Erika Biddix, CMM, CMP

Name: Erika Biddix, CMM, CMP
Organization: Biddix Meetings + Events
Job Title: Owner/Independent Planner
E-mail: erika@biddixmeetings.com

How long have you been in the events and hospitality industry?
Officially 16 years, but I did meeting planning as part of my earlier career in advertising - it's easiest to say 20 years.

Why did you join MPI?
I was new to Tennessee and looking for a community.

What do you hope to get from your MPI Tennessee membership?
No hope to it - I get what I WAS hoping for daily.  Community, friendship, camaraderie - the professional and business development is a bonus.

What is your favorite meeting or event you have been involved in and why?
In 2007 I had the opportunity to plan the Global Sales Meeting for a technology client.  We had attendees from 30+ countries.  Two weeks before the event, leadership at the company was completely removed and replaced - so we got to plan it twice.  But, it was held in Toronto, and we got a chance to do things meeting planners dream of - building menus with a scratch kitchen, bringing in international talent, running simultaneous galas for each region.  It was a feat of organization and creativity and I loved every minute of it.

Tell us more about yourself…hobbies, little known fact, etc.
I own a second business - Girl Boss Offices - in Knoxville.  Turns out I'm a serial entrepreneur, but to keep myself from opening new businesses, I help others open theirs.

Also, I got to introduce O-Town on TRL while visiting NYC in 2001.

What would you sing at karaoke night?
Nothing, unless someone found just the right combo of liquids for me.  I can honestly say I've NEVER in my life thought "hey, I'd like to karaoke."

What makes you laugh the most?
The sound of my kids' true giggles or horse laughs.  When they get going it's contagious.

Which decade do you love the most and why?
I'm least embarrassed by my hair and clothes in the 2010's, so that's the winner.

You can have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what is it? Diet Coke? Sushi? Scotch Tape?
I feel like I want to say chocolate, but the real answer is probably Wi-Fi.