Getting to Know Our Planner Member - Heather Lockwood, CMP

Heather Lockwood, CMP
Position: Owner, Meeting and Event Strategist
Employer:HPL Meetings and Events
Joined MPI in 2001

Contact information:
Email:heather@hplmeetingsandevents.ca
Twitter: @HPL_Events
Instagram: hplmeetingsandevents
LinkedIn: heather@hplmeetingsandevents.ca

About Heather

I was born and raised in Ottawa and attended Brookfield and Ridgemont High Schools. I graduated from Carleton University with a Major in Psychology, Minor in Music and a Certificate in Criminology and Corrections.

I have worked in the Federal Government for the House of Commons, Correctional Service and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, as well as in the food and wine industry. I started my own meeting and events business in the fall of 2015 and so far this year I have managed the logistics for the Ottawa Magazine’s Best Restaurants Event, the G7 International Summit and I am currently working on an event for the Federal Government that the Prime Minister will be attending.

Career Path

I was born a planner, as I started to plan events for my friends and family at the age of five years old. I have volunteered in the community for various not-for-profit organizations, annual events and festivals for 30 years. While I was working at Correctional Services, my manager knew that I volunteered in the community so he asked me to plan a meeting, this lead to 25 years of planning local, national and international meetings and events for the Federal Government. I volunteered at a wine show and met Ellyn Holzman, CMP, then President of MPI Ottawa, who said you should join MPI, which I did!

Social Media:

What do you recommend following on social media?

Managing food and wine events is an important part of my business, so it’s important to stay involved with this industry on social media. For that reason I follow Ottawa’s best restaurants, local breweries, and wineries, re-tweeting, liking and commenting on their content to create online conversations and in turn to promote my business. Staying engaged with like-minded event planners, festivals and conference organizers is a great way to share and learn from other industry professionals.

Inspiration:

What is one dream you’ve seen fulfilled?

I was certified as a Sommelier in 1998 and started volunteering at wine shows across the country. I wanted to work in the wine industry and this dream was fulfilled as a result of assisting Antonio Mauriello, a Sommelier from Rome who had just moved to Ottawa, with an MPI Ottawa round table event in 2007. After the event he asked if I would assist him with an outdoor 100 person sit down dinner. After this successful event, we have worked together on several industry events, and I have assisted with the opening of his successful restaurant, DiVino Wine Studio and La Charrette, a creative meeting and event venue.

Professional

What is the best advice you have ever received?

When I started at Carleton University I was majoring in music because I wanted to be an elementary teacher. During the summer I was working at three part time jobs, I applied for a summer student position with the Federal Government, so I would have only have one job! Following my interview with Correctional Services, I was hired as an Engineer in the Security Branch. As a music major I was very surprised and nervous about this assignment, but the manager that hired me said “What you don’t know, you will learn”. He obviously saw potential in me, as I went on to work for the Corrections for 30 years! Never be afraid to put up your hand and volunteer to learn new tasks.

Personal:

Do you collect anything?

Being in the wine industry it is important to keep current. I accomplish this by attending wine shows and seminars across the country and by traveling to wine regions around the world each year. Since I organize food and wine events for corporate, association, not-for-profit and private clients, I collect wine from my travels, as well as from attending wine shows and from being a member of wine clubs.

Networking:

What was your favourite networking event?

I have attended many networking events throughout the years and I prefer the networking events which are incorporated into large industry events, such as MPI WEC, which I have attended in Las Vegas, Denver, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Next year MPI WEC takes place in Toronto. As well as industry events at PCMA CIC and Convening Leaders. Since I have had the opportunity to hold meetings and events across the country, I have contacts from coast-to-coast-to-coast that I am able to re-connect with at these national and international networking events.

Favourite Quote:

Maximize every day and live life to the fullest!