2023 Spring Summit

Registration is now closed. If you wish to register late or have any questions pertaining to this event, please email info@mpigeorgia.org.

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MPI Georgia is excited to announce that registration is now open for our annual Spring Summit on Tuesday, March 21^st at Your 3rd Spot in Atlanta.

What does "connecting with your community" mean to you? Explore the possibilities as we take you through an incredible day filled with creative food & beverages, unique presentations, and networking opportunities with other MPI Georgia members.

PLUS, in addition to lots of fun, attendees will receive 3 hours of CE credit!

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Keynote Speaker 

Cleo Battle President & CEO Louisville Tourism Cleo has worked in the hospitality industry for over 35 years. Prior to coming to Louisville, he spent 12 years as Vice President of Sales & Services of the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau in Richmond, VA. He held the positions of Director of Sales and Sales Manager at the Richmond CVB.

Battle began his hospitality career in the hotel industry working for Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels. Battle is a native of Denver and a graduate of Metropolitan State University in Denver with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management. He earned his Masters of Business Administration in 1997 from Averett University in Virginia. He is both a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) and Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE).

Battle’s most recent industry recognition includes Events Industry Council 2020 Social Impact award winner, Business First Louisville’s inaugural Power 50 as well as The Courier-Journal’s 12 People to Watch in 2021. Battle currently serves as Chair of the Board for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) as well as on the Destinations International Professional Credential Program Committee (CDME Board), Kentucky State Fair Board, Kentucky Derby Museum Board of Directors, LRAA Board, Fund For the Arts Board, Ed Hamilton Studio & Visitor Center Board and chairs the Zoo Marketing Committee for the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board. He is Past Chair of Destination & Travel Foundation, Destination International Sales & Services Committee and the Virginia State University Hospitality Department Advisory Board. 

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Breakout Session Speakers

Zoe Moore Hospitality EDI Strategic Consultant  Moore Consulting Agency LLC Zoe Moore is a Hospitality Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Consultant holding leaders accountable to their commitment to supplier diversity, inclusive organizational culture and diverse representation in leadership.

Honorably discharged from the United States Army following 12 years of service, Chiriga Moore, affectionately known as Zoe (pronounced ZOH) completed an M.S. in Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism and then started an event planning company in Oakland, CA. Learning that Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) were not prioritized in the meetings, events and tourism industry, she became an advocate to help spark dialogue and action in the areas of supplier diversity, organizational culture and diverse representation in leadership. Initially, spearheading the formation of an Inclusion & Diversity committee with MPI’s Northern California Chapter, she decided to become a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® to deepen her knowledge and place the focus on equity as a strategy. Having dissolved her company, LB Alliance due to COVID-19, she became the co-founder of Moore Consulting Agency LLC along with her son Jourden Moore. Doing business as Grow with Zomo she seeks to support hospitality organizations assess the FIVE Cs: Characteristics, Commitment, Capacity, Climate & Culture to develop EDI strategies that are measurable and sustainable. As an independent Hospitality EDI Strategic Consultant, she engages leaders of organizations through her speaking, writing, educational courses and consulting. The outgoing co-chair for MPIs 2021 Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, Zoe is committed to holding industry leaders accountable to their expressed commitment to effective change. Zoe is a contributing writer to The Meeting Professional, Meetings Today, and her personal blog Unsolicited Advice. She resides in Marietta, GA with her 17-year-old son, Jourden Moore of JEM Innovations. She loves homemade chocolate chip cookies, photography, and travelling.

Meredith Martini, MS Owner  PlayWorks Group Meredith Martini. MS is the owner and creative force behind award-winning PlayWorks Group. With nearly 30 years planning, designing and facilitating, her passion for creating unique learning environments within meetings, conferences and retreats only continues to grow.

She began her career as a consultant at Deloitte and Touche and later began developing her skills at creating and executing programs and events at a wide variety of different organizations and facilities. She received her master’s degree in counseling from Georgia State University, focusing on group and play dynamics. In 2002, Meredith launched PlayWorks Group, a niche planning firm, focusing on organizations’ interactive meeting design and team event needs. Meredith’s dedication to creating engaging and entertaining experience and interactions for her clients has given her the opportunity to work with a broad range of companies and organizations including Cox, Wells Fargo, Home Depot, Merck Pharmaceutical, Chick-fil-A, KPMG, Carter's, Harry Norman, Morehouse, IHG, GA Tech and Kimberly Clark. Meredith is a graduate of the Disney Institute of Leadership Excellence and has been a panelist, speaker, facilitator and writer for a variety of organizations including Technology Association of Georgia, Meeting Professionals International, Plan Your Meetings, Senior Planners Industry Network, Cvent and others. Ms. Martini is a long-standing member of Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter, serving five terms on the Board of Directors, including a year as President. She’s received both the Lifetime Achievement and President’s Awards from the organization.

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Agenda:

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM			Registration / Exhibits / Networking
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM			Keynote Presentation
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM			Lunch / Exhibits / Networking
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM			1st Session of Breakouts
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM			2nd Session of Breakouts
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM			Closing and Drawings

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Breakout Session Topics: 

A Virtual Reality: Why Face-to-Face Meetings Are Still Better Than Digital We are in the business of building connections and relationships. And we know instinctively that live, in person events are “better” than virtual for accomplishing our meeting goals. Heck, we lived it and watched it play out over the course of the last few years.

But do we really understand why face to face is so much more effective?

In this interactive session we will discuss and learn some of the brain science of face to face interaction versus virtual interaction. Participants will gain understanding in the following ways:

1. Recognize the physical and psychological implications of virtual interaction on the brain.

2. Identify neurological differences between face to face and virtual interaction.

3. Understand how the implications of virtual vs face to face interaction can influence communication and relationship-building and impact meetings.

4. Highlight the value of face to face for meeting and event stakeholders.

Come join in the face-to-face fun as we learn together why what we do is so important!

DEI Standards and Best Practices in Meetings and Events
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recognizes the needs of different individuals and communities. In the special events and sports industry, this means detailing the event’s value proposition, who it serves, and how to continuously work toward being more welcoming, equitable, and inclusive of people across all dimensions of diversity. In this session explore the meaning of Applied DEI, a process that requires intentional, step-by-step planning and learn how to use DEI Standards & Best Practices as a roadmap for the planning, design and execution of all your events.

Learning Objectives

1. Examine historical and present barriers that must be addressed to effect change

2. Understand how to conduct an audit to help develop a strategic plan

3. Discuss the three Travel Unity pillars that serve as the foundation for DEI Event Standards

4. Discover how recurring professional development can strengthen leadership commitment to EDI

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Headshots

As an added benefit of attending MPI Georgia’s Spring Summit event, Photosynthesis Studio is offering complimentary headshots to the first 25 people to e-mail Devon at devon@photosynthesisatlanta.com. These headshots are valued at $275. If you’re not one of the first 25 people to e-mail Devon, never fear! Devon is also offering additional headshots at just $25.00. All headshots will be taken at Your Third Spot in one of two unique locations.

Everyone needs a professional headshot, so don’t delay. Act now!

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Registration Rates:

Regular Registration: (January 1 - March 16)
Member - $85 Non-Member - $100

Onsite Registration: (March 21)
Member - $100
Non-Member - $125

ALL Preferred and Premiere MPI members are eligible to receive member registration rates to MPI Georgia events.

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Sponsorship Opportunities:  

Join us at Spring Summit to showcase your organization, demonstrate your product or service, network with our amazing members, and spend an afternoon with an anticipated audience of 150+ of your MPI Georgia friends!

2023 Spring Summit Sponsorship Prospectus

We have lots of options available to fit any budget. Please contact Tara Zeravsky at  tzeravsky@mpigeorgia.org for more information. 

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Hotel Block for Spring Summit

Stay close to the action and experience all the wonders of West Midtown by taking advantage of the MPI Georgia Spring Summit courtesy block at the beautiful Bellyard, a Tribute Portfolio.

You must book your stay by March 6, 2023 to be eligible for the group discount.

Book your group rate for MPI Georgia Spring Summit

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Thank You to Our Event Sponsors:
Venue	Emcee	Sponsor
Networking Reception	Keynote Presentation	Networking Beverage
Cabana	Cabana	Cabana
Lunch Station	Host Hotel	Registration
Networking Beverages	Educational Break-Out Session	Bowling Nook & Relaxation Station
Standard Exhibitor	Standard Exhibitor	Standard Exhibitor
Standard Exhibitor	Roaming Photo Booth	Bowling Nook
Enhanced Exhibit
Audio Visual	Photography	Koozie
Registration Software	Welcome Bag	Signage
Photo Booth

Thank You to Our Annual Sponsors:
Platinum		Gold
Silver		Silver
Bronze	Bronze	Bronze
In-Kind Audio Visual		In-Kind Photography

Your 3rd Spot
400 Chattahoochee Row NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
https://your3rdspot.com/