What it Is Like Being Named to MPI’s 50 Most Influential List

By:  MaryAnne Bobrow, CAE, CMP Fellow, CMM

President, Bobrow Associates, Inc. – an Association & Meetings Management Firm

MPISSN is fortunate to have a member who has dedicated her career with volunteerism and has supported our chapter for many years.  We asked MaryAnne about what it was like for her to be named among the 50 Most Influential MPI members and to share some of her accomplishments she is most proud of.

Recognitions in this industry do not happen by chance – someone believes that an individual is worthy of being honored for their contributions to the organization. In my case, more than one person felt that way and multiple individuals did submit my name to be among the MPI –including Jeff Dougherty – Mr. Sacramento himself! Thanks, Jeff. Most grateful for your support.

MPI Global describes the MPI 50 Most Influential as this:  The greatness of MPI is led by the brilliant individuals who make up this community, such as these 50 influential professionals.”  If you have a chance, check out the article on all recognized 50 Influencers, Up & Coming, and Legacy Contributors in The Meeting Professional’s June edition (see  link at bottom of this article), you will see among the influencers and contributors some of the most well-known people in the industry. They have done so much for this industry and for MPI itself; it boggles my mind that people thought I belonged on the list. It is the same feeling I had when I was named the 2011 RISE Member of the Year. I cherish that award as much as I do this current recognition. I have been an MPI member for more than 20 years and have served the MPISSN chapter in various roles (both official and unofficial) throughout that time. I also have served MPI Global over the years as a presenter, co-author of MPI Academy’s Emergency Preparedness for Events curriculum, contributor of articles and blogs for MPI, past chapter facilitator, Past Chair of MPI’s Small Business Owners’ community, member of MPI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Committee since its inauguration three years ago, and member of MPI’s Community Advisory Board, among other projects for MPI. Those efforts are the essence of volunteerism and something I believe is just part of who I am and how I feel about giving back to an industry that has given so much to me. As mentioned earlier, I am a long-time advocate against human trafficking and just finished authoring an article for Meetings Today on how to include questions about human trafficking into your RFP. If interested in reading, the link is included below.

Resources: 

MPI’s 50 Most Influential – The Meeting Professional, June 2022

Critical Anti-Human Trafficking Questions to Include in Your RFP - Meetings Today – June 19, 2022