MPI MN Up-Close Profile – Planner - Lindsay Lockman

Why did you join MPI?  
Before BCBS, I was with Best Buy planning many events around the twin cities area. I met Kathryn, a current MPI member who invited me to an event. Not only was the event fun and memorable, but I connected with a ton of great people that offered to help both personally and professionally. After that, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of and once I transitioned to a new company, I felt it was a great time to continue to expand my network and knowledge.

How long have you been in the meetings/hospitality industry?  
I have been in the meeting/hospitality industry since 2013; however, before I began in “Corporate America,” I owned a cheerleading gym and did extensive planning then!

How did you decide to get involved in this business?  What influenced you?
After I closed my business, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I took a chance and started working with JCPenney in Events Marketing and Publicity. Everything was new, challenging, fast paced, and never boring. JCP was rebranding at the time so their events were large scale, innovative, and unique. We created orange groves in the middle of NYC for a launch and were invited to the Oscars! It was my first boss that got me hooked. Her passion and excitement for creating amazing and unforgettable events made me realize I wanted to do the same and make people feel the way she made them feel when they attended our events.

What’s the most valuable advice you’ve received about working with meetings?  
Two things I keep in mind when planning and I think they go hand in hand. The first is, you can’t make everyone happy. You can try, but there will always be “that one” and that’s okay. The second part are the goals for everything I plan. The goals are to exceed expectations, make at least one part memorable to guests, and give credit where it’s due because we can’t do it alone.

What is one piece of advice about meeting planning you would share?   
Exactly what I put in my answer to question 4. The first one is important because your time is valuable and you don’t want to over exhaust yourself when ultimately not everyone will be happy so you can’t sweat the small things. The second part because that helps you connect with people and leave you, your brand, your company, etc. with raving fans that come back for more.

What is one thing about this industry that you love? 
I love the people. I’m always meeting new people and each time I’m learning something new or forging a new relationship. The people never get old.

What is one thing about the industry would you like to see changed?  
The high price tag for EVERYTHING. It makes planning events and meetings so much harder, especially when you need to convince someone of a high price tag that comes with it. For example: I’m planning my wedding right now, YAY (you would think). I wanted these gorgeous chargers that a resort was going to charge me $6 for let’s say 100 chargers, plus tax and service fee. Woah! That equaled to about $8-9 chargers for a total of $8/900! I went online and wholesale bought them myself for $3.50/charger including tax and shipping. Ouch. I now own 100 chargers, but that’s okay. I like parties ha!

What do you do outside of work?  
I turn a beach scene on my TV, sit in front of it with a drink and pretend I’m not surrounded by snow. Just kidding. I coach Middle School and High School cheerleading at White Bear Lake. This takes up 4-5 of my days during the week depending on the season we are in. I also instruct cheerleading through Varsity Spirit and the National Cheerleaders Association. I have 4 dogs that are crazy and full of energy. My parents also have a home in Pinehurst, NC so I love to get away from MN weather when I can. Finally, planning my August wedding!