May 2020- Alison Balut-Farr

Alison Balut- Farr Peppermill Resort  Director of Sales, South East Region Member since June 2019

Alison Balut-Farr, Peppermill Resort, Director of Sales- Southeast Region

Joined MPI Georgia: June 2019

Joining MPI Georgia in June of last year, Alison Balut-Farr comes to us from Peppermill Resort where she serves as the Director of Sales for the South East Region. She has many colleagues, clients and friends within the MPI Georgia family.  “It’s an outstanding organization and the best MPI chapter nationally.” Alison entered the meeting industry right after college when she started working as the assistant to the F&B director at Lansdowne Resort in Northern VA. She was in that position for only a year when the Director of Sales approached her and said: “You should be in sales and I am creating a position for you!”  Later that same year she won the corporate “Rookie of the Year” award and never looked back. As her career continues to grow, Alison has embraced the following best practices:

• Always be honest and straightforward
• Do what you say you are going to do
• Follow-up is KEY
• Do not procrastinate, it doesn’t work in our industry
• Be kind, listen, empathize
• Approach business (and life) with joy and enthusiasm

Outside of work, Alison enjoys activities inspired by her passion and love for animals. She is currently re-learning dressage and jumping in hopes of competing in future horse shows. If given the opportunity to swap places with anyone for a day, she chose Jane Goodall simply for her “LOVE of animals.” Alison supports the ASPCA and local animal shelters and, if money were no object, she would consider building her own dog and horse rescue center. She has also found her best friend and true love-of-her-life, Trigger, a rescue dog.

Family is also a big part of Alison’s life as her mom and dad, brother, two sisters, and 11 nieces and nephews all live close by. She is continually inspired by her dad because he is “so honest, good, true, a straight-arrow, reliable, intelligent and kind.” And her mom taught Alison to be strong and independent.  In fact, she told Alison in her early 20’s as she was just starting her career, “never put anything off – do it NOW!”  Her mom also said, “don’t fake enjoying your job, actually ENJOY it!  Get into it, embrace it, love it!”  Those two pieces of advice have served Alison well not only during her career but with friendships and personal relationships.