I’ve always had a passion for event planning, but my journey started in 2010 when I began my first industry role as meeting planner for my current company, the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. In my meeting planner role, I was responsible for all logistical and technical aspects of in-person meetings, speaker management, sponsor support, site management, budgeting and post-event reporting. Fourteen years later, I’m director of channel distribution and experience.
While the whole world has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting industry felt a hard hit. Our industry was immediately overwhelmed with in-person event cancellations, which led to many hotel suppliers being furloughed from their properties. We were also faced with many unknowns. Do we postpone or cancel? Hybrid or virtual? What are the in-person group limitations on large gatherings? How do we continue to engage attendees and sponsors in virtual settings? So many decisions had to be made in a short period of time.
This past year has also taken a toll on our mental health and wellness. As we enter another year of the pandemic, I made it a priority to improve my personal self-care and mental wellness goals by attending a virtual vision board party to create realistic personal goals to start my year.
My association is currently working with our hotel partners, speakers and technology vendors to review safety protocols and ensure the proper measures are in place for our attendees to return safely to in-person events this fall.
I got involved in MPI after participating in my chapter’s CMP study group session. I thoroughly enjoyed my study group lead’s expertise and professionalism and decided to volunteer as a CMP study group chair after passing my exam to support other industry peers in increasing their personal and professional development goals. I continued my involvement in the chapter by regularly attending education meetings, planner forums and networking events, and was soon asked to apply for the board of directors. All it took was one ask to serve, and my journey led me to serve in multiple board roles. In my role as president this year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with the most talented group of people serving on our board of directors and in our management office. I continue to be inspired by how our board and volunteer leaders are dealing with difficulty in their own personal lives this year yet still find the compassion and dedication to serve in support of others. I don’t take for granted the relationships I’ve built with our members, and hearing their stories gives confidence that we will reunite stronger together and rebuild our meeting industry.
I’m very excited about and supportive of the increased efforts and action around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). MPI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is doing an amazing job raising awareness to the value of DEI, holding our industry leaders accountable, developing webinars for MPI members and creating dialogue with MPI chapters. The work is not done, but I appreciate the dedication and the goal of bringing people together to listen, engage in comfortable and some uncomfortable conversations and creating an environment of inclusivity within our industry.
Traveling is at the top of my list as we start to normalize again—relaxing on a sunny beach, hiking a mountain, visiting family, flea market shopping or sitting outside enjoying great food and company at a local vegan eatery. I’ll be happy with anything as long as I’m surrounded by warm smiles and positive energy!
Photo by Tesh’s Fine Art & Photography LLC.
