Leverage the investment of MPI Wisconsin to bring meeting professionals to your area and property!
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April 16, 2025 - April 17, 2025
Free Planner Registration Education Day! Wednesday Casino Night!
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2025 Spring Education Day Session Details
Morning Keynote
Personal Branding for People Who Aren't Kardashians
- Leanne Calderwood
- Discover the 5 most common myths about personal branding and the truths that we should be embracing instead!
- Learn the 5 reasons why we should all build our brands, and how they can work alongside our organization's brand, mission and values
- Discover 5 Ways you can grow your brand, without social media!
Leanne Calderwood
Leanne Calderwood, CMP is a trainer and speaker and one of Canada’s top voices in the meetings and events industry. A self-professed raging introvert and tea drinker, Leanne’s content helps professionals “shine quietly”, harness their strengths and create impact and influence in a noisy world.
As a veteran meeting broker, Leanne has a unique perspective into both sides of a sale’s transaction. She shines a light on these best practices and helps professionals break through the clutter and stand out from their competition through her blog posts, LinkedIn content and digital courses.
Leanne is a regular columnist for the Canadian Meetings + Events Expo, and has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts. She was welcomed into the Canadian Meetings + Events Hall of Fame in 2023.
AM Breakout Sessions - 10:00 - 11:15
State of the Industry in Wisconsin
- Bill Elliott, CAE President & CEO Wisconsin Hotel Lodging Association
- Laura Nelson, Associate Director of Sales, Visit Milwaukee
Menu Trends and Sustainability
- Levy Restaurants Speaker
PM Breakout Sessions - 12:45 - 2:00
I'm Just Following Up (And Other Things We Say That Compromise Our Value)
- Leanne Calderwood
- Learn how simple words can diminish or elevate your position and how they feed into an unconscious power dynamic
- Explore how identities and labels can change how you view your God-given talents and strengths
- Create a plan that helps you correct your language in the act, move confidently into business relationships.
Ethical Approaches to Solving Problems
- Elizabeth Schlicht, Association Accumen
We all face ethical dilemmas – situations where there are conflicts between our ethical values. This can be conflicts between personal values, organizational values – or where our personal and the organizational values collide. How do you assess and traverse these situations? How do you empower your team members to approach these situations with confidence? We’ll discuss these questions and dig into real-life dilemmas to practice these assessment skills and exercise our ethical muscles to approach these circumstances with confidence. If you have a case study you’d like included – please send it to me. Any and all cases presented will be anonymized.
NSA Wisconsin Speaker Showcase
The National Speakers Association Wisconsin (NSA WI) is excited to partner with MPI Wisconsin to present a dynamic Speaker Showcase at the MPI WI Spring Education Event. Hosted by professional emcee Roger Wolkoff, this fast-paced session features seven expert speakers delivering engaging 10-minute micro-keynotes designed to inspire and demonstrate the impact of professional speakers on events. Join us for an interactive and high-energy experience showcasing how customized presentations create meaningful audience connections.
Speakers and Titles in Order:
Eliz Greene: Master the Mayhem: Event Stress Survival Guide
https://elizgreene.com/
Event planning is chaotic, but stress doesn't have to take over. Stress management expert Eliz Greene shares her proven 5-step strategy to help event professionals manage baseline stress, recognize early warning signs, interrupt stress reactions, focus on solutions, and actively recover. By identifying the signs, you'll be proactive and prepared, ready to manage stress on the spot, recover quickly, and keep the mayhem from following you home.
Jeff Kortes: Give ’em C.R.A.P. to Secure Client and Attendee Loyalty
http://www.jeffkortes.com
Event success relies on strong relationships, and C.R.A.P. (Caring, Respect, Appreciation, and Praise) is the key to building lasting connections with clients, vendors, and attendees. Just as these principles enhance employee engagement, they also foster customer loyalty and elevate the event experience. 'Giving Your Clients C.R.A.P.' is a must for event professionals looking to create impactful, memorable experiences that keep clients coming back.
Paula Houlihan: The ABCs of Choice: Reprogram Your Brain for Better Decisions
https://paulahoulihan.com
Event professionals constantly make high-stakes decisions, yet up to 95% of choices happen on autopilot. In this eye-opening session, you'll explore The ABCs of Choice—the three key parts of the brain that drive decision-making—and learn a simple four-step process to take back control. Through real-life examples and actionable strategies, you'll walk away with tools to make better choices, reduce stress, and navigate events with greater confidence and clarity.
Gina Glover: Focus on the 5th Question to Improve Networking and Develop Deeper Connections
www.ginaconnects.com
Gina Glover’s Focus on the 5th Question framework empowers event professionals to move beyond small talk and create meaningful connections that drive results. In this interactive and engaging session, attendees will learn how to break through common networking barriers and foster conversations that lead to real relationships. With fresh strategies and a participatory approach, this keynote will leave event pros inspired to rethink networking and elevate their professional connections.
Deborah Biddle: The Text That Changed Everything
www.ppl-co.com
Event professionals play a crucial role in creating spaces where everyone feels valued, yet true inclusion goes beyond policies and checkboxes. In this powerful and deeply personal talk, Deborah Biddle shares real-life experiences and eye-opening insights that redefine what belonging truly means. Through thought-provoking storytelling, she challenges attendees to move beyond surface-level diversity efforts and embrace inclusion as a commitment to fostering meaningful, transformative connections at every event.
Kathie Rotz: Letting Go of Controls: Finding Balance in the Events Industry
www.unityconsultingllc.com
In the fast-paced world of event planning, the instinct to control every detail is second nature. But what if true stability comes from learning to let go of controls? Through a powerful personal story, this session explores the illusion of control and how shifting your mindset can lead to greater resilience, preparing you for any challenge and success. Event professionals will walk away with fresh insights on navigating uncertainty, regaining balance, and taking intentional action in high-pressure situations.
Patty Hendrickson: Fingerprints of Leadership: Leaving a Lasting Impact in the Events Industry
https://pattyhendrickson.com/
Great event professionals don’t just manage details—they inspire teams, set expectations, and create lasting influence. This high-energy, interactive session explores the shift from self-leadership to peer leadership, helping attendees strengthen their impact on people and organizations. Through reflection, storytelling, and a wealth of practical strategies, participants will uncover the success patterns of top influencers, refine their leadership approach, and learn how to foster mentorship and collaboration in high-pressure event environments, feeling equipped and prepared for the challenges ahead.
