MPI MN Supplier Profile: Kelli McDonald

For December, MPI Minnesota profiles Kelli McDonald, Director of Sales, Commonwealth.

Tell us about your business and your current job.
Commonwealth Properties has created spaces to provide experiences for over 40 years. They have preserved the elegance and architecture of historic St. Paul, while making it accessible for contemporary tastes. Our properties include the historic St. Paul Athletic Club building in downtown St. Paul, The University Club and The Davidson on Ramsey Hill, WA Frost and The Commodore Bar and Restaurant in the Selby-Dale neighborhood, Summit Center for Arts and Innovation on Summit Avenue, and two retreat locations – Villa Maria in Red Wing and Stout’s Island Lodge in Birchwood, WI. These properties list over 20 event spaces, ranging from a stately board room, up to a 400-person mixed seating gala in our grand ballroom. The variety of spaces truly makes Commonwealth Properties your one-stop-shop for event planning!

My role with Commonwealth Properties is to introduce those hosting events to our amazing event spaces and show them the potential we offer to make all of their events memorable and special. At Commonwealth Properties, our role is to provide the setting for these moments, big and small. That requires a thoughtfully woven confluence of service and design. We first design with intention and then infuse these places with warmth and civility—facilitating attentiveness or space in the degrees required.

What do you hope to gain from your MPI Membership?
I am new to the hospitality industry, so I am hoping to gain connections in this industry that will help me to feel more involved and learn about the functions. 

If there was only one thing a potential customer could remember about your company, what would that be?
Other than our incredibly unique venues that set us apart, I believe the biggest thing that a potential customer, whether they be an event planner or a business, remember is the multitude of different venues we offer. We can host anything from a 12-person board meeting in a stunning library, up to a 400 person, mixed seating gala in our Grand Ballroom, and everything in between. We also have two locations to offer lodging, and two retreats locations, one in Wisconsin and one just outside of Red Wing. Our event venue portfolio offers the ability to fit just about any event need – as well as being a one-stop shop for planners and businesses! 

What one piece of advice would you give to a new supplier joining the MPI network?
Follow up on new connections - get that coffee meeting scheduled! 


What has been the best piece of advice you have been given, and how has it made a difference in your life - personally or professionally?
Always be “on your game” – you never know what the person you are meeting will mean to you in the future! I ended up in my current role when I met my current CEO at my former role. If I hadn’t impressed him at that initial meeting, I would have never been able to ask him for a coffee, which in turn led to a job offer!  


What are some of your favorite pastime activities?
I have three kids (and a bonus foreign student from South Korea) so my pastime activities include chauffeuring them to and from school and sports activities! My second full time job is as a soccer/hockey/lacrosse mom!