March 2021 Meeting

Event will be LIVE Tuesday, March 23rd but available to watch as many times you want for 30 days!

 

Education Session Descriptions

Session Time: 9:15 - 10:15 am
CE: 1 hour

"Diversity and Inclusion: Just be better, events industry"
Speakers: Jon Brown, CMP, DMCP and Chelsea Tillman, MPS
                  LEO Events

Event professionals are uniquely positioned to influence the global discussion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and today’s climate presents the perfect backdrop to raise and move awareness into action. Using themselves as a case study, LEO Events takes a deep dive into the challenges the industry faces and what must be done to support the future of diversity in meetings and events.

Jon and Chelsea have assisted LEO leadership in the development and launch of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, which works cultivate an environment in which everyone feels able to bring their best selves to work.

Speakers

As director of development, programs and partnerships, Jon Brown, CMP, DMCP, comes from a wide variety of experience in event strategy and management, ranging from restaurants and academia to Fortune 500 companies. His primary focus is the initiation and supervision of a wide range of programs, partnerships, and strategic marketing. Jon has been recognized as one of the top ten “Young Memphis” professionals by the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and most recently, a “Top 25 Young Event Pro to Watch” by Special Events Magazine. 

As production coordinator, Chelsea Tillman, MPS, comes from a wide range of experience in event strategy, project management and strategic communication development across the publication, transportation and healthcare sectors. Her primary focus is content management/development and event logistics for a range of Fortune 500 companies. She was recognized as a GDUSA 2019 winner for her content development in the category of Brochures & Collateral.

 

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Concurrent Session Time: 10:45 - 11:45 am
CE: 1 hour

"Simple Tips on Building a Brand through Social Media (with a focus on Instagram)"
Speaker: Amy Pierce
                The Total Package Consulting Group

In this session, learn tips on hashtags, content, scheduling posts, and how to use Instagram stories to engage and attract more followers. We'll also discuss attractions tips and tools you can use to keep your posts on brand.

Speaker 

Amy Pierce, co-founder of The Total Package Consulting Group and senior director at Theorem, has worked in the social selling industry for more than 25 years. She’s helped build multimillion-dollar organizations, and created and managed training programs for direct sales teams. In addition to consulting, she’s held corporate executive positions, including VP of sales, at multiple social selling companies. She is passionate about empowering others to grow, meet their goals and build their own successful businesses.

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Concurrent Session Time: 10:45 - 11:45am
CE: 1 hour

"Engagement During Hybrid Meetings"
Speakers: Melissa Murray
                   Director of Operations and Quality, Mosaix Group

From awards presentation and employee appreciation events to formal dinners and entertainment, we will share ideas for bringing virtual attendees into the live-event experience.

Speaker

Melissa Murray’s event experience has spanned over three decades and every corner of the globe, from the U.S. to Africa, Asia, South America, India, Europe, and Indonesia. Her talent for all things event-related started with the Carlson Marketing Group and included managing international events for GE Capital. Founding the Mosaix Group in 2001 allowed Melissa to deliver her extensive experience to clients with the personalized focus and attention to detail that a small firm allows. The Mosaix Team has survived and thrived during the pandemic by managing innovative virtual events and custom event gifting. However, her biggest success to date is a family of three wonderful children, along with her loving husband who puts up with her despite a hectic work schedule. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, dodging the question “What’s for dinner?,” and hiking in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.

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Time: 12:00 - 12:30 pm

Volunteer Round-Up! with Brandon Crumpton & Rachel Whitten, CMP 

 

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! This information and networking session is for members currently volunteering, members wanting to volunteer, and members who have volunteered in the past. VPs and/or Chairs will go over the responsibilities of their respective committees and where they may need assistance. This is an opportunity for volunteers to let us know your contributions to the chapter and how others can help.

Any members looking to get engaged with the chapter, make new connections, build industry friendships and sharpen skills for your resume - this is the session for you! 

 

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Session Time: 1:00 - 1:30 pm

CE: 0.5 hours

"Meetings Mean Business Update"
Speaker: Molly Johnson CMP, QAS
                Director of Convention Sales, Wilmington and Beaches CVB

Meetings Mean Business Ambassador Molly Johnson, CMP, QAS, will share an update on MBB's industry advocacy work.

Meetings Mean Business is an industry-wide coalition to showcase the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. By rallying industry advocates, working with stakeholders, conducting original research, engaging with outside voices and more, the coalition brings the industry together to emphasize its importance. Comprised of over 60 members, the coalition unites the meetings industry with one strong and powerful voice.

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Session Time: 1:45 - 2:45pm
CE: 1 hour

"What Do I Do Now: Start a New Business, Reskill or Specialize?"
Speakers: Steve Kinsley, Kinsley Meetings, President
                  Mekeda Johnson-Brooks, Chief Client Experience Architect of MJ
                  Design and Company

Whether you are thinking of starting a new business, injecting your existing business with new products or services, altering your business model, or employing new strategies, you need to manage whatever financial, risk management and other support you need to achieve your goals. You may even learn new skills, advance existing skills, or learn a new specialization.

 

Learning Objectives:

• Assess your current situation and develop an action plan to achieve the goal(s) you set
• Formulate plans to acquire any new or specialized skills to accomplish your goals.
• Execute, monitor, and revise, as necessary, your plan of action.

Speakers

Steve Kinsley, president of Kinsley Meetings, has over 35 years in the hospitality and meetings industry. His career has taken him to such diverse properties as the Broadmoor, the Westin St. Francis, Keystone Resort & Conference Center and The Hotel Teatro in Denver. In 1999 he joined his wife, Allison, in their meeting and convention planning firm, Kinsley Meetings.  

 

Steve has served on the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado Executive Committee, is a past president of the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, and has served on the San Francisco Travel Association Self-Contained Advisory Board, Vail Resorts/Rock Resorts Hospitality Advisory Board, Loews Hotels Advisory Board and the Fort Worth Convention Bureau Advisory Board.

 

In the community, he is a director and past chairman of the board of Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc., has served as a director of the Men for the Cure Foundation and serves on the Gamma-Tau Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity House Corporation.

Mekeda Johnson-Brooks is the chief client experience architect of MJ Design and Company, an MBE and WBE certified marketing and communications agency that solves problems, tells stories and builds connections through strategy, design, development and execution of large-scale events, graphic design and staff incentives. An avid organizer with a strong background in negotiation, project management and instructional design, she regularly pioneers new client experiences for corporate and nonprofit organizations.

An alumna of DePaul University, Mekeda serves on the 2021 Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Independent & Small Business Owners (ISBO) Advisory Board and is an active member of the Chicago Area Chapter.

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Fees

Member	$50
Non-Member	$65
MPI-CC Annual Sponsor	$0

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This event will be hosted by Live Events Media Group on their new Vx by LEMG platform.