MPI’s dedicated online community groups and forums help meeting professionals who have some specific aspects in common—whether the type of events they work or cultural groups to which they belong—share their own unique experiences and best practices in a safe space that’s also open to the association’s entire membership.
This month, we spoke with Jonathan Foresythe (MPI Tennessee Chapter), vice president of meetings management, McVeigh Global Meetings and Events and chair of the upcoming MPI LGBTQ+ Community (debuting later this year), to learn more about his outlook for the group.
How did you get involved with the MPI LGBTQ+ Community?
I got involved because my manager was asked to lead the LGBTQ+ Community and, due to far too many commitments, he asked me if I would like to do it. I have been wanting to get involved with MPI and I just knew that this would be an excellent fit. I love working with the Community Advisory Board and partnering with the DEI Committee. I am excited to watch the community grow and see what all is in store down the road.
What are some of your goals for the Community?
We are in the initial stages of launching the community so we are still establishing what goals that we would like to achieve. The main goal is to create a safe and open forum for meeting professionals, where everyone feels accepted, loved and uplifted. We want members of MPI who identify as LGBTQ+ to be able to come to the community and feel comfortable talking about issues or give advice. We want to encourage everyone to become a better version of themselves.
What do you anticipate will be your greatest challenges for this community over the next year?
So far, the biggest challenge is getting people to join. Right now, our industry is extremely busy and with staffing shortages everyone is overwhelmed with their own work. The last thing people are focused on right now is adding anything else to their plate. So, I am hoping that the industry will calm down a little and people will gain a little time to join the community and get involved.
How can interested meeting pros best engage with the LGBTQ+ Community?
As soon as the community goes live on the MPI website, we would love everyone to join and be a member of the community. If you are interested in being a part of the community council, you can reach out to me at any time.
