My MPI PHL Journey

One of my first industry jobs was planning networking events for a professional association of people in the home building industry – organizations that built homes, and those that supplied the new residential construction industry. I would help our Membership Coordinator make renewal calls, and people would say that they were not going to renew because they didn’t feel like they’d gotten any value out of their membership. As the event planner, I knew that they had not served on a committee or attended many events; I didn’t want to call them out on it, but I’d wonder how they expected to get anything out of their membership if they never participated in the chapter.

I left the events industry briefly and worked in marketing, but eventually returned to meeting planning. Because I had seen firsthand how service in a professional organization not only helped people grow their networks, but also their skills and abilities, one of the first things I did was join MPI. Because I knew you could only get out of an organization what you put into it, the very first event I attended was our Volunteer Fair so I could serve on a committee. 

I believe that there are two approaches to volunteering – you can take what you’re already good at and get better, or you can find something you don’t know how to do and learn how to do it. I took that second approach – I wanted to learn how to write and edit. I wanted to learn how to develop a multi-channel social media campaign, execute it, and learn how to report on the analytics. So, I joined the Communications team. I had the opportunity to co-chair the Magazine committee (which eventually became this blog), and after a couple of years serving on the committee, a Board position opened. 

I didn’t feel ready; I had only been a member of the chapter for a couple of years. But LauraLee Wren, who was the president of the chapter at the time, told me that I was more than ready; she saw my potential, and nominated me for the position. She told me I would be president someday… 

I served in Communications for several years, moving from the Director of Communications to Vice President Communications. We developed marketing plans and strategies, and I learned how to boost Facebook posts. We moved from a printed quarterly magazine to a blog, and we reevaluated how often we sent out emails and updates. 

After I could no longer serve in Communications, I served as the Vice President of Education. I got to create an eighteen-month education plan and create event-specific marketing. I learned how to develop a business plan and be responsible for income generation (the events that I planned in my “jobby-job” were for business development and offered complimentary to attendees). I got to lead multiple committees.

My favorite role to date though was Director of Leadership Development. I reached out to all new Members to the chapter. I helped them identify why they joined the chapter, and what they wanted to get out of their experience. I then matched them to a volunteer opportunity that would help them achieve those goals and objectives. It was through this experience that I discovered that what I really like doing is helping people find their way. 

Somewhere along the way, being a part of MPI PHL stopped being about what I could learn, or how I could grow, or how I could hone a skill… it became giving back; meeting people who are new to the industry and helping them find their way. Being a mentor for their growth and creating opportunities for them to hone their skills. 

Now, I have stepped into the role of President Elect. I remember speaking with LauraLee all those years ago, and her telling me I would be President one day. I remember laughing in horror – I would never be ready for that responsibility!

Truthfully, I do not know that anyone ever feels they are ready to serve. It is scary – you become the “adult” in the room; the person who sets the agenda and makes the schedule. You become the person people come to for advice or assistance. If I am being completely honest, I am still not sure I’m ready… but what does “ready” mean? What I do know is that I am ready to be of service; to help others find their way, and to help provide the resources others need to facilitate their growth. I remain ready to give back to this organization everything it has given to me.

I also want to thank each of you, for putting your faith in me and giving me the opportunity to be in service to you. Our industry is in a place of uncertainty at the moment, but I am glad we’ll be going through this together.