Carolina Blitz April - May 2019

Carolina Blitz April - May 2019

New Member Spotlight Emma Shillman Page 8

CAROLINAS CHAPTER

Renaissance Asheville Hotel May 19-20, 2019 Asheville, NC

in this issue...

features FUN-Raising: Annual Meeting Auction & Raffle in Asheville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

in every issue Our Annual Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Monthly Meeting Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MPI-CC Board & Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13

Creative Market | ariadna de raadt

Board Meeting Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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MPI-CC THANKS OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS! We Appreciate Your Support!

Platinum Sponsors:

Diamond Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

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| Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019

our members Welcome New Members!

Jamie Beddard Graylyn International Conference Center beddardj@wfu.edu Jennifer Brown Ashworth College jenniferbrown0929@gmail.com Angela Brown-Cameron, CMP an Event Lady Production, LLC angelab@aneventladyproduction.com Sarah Casella McGill & Hill Group sarah.casella@mcgillhillgroup.com Yalanda Edwards Ashworth College Yalanda4115@gmail.com Emily Evans evansej3@gmail.com Simone Farrar, CMP farrars@ymail.com

Julie Garver Great Wolf Lodge jgarver@greatwolf.com

Katie Potts Kiawah Island Golf Resort katie_potts@kiawahresort.com

Margo Ginsberg Duke University margo.ginsberg@duke.edu

Lisa Prince North Carolina Egg Association lprince@ncegg.org

Shannon Hutchings Shannon.Hutchings@Clubcorp.com

Katherine Stone, CMP katie.stone@jmp.com

Keira King Ashworth College keiraking0817@gmail.com

Alejandra Villegas North Carolina Bar Association avillegas@ncbar.org

Jessica Mills, CMP ACEC/NC jmills@acecnc.org

Valerie Ward, CPCE Blackwell St. Mgt/American Tobacco vward@cbc-raleigh.com

Ayshen Montiel Kimpton Hotels ayshen.montiel@thecardinalhotel.com

Stephen Williams Hilton Charlotte Executive Park Hotel stephen.williams2@hilton.com

Jaime Omps Passport Labs, Inc Jaime.omps@passportinc.com

Teresa Youngblood Ashworth College lada130@yahoo.com

MPI-CC Anniversaries

First Timers and New Members at the April Mixer

20 Years Kimberly Bryan Pinehurst Resort & Spa 5 Years Mica Parekh, CMP IWP Photography Karen Wall Visit Winston-Salem

Congratulations to each of you for reaching a milestone in MPI!

(left to right): Emma Shillman - North Charleston Marriott; Julie Garver - Great Wolf Lodge Charlotte/Concord; Meg Smith - Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort and Conference Center; Stuart Phillips - Ivey Drive Advisors, LLC Susan Walters - SC Restaurant and Lodging Association Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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BrianAJackson/iStock/Thinkstock

monthly meeting planner

May 19-20, 2019

July 18-19, 2019

Annual Meeting

Chapter Meeting

Asheville, NC

North Charleston, SC

Renaissance Asheville Hotel

North Charleston Marriott

June 15-18, 2019

September 19-20, 2019

MPI World

Business Exchange

Education Congress

Cary, NC

Toronto, Canada

Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is Friday, May 31, 2019.

Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Cathy Mauldin, CMP, at cathymauldin@gmail.com.

OUR HELPING HAND WINNER: Najauna White!

Congratulations to Najauna White with Discover Durham for winning the March Helping Hand Award. Najauna wanted to get involved as soon as she joined MPI Carolinas Chapter. Her love for helping others and sharing information found the perfect home on the Marketing and Social Media Committees. She has worked hard to make our events better and has quickly gained the trust of all who work with her. Soon, she’ll be on the board working for the good of the membership! The Marketing and Social Media Committees are very fortunate to have her on their teams and MPI-CC greatly appreciates her willingness to donate her time to serve our members.

Thank you, Najauna!

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president’s message What a Wonderful Trip It’s Been!

As I sit here writing my last President’s message to this wonderful chapter, I can’t help but feel a tremendous level of love and pride. I have taken this responsibility with complete drive and dedication to leaving this chapter better than I found it. We have had our ups and downs (Hello Hurricane Florence!!) but I truly believe that we are positioned for more successful years to come. We will soon induct a new Board of Directors (pictured below) which is comprised of FOUR brand new leaders to our Board. That’s an incredible testament to the excitement and involvement of our membership. We have challenged ourselves by trying new meeting formats and taking risks to bring more value to our members. We managed to pull off one our best Business Exchanges, right on the heels of a hurricane that crippled so many of our members and partners in this industry. It was uplifting and heartfelt to see so many in our chapter and industry come together to show support for those affected by the storm.

Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM MPI-CC President

I have grown personally and professionally working in this leadership role. I have discovered strengths within myself that I never knew existed. I pushed myself far outside of my comfort zone many times, not knowing if the end result would be good or bad. I’m proud to say that I’m a stronger, better and more well-rounded person because of this opportunity.

Although my time as President is coming to an end, my involvement in this chapter definitely is not. I will spend the next year as Immediate Past President, helping to guide and encourage the Board of Directors and committees. I will step up to help whenever and wherever needed. Following my time on the board, I will get engaged as a committee member and continue to give back to the chapter that has done so much for me over the last 14 years.

Everyone is unique and on their own journey. We are all exceptional and must know that to be successful. My ask of you is to raise one another up. Encourage your friends and colleagues to be their best selves. Cherish each day you have on earth and love hard. We are all fighting a battle, some more and harder than others depending on the day, but we are better together.

I wish each and every one of you success and love on your life’s journey. It has been an honor to serve you, and I will carry the impact of this with me forever.

Much love,

Alison Harding

Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM

2019-20 Board of Directors Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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MPI-CC 2018-2019 Board of Administration President Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM AENC 919-461-8698 Alison@aencnet.org

President-Elect Nicole Keshler Greater Raleigh CVB 919-645-2682 nkeshler@visitraleigh.com

Immediate Past President Alyce Kelly, CHSP Beaufort Hotel Alyce.Kelly@concordhotels.com

Director of Marketing Mica Parekh, CMP IWP Photography 919-270-2510 mica@iwpphotography.com

Marketing Committee Mindy Kozlowski Hilton Durham Near Duke University 919-564-2906 mindy.kozlowski@ hiltondurhamnc.com

Director of Meeting Planning Deanna Griffith House, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM, CMM Charter Spectrum Reach 704-941-3482 deanna.k.griffith@gmail.com

Education Committee Co-Chair Alison Flaig Genworth Mortgage Insurance Alison.flaig@genworth.com

Communications VP of Communications Ricardo Hicks Tech Factory 336-686-6895 rhicks@ techfactoryproductions.com

Education VP of Education John Cruz, CMM Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC 301-889-1143 john.cruz@bcbsnc.com

Education Committee Co-Chair Wendy Jeffries HelmsBriscoe wjeffries@helmsbriscoe.com

Finance VP of Finance Maureen Donovan Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach 910-256-2231 mdonovan@

Silent Auction Committee Chair Needed

wrightsville.holidayinnresorts.com

XCHANGE Committee Barbara Dragan VisitGreenvilleSC 864-421-0000 bdragan@visitgreenvillesc.com

Member Engagement VP of Member Engagement Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs 919-469-1040, ext. 128 ahodges@NCACPA.org

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Director of Leadership & Volunteer Development Nicole Filippo, CMP Elon University 336-278-6091 nfilippo@elon.edu

Awards Committee April Ferguson, CMP, CMM BCD M&E Onsite at Cisco Systems 502-468-6084 april.clark1@gmail.com

Director of Member Engagement Michelle Castro Siena Hotel 919-918-2539 mcastro@sienahotel.com

Member Engagement Committee Jamie Frydlo Hotel Indigo Raleigh Durham Airport @ RTP 919-294-9873 jfrydlo@bluegrasshotels.com

f Directors and Committees Advocacy Committee Chair Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4218 Christian@ visitwinstonsalem.com

Chapter Administrator Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office 704-377-5648 Christine@ themanagementoffice.com

Publications Committee Cathy Mauldin, CMP DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith 803-917-1871 cathymauldin@gmail.com

Social Media Committee Tenessa Moore Moore Creative Ink, Inc. 704-542-4814 tmoore@moorecreativeink.com

Meeting Planning Committee Chair Needed

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Farrah Staub, CMP Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley 919-571-5319 farrah.staub@marriott.com Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Jennifer Kist, CMP MHI 704-607-1454 jkist@mhi.org

Leadership & Volunteer Development Committee Chair Needed

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new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: Emma Shillman

by Amelia Hodges, CMM, CMP

Emma Shillman

Why did you join MPI-CC? I joined MPI-CC because I wanted to be a part of an organization where I am able to connect with top business professionals in my field and gain knowledge which will help me grow in the meeting planning industry. MPI-CC also gives me the opportunity to network in different cities in the Carolinas and learn innovative meeting planning trends.

opening in the Charleston area, I was determined to be a part of the Sales and Events Team. I started on the opening team for the North Charleston Marriott as the only Event Planner and in May 2018, I was promoted to Catering Sales Manager.

What are your hobbies and what do you enjoy outside of event planning?

I enjoy being very active in the Charleston area. I love being outside on the beach, spending time with my family and friends, going to the gym, and giving back to the Charleston area by volunteering with the Junior League of Charleston.

How did you enjoy your first MPI-CC meeting?

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in the meeting industry?

My first MPI-CC experience was extremely enjoyable thanks to the inviting and friendly atmosphere created by everyone in attendance. I was also blown away by the SEWA BEATS speaker and his metaphors using drum rhythms. n

Always remember why you have this passion for meetings/events. For me, I love to see the planning process through to the end, notice how successful a meeting was, and the smile on the client’s face.

What led you to your current role at the North Charleston Marriott?

I always had a passion for events during high school and college. When I heard a remodel of the Marriott was

Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs VP of Member Engagement

Volunteers are the heart of our organization.

Help make a difference in our chapter and shape its future.

Volunteering on a committee is a great way to elevate your membership, engage with fellow planners and suppliers, develop your leadership skills, and learn new professional skills.

Visit mpi.org/Carolinas or email Director of Leadership & Volunteer Development, Nicole Filippo, CMP, at nfilippo@elon.edu for more information on getting involved.

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You too may have your own revelation.

In National Geographic Traveler’s “20 Must-See Places” issue, Greenville, SC was revealed in 11 colorful pages, each celebrating its “magnetic downtown” and “visionary locals.” From scrappy startups to 40 Fortune 500 companies, there are plenty of reasons why companies are setting down roots in this “unlikely pocket of the country.” Greenville is a place where new ideas come to life and grow into the next big thing. So, the next time you plan a meeting, seek inspiration in a place where “people love ideas” and there’s “room for ambitions to grow.” You, too, will soon understand why more and more groups are “going Greenville.” Come curious, leave enlightened.

Greenville, SC. Yeah, THAT Greenville.

What are you waiting for? Plan your next meeting in the place that has everyone talking. #yeahTHATgreenville

800.351.7180 Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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education MPI-CC Education March Recap

by John Cruz, CMM

SEWA BEATS Had Us All on the Same Sheet of Music!

Actually, no sheet of music was required, but there were plenty of drums to get us all in sync. We were treated to a wonderful Q&A session on Thursday where we learned the origin of the drums and music and basically everything you could ever want to know about SEWA BEATS. We had numerous chapter members take a crack at keeping the beat which was entertaining to all. During the Q&A session, some shared testimonials on how they had successful meetings and their personal experiences using SEWA BEATS. On Friday, we got a hands-on education on the drums with each of us learning on our own instrument. Through this process, the leadership lessons and teamwork themes were constant and rewarding. We all learned to create a piece of music together, debriefing each step along the way, cultivating several fundamental

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Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019

leadership skills. By using the perspective of music to explore the competencies of the field, we left with a renewed appreciation of both the art and discipline of leadership. Revisiting the fundamentals of the field in this way elevates the leadership practices of professionals across the meeting planning industry. This presentation was an experiential learning exploration that examined the difference between “learning about” and “having an experience of” to create a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of effective leadership. Not to mention we all had a lot of fun. n

John Cruz, CMM Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC VP of Education

Looking Ahead at Education: May Chapter Meeting

by John Cruz, CMM

Find Your Groove at the Annual Meeting

Banding People Together

Banding People Together, a group of collaboration experts from different walks of life, aims to bring teams together in music-infused high-energy sessions. They’ll present “Finding Your Collaborative Groove, Parts 1 & 2,” during the Annual Meeting on Monday, May 20, and illustrate an entirely new way to view “collaboration” that shifts participants’ mindset from an activity to a defined process that can be taught, developed, measured, and shared.

Banding People Together is a super group of behaviorists, strategists, coaches and rock stars (literally), that helps individuals, teams and organizations learn how to get more done and feel great doing it. Their True Collaboration® methodology combines validated behavioral science with the power of music to deliver a non-traditional, content rich learning experience that dramatically impacts engagement, talent management, performance and culture. n

During the session, participants will: • Learn the True Collaboration® framework for optimizing performance • Understand why collaboration fails so often in teams and organizations • Learn how they sound to others when working together (based on famous recording artists)

John Cruz, CMM Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC VP of Education

Thought you knew us? Meet the new us.

CONVENTION CENTER WINSTON - SALEM

NORTH CAROLINA

With a multi-million dollar Convention Center renovation and more than $1.9 billion invested downtown, Winston-Salem is renovating more than buildings. We’re Reinventing the Meeting.

Contact Christian Schroeder at Christian@VisitWinstonSalem.com, 336.782.4218, or Karen Wall at Karen@VisitWinstonSalem.com, 336.728.4210.

ReinventYourMeeting.com

Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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Look Who We Spotted at...

the Crown Plaza C 12

| Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019

Charlotte Executive Park in March in Charlotte, NC! Photography by Mica Parekh, CMP – IWP Photography

EXPLORE TASTE SOMETHING SOMETHING NEW NEW A NEW PLACE TO MEET Vi Vi ss ii tt N N ee w wB B ee rr n n .. cc o om m/ /M M ee ee tt ii n ng g ss

OUR ANNIVERSARY GIFT TO YOU It Comes Naturally.

We’ve spent over 300 years We’ve spent over 300 years preparing for your meeting preparing for your meeting

H O P, S K I P,

During the 15th Anniversary of The Sanctuary Hotel, your group won’t have to choose how to celebrate— you get all the gifts, including complimentary rooms, upgrades, golf perks, discounts on contracted F&B and A/V…plus a free stay.*

and a

JUMP visitgreenvillenc.com/meetings

We’re not out of the way. We’re out of the ordinary.

CELEBRATE WITH SPECIAL RATES TOO! Get all the details at KiawahMeetings.com G ROUP FACILITIE S TE AM- B UILDIN G 5 G OLF COU R SES 1 0 - MILE B E ACH VILLAS TH E SAN CTUARY LE SS TH AN 3 0 MILE S F ROM H ISTORIC CH ARLESTON

Andrew Schmidt CHME, MPA Executive Director 252-329-4200 andrew@visitgreenvillenc.com

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Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019

Proud Host of the 2021 PGA Championship *Offer valid for select dates in 2019. Does not apply to previously booked meetings. See website for details.

ONE RESORT ONE CONTRACT ALL CONVENIENCE

Our professional staff will make your conference worry-free.

Book your event now to take advantage of our easy one contract planning, 32,794 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and the breathtaking landscape of the Great Smokey Mountains.

CaesarsMeansBusiness.com

Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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Be Inspired at wec19 MPI’s 2019 World Education Congress conference is scheduled for June 15-18, 2019 in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto is Canada’s hub – the capital of Ontario, it’s famous for its big-ticket events, top attractions, unique restaurants and vibrant nightlife, it’s the most-visited destination and the perfect location for this year’s WEC. MPI has an inspirational agenda planned for WEC19 which will bring us together to create shared experiences through innovative education, dynamic networking, and countless business opportunities.

Creative Market | Maurizio De Mattei

From the keynotes to concurrent sessions to the networking functions, MPI has a thoughtful and creative program planned for all. WEC19 is sure to leave you with meaningful experiences, amazing food memories, and new friendships to treasure.

To register or learn more about WEC19, click here!

MEET AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL. Greensboro offers the perfect combination of small town charm and big city appeal.

See what’s new in Greensboro! You will be surprised by all it has to offer.

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Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019

visitgreensboronc.com

Orig inality without reservations Vanvisa and Vansana Nolintha have poured their beliefs and passions into Brewery Bhavana. Their newest gathering place blends inspired dim sum with craft beer, flowers and well-curated books in a space that celebrates creativity. It’s the kind of establishment you’d only find in Raleigh, where talked-about chefs and some of the country’s most original restaurants are thriving.

A meeting in Raleigh is an opportunity to go beyond the conference room to discover unique experiences and find greater inspiration.

Find the Top 25 Reasons to Meet in Raleigh, N.C., at visitRaleigh.com/top25.

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board meeting highlights March Board Meeting Recap

by Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office

We are thrilled to announce that we will now be recapping our board meetings in an article, rather than minutes, to show you all the new and exciting things our board is working on day in and day out.

All formal meeting minutes are available to the membership, so please contact the MPI-CC office if you would like a copy.

We received our mid-year performance report card from Global and we are currently a sustaining chapter, just one point away from being a high-performing chapter! Areas that we are performing particularly well in are retention and non-member conversion (non-members who attend our chapter meetings and join afterwards) – WELL DONE membership team!

We welcomed our new 2019-20 board members to join us at the March board meeting last month and I’m happy to report that we had a nearly 100% attendance between current and future board members! The only one missing was our fearless incoming president, Nicole Keshler, who was out on maternity leave with her sweet baby boy.

We’ll welcome her back at the next board meeting.

During the board meeting, we spent some time reviewing our business plan and where we stand on each objective.

Your board has been HARD at work and we are close to fulfilling all objectives with two months still left in the year. A couple of exciting new things we are working on include fine tuning our new social media takeover opportunity, a CMP bootcamp in the next fiscal year and implementing and tracking informal member meet-ups as an added member benefit. The education team is also hard at work to finalize speakers for the rest of the calendar year so you can get everything for the next six months on your calendar.

From the Chapter Office, we have a lot going on this spring! The Annual Meeting registration is now open and the meeting planning and finance committees are working on this in full force. The theme of the meeting will be “Discover the Unexpected” and that’s all we can say. We can’t give away all the fun ahead of time! We will use the annual awards banquet to highlight all of our award nominees and recipients.

Congrats to Najauna White with Discover Durham who was nominated and selected by the board to be this month’s Helping Hand Winner! She’s a Rockstar!

We have received all of our 2020 meeting proposals and will be reviewing those at the May board meeting for approval. We had some wonderful proposals and can’t wait to unveil the 2020 calendar to the membership!

Welcome to our two new annual sponsors – Caesars Entertainment/Harrah’s Cherokee at the Platinum level and Discover Newport at the Silver level. We appreciate your partnerships and support to our great chapter.

MPI Global will be sending out its annual Chapter Satisfaction Survey, and it’s crucial that we have as many members complete this survey as possible. These survey results impact our chapter metrics and could potentially get us access to some great incentives offered by Global including complimentary memberships to give away, WEC registrations and even speaker funding.

Our next board meeting is May 19 during the annual meeting, but the activity doesn’t stop between now and then. Your Board is hard at work over these next two months transitioning their current roles to their successors and planning for the year end. The incoming Board had a very successful Board retreat April 11-12 in Raleigh. We look forward to updating you on all the progress. n

Speaking of Global… they are in full swing preparing to transition all our chapter board members from one year to the next. Board 101 training and position specific training will be available to all board members this month. It’s a great refresher to current board members as well as instrumental training for all 20192020 board positions.

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Christine Irwin, CMP MPI-CC Chapter Administrator The Management Office

RECHARGE YOUR MEETING EXPERIENCE IN HICKORY

Energize your meetings and attendees with a well-crafted experience in Hickory, North Carolina. As an organization, we are grounded in the steady pulse of our supercharged service — a positive staple that our clients and customers count on. With advanced technology offerings, renovations throughout the facility, and a metro-wide commitment to community enrichment, we have the power you seek to amp up your next event!

HICKORY METRO

Convention & Visitors Bureau

Meetings. Well Crafted.

828.322.1355 hickorymetro.com

“All of the staff was very helpful and exceptional to work with – best venue staff I have ever worked with!”

– Sharnese Ransom, Executive Director

NC Association of County Directors of Social Services

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G N I T E E M L A U AN N

n o i t Auc

e l f f &Ra E L L I V E H S A IN

Join the fun Sunday evening, May 19th, and be ready to bid on magnificent hotel stays, items you never knew you needed, and those things that “spark joy�!

We are mixing it up this year in Asheville at the Annual Meeting.

Along with our traditional Sunday Evening Silent Auction, we will be holding a raffle throughout the meeting. Buy your raffle tickets online when you register for the meeting or purchase them when you arrive at the hotel.

If you need additional information contact; Maureen Donovan, VP of Finance | 910-344-6805 | mdonovan@wrighsville.holidayinnresorts.com Karen Wall Co-Chair of Annual Meeting Auction | 336-728-4210 | karen@visitwinstonsalem.com The funds we raise through auctions and raffles go to enhance member education opportunities and meeting agendas.

OUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL WINNERS: Taylor Wilks & Nicole Succop Congratulations to Taylor Wilks with Experience Columbia SC and Nicole Succop with Courtyard Carolina Beach (NC) for winning $100 off membership or membership renewal gift certificates at the March meeting!

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Carolina Blitz | April - May 2019 |

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Carolina Blitz The Carolina Blitz is the official publication of the Carolinas Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is published every other month. All contributions, articles, and photographs should be submitted to Publications Committee Chair/ Editor one week after the meeting. Send to Cathy Mauldin, CMP CathyMauldin@gmail.com EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Director of Marketing Mica Parekh, CMP - IWP Photography Editor Cathy Mauldin, CMP • DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith

Know a Helping Hand?

We have so many active members who deserve recognition for their efforts! If you know of someone who is going above and beyond, share their name and volunteer accomplishments with us so we can give them a shout out. This person can be a board member, a committee chair or member or even a brand new MPI-CC member who has already started to shine.

Helping Hand Awards are given on a bi-monthly basis and nominations are accepted all the time! Please send your nomination to April Ferguson, CMP, CMM, at aprilferguson10@gmail.com.

Thank you for helping recognize your fellow members!!

CALLING ALL WRITERS Do you dream of being a published author? If so, the Blitz is looking for you! While we’re not the Wall Street Journal, getting published in the Blitz is a great way to share your ideas with fellow MPI-CC members and earn points toward your CMP certification. The Blitz is always accepting original articles and great topic ideas. To submit your articles or ideas, please contact Cathy Mauldin, CMP, at CathyMauldin@gmail.com or submit via our website at www.mpi-cc.org.

Contributing Writers Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM, Global Knowledge; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; John Cruz, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina; Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM, North Carolina Association of CPA; Cathy Mauldin, CMP, DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith; Mica Parekh, CMP, IWP Photography; Maureen Donovan, Holiday Inn Resort - Wrightsville Beach, NC Photographer Mica Parekh, CMP - IWP Photography Proofreaders Kathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial; Myron Jones, Fayetteville CVB; Nancy Lowe, CMP, NC Medical Society; Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, NC Association of Electric Cooperatives; Melinda Mowry, DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern - Riverfront Publisher Christine Irwin, CMP • The Management Office 704-377-5648 • Fax 704-333-6927 • Christine@themanagementoffice.com Advertising Christine Irwin, CMP • The Management Office • 704-377-5648 Design Kistin Creative Studio • 704-724-9188 • kistincreative.com MPI-CC Web Site: www.mpi-cc.org ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINES AD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER NON-MEMBER

RATE RATE Quarter Page 1X $220 $290 (3 1/2”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $200/issue $270/issue

6X $160/issue $230/issue Half Page Horizontal 1X $420 $550 (7 1/4”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $400/issue $530/issue

6X $360/issue $490/issue Half Page Vertical 1X $420 $550 (3 1/2”W x 9 1/2”H) 3X $400/issue $530/issue

6X $360/issue $490/issue Full Page 1X $640 $840 (8 1/2”W x 11”H) 3X $620/issue $820/issue

6X $580/issue $780/issue Full Page Insert 1X $700/issue $910/issue

3X $680/issue $890/issue

6X $640/issue $850/issue (Produced and provided by advertiser) There are six issues of the Blitz published yearly FEB/MAR, APR/MAY, JUNE/JULY, AUG/SEPT, OCT/NOV, DEC/JAN

May 19-20, 2019 Renaissance Asheville Hotel Annual Meeting Asheville, NC

NOTE: Rates are published as of January 2011, and are subject to change without notice. All published rates are net non-commisionable. Any cost incurred by the BLITZ for art that is not fully press ready (e.g. reductions, halftones) will be billed to the advertiser, or art that is not press ready may be refused.

DUE DATE: Due by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Artwork is due to the publisher within 10 days after deadline for space reservations.

SEND MATERIALS TO: Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office, 1307 West Morehead St, Suite 207, Charlotte, NC 28208 Christine@TheManagementOffice.com • Fax: 704-333-6927 For more advertising information contact Christine Irwin, CMP, at Christine@TheManagementOffice.com or 704-377-5648 Visit our website at www.mpi-cc.org for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities!