Agenda

Thursday, February 8, 2024

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM	Volunteer Bubbly Toast Reception - Calling all MPI Carolinas volunteers! Let us toast you and thank you for your service to the betterment of the chapter.
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM	Education Session - Exploring Audio-Visual: A Collaborative Journey, Moderator: Ricardo Hicks, Panelists: John Self, Mike Mincello, Seth Macchi, Kristie Hicks
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM	Welcome Reception - 40 & Fabulous! Celebrate MPI Carolina's 40th Anniversary with 80's Themed Reception and Silent Auction

Friday, February 9, 2024

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM	Breakfast, Welcome & Introductions
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM	Keynote Speaker - Engagement Unleashed: Empowering Gen-Z + in Your Multigenerational Workplace, Luke Goetting
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM	AM Break
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM	Education Session - Sort it out!, Kristin Walker
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM	Education Session - Engagement Unleashed Panel + Q&A: Beyond the Keynote, Moderator: Luke Goetting, Panelists: Kate Jansen, Nicole Filippo
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM	Education Session - DEI Roundtables, Najauna White, Mitch Savoie Hill

Education Sessions

Engagement Unleashed: Empowering Gen-Z+ in Your Multigenerational Workplace

Luke Goetting
Friday, February 9, 2024, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

The Gen-Z + Millennial workforce has sparked a revolution in the modern workplace, challenging conventional norms with trends like "Quiet Quitting" and the "Great Resignation." Instead of blaming generational stereotypes or the pandemic, join communications expert Luke Goetting to explore the immense potential of the emerging workforce and how their significant talents can be leveraged within your multigenerational organization.

This talk isn’t only about understanding, it’s about actionable insights for managers and executives to improve retention by fostering genuine connections with employees across generations. From transparency and mentorship to gamification, this session equips your company with practical approaches that position it for success, not just today but well into the future! 

Sort it out!

Kristin Walker
Friday, February 9, 2024, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Do you find yourself attending conferences or meetings, but then don't know how to act upon what you've learned? Are you looking for ways to put great ideas into action? This session will help you do just that. You'll learn a framework that will help you make the most of the ideas gained from any conference or meeting. Get ready for an interactive hands-on sorting game.

Engage your senses and collaborate with your fellow attendees to organize your notes and ideas. Create a dynamic plan for how to act upon your ideas that aligns with your professional goals.

Engagement Unleashed Panel + Q&A: Beyond the Keynote

Luke Goetting
Friday, February 9, 2024, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

The morning keynote sparked the conversation, now let's turn it into action! Join our lively panel of Gen-Z+ experts as they unpack the keynote strategies and tackle your burning questions. This interactive session is your chance to get practical advice, share your challenges and discover what truly works for engaging the future workforce.

MPI Carolinas - DEI Roundtables

Najauna White
Friday, February 9, 2024, 12:10 PM - 3:00 PM

This DEI session is for the beginner, the curious and the DEI champions. Diversity strengthens us - and we are building a community dedicated to fostering inclusivity. We aim to enhance your DEI knowledge, connect with professionals and contribute to workplace inclusivity with questions that challenge or solutions to put into action. Our DEI Roundtable Education Session is the perfect opportunity for professionals like you to come together, learn and grow.

Speakers

Luke Goetting is an award-winning communications expert and founder of Puffingston Presentations, a creative consultancy based in Austin, Texas.

Kristin Walker is the associate director of employer experience and technology in the nationally ranked Student Professional Development Center at Elon University. In this role, she is responsible for assisting employers with creating and executing a custom recruiting strategy. She manages all recruiting events on campus including many large career fairs throughout the year. She is responsible for developing surveys and relevant metrics to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services for all stakeholders.

Kristine has been working in career services since 2013. Her experiences prior to Elon University include Elon School of Law and the University of North Carolinas at Greensboro (UNCG). AT UNCG she was proud to manage the hundreds of domestic and international students participating in the Disney College Program internship partnerships with the University, having been a participant in this program herself during her undergraduate tenure.

Kristin is a proud member of the MPI Carolinas Chapter and holds an MBA from Elon University and a BA in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

 

Ricardo Hicks, Jr. is the owner of Tech Factory, a production company that specializes in virtual, hybrid, and live events.  Tech Factory produces a litte over more than 250 events each year.  With more than 20 years in audiovisual experience, Ricardo has been an audio recording engineer, hotel Event Technology Director for hotel properties, Director of Sales, and now a business owner.  During this tenure, he has taken the time to bring more than 20 people into the Event Technology industry.  As a volunteer, he is currently serving as a Regional Council Vice Chair MPI.  He is proud to be named as one of the 50 up & coming professionals in the meetings and events industry during the 2022 50th anniversary of MPI International.  With a passion for craft, client, and culture, Ricardo continues to pursue ways to help people in the industry, while pushing the events industry forward.

 

Mike Mincello is native to North Carolina with strong ties to the triad and surrounding area. It was an early passion for music that steered him toward a career in production. With over 20 years' experience in live events he has grown from a multi-talented technician to an adept sales tactician. Having gained a vast understanding of venue operations Mike uses this knowledge to focus on customer service. Proficient estimation skills enable him to deliver highly detailed proposals that communicate transparency and trust. When he isn't at the ship, or on show site, you can find him playing hockey or traveling to the coast with his wife and two kids. If time permits you might even spot him walking his dog along the many beautiful trails of the triad.

 

As the CEO of LEMG, Seth Macchi is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the business and gets to lead a fantastic executive team. After obtaining a degree from Full Sail University, Seth's production career began in audio recording engineering and TV production. He quickly moved into many other areas of event production and hasn't looked back since. His experience ranges in all aspects of live production from technical, project management, business development, sales, operations, and more, and has produced events for clients ranging from Fortune 10 organizations to small nonprofits. Seth has been influential in implementing systems that have allowed LEMG to thrive and position itself as a market leader. Seth lived in Forth Mill, South Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and their 4 kids ranging in aged from 13-21. He enjoys hiking with Sarah and is still coming to terms with the fact that he now owns (and actually likes) a dog that is smaller than some cats.

 

Meet John Self, a Black Mountain, North Carolina native, whose background was rooted in hospitality and the arts. With managerial roles at prestigious establishments like the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, and the Inn on Biltmore Estate, John honed his skills as a seasoned service leader in the sophisticated ambiance of four and five-star venues.

Fueled by a passion for performing arts, John pursued audio engineering and earned a recording arts degree from Full Sail University. He then ventured into the events industry through PSAV, where he held various leadership roles from managing at the Omni CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Director of AV at the Sheraton Buckhead, and Director of Sales & Operations for the Raleigh branch.

Currently, as the National Sales Manager for American AV, John leaves his mark on events across the U.S. in most major markets. Beyond event management, he positions himself as an AV consultant and advocate, offering invaluable insights to meeting planners who are navigating the hidden intricacies and practices of venues and in-house AV companies.

This unique blend of hospitality and events equipped him with a deep understanding of AV's technical aspects, enabling him to adapt to industry trends, provide innovative solutions and pursue excellence in the dynamic world of AV production.

 

 Meet Kristie Hicks, a highly accomplished and results-driven professional who seamlessly transitioned from a successful career as a public health program manager to Lead Project Manager at Tech Factory. Holding a Master's of Public Health degree and as a certified Project Management (PMP) and ClickUp Expert, Kristie brings over eight years of dedicated experience and a unique blend of skills to the audiovisual and event production industry.

With a background in coordinating the NC Diabetes Advisory Council, serving on a national chronic disease leadership group, and managing clinic-based, non-profit and state government public health programs, Kristie stands as a driving force in planning and implementing successful projects, while working with diverse groups of stakeholders.

She demonstrates proficiency in project management tools, enhancing team collaboration and optimizing workflows for events of varying sizes and complexity, from inception to completion. In the fast-paced and volatile landscape of audiovisual and event production, Kristie has skillfully applied transferable skills, bringing a fresh perspective to project management, customer service and continuous improvement. 

 

Najauna White is a seasoned community connector and disruptor with over 14 years in the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry. As a CDE® (Certified Diversity Executive) and CMP (Certified Meeting Planner), she serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Miles Partnership. Embarking on her career in the restaurant industry, Najauna cultivated a passion for people operations, talent acquisition, and event planning, which led her to work with DMOs, state tourism offices, and industry associations.

At Miles, Najauna focuses on strategically developing DEI initiatives, offering expertise in training, inclusive staff engagement, and diverse workforce development. She is a key consultant dedicated to shaping and nurturing impactful DEI practices for organizations and ensuring immediate and sustained growth. She also has the pleasure of being the President of our chapter!

 

Mitch Savoie Hill is a Certified Professional Coach, International TEDx Speaker, published   author, and Corporate Trainer with over 25 years of hospitality and leadership experience. She   started in the hospitality industry as a singing waitress in New York City when she was 18 years   old and later went on to manage teams for international companies in the restaurant, hotel,   property management, and construction industries. Mitch is a first-generation American, born   to Cuban exile parents, who survived a myriad of adventures and her fair share of   discrimination and adversity. She now dedicates herself to coaching individuals and teams on how to overcome their roadblocks to success and has authored an inspiring and instructional book on the subject. As the CEO and founder of SavHill Consulting LLC, she delivers inclusive leadership coaching, corporate training, and keynote speeches to help her audiences learn how to engage their diverse clients and teams to achieve optimum productivity and success. Working in high-stress, fast-paced environments in unique markets, such as Miami, New York, Atlanta, and LA, Mitch Savoie Hill developed best practices for dealing with different personalities and inspiring cooperation among diverse teams. Mitch attended New York University's renowned Tisch School of the Arts, where she mastered the skill of public presentation. She now uses that skill to help leaders become more confident with public speaking and commanding a room. Mitch's charismatic energy and contagious laugh captivate her audiences as she enlightens them on important topics such as conflict management, how to inspire cooperation, and embracing Diversity Equity & Inclusion. She received. her Ethical and Inclusive Leadership certificate from the University of South Florida and proudly serves on the DE&I Committees for the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Mitch Savoie Hill is energized by helping leaders clarify their visions, map out actionable strategies and stretch their horizons!

 

 Kate Jansen has been a part of the Raleigh Convention Center team for fourteen years from working in event logistics to catering sales, to facility sales. In her current role as Senior National Sales Manager, she is focused on the corporate market and bringing economic impact to Raleigh and Wake County. She enjoys connecting people and creating unique experiences while showcasing the amazing features of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kate serves on Meeting Professionals International's Emerging Professional Advisory Committee to assist in development of strategy and projects to connect emerging professionals with MPI chapters and MPI global offerings. This committee works to identify key data trends and better address the needs of emerging leaders in our industry.

Room Block