April Educational Program

MSU Denver, Hospitality Learning Center 1190 Auraria Pkwy suite b Denver, CO 80204 303-556-5740

9:30am – 11:00am – Board of Directors Meeting - Discover

11:00am - 11:30am - Member Orientation - Explore
11:30am – Registration and Networking
12:00pm – 1:30pm – Announcements, Box Lunches and Program
1:30pm – 2:00pm – Student Member Connections (10 groups available – 5 minutes each)

Program Sponsored by Sapphire Sponsor


Presented by MPI Student Chapter and MSU HTE Students

Gentelligence in the Workplace 
Gentelligence explains why we need to value all five generations in the workplace and how to optimize the strengths that every generation offers. Currently 93% of the workforce is composed of three generations: baby boomers, Gen-Xers, and millennials. With more than 10,000 baby boomers retiring per day and Gen-Z emerging into the workplace, what are you doing differently to attract a new generation? 

Learner Objectives:

• Debunk generational stereotypes in the workplace
• Understand what Gen-Z (and everyone else) is looking for in the workplace
• Challenge your mindset on the remote work fallacy
• Understanding the Great Resignation and how it can affect your own company 

Space is limited to 58 – Don’t delay, register today.

MPIRMC Official Meeting/Event Health Policy
The MPIRMC Board of Directors is consistently reviewing current health conditions of the city and county each MPIRMC event is being held in and will effectively communicate any changes to chapter policy when and if they change.  At this time, all chapter events will follow the city’s and venue’s current guidelines, stay at home if you are not feeling well and masks are recommended but not required.  

See the latest safety guidelines from Visit Denver here: https://www.denver.org/about-denver/clean-safe-guide/ 

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Panel Bios

Facilitator/Moderator 
Matthew Kalb CMP, CEM-AP
Director of New Business Development
Production Resource Group, LLC

Matthew Kalb, CEM-AP, CMP, Director of New Business Development at Production Resource Group (PRG), started in the event industry in 2009 working for S.A.F.E. Management as an Operations Manager with the Baltimore Ravens. After working Super Bowl XLII (42), he took an opportunity to work wit Hargrove, Inc. as an Account Executive in Lanham, Maryland.
In 2017, Matthew moved to Denver and began a career with GES as a Sales Manager in their Tradeshow and Conferences Division. In 2020 he transitioned to a Phoenix based association WorldatWork as a Manager, Exhibits & Sponsorship Sales. As events began their comeback following the pandemic, he was recruited to help PRG as their new Director of Business Development in June of 2021.
He has a strong customer service background and his attention to detail and ability to think outside the box, has positioned him a leading innovator in the industry. He is also a recipient of the CONNECT Associations 40 under 40 recognition.
Matthew was also part of the inaugural class of CEMs to receive their CEM-AP designation

Justin Clark – Vice President of Sales and Service
Visit Aurora
MPI Sapphire Annual Sponsor 
Incoming MPIRMC VP of Education
 
Justin is a Colorado native, and dedicated member of the Visit Aurora Team as the Vice President of Sales and Service.  He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, and he has worked in a variety of roles bringing outdoor events and festivals, sports tournaments, and group and convention business to Aurora and Colorado.  He has served as a board member on many non-profit and industry boards including the Colfax Marathon, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Aurora, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, Destination Colorado, Serving Up Hope, the Colorado Freedom Memorial, and now the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter.  Outside of work Justin enjoys outdoor adventures, reading, cooking, woodworking, and taking care of his urban farm.

Rachel Benedick, Executive Vice President, Sales & Service – Visit Denver

Rachel Benedick is the Executive Vice President, Sales & Services for VISIT DENVER.  She started her tenure with VISIT DENVER in 1998 and has served in several roles and was promoted to the Vice President role in 2008 and the Executive Vice President role in January 2020.  She oversees the convention department comprised of 30 team members.  Rachel received a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology & Counselor Education in 2001 from the University of Colorado – Denver and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1995 from Michigan State University.  If asked she’ll tell you she uses those psychology degrees EVERY DAY   When she’s not working she can be found spending time with her Weimaraner Rezak, working out, or drinking really great red wine because life is too short to not enjoy good wine ;)


Ellen Collins, CMP
Associate Director of Sales
VailResorts

Ellen is Associate Director of Sales Vail, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte Mountain Resorts.  She leads her sales team to best serve planners in fulfilling their meeting objectives and aspirational goals. This team will help secure ground transportation needs on Epic Mountain Express, hotel rooms, traditional and outdoor/ on mountain meeting space and dining, golf, skiing, lift tickets and much more. Ellen has been in hotel sales for thirty years. Her career started at Swissotel Boston, followed by sales at The Loews Anatole in Dallas, now a Hilton Hotel. In 1995, she moved to be Director of Sales and Marketing for the Loews Denver Hotel. In 2005, Ellen joined Vail Resorts and RockResorts in their Colorado national sales office. She is an active member of MPI and Immediate Past President of Destination Colorado. Ellen is proud to have received the Industry Legacy Award in honor of Sandy Gerety through MPI’s Rocky Mountain Chapter in 2018. Ellen is honored to have been recognized by Colorado Meetings + Events magazine as their Lifetime Achievement recipient for 2020 and is equally honored to have received the 2019 Leadership Award from the Meetings Industry Council.

Danny Findley
MPIRMC Past President, ILEA Past President

Danny has over 35 years of experience in the event and meeting management and planning industry. His experience covers a wide variety of areas including off-site catering, special event venues, restaurants, destination management, non-profits, design and décor. From corporate events, association planning to social events and conferences. Danny has been successful in all areas of the hospitality industry. He is very active in the event community serving as Past President of the Denver Chapter of International Live Events Association (ILEA) and Past President of the Meeting Professional International Rocky Mountain Chapter (MPIRMC). Danny was the recipient of the 2009 Rising Star Award for the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, the 2011 Planner of the Year Award for the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter and was inducted into the ILEA Denver Chapter Hall of Fame in 2013. Danny was also honored to be inducted into the Colorado Meetings and Events Hall of Fame for Best Special Event Professional 2018. Danny was born and raised in Colorado, he went to school in Chicago where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and has traveled extensively. His passion is being creative in all things especially in special events! Creating the WOW factor is his joy!

Angela Martinez
Metro Denver University Student Graduating in May
 
Angela is a first-generation student, 4.0 GPA, who is graduating this May with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Event Planning and Meeting Management. She has held a position as a Marketing and Group Sales intern at Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park for the past three years, organizing special events and activities. She has been chosen for an internship at the Hart Center for the Public Service, to gain experience as a Community Development intern at a local nonprofit, Confluence Ministries. She is an active member of the MSU Denver's Event Association and also a current member of the local Rocky Mountain MPI and PCMA chapters. She has recently been selected by Dean Masserini as the 2021-2022 Outstanding Student in the College of Letter, Arts & Sciences.

Connor Brown
Metro Denver University Freshman

Conner is a freshman, majoring in Event Planning and Meeting Management. He is an avid student that takes an initiative in volunteer opportunities that come his way. He is actively involved with the MSU Denver's Event Association working as an Event Coordinator Intern. He is also a current member of the local Rocky Mountain MPI and PCMA chapters and has recently been recognized for his academic excellence in the National Society of Leadership.

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Christie's Photographic Solutions is sponsoring Headshots at this months event again. Fix your hair, button up your collar and get your professional headshot for your profile.

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Members		Student Members		Non-Members		Non-Member Students
$35 until 4/14/22 $45 until 4/24/22 $55 after 4/24/22		$0		$65 until 4/24/22 $75 after 4/24/22		$25 until 4/24/22 $35 after 4/24/22

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Sponsors

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MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter is a CMP Preferred Provider. The use of the CMP Preferred Provider Pre-Check logo is not an endorsement by the Event Industry Council of the quality of the session. This logo means that this session has met the criteria to be pre-approved for CMP certification credit. – CMP-IS DOMAIN E: Human Resources  This events attendance roster will be uploaded to the EIC for CE credits tracking (if applicable).If you do not have a EIC account, you can create one atwww.eventscouncil.org In order for these records to be accepted by EIC, the email used for registration MUST match (case sensitive) the email provided to the EIC for your account.

 

 

MSU Denver’s School of Hospitality is the only program in the U.S. that has a LEED Gold® hotel, a commercial conference space, a state-of-the-art beverage testing laboratory, a commercial restaurant, and a working brewery all on campus. Plus, we are the largest hospitality program in the region.  We’ll provide you with an innovative education through experiential learning and real-world experience without burying you under a mountain of debt. more information...