February 6, 2025 - February 7, 2025
Chapel Hill, NC
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MPI-CC November Chapter Meeting and Awards Dinner
Agenda
Monday, November 18, 2024
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Keynote: The Elements of Adventure Part I: Infusing Nature into Your Events for Better Attendee Engagement |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Social Hour |
| 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM | Awards Dinner, 2025 Board Installation & After Party |
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | Chapter Announcements |
| 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Keynote: The Elements of Adventure Part II: Leading with an Adventure Mindset |
| 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | Break |
| 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Panel Facilitation: The Adventure Mindset |
| 12:15 PM | Optional: DEI Connects Dames Chicken and Waffles 823 Bass Pro Ln., Cary, NC |
This meeting's education sessions have been pre-approved by the Event Industry Council (EIC) for 3.5 CE hours.
Education Sessions
The Elements of Adventure Part I: Infusing Nature into Your Events for Better Attendee Engagement
Incorporating nature into your event allows attendees to become more immersed in the experience. It generates memories. That emotional connection inspires them to activate takeaways and have greater satisfaction in the event overall. During this interactive session, we’ll look at specific strategies you can use to enliven the event experience.
Participants will:
- Experience an open dialogue on innovation in event design
- Discover a process that will invigorate your upcoming events
- Walk away with ways to energize audiences and activate event ROI
The Elements of Adventure Part II: Leading with an Adventure Mindset
An Adventure Mindset frees leaders from the chains of complacency to try new things and achieve greater success. It’s necessary in today’s ever-changing environment. Learn how this framework can help you and your team move from underperforming and out of balance to being able to reach your ultimate potential!
Participants will:
- Find out how the Adventure Mindset can spark more success for all meeting professionals
- Open lines of communication between planners and suppliers to battle top industry challenges
- Use these tools to connect deeper with your team and your clients
The Adventure Mindset Panel Discussion
Join us for a conversation with a panel of your peers on facing and overcoming industry challenges. Hear their stories about pushing past their comfort zones to find meeting and event success.
Panelists:
- Nancy Lowe, CMP Fellow, HMCC, Senior Manager, Meetings and Events, MedForce
- Ebony Loadholt, Event Manager, Urban Sustainability Directors Network
- Jason Arnold, Sales Manager, Explore Cabarrus
Participants will:
- Learn how industry peers are using the Adventure Mindset to solve real-world problems
- Exchange ideas and solutions with meeting participants
- Walk away inspired to take action
About the Speaker
Heather Hansen O’Neill is an international keynote speaker, behavioral expert, 3x author, and adventurer. She is also a 2x TEDx speaker, host of the popular podcast From Fear to Fire and Humanity of Sales radio shows, and creator of L-FOCUS (Leadership For Our Children’s Ultimate Success). Heather’s signature model, The Elements of Adventure is the powerful framework she utilizes to empower leaders, ignite results, and change the world…one adventure at a time.
More at www.HeatherHansenONeill.com
About the Panelists
Nancy Lowe, CMP Fellow, HMCC, began her career on the hotel side while still in college, working in sales, catering and convention services before becoming a meeting planner. She has planned meetings both on the corporate and nonprofit association side, and currently is senior manager, meetings and events for MedForce, a medical communications company based in New Jersey, managing pharma meetings and events across the U.S.
Nancy joined MPI in 1990 while still on the hotel side and has been an active member ever since. Nancy served on the MPI-CC Board of Directors and has served on or chaired various committees including meeting planning, marketing and public relations, awards, nominations, and volunteerism and leadership development. She helped institute the Catherine Voron Memorial Lecture Series on Ethics and Professionalism (2010-2014), developed to emphasize ethics and professionalism as a frequent component of the Chapter’s educational programming. For her contributions to the Chapter, she earned both the Chapter Planner of the Year and Hall of Fame awards.
She earned her CMP in 1998 was named a CMP Fellow in 2023. She also earned MPI’s Healthcare Meetings Compliance Certificate last year.
Jason Arnold is the association and corporate sales manager for the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau. In this role, he promotes Cabarrus County, N.C. as a destination for groups including associations, corporate meetings, and conventions. Jason joined the Explore Cabarrus team with 14 years of experience in the hotel industry in Las Vegas in both sales and operations roles.
A native of Michigan, Jason received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Michigan State University. He values time spent with wife and three-year-old son, as well as exploring the world and outdoor adventures whenever possible.
For 10 years, Ebony R. Loadholt ran her own successful event planning company, Ynobe Knows Events, where she perfected her talent for blending strategy, creativity, and logistics. During this period, she drove standout events for notable brands, including Google Black Founder’s Exchange, Radio One, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Duke University, Shaw University, and #ImBlackInTech.
Today, as the events manager at USDN, Ebony drives national initiatives, leading a 30+ person team through complex logistics and creating high-impact strategies that unite over 400 local government officials across the United States and Canada. From developing SOPs to negotiating contracts, her role is all about empowering her team and creating a sustainable blueprint for success, no matter the scale.
Certified as a Hybrid & Virtual Events Director and armed with an M.Ed. in Adult Education & Training, Ebony has the credentials to back up her passion. But above all, it’s her infectious energy and strategic brilliance that truly make her a standout. When she’s not coordinating her next big event, you’ll find her solving Sudoku puzzles, spending quality time with her husband and beautiful 2-year-old daughter, and, of course, dreaming up new ways to inspire the next generation of planners!
Registration Fees
- Member Supplier: $200
- Non-Member Supplier: $250
- Member Planner: $120
- Non-member Planner: $175
- Awards Dinner Only: $75
Rebuilding Hope After Hurricane Helene
We are collecting donations to support BeLoved Asheville's efforts to provide critical necessities like food, water, and healthcare for survival and stability to those affected by Hurricane Helene. As winter looms, the non-profit organization is working to secure warm and safe housing for the displaced. MPI-CC will accept donations at the registration table.
BeLoved Asheville's current needs list:
- Food: Masa, tortillas, bread, beans, rice, cooking oil
- For children: Books, stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, toys
- Cleaning supplies: Brooms, mops, cleaning sprays, Clorox wipes, scrub brushes
- Camping supplies: Tents, sleeping bags, tarps, rope, cook stoves
- Other: Monetary funds, Lowe's gift cards
Exhibitor Tables
Promote your organization and brand during this meeting. Limited number of exhibitor tables are available at this meeting. Tables are $250 for members and $350 for non-members. Annual sponsors are able to use their (1) complimentary exhibitor table at this chapter meeting.
Let Your Networks Know You're Participating
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DEI Connects
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 12:15 p.m.
Dames Chicken and Waffles, 823 Bass Pro Ln., Cary, NC 27514
Connect with industry colleagues after the chapter meeting at Dames Chicken and Waffles. Drinks and food are not included. No registration required. Learn more about DEI Connects.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle
201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard, Cary, NC
