.com – the event industry's number one portal – is published by CAT Publications, specialists in the international events industry since 1987.
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MPI-NJ CHAPTER WINTER 2015
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ith 2015 well under way, we were really looking forward to this event and it was wonderful to finally be together socially for the winter 2015 “Meet-Up” Networking event on Wednesday, February 25th at The Kenilworth. This charming hotel has been working hard (with hard hats!) to do a complete renovation of the property…and it really showed from the moment we pulled up to the valet where we were greeted by the hotel’s management staff and ushered into their new event space! More than 70 members and guests had a delightful time meeting new contacts and catching up with colleagues and the hotel pulled out all the stops with an enticing array of passed and buffet appetizers. Additionally, the hotel invited some of their own vendor partners to participate and jazz up the energy of the event. We’d like to thank their partners for participat(Continued on page 8)
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NETWORKING EVENT RECAP
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NETWORKING EVENT RECAP
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7)
ing (and looking forward to them joining our chapter soon‌!) The Kenilworth Partners included: Total Party, Cheese Please, Shoor Thing Entertainment, Culinary Concepts Corp and Maxum Cigars. The event was greatly successful and we extend a heartfelt thank you to MPI-NJ member Allen Kantorowitz, the Director of Sales & Marketing at The Kenilworth, for hosting our event!
Patty Stern, CMP VP of Membership patty@groupdmm.com
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MPI SEES NEED FOR MORE AGENT-PLANNER COL
M
eeting Professionals International (MPI) hopes to build on a partnership with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) that saw the two groups last year joining to relaunch the Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) designation. “Travel planners, whether they are meeting planners or travel agents, will inevitably have to put together events somewhere along the line,” said Kevin Kirby, MPI’s chairman. “That’s why they have to keep up with all the changes. “What you may have learned 15 to 20 years ago, even if you received certification for it, won’t help you now,” Kirby said. “That’s why we had to redesign CMM.” More collaboration Kirby doesn’t believe planners, travel agents and other travel professionals can compartmentalize themselves any longer. With their respective associations competing for members and influence, “We have become a more collaborative organization and that is why we partnered with GBTA [which is composed of corporate travel managers],” he told Travel Market Report. MPI is looking for other partnerships within the travel industry to maximize potential for its members, according to Kirby. (Continued on page 12)
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MPI SEES NEED FOR MORE AGENT-PLANNER COLLABORATIO While MPI claims more than 18,500 members – probably the largest organized collection of travel professionals – Kirby believes it’s time to look at “how we can complement each other? How can we educate each other, make presentations at each other’s events and so forth?” Gaining strength The meetings business, after years of softness during which it lagged transient and leisure travel, has finally regained traction but Kirby told Travel Market Report it’s time for anybody involved in the meeting business – including travel agents – to take a fresh look at the way they approach customers and at meetings themselves. “Our membership will be completely different over the next few years as far as what they know and what they do,” Kirby said. “We have a task force and other initiatives in place to determine what the membership should and will be in coming years. “One thing we have to look at is how the consumer
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ON - FEBRUARY EDUCATION MEETING
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(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11)
world has changed,” he added. “If you go to Amazon and buy something it will say ‘If you bought this, you might like this.’ A similar kind of interesting marketplace of preferences and products could emerge in meetings. “ The importance of ‘soft’ skills There is a generational aspect to this transformation as both younger travel agents and meeting planners must be educated about the soft skills involved in their jobs – including developing relationships, as opposed to focusing on technology alone, said Kirby. “We do have a younger demographic in MPI that is significant, and you will soon be seeing university degrees in event professionalism as well as in hospitality,” he noted. “And we all have to think about what an event will be in the near future. Will it be a meal in a hotel ballroom or a product launch in Times Square?” he asked. “We may be sitting in beanbag chairs instead of traditional seats. I just visited the headquarters of Zappo’s [the online shoe seller] and it was nothing like what you always thought of as a corporate office.” Kirby stressed, however, that for any organization of agents or meeting planners, “you will always need to advance your knowledge through education and networking.” (Continued on page 14)
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FEBRUARY EDUCATION MEETING
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“And you will need a broader view of your job,” he added. “You can’t just plan a trip or a meeting. You have to be familiar with all of the needs of C-level executives – beyond those trips and events.” Article written by: Harvey Chipkin Reprinted with the permission of: Travel Market Report
Meeting Trends Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) chairman Kevin Kirby shared his view of the industry recently in an address to the New Jersey chapter of MPI (MPI-NJ). They include: • Persistent global unemployment • The importance of health in every area of meetings – food, activities, amenities and more • The role of terrorism in planning travel to many destinations • The rise of the mobile community which will have a major impact on meetings • Shorter lead times in planning meetings • Higher costs in what is now a seller’s market as the hotel industry enjoys boom times • The increasing use of social media Face-to-face conferences are here to stay, Kirby added. “I worked for Hard Rock hotels until recently and we learned that if people have a choice of watching a video of Aerosmith or going to a live concert, there is no comparison,” he said. “It’s the same with meetings. Virtual meetings will play a role but face-to-face meetings will always be crucial as long as we raise their value by creating multi-sensory events that can only be experienced in person.”
Photos courtesy of: Jerry Troianello Corsair Productions LLC www.corsairproductions.net 973-703-2712
Travel planners, whether they are meeting planners or travel agents, will inevitably have to put together events somewhere along the line. That’s why they have to keep up with all the changes.
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MEMBERSHIP
C O R N E R
MPI-NJ Member Spotlight...Sarah Bondar Company Name/Title: Senior Account Executive at The Charles Group, Inc. Phone: 973-575-1444 Email: sarahb@thecharlesgroup.com How long have you been in the meetings industry? Since August 2000 (14 years and 4 months!) What was your first job in this industry? My first work experience in the industry was a series of short term contract and freelance jobs for various companies including coordinating events for EF Au Pair, conference and banqueting sales coordinator at the Hilton Leeds Garforth and Freelance coordination/onsite TD work completed for Town and Country Bars (on behalf of Leeds City Council (UK), High Life Holiday Exhibition Company, Yorkshire Events Company (YEC) and Universal. My first full time permanent job in the industry was Event Coordinator for CEM Event Management, a small events company located in Eaglescliffe in the North East of England. Tell us about your job: I currently work at The Charles Group, Inc as Senior Account Coordinator. The Charles Group is split into two sides of the business, Events Management and Association Management. I lead the events management team and manage a variety of key corporate and non corporate clients. I also lead the venue sourcing team for key corporate clients. What is your favorite part of your job? I would have to honestly say I have two favorite parts to my job. The people I work with and the variety of events which I manage. We are a small team at the Charles Group, currently 7 full time employees. I’ve never met a team which is so collaborative and service oriented – which speaks for the long relationships we have with most of our clients (some 25+ years!). And I truly do enjoy working with our clients, we are fortunate to have some genuinely nice, fun and collaborative client contacts. I love the diverse range of events I get to manage and experience here at The Charles Group, everything from corporate conferences and exhibitions to large scale live entertainment client events featuring headline entertainment acts; this is a range of experiences which I was not able to enjoy in previous roles. Why did you join MPI? To expand my network and become more involved in the MPI community. To take advantage of the numerous educational opportunities available to MPI members.
What do you do when not at work? We are new home owners so currently I spend a lot of time with my husband Pete working on our home or making plans for future renovations! I love to travel and I love walking/hiking in interesting places. What is your favorite color? Yellow Favorite vacation spot? It is a tie between the Greek Islands and Costa Rica Favorite type of food? Indian Food (I’m English; it is practically our national food!) Favorite book? It’s not the most literary choice, but I really do love ‘P.S. I love you’ by Cecilia Ahern. Favorite saying or quote? “We’ll Get There” – I say it all the time and my old team used to make fun of me as I quote this much more than I ever realized. In times of stress for the team I always tell everyone not to worry, to take a deep breath and re-assess the tasks at hand and not to worry “We’ll get there…” – and we always do ☺ Favorite gadget or technology? My iPhone, I cannot live without it. Tell us about something most people don’t know about you: I am 50% English and 50% Australian. My mum is English and my dad is Australian and although I was born in England and lived most of my life there, I did also live in Melbourne, Australia for 6 years when I was a child. What advice do you have for a planner or supplier new to the meetings industry? Gain as much experience as you can! When interviewing new hires the people who stand out the most to me are people who have actively sought out opportunities to volunteer or intern within the industry to gain industry experience and contacts. Network Network Network! You can never have too many professional contacts. Make sure you give time to nurture your network and try to be there to help your contacts when they need something as you never know when you may need to reach out to your network for help!
Thank you for your support by providing ground transportation to our guests.
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THE ART OF CONNECTING PEOPLE IN THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY
Y
ou are in a relationship business. Whether you are a meeting planner or a supplier to the meetings industry, meetings are about relationships. It’s not the actual meeting itself where you are charged with igniting a relationship, but as an individual, your daily business is much easier when you have open communication and even bonds with your colleagues.
help them with projects. They refer business to them. They invite them to special events and help them meet new people. It’s the circle of business life. Personally, I have friends who I met through MPI who I have helped. I have referred business to them on the supplier side. I have connected planners to each other so they can share war stories. I’ve donated time to the organization in many ways. So what? Well, over time, people have given me opportunities. Made introductions that have been life changing. They do it because trust has been established. They do it because I simply helped them. So how does one go about becoming a connector?
Have you taken a look at how your daily interactions with the people around you can be improved? Whether it’s your coworkers, your superiors, your vendors or even clients, what can you can do to strengthen the tie so that everyone works better together? Have you considered how helping your colleagues can improve not just their lives, but yours? In Perfect Pairings: The Art of Connecting People, the idea is to help others and specifically introduce them to other people who can benefit them. Who in your life do you know that needs to know each other? Do you have two clients who need to know each other? Do you have a friend that needs to know a vendor? How can you go about introducing two people so that they can work together and improve each other’s lives? Becoming a connector is an art that is practiced with intention. It is a combination of getting to know people and their needs by listening and then being proactive in introducing them to other people. It’s about growing your network by attending events such as MPI meetings, and then following up with people to establish a connection. It is about being a resource and selling much more than a product, service or meeting. It’s about helping people buy and sell whatever it is that they need. It’s a mindset that you carry with you on a daily basis. A mindset that if you help others succeed, good things will come to you. Does this sound a little corny? It might be. But it works. People who live as intentional connectors receive things in return. People
● Grow your network by attending events and getting involved. ● Don’t make superficial connections. Schedule lunch dates or coffee meetings to really get to know someone. Practice listening. Discover what they need. ● Think about who you know that they need to know. Can you make an introduction? ● Think about helping the other person before you ever think about helping yourself. ● Don’t think about your personal outcome. Think about the outcome of the other person. Being a connector can be learned and it can change your life. To learn more, check out Jessica’s new book, Perfect Pairings: The Art of Connecting People. Jessica Leigh Levin, MBA, CMP, CAE is President and Chief Connector at Seven Degrees Communications – www.sevendegreescommunications.com. She is an active member of the meetings community and helps others through consulting, speaking at chapter and meetings industry events, and of course, connecting. You can reach Jessica directly at jlevin@sevendegreescommunications.com or 908-912-4418
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THE MAGIC TOUCH - TRICKS OF THE TRADE Rebecca Wakefield, CMP KPMG, LLP 201-307-7259 rlwakefield@kpmg.com The 60-person national meeting planning team at KPMG LLP’s Montvale office depends on consistency and standard processes to plan and execute around 2,000 programs each year for the firm’s locations across the United States, but it’s a creative approach that makes each one stand out as a success. “As a planner you have to constantly reinvent yourself, and, if you’re working with different clients, constantly earn their trust and be looked at as a strategic partner, not an order taker,” says Rebecca Wakefield, a meeting manager with 10 years of experience at KPMG. Her creativity is born from a blend of the needs and personalities of the internal clients that she works with, the cooperation and experiences of the other planners on her team and the capabilities and styles of the suppliers with whom she’s formed relationships. Each of these partners influences the design
and outcome of the final program. “I think you’re forever evolving, and you learn from your colleagues, you learn from your peers, you learn from your hotel folks, your vendors—you’re constantly learning,” Wakefield says. “You’re almost like a sponge where you’re absorbing things, and sometimes you don’t even realize it until you have to put it in place.” With so many sources of creativity influencing each program, “communication is key," Wakefield says. The first and most important person she talks to is her client: “Immediately I want to chat with them. I want to listen and take notes." As the program takes shape and more partners get involved, she makes open communication in each step of the process a priority to ensure that each person’s voice is heard and that the client’s needs and expectations are achieved: “It just grows so that everybody is on the same team, hearing the same information.” Article written by: Brianna Horan Reprinted with the permission of: NJ.MEETINGSMAGS.com
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10
REASONS
for Meeting Suppliers
to Join MPI
MPI has 18,500 members in 70 Chapters and clubs worldwide making it the world’s largest global community of meeting and event professionals. MPI COMMUNITY DIRECTORY 6\Y KPYLJ[VY` HSSV^Z `V\ [V JVUULJ[ ^P[O TLTILYZ HYV\UK [OL NSVIL :LHYJO H YLNPVU HUK ZLUK `V\Y WLYZVUHS TLZZHNL DIRECT MARKETING LISTS ;HYNL[ WSHUULYZ PU H ZWLJPÄJ HYLH ^OV OH]L I\`PUN WV^LY 470 TLTILYZ OH]L H JVTIPULK I\`PUN WV^LY VM IPSSPVU KVSSHYZ GET CONNECTED 0U WLYZVU UL[^VYRPUN OHZ UL]LY ILLU LHZPLY JOHW[LYZ ^VYSK^PKL OVSK LK\JH[PVU HUK UL[^VYRPUN L]LU[Z [OYV\NOV\[ [OL `LHY 0M `V\Y THYRL[ PZ SHYNLY 470 VќLYZ >,* MVY 5VY[O (TLYPJHU TLTILYZ HUK ,4,* MVY ,\YVWLHU TLTILYZ ADVERTISING WITH MPI ,UKSLZZ VWWVY[\UP[PLZ HYL H]HPSHISL [V ZOHYL `V\Y IYHUK TLZZHNL ^P[O [OL 470 JVTT\UP[` )HZLK VU `V\Y Z[YH[LN` WYPU[ HUK KPNP[HS HK]LY[PZPUN I\UKSLK THYRL[PUN VY ZWVUZVYZOPW VWWVY[\UP[PLZ HYL H]HPSHISL MPI JOB BOARD ;OL U\TILY VUL WHNL ]PZP[LK I` V\Y TLTILYZ HUK N\LZ[Z 7VZ[ `V\Y UL_[ WVZP[PVU [V ÄUK X\HSPÄLK JHUKPKH[LZ MHZ[
READ WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING
Read how MPI has impacted many of the faces on this page at
www.mpiweb.org/stories
INDUSTRY RESEARCH -YVT HY[PJSLZ ZOHYPUN [YLUKZ PU OV[LSZ VY JVU]LU[PVU JLU[LYZ [V V\Y Meetings Outlook X\HY[LYS` YLWVY[ 470 OHZ J\YYLU[ HUK J\[[PUN LKNL YLZLHYJO [V N\PKL `V\Y I\ZPULZZ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3LHYU HSVUNZPKL V\Y WSHUULYZ [V KL]LSVW [OL RUV^SLKNL VM [OLPY PUK\Z [Y` HUK OV^ `V\ JHU ILZ[ ZLY]L [OLT INDUSTRY NEWS YOU CAN USE ;OL ^LLRS` MPIpulse HUK IP ^LLRS` MPIspotlight IYPUN [OL SH[LZ[ PUK\Z[Y` HUK JVTT\UP[` UL^Z YPNO[ [V `V\Y PUIV_ WE GIVE BACK TO OUR MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY ;OYV\NO [OL 470 -V\UKH[PVU `V\Y JVTWHU` JHU IYHUK H ZJOVSHYZOPW KPYLJ[S` MVY TLL[PUN WYVMLZZPVUHSZ ZLLRPUN LK\JH[PVUHS VWWVY[\UP[PLZ MEMBER CONCIERGE 6\Y TLTILY ZLY]PJLZ [LHT PZ HS^H`Z VU JHSS [V JVUULJ[ `V\ ^P[O [OL 470 YLZV\YJ LZ `V\ ULLK
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MPI-NJ CHAPTER would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic Partners for their Support of the Chapter
Diamond
Platinum
Gold
President’s Message (Continued from Page 3) committee or the Board. We would be delighted to have you speak to our Board or Committee members so you can find out first-hand what that position you are interested in entails. It has been a very rewarding experience for me, has led to great opportunities both professionally and personally. Our membership demographic is changing and our industry is facing a global shift in the way we do business. I am specifically looking for specific ways for newer members to be engaged, and also get those members who may not be coming regularly to meetings to be more engaged. This says to me that MPINJ needs to be more ENGAGING. We need to get out there and provide education in different formats, target key audiences, find ways to reach hard-to-reach members. In order to do all of this we are asking our membership to step forward and meet us a little closer to the middle. In order to serve you we need to hear from you! You need to fill out the surveys, talk to the membership and education
committees about your needs, give back to newer members through mentorship conversations and really be involved in your professional education. Look around – the happiest and most productive members are those who are involved and take responsibility for their own future. If we can all band together under the main common goals of increasing educational opportunities, peer to peer networking, improve supplier opportunities, and grow our membership – together we will succeed. MPINJ will be in the coming months spreading the word about the power of your membership and value to YOU as well as our industry. I ask each and every member to spread the good news and promote MPINJ on social media through our Twitter Handle @MPINewJersey, like our Facebook Page MPI New Jersey, and visit the chapter website www.MPINewJersey.org often. One of the ways that we are looking to also grow is to continue to build partnerships with other meeting industry associations like Philadelphia MPI, Greater NY MPI, NACE, ISES, and NBTA. We are al- (Continued on page 22)
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NEW, TRANSFER & AFFILIATE MEMBERS NEW MEMBERS MARYELLEN BLETTE Senior Manager, Meetings & Events Ultramar Travel Management Groups maryellen.blette@ultramartrav el.com CHRISTOPHER CARRELL Director of Catering Nassau Inn christophercarrell@nassauinn.com KATHY CONANNO Student Brookdale Community College Kbona58@aol.com NAZ CUOZZO Catering Sales Manager Hotel Woodbridge Naz.cuozzo@HotelWoodbridge Metropark.com JOHN DECESARE Publisher Successful Meetings jdecesare@ntmllc.com
MICHELE DOUGARD Communications & Meeting Specialist Becton, Dickinson & Company mdougard@gmail.com SUZANNE FEKETE Catering and Conference Sales Manager The Wilshire Grand Hotel suefekete@yahoo.com BIANCA FRANQUI Director of Business Development Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Bianca.franqui@shangri-la.com TAMMY THOMPSON Senior Program Manager Voxmedia LLC. Tam8094@msn.com
TRANSFER MEMBERS NANCY DRISCOLL, CMP dndriscoll@gmail.com SUSAN FIXLER Sales Manager Meet AC sfixler@meetinac.com
AFFILIATE MEMBERS TARA BARBERA Kalahari Resorts tbarbera@kalahariresorts.com LEAH BEN Visit Bucks County leahb@visitbuckscounty.com
JESSICA WABUDA, CMP, CCTE Student Penn State University jessicawabuda@gmail.com
ANTHONY DUGGAN Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority aduggan@lvcva.com
ALEXIS WADDELL Director of Sales Crowne Plaza Edison awaddell@menlohotels.com
RUTH NACCARATO Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort rnaccarato@snowbird.com
This listing contains all New Members, Chapter Transfer Members and Affiliate Members from January 1 to February 28, 2015. If you should not be listed please contact: rmarion@mpinewjersey.org
President’s Message (Continued from Page 21) ways looking to expand our community involvement with partner organizations like NJ Sharing Network and grow our strategic partnerships with both our local and global meetings and travel vendors. We have a very strong message to share with the greater business community about the power of meetings. As Kevin Kirby mentioned last month, meetings are a $122 BILLION dollar industry! Lastly I would like to mention a very special day for the North American Meetings Industry.
April 16th has been designated as North American Meetings Industry Day and MPINJ is proud to support and take part in a few different ways. The purpose is to showcase the real impact meetings and events have on businesses, economies and communities. I will be asking our local, regional, and state politicians to support our chapter for North American Meeting Industry Day (NAMID) Please tweet and facebook your support on April 16th and tag #NAMID. To learn more: http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/NAMID
Pam
PamWynne, CMM, CMP MPI NJ Chapter President - 2014-2015
MPI-NJ SCHOLARSHIPS 2015 A Call for 2015 MPI New Jersey Scholarship Applicants The MPINJ Chapter will be accepting applications for two scholarships during the weeks of January 26 through March 27, 2015, via email. All applications are due March 27, 2015. Two MPI New Jersey members will be chosen for Scholarships worth up to $2,800 for use toward atten dance at the MPI WEC (August 14 2015) or CMP Conclave (September 2729, 2015) or toward Educa tional programs including CMP or CMM certifications. The scholarship funds cannot be used towards MPINJ Chapter monthly education programs. Scholarship eligibility includes all current MPINJ Chapter members in good standing for a minimum of one year (20132014). Affiliate members and previous Scholarship winners from two (2) years are not el igible. The entire application must be completed. MPINJ encourages all members to apply for these Scholarships and take advantage of the knowledge and many benefits provide to help you be the best meeting industry professional possible: • • • • • •
Increase professionalism Click here to download the Scholarship Application Gain innovative ideas Click here to review the 2015 Scholarship Guidelines Streamline your work processes Demonstrate ROI in all your meetings and events Connect and network with professionals in your industry Gain an advantage over your competition
Scholarships Choice Options Save the Dates! Select the one that will boldly help advance your career! WORLD EDUCATION CONFERENCE (WEC) Scholarship Value: $2800.00 (Includes conference registration fee, air travel and housing) Conference Dates: August 14, 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA
CMP CONCLAVE Scholarship Value: $280.00 Dates: September 2729, 2015 Location: Reno, NV Learn more about this, click here
CONCLAVE
CMM & CMP /PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CLASSES (Or any other event/class deemed educational) Scholarship Value: $2800.00 Learn more about this, click here
The Business Standard of Excellence for Meeting and Travel Professionals
Please Contact the Scholarship Committee for more information Jamie R. Keith, CMP Alyssa Lippincott Chair Scholarship Committee CoChair Scholarship Committee Tel: 7327185933 Tel: 4847777497 Email: jrkeith2@yahoo.com Email:alyssa.lippincott@sands.com
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EXECUTIVE BOARD President Pam Wynne, HCCC, CMM, CMP 9084230526 Wynne654@comcast.net
VP Administration Kaaren Hamilton, CMP Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 9084487804 khamilton@carlsonrezidor.com
Immediate Past President Julia Ramos, CMP JR Global Events Associates 2013338834 juliaramos@comcast.net
VP Education Kellie Ann Cahill, CMP New York Hilton Midtown 2122615966 kellie.cahill@hilton.com
VP Communications Mary Lou Pollack Ocean Place Resort and Spa 7325715739 mpollack@oceanplace.com
VP Membership Patty Stern, CMP Chief Creative Officer Patty Stern Creative 9736692891 patty@groupdmm.com
VP Finance Todd Steinberg, CMP Sonesta Collection 8622287079 tsteinberg@sonesta.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director of Communications Carol Malinky, CMP C.A.Malinky Communications 2012320110 tmalinky@aol.com
Director of Education Nancy Sutta Berns Nancy Sutta Berns, LLC. 9738868852 nsuttaberns@optonline.net
Director of Finance Michael Brill MEDALS LLC (Medical Education Delivery, Advisory and Logistics Support) 7326591133 medalsllc@aol.com Director of Membership Rebecca Wakefield, CMP KPMG, LLP 2013077259 rlwakefield@kpmg.com
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COMMITTEE CHAIRS Ambassador Committee
OnSite Committee
Special Events Committee
Richard McCadden, CoChair Wyndham Hotels 9733772424 rmccadden@wyndham.com
Paula Dellaluna, Chair GEM Limo 7326188485 pdellaluna@gemlimo.com
Dagmaris Graziani, CMP, CoChair
Awards & Scholarship Committee Jamie Keith, CMP, Chair Hilton Newark Airport 9088202908 Jamie.keith2@hilton.com
PR/Marketing Committee Michele Ross, CoChair Gray Consulting International Meetings & Incentives 2154137897 mross@gcimi.com
Education Committee Rhonda Moritz, CoChair Cadaret Grant and Company 9737702300 rmoritz@cadaretgrant.com
Social Media Committee
Edie Leibman, CoChair LPC Consulting, LLC. 9739922455 edie.leibman@gmail.com
Student Leadership Committee Melissa Winfield, Chair Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 9739199125 mwinfield@carlsonrezidor.com
Lisa Drake, Chair Ocean Place Resort & Spa 7325715739 ldrake@oceanplace.com
Membercare Committee Rebecca Wakefield, CMP, Chair KPMG LLP 2013077259 rlwakefield@kpmg.com
Bruce Boillotat, CoChair Royal Coachman 9734003204 bruce.boillotat@royalcoachman.com
Chapter Administrator Nominating Committee Julia Ramos, CMP, JR Global Events Associates, LLC 2013338834 juliaramos@comcast.net
Ruth Marion, CMP MPI NJ Chapter Phone: 2018752476 rmarion@mpinewjersey.org
Ten Great Reasons to Join MPI More than 98 percent of our members tell us that Meeting Professionals International (MPI) aids in their professional success. Here’s the top ten reasons why: 1. The Power of Connection: MPI’s global community is 24,000 members strong and comprised of powerful decision-makers representing more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 companies. Through membership, you can make crucial connections to people, ideas, and marketplaces which can take your business or your career to the next level. 2. Leave the Learning to Us: MPI’s Global Knowledge Plan provides you with a customized a learning path that ensures appropriate career and personal development at every stage of your career. 3. Establish Your Roots: On a local level, you’ll make valuable, lasting connections through local chapter involvement. It’s an ongoing opportunity for industry professionals to share information, support one another, create mutually beneficial alliances, and raise national awareness for their local professional community.
4. The Insider Scoop: As an MPI member, you’ll receive our award-winning magazine, One+, or its European/Middle Eastern/Asian counterpart, One+ EMEA. Members also get our weekly e-mail publication featuring up-to-the-minute reports on the latest chapter, association and industry developments.
5. Raising Your Profile: Our professional certification opportunities set the standard for the meetings and events industry and guarantee you receive the best training in the business.
6. Spotlight Your Brand: Market your business to a global audience by utilizing MPI’s global marketplace, MPIWeb, One+ magazine and One+ EMEA.
7. In-The-Office Assistance: MPI continuously works hard to develop our online resources and provides many educational options via the World Wide Web, giving you essential skill development without needless travel time and expense. Also, MPI members have online access to vital research and data, which support the business case for the strategic value of meetings. 8. Keep Pace with the Global Industry: Our global gatherings present a wealth of educational offerings from small discussion groups to news-making keynote presentations, and CEUs are awarded for participation in general sessions and workshops. 9. Get Recognized: The MPI RISE Awards—Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence—honor the best of the best, both inside and outside MPI, and emphasize transformational change, innovation, global transferability, and industry impact. 10. On the Job: MPI’s online career portal—Career Connections— provides free access to industry-specific opportunities and a library of helpful articles. Job-seeking MPI members can use the site free.
www.mpiweb.org