Member Showcase - CMP Spotlight - June 2024

Lesli Castaneda, CMP Sr. Meeting & Event Manager Cox Enterprises, Inc.

* What motivated you to pursue the CMP designation?

I was motivated to take the CMP exam to further my education in the industry and advance my career. I was new to the event side of the business (coming from the hotel side,) and I felt it was a great way to learn standardization across the industry.

* How did participation in the CMP Study Group support your studying to take the exam?

The CMP Study Group was a huge piece of my success in passing the exam. Like most people I had not been in school for quite some time before taking the exam. I had to relearn study habits and what types worked best for me at that point. The study group kept me accountable for reading the material and being prepared to discuss the content I had read about each week. The readings were divided up in a logical way making it easy to cover all of the material. It was also very helpful to be in a group of people who had different backgrounds and came from different areas of the industry.  This diversity provided some really impactful conversations.

* How did you feel when you saw the words "You Passed" ?

I was so excited. I took my exam when you still have to wait 6 weeks for your results. Seeing that envelope in the mail and opening it and seeing PASSED was so satisfying. All that hard work paid off!

* As a meeting industry professional, what benefits have you experienced as a result of having your CMP?  (maybe something here about having your CMP helping with transitioning to the planner role?)

Having my CMP designation early in my career really helped me with my transition from the hotel sales/service side of the business into a planning position. While I worked in events on the hotel side, I didn’t know a lot of the terminology or even some of the basic calculations you cover when taking your CMP (Ex: how many glasses of wine in a bottle, how far a screen should be set from the front row of chairs.) This information was all covered in the exam prep. Learning this information not only allowed me to become more familiar with the standard practices and terminology in the industry but also prepared me for advancing into higher positions within my planning role when the opportunities became available.

* Does having your CMP designation enhance your position as a knowledgeable industry expert?

Yes, I do feel that having my CMP designation enhances my position, and I do feel that leaders respect and acknowledge what comes along with that title.

* Do you find information you learned while studying to take the exam helpful in your positions since earning your CMP and are you able to use some of the formulas, etc., to help your and your company's meetings go well?

Absolutely, As I mentioned above, now I know how many glasses of wine in a bottle or how many cups of coffee in a gallon 😊, but kidding aside, the structure and learnings included in the text that I read during my exam prep prepared me for becoming a better planner overall. It gave me a jump start on knowing how to become the best planner I could be and grow from there.  

* Reflecting on the time since you achieved the CMP designation, was it a good use of your time and resources to take that step?

Yes, I am very glad that I did it and, even more so, I am glad that I did it earlier in my career.

* How meaningful is your ongoing support for the three CMP Study Groups that meet for 13 weeks every year?

I truly enjoyed being a part of the CMP Study Group committee. I am passionate about helping others within this industry advance their knowledge and take this next step.

* What words of encouragement would you have for future CMP candidates?

The work is truly worth it. The process is time-consuming and the exam is not easy, but you will be so glad you did it once you PASS!