Blitz August-September 2016

Carolina Blitz August - September 2016

New Member Spotlight Allison Gore Page 8

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley September 15-16, 2016 | Raleigh, NC

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16PNH039.SuccessNCJanAd.indd 1

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in this issue...

features Safety Not Guaranteed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 In-Person vs. Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 See MPI! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

STILLFX/iStock/Thinkstock

Board Meeting Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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

Diamond Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

our members Welcome New Members!

Kelly Finnessy Great Wolf Lodge - Concord/Charlotte kfinnessy@greatwolf.com

Stephanie Harmon Hotel Indigo Downtown Nashville sharmon@hotelindigotn.com

Margaret Kelly Roberts The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel

Allison Gore My Girl Friday mygirlfridayinc.nc@gmail.com

Sandra Homes Wilson Visitors Center info@wilson-nc.com

Timothy Simmons Sheraton Greensboro Hotel tsimmons@sheratongreensboro.com

Elizabeth Green Duke Law School elizabethgreen98@gmail.com

Heather Jernigan Duke University heathynn@gmail.com

Michelle Torian Turnkey Events mltorian@gmail.com

Kelley Ann Gregory UNC General Administration kelleyg@northcarolina.edu

Maria Lopez milopez242@gmail.com

Brooke Via Duke Energy brooke.via@duke-energy.com

Melinda Mowry DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern - Riverfront melinda.mowry@hilton.com

Jacqwayne Griffin b2dalo@gmail.com Keysha Hall Duke University School of Nursing keysha.hall@duke.edu

Denise Muldrow PSAV dmuldrow@psav.com

MPI-CC Anniversaries 25 years

10 years

Nancy Smythe

Michelle Castro

margaret.roberts@thecardinalhotel.com

Marianne S. Wheeler mariannewheeler12@gmail.com Wade Younger Wade Younger Live wade@wadeyounger.com

First Timers and New Members at the July Mixer

Residence Inn Durham

15 years

McPherson/Duke University

Tina D’Erasmo

Medical Center

Hilton North Raleigh/ Midtown

Nicole Filippo Elon University

Barbara Dragan The Westin Charlotte

5 years Michele Boisvert Wells Fargo Bank

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

(Left to right) Sandra Homes – Wilson Visitors Center; Carol Owen – Retreat Resources; Morgan Wallace, CMP – Wells Fargo; Kathryn Stachowicz – Hendrick Automotive Group; Elizabeth Green – Duke Law School; Amy Bruns – American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE); Kelly Finnessy – Great Wolf Lodge – Concord/Charlotte; Lynn Skinner – The Rizzo Conference Center; Allison Gore – My Girl Friday; Kathryn McGuire – North Charleston Marriott Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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monthly meeting planner September 15-16, 2016 Education & Business Exchange

Global Meetings Industry Day

April 6, 2017

Raleigh, NC Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley November 3-4, 2016

Concord, NC

Great Wolf Lodge – Charlotte/Concord

Annual Meeting

May 10-11, 2017

New Bern, NC

DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern – Riverfront July 27-28, 2017

January 19-20, 2017

Raleigh, NC

DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh

Winston-Salem, NC

Graylyn International Conference Center

Brownstone-University March 16-17, 2017

Myrtle Beach, SC

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

A Southeastern Meeting Destination That’s Easy to Get to But Difficult to Leave From the mountains to the beach our southern hospitality and well crafted style are sure to impress! Convenience and affordability aren’t the only things we have going for us!

Contact us today to find out why you should be meeting in Hickory, NC where meetings are well crafted!

hickorymetro.com | 828.322.1355

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is September 23, 2016. Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com.

president’s message

Celebrate our Success!

by Barbara Dragan

I cannot believe summer is almost over. I hope you’ve all had time to relax and create wonderful memories with family and friends. You all deserve it! Our chapter has had a great year and we can reflect well on our successes in 2015/16. We’ve increased membership retention at 75.33%, recruitment saw a net growth of 109 new members, we had 25.56% of our chapter actively volunteering and member satisfaction was at 8.71% out of a possible 10%. All exceptional metrics for our chapter! We have been continually doing better in our metrics year-over-year and consistently receive high remarks from MPI Global on our performance.

Barbara Dragan The Westin Charlotte 2016-2017 MPI-CC President

Each year our chapter is measured on these numbers, the fuel that runs our organization.

These metrics are our membership retention, membership recruitment, total volunteer number, chapter satisfaction survey score (sent out by Global in February), and financial gross margin. In short, they define us – the members and what we’re up to as a chapter and as individual volunteers. Your chapter board of directors uses these metrics to create a Business Plan each year. Achieving and exceeding our metric goals is extremely important to our chapter’s success as MPI assigns point values to the metrics. Our chapter earns points based on our metrics that can be used towards funding chapter education, securing speakers, and registration at MPI Global events.

Our 2016/17 metric goals for our chapter are as follows: Membership Retention

Maintain a member retention goal of at least 75.97%.

Recruitment

Achieve a net member growth of over 4% over 2015/16.

Volunteers

Maintain an Average of 27% of active volunteers.

Members Satisfaction

Achieve a Chapter Satisfaction score of at least 8.71% with a response rate of at least 25% of the membership via Chapter Satisfaction Survey sent out by MPI Global in February.

Financial

Achieve a year-end gross margin profit of 1-5%.

These are all attainable goals that we can accomplish in 2016/17 to bring our chapter valuable benefits. Any one of your board members would be delighted to answer any questions on the above as to why and how we will meet these goals and how each member is part of our chapter’s success. n

Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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MPI-CC 2016-2017 Board of Administration President Barbara Dragan The Westin Charlotte 704-335-2114 Barbara.Dragan@westin.com

President-Elect Alyce Kelly, CHSP Clam Digger Inn 252-241-8402 gm@theinnatpks.com

Immediate Past President Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4218 Christian@ visitwinstonsalem.com

Director of Marketing Brittany O’Shaughnessy Francis Marion Hotel 843-937-8690 Brittany.OShaughnessy@ thefrancismarion.com

Marketing Committee Farrah Staub, CMP Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley 919-571-5319 farrah.staub@marriott.com

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

Education Committee Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center 919-996-8514 mallory.middleton@ raleighconvention.com

Director of Strategic Partnerships Maureen Donovan Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach 910-256-2231 mdonovan@ wrightsville.holidayinnresorts.com

Strategic Partnerships Committee Chair Needed

Director of Fundraising Molly Nelson Spartanburg Marriott 864-591-3113 Molly.Nelson@marriott.com

Business Exchange Committee Co-Chair John Cruz, CMM Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC 919-765-1334 John.Cruz@bcbsnc.com

Director of Leadership & Volunteer Development Ricardo Hicks American AV 919-361-1151 rhicks@aavevents.com

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

Director of Membership Selah Havard Cabarrus County CVB 704-456-7970 Selah@visitcabarrus.com

Hospitality Committee Karen Knox, CMP, CMM Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4213 KKnox@visitwinstonsalem.com

Communications VP of Communications Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP Burroughs Wellcome Fund 919-991-5105 lhedrick@bwfund.org

Education VP of Education Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs 919-469-1040, ext. 8 ahodges@NCACPA.org

Finance VP of Finance Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Global Knowledge 919-461-8698 Alison.Harding@ globalknowledge.com

Membership VP of Membership Nicole Robinson Greater Raleigh CVB 919-645-2682 nrobinson@visitraleigh.com

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

f Directors and Committees

Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Linda Ilsley, CMP LPI Events 919-322-4996 lpievents@aol.com

Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Molly Johnson, CMP Wilmington & Beaches CVB 910-332-8747 mjohnson@ wilmingtonandbeaches.com

Publications Committee Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM NC Association of Electric Cooperatives 919-875-3050 ginny.fountain@ncemcs.com

Social Media Committee Mica Parekh IWP Photography 919-270-2510 mica@iwpphotography.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

Business Exchange Committee Co-Chair

Silent Auction Committee Kathy Flowe, CMP The Alabama Theatre 843-272-5758 ext 4450 kflowe@alabama-theatre.com

Kathleen Van Geluwe Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes 843-692-3712 kathleen.vangeluwe@ marriottsales.com

Awards Committee Co-Chair Lindsay Myers Caesars Entertainment 919-628-8836 lmyers1@caesars.com

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

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Jennifer Kist, CMP VROOMZ 704-607-1454 jkist@vroomz.com

Leadership & Volunteer Development Committee Christy Marcinkowski, CMP NC Sustainable Energy Assoc.

919-832-7601 ext 11 christy@energync.org

Member Care Committee Alex Oates PSAV 919-439-6214 aoates@PSAV.COM Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: Allison Gore

by Selah Havard, TMP

What makes our chapter such a wonderful community? Our members, of course! Getting to know new members is truly a joy for me. I love seeing people that join our chapter who have enthusiasm get involved and make an impact.

Allison Gore

Allison Gore just recently joined our chapter and is already signed up to volunteer! I hope each of you has the opportunity to meet Allison in person and give her a warm welcome to our MPI-CC family.

How long have you been in the industry?

I started my business in 2014 but became full time in January of 2016. I had always included event planning and coordination as part of my services. It wasn’t until a couple of months ago I realized my passion – EVENT PLANNING. I love every aspect of the process. It’s like putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and seeing the fruits of your labor. It’s now my complete passion. Looking for ideas, trends, creating an atmosphere that outlives the client’s expectation – this is my driving force.

What is your current position and how long have you worked there?

I am the owner of My Girl Friday and am also event coordinator for an established venue called Powell Manor in Burlington, NC. I have worked for Powell Manor since May. Tell me about your job and the company you work for?

My company is a concierge and personal assistant service.

We, this includes my team, specialize in event planning, business organization and errand service. The idea for the business was an idea from my father. He uses a clerical business in Boone for miscellaneous work. He called the owner of the business his “girl Friday.” I kept thinking of this name over and over again for about six months. I then decided to create a service for business owners and individuals who need help with everyday mundane tasks as well as a concierge. It’s been quite challenging, but the best part is I really enjoy it!

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy horseback riding, gardening (especially roses), travel to the beach, the gym (really!) and tennis. I enjoy

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

being of service to others. I volunteer at the Senior Center, NC Therapeutic Riding Center and my church.

Tell me about your family life.

I am divorced but, my cousin and his wife live with me. I have a fur baby named Tanner who is 11 years old and still acts like a puppy. I never had children, so my work in the church has primarily fulfilled that need.

Why did you join MPI-CC? In being a member, I see the value in meeting other MPI professionals who do the same thing I do here in NC and nationally. I wanted the ability to get to know these individuals and ask them questions about how they handled certain situations they have encountered. Also, being a certified meeting planner makes me more valuable to my clients. MPI is the perfect association to be a part of and to learn from.

If you were able to meet any famous person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Abraham Lincoln would be my first pick. He was a failure several times until he became an elected official. He was a self-taught lawyer, he wanted women to have the right to vote, and he freed slaves. He was very kind, compassionate, and easy going. Yes, honest-- Honest Abe. Lincoln believed that all people were equal under the law and equally deserving of peace, happiness and economic stability. I just feel that he was a man of great character who loved his country and helped his fellow man.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in our industry?

My advice would be to learn all that you can and prepare as much as you can in advance. It seems during this day and age things are changing constantly and the need to be prepared for Plan B is so important. It’s also important to communicate and not assume anything.

Congratulations, Allison! I know you are going to be a fantastic addition to our MPI-CC family. n

Selah Havard, TMP Cabarrus County CVB MPI-CC Director of Membership

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— Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, Director of Meeting Planning North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives

VisitWinstonSalem.com 866-728-4200

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• More than 4,800 hotel rooms • Multi-million dollar renovation to downtown Benton Convention Center (completed Spring 2017) • Over 100 restaurants and shops within walking distance of Convention Center complex • Forbes’ Top 10 Best Downtowns Christian Schroeder, Director of Sales and Services Christian@VisitWinstonSalem.com • 336-728-4218

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Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

education July Education Recap “Professional Leadership Skills for Meeting Professionals” - Susanne Gaddis

by Mallory Middleton

Life is comprised of a series of moments. A moment is only one to three seconds then on to the next. There are 20,000 individual moments in a day. In most of these moments, we are constantly communicating with others.

How can we effectively communicate to make the most of these moments? On July 15, 2016 at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill the Communications Doctor, Susanne Gaddis, gave attendees at the MPI-CC July meeting a variety of “prescriptions” for the meeting professional to communicate in the healthiest way.

Gaddis presented the C=P=R method to breathe new life into existing communication methods. This stands for communication, perception, and reality. An exercise that has helped many of Gaddis’ clients with their communications has been to ask the following questions: what are three things I need to start doing to help our relationship, what are three things I need to stop doing, and what are three things I need to continue doing?

There are four phases of conversation with others that are used when trying to get to know someone. Those phases are: Cliches (i.e. “hi, how are you?”), Facts (asking questions and sharing facts; trying to find a common ground), Opinions (if opinions are shared, draws individuals closer), and Feelings (i.e. excitement, concern, happy; these bring individuals even closer if the same feelings are shared). Gaddis suggested that the 80/20 rule be practiced in communication. Spend 80% of the time listening and 20% of the time talking. The objective is that both participants of the conversation will get close to the 50/50 mark of talking and listening.

Think about this, Jim Rohn famously quoted “we are the average of the five people we spend most time with”.

It is likely that one or more of those five people are coworkers, so good communication at work is essential.

Better moments = better memories = a better life. Better moments are filled with positive communication. Meeting attendees were urged to beware of the cyclops syndrome.

That is, one big eye focused on one’s self. Think about how often it is said during a conversation “I, Me, My.” Instead, effective communicators use inclusive pronouns such as “we, us, our, and let’s” and try to not give others the “one-up.” Allow others to give themselves the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments. It’s also important to keep O.O.P.S. (Our Own Personal Story) to a minimum in

communicating with others.

In an “Appreciative Inquiry” exercise, Gaddis demonstrated to attendees that asking positive questions will elicit a positive response. It is a way to further gather information about an individual. A few examples include, “What one or two things do you want more of?” and “What have you learned from the past that will help you achieve goals now and in the future?”

Feedback is also an essential part of communication.

There is a three-step feedback process to do this more effectively. 1.) Say “thank you” for the information received, 2.) Describe the specific behavior you noticed, and 3.) Describe the impact that behavior had on you/ your co-workers, your perception of him/her. This will help them to understand if the information they relayed is perceived the way they intended.

It may be surprising, but Gaddis suggests that negativity isn’t always harmful for our lives. The Broaden and Build Theory of Emotions suggests that individuals need three positive emotions for every one negative emotion. Positive emotions are fleeting and negative emotions stick. The absence of negative emotions does not mean that an individual is experiencing positive ones.

Lastly, Gaddis delivered three key career-building conversation topics to have with superiors or future employers. 1.) Talk about what you can do, 2.) Explain what you’re willing to do, and 3.) Share what you have done. Once a comfortable level of communication has been established, opening up a dialogue to these three questions can open doors and benefit your career.

Remember, we may never receive what we seek if we do not ask. The foundation of our relationship, the approach, and the ask are all important factors in communicating that can help us inside and out of the work place. Keeping these tactics in mind when going into the next meeting or conversation can help enhance each moment to lead to a better career and life. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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education Looking Ahead: Education at the MPI-CC Education & Business Exchange

by Sarah Davis, CMP

At this year’s annual MPICC Education & Business Exchange in Raleigh, September 15-16, 2016 meeting planners & suppliers alike will enjoy programing that opens up the discussion surrounding planner pet peeves, ‘Win-Win’ business negotiations and helpful tips to enhance your career.

The Education & Business Deborah Gardner Exchange will be at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley with educational content lead by Deborah Gardner, a successful 27 year meetings veteran and expert.

On Thursday, take part in the open discussion “Meeting Planners ‘Real-Time, Talk-Back’ interactive program.”

This session allows you, the planner, to share the pet peeves you have with venues and suppliers while talking about vendor contracts, supplier relationships, industry trends, challenges and more. Suppliers, this is your chance to be a fly on the wall and find out what your customers are saying about you. This information may give you new ideas to better assist you when working with meeting planners.

On Friday, attendees will learn how to elevate their career and grasp today’s new mindset and develop the most effective ideas, techniques and strategies that work. Deborah will be sharing persuasive tips to help you get what you want while enhancing your career, receiving more business and gaining more respect from vendors, customers and even the boss. Meetings & Conventions Magazine named Deborah as one of the best speakers ever heard, putting her in the category with Bill Clinton, General Collin Powell, Barbara Corcoran, Tony Robbins, Les Brown and more. One of the top 5 requested speakers by Meeting Professionals International, Deborah now shares how to become fearless by streamlining your goals, ambitions and dreams. Known by many Fortune 500 companies as the Pit Bull in a Skirt, Deborah is rising to international prominence with infectious energy, warmth, fun, entertaining, humorous,

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Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

on-the money captivating sassy presentation style. She challenges audiences to think and act in an effort to inspire immediate self-motivation and positive action.

With a lifetime of competitive experience, Deborah has practice being a Marine Brat, an Olympic Trial swimmer, 2-time National Sr. Games gold medalist, a groundbreaking leader as one of the first female broadcasters with CBS Sports and WHO-Sports Radio, a successful hospitality veteran and the list goes on to include being 1 of only 5 speakers worldwide that has been honored to receive the CMP credential which means she understands the back of the house logistics to your meetings and events.

Deborah will wrap up the Education & Business Exchange with her session on Naked Negotiating: Advanced ‘Win-Win’ Negotiations for Success. In the world of business, there are simple negotiations like price, terms, and concessions that are easy to define and the outcome of the process is almost predetermined.

However, in today’s hypercompetitive global economy, the scope and significance of negotiations can involve intense, high-stakes interactions revolving around a series of complex daily issues. Taking up where Deborah’s acclaimed session “Naked Negotiating: Bare Bones Truth and Who Has The Power Within Today’s Hospitality Profession” left off, this program is designed to provide practical help to enable meeting professionals to grasp the mindset of an advanced negotiator. Even a seasoned negotiator will develop greater confidence and skills that are required in this fast-paced world of complex negotiations.

This year’s Education & Business Exchange will open up better discussion channels for meeting planners and suppliers through negotiations and knowing the current issues, while helping attendees from all organizations elevate your careers! n

Sarah Davis, CMP Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Education Committee

Life may be like a box of chocolates, but meetings shouldn’t be.

Looking at this photo, you’re probably thinking, “That’s some great photo retouching.” Except it isn’t.

That’s a real, edible box of handcrafted chocolates.

100% authentic…just like Greenville, SC. Around here, we’re not into smoke and mirrors. We don’t waste time trying to make things appear to be something they’re not. (Why should we? We know we’ve got a genuinely good thing going on.)

So while life has been compared to a box of chocolates in that you never know what you’re going to get, when it comes to planning the perfect event, we believe you should know exactly what you’re getting.

Experience a taste of Greenville for yourself.

Let us sweeten the deal. Submit an RFP to info@visitgreenvillesc.com to receive your own box of Greenville chocolates.

We’d love to earn your business!

Plan your next meeting in a sweet spot that is taking everyone by surprise. #yeahTHATgreenville

800.351.7180 Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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Look Who We Spotted at the...

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

... July Meeting in Chapel Hill!

Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

See MPI!

by Debbie Furr

nidwlw/iStock/Thinkstock

Starting from the left, Jane and John Howard, Linda Beaver, Karen Harris and a few other colleagues in the travel industry, enjoy a 1980’s themed client event with Hilton Worldwide Sales at the 48th Annual GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) Convention in Denver. Risk, duty of care and technology’s impact on business travel were the predominant themes throughout the five-day industry gathering.

September 15, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

Traveling Trade Show

REGISTER TODAY!!! www.mpi-cc.org

1 hour guided tour stopping off in 4 areas of the “East Coast” to talk with hotels, CVB and September 15th event professionals!

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley REGISTER TODAY!!! passport stamped in each area WWW.MPI-CC.ORG

United CEO Oscar Munoz was a featured speaker among many industry experts. TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger took the stage for a one-on-one interview with GBTA Executive Director and COO Michael W. McCormick. Actress and comedienne Julia Louis-Dreyfus - known for her iconic characters Selina Meyer from HBO’s VEEP, Christine Campbell from The New Adventures of Old Christine and Elaine Benes from Seinfeld delighted the GBTA Convention audience during her interview with surprise interviewer Soledad O’Brien. During their lunch session, the two women shared stories of the evolving role of women in the media. Ms. Louis-Dreyfus said, “Very early on, I learned that I’m not going to keep doing this if it isn’t fun.”

When Ms. O’Brien asked what advice Julia Louis-Dreyfus had for a younger version of herself, the actress shared advice that can apply to everybody: “find something that you’re passionate about and don’t quit it.”

Legendary NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning inspired the audience saying as a leader you should lead by your dreams and cultivate that same attitude in the people who work with you and for you.

Get your GBTA concluded the event with 6,587 attendees, making this receive a bag goodies from ourCoast” to talk the largest GBTA Convention in history and one of the largest 1 hour guidedto tour stopping offfull in 4of areas of the “East gatherings of travel professionals in the world. The completely with hotels, CVB Suppliers!

Also,and youevent will beprofessionals! eligible to sold out Expo floor featured over 400 exhibitors showcasing Get your passport stamped in eachGift area to receive a bag full of the latest products and services in business travel. Next win a Carolinas Basket! goodies from our Suppliers! Also, you will be eligible to win a Carolinas Gift Basket!

Great networking opportunity for all!

year’s convention will be in Boston, Massachusetts on July 15-19, 2017. n

Great networking opportunity for all!

Debbie Furr Hilton Charlotte University Place MPI-CC Publications Committee Member

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

Safety Not Guaranteed A chat with Tyra Hilliard, CMP

by Michael Pinchera

What’s the most common safety/security issue that needs greater attention?

Transportation-related injuries are worsening. Traffic accidents are the No. 1 cause of death among travelers.

Whether caused by driving with jet lag, crazy taxi drivers, variations in traffic laws and practices (including which side of the road one drives on), road rage or general unfamiliarity with an area, when we turn our people loose on the roads in an unfamiliar place, domestic or foreign, they are at risk on foot and behind the wheel.

I used to work on a cruise ship. Every week when we docked in a certain Caribbean country, we knew we would have some injuries from passengers who rented mopeds to see the island. A week never went by without an injury—sometimes just scrapes and bruises, sometimes death and everything in between. Providing transportation for attendees, choosing “walkable” destinations and venues, and education about safe practices in driving and walking around a city are crucial.

Are there any safety/security issues that you believe are worsening? How can meeting professionals best prepare?

sumkinn/iStock/Thinkstock

Medical issues. There is a push-pull dynamic going on. With an aging population and lifestyle choices including sedentary lifestyles and a tendency to (ahem) overindulge, we are going to find more and more medical issues among the U.S. population and in other countries— from the risks of pandemics to the risks of injury from something as simple as falling down the stairs.

I think there is a reticence on the part of meeting planners to appropriately address medical risks, largely out of a (mostly unfounded, in my opinion) fear of liability. Even meeting planners who ask about “special needs” on registration forms often do not have a good way to manage the information so that it is available immediately at the time it is most needed: In an emergency.

Particularly in foreign countries, but even in their home country, planners need to be aware of the options

available to them and their attendees in case of a medical emergency. Planners and attendees need to be aware of travel insurance options and the quality of medical care in a destination. Several years ago, a friend of mine was traveling on business in another country. She fell and injured her back only to find out that in this country they would not prescribe narcotic pain medication. They sent her—and her fractured vertebrae—back across the ocean on a plane with just ibuprofen.

What ongoing education do you recommend for industry professionals in order to stay abreast of new developments in this field?

There are some great alerts that will help keep industry professionals informed about safety and security risks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a great resource regarding medical and accidental risks, especially for international travel. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) has some helpful alerts and guides for emergency responses for businesses and individuals. The U.S. Department of State has alerts and warnings for other countries that are probably more conservative than absolutely necessary, but with risk management that’s not a bad thing.

Can you share an example of recent legislation in the U.S. that is demanding more direct action of those in the meeting industry?

Prior to a recent Americans with Disabilities Act amendment, people with food allergies and intolerances often did not fit within the definition of “person with a disability.” Now they clearly do, as indicated in the Lesley University case (2013). This should put meeting professionals on alert that they can no longer just offer a vegetarian plate. If a medical issue arises with a person due to failure to accommodate a disclosed food allergy or intolerance, liability will follow. n

Michael Pinchera Senior Editor, The Meeting Professional Reprinted with permission from The Meeting Professional November 2015 issue.

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In-Person vs. Online Encourage as much professional and personal face-to-face interaction as possible.

by Michael J. Lyons

CALL ME OLD-FASHIONED, but I see a disturbing trend emerging in our society and in the business world. In the past few years, as we have become more and more reliant on technology, our face-to-face communication has diminished and suffered. And, ironically, the meeting industry—the standard-bearer for face-to-face communication—is an active participant in this shifting new era of communication behavior.

It has been proven over and over (and the Meetings Mean Business campaign has stressed) that face-to-face communication is more effective than email, texting, phone calls or videoconferencing. The conflict lies in the fact that even though face-to-face communication is the most powerful form of human interaction, technology has become an efficient and effective communication enabler—and is competing head-on with face-to-face at a rapid pace, whether we like it or not.

To that point, we are obviously not going to put down our devices and swear off technology altogether, but the fact remains that there is no substitute for face-toface contact and we should not gloss over that reality.

What is often missed when discussing this subject is the importance of body language when people are together in person.

monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Studies show that only 7 percent of communication is transmitted via the written or verbal word, meaning that an astounding 93 percent is attributed to nonverbal body language. It is only when we are face-to-face that we can interpret instantly the tone of a voice or look into someone’s eyes to deduce whether “it’s all good” really means all is actually good or whether it’s a suspicious statement. In person, we have a number of cues available in addition to the words themselves—facial expressions, gestures, body language and voice tone— that complement the words and the message.

But when communicating online, we lose that ability to accurately assess the other person’s receptiveness and emotional response to the dialogue. And this presents

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an unprecedented paradox: With all the powerful social technologies at our fingertips, we are more connected— and yet potentially more disconnected—than ever before.

Every relevant metric that I have seen indicates that we are interacting at breakneck speed and frequency through social media. But at what cost? Is communication now about rapid responses in lieu of thoughtful, measured exchanges? Are we really communicating? With 93 percent of the communication context removed, we are attempting to build relationships and draw conclusions based on short phrases, abbreviations and emoticons, which may or may not accurately represent the sender’s message.

And to make it worse, social media and technology have blurred the traditional barriers of space and time, creating a 24/7 world that poses a threat to the timehonored boundaries between our work life and personal life.

With all the powerful social technologies at our fingertips, we are more connected—and yet potentially more disconnected— than ever before.

Ironically, social media is actually making us less social—and has become a substitute for the real thing.

In the business world and in our industry, the use of electronic communication has overtaken face-to-face (and voice-to-voice) communication by a large margin.

This significant shift has occurred because of two major factors: the global economy, which demands speedy information flow, and the changing demographic in our employee population, namely the Gen Y and Millennial generations who now make up a rapidly growing segment of the workforce. These generations have demonstrated a lack of comfort with traditional interpersonal communication and prefer to use instant messaging or other social media rather than stop by someone’s office for a talk. This new communication preference is forcing employers to adapt in order to manage to a new set of expectations in their younger employees, and vice versa. But a bigger concern is raised in the process: the loss of social skills and the ability to speak clearly and articulately, and look someone in the eye without being uneasy.

The other issue is because most business communication is now done via emails, texts, instant messaging, intranets, blogs, websites and other technology-enabled media—without the benefit of body language—the

potential for misunderstanding increases. In our highstress, constantly rushed state of mind, we don’t always take the time to read and re-read each communication before hitting “send,” and the subtle nuances of the message may be misinterpreted.

Conflicts can emerge over the tone (or brevity) of an email, or who was included or left off the all-important cc list. When a text is written in all capital letters, does that mean they’re shouting? Are one- or two-word responses a sign that the person is upset or doesn’t want to engage? We are left to guess what the sender means and in many cases conclusions are drawn based on very little information.

Not only has this created a serious dilemma in the workplace, but more importantly, it has also seeped into our personal lives with alarming impact. We have all probably sent an email on our smartphone, checked Facebook, sent a text or talked on the phone while in the presence of family members. Sometimes it seems impossible to avoid the constant connectivity that life in this century demands. But is this need to connect affecting our connection to the very people we love the most?

Studies have shown that children, in particular, feel that parents pay less attention to them than to their smartphones (and, admittedly, vice versa)—especially at mealtime, in the car or while attending events. I contend that none of us want to create a chasm in our family relationships, so we must make a conscious effort to modify our behavior. It may be hard to break the habit, but resisting the temptation to grab that device every five minutes while in the presence of loved ones, and spending more genuine face-to-face time with them without distraction or interruption, is not a bad idea.

Simply stated, in order to “save face-to-face” we all have to do our part by making adjustments in our daily online conduct, and by encouraging as much face-toface interaction as possible with all of the people in our lives—both professional and personal.

We know that strong business relationships are forged through networking and getting to know people in person. It has been proven that clients buy from people they like, trust and have confidence in. But in order to develop that rapport, face-to-face interaction is necessary—online communication alone won’t cut it. n Michael is a highly respected expert in the meeting industry, having spent 40 years in senior-level posts with numerous firms, including Carlson Wagonlit and Reed Exhibitions. Most recently, he served as exhibition director for IBTM America, which he left in 2014 to be a professional speaker, actor and consultant. For more information, visitwww.michaeljlyons.com.

Reprinted with permission from The Meeting Professional December 2015 issue.

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

board meeting highlights

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 | Chapel Hill, NC

by Christine Irwin, CMP

Attendees: Barbara Dragan, Christian Schroeder, Christine Irwin, CMP, Vince Chelena, Nicole Robinson, Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM, Selah Havard, TMP, Maureen Donovan, Molly Nelson, Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM, Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP, Alyce Kelly, CHSP, Deanna Griffith House, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM, CMM, Ricardo Hicks, Brittany O’Shaughnessy

Consent Agenda: Barbara Dragan asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

Motion: Nicole Robinson made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Second: Brittany O’Shaughnessy Vote: Approved

Minutes: Christian Schroeder presented the minutes from the May 9, 2016 Board of Directors Meeting and made a motion to approve.

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to approve the May 9, 2016 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes as presented.

Second: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Vote: Approved Financials: Vince Chelena presented the June P&L statement and Balance Sheet followed by the 2016-2017 Budget. It is important to note that we were able to put over $6,000 back into our reserves this year.

Motion: Nicole Robinson made a motion to approve the June P&L, Balance Sheet and 2016-2017 Budget as presented.

Second: Alyce Kelly, CHSP Vote: Approved Vince Chelena reviewed the June 30, 2016 Aging Report.

We expect to collect all accounts receivable and are not recommending any write offs.

Motion: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM made a motion to approve the June 30, 3016 Aging Report as presented.

Second: Maureen Donovan Vote: Approved Chapter Office: Christine Irwin, CMP reviewed the June (year-end) Metric Report. TMO has been working to update the website with the 2016-2017 information.

Please notify Christine if there is anything additional that needs to be updated. Once complete committee lists are submitted to the Leadership & Volunteer Development team, TMO will work to make sure the website accurately reflects the correct committee members for the 16-17 year.

WEC / Global Updates: Christian Schroeder updated the group on WEC (2016 and 2017) and changes regarding Holly Dotson, our Chapter Business Manager (CBM).

Although the Carolinas Chapter was a finalist for the Educational Programming RISE Award, the Chapter did not win this year. We will look to apply again for the 2017 RISE Awards. The 2017 WEC has changed dates and moved back to June 19-22, 2017 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Since this is a day of the week shift as well, Global has not confirmed what they plan to do with the Chapter Leaders Forum, especially since the Chapter Business Summit will be held in late March.

Christian reported that Holly Dotson is taking a new position with Global, taking on some of Brad Shanklin’s duties. Her Chapter Business Manager role will be drastically reduced to mainly Florida Chapters. We will receive a new CBM shortly.

Christian reviewed the new membership levels.

May Meeting Survey Results: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM reviewed the results from the May Meeting survey and addressed feedback with the Board. From the survey discussions, the following new items will be implemented effective immediately: •

First timers and new members will be asked a series of questions by the membership team prior to attending the meeting. Their answers will be distributed to the board and appropriate __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on the next page

Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016 |

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__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from previous page membership/hospitality committee members so that they can get to know the new members and first timers before meeting them in person.

•

•

A new member will be considered a new member for an entire year beginning on their join date. After attending the new member orientation and mixer for the first time, they will be invited to attend the “mixer” part of the function at all future meetings for their year as a new member.

All new members and first timers will be contacted via email or phone call prior to attending the orientation and mixer for a personal invite.

Board Report Templates and Procedures: Christine Irwin, CMP and Barbara Dragan reviewed the procedures for completing the Committee Action Reports and Board Reports.

Business Exchange Update: Molly Nelson updated the Board of Directors on the progress made for the 2016 Business Exchange. John Cruz, CMM and Kathleen Van Geluwe have agreed to co-chair the committee this year.

The theme this year is in the process of being finalized,

but will revolve around a “passport,” encouraging planners to move from group to group meeting all the exhibiting suppliers. Suppliers will be set up in groups by geographical location throughout the entire hotel.

Volunteers: Molly Nelson recommended that an e-blast go out to all members making them aware of the open volunteer positions we currently have. The membership team is creating a committee member letter to thank all current volunteers for their service and gauge their interest in volunteering for the following year.

Next Board Meeting: The next board meeting will be held on September 15, 2016 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, NC. Meeting Adjourned. n

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

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| Carolina Blitz | August - September 2016

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1:53 PM

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 Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Director of Marketing Brittany O’Shaughnessy • Francis Marion Hotel

Know a Helping Hand?

Know anyone that has lent a helping hand?

Committee Chairs, please nominate one of your members who has volunteered their time and efforts this month and thank them for helping to make your goal possible. Let me know who they are and how they went above and beyond for your committee. Please send nominations to Lindsay Myers at lmyers1@caesars.com

Editor Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM • North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives Contributing Writers Barbara Dragan, The Westin Charlotte; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; Selah Havard, Cabarrus County CVB; Mallory Middleton, Raleigh Convention Center; Sarah Davis, Hickory Metro CVB; Debbie Furr, Hilton Charlotte University Place; Michael Pinchera; Michael J. Lyons Photographer Micah Parekh - IWP Photography Proofreaders Kathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Cathy Mauldin, CMP, DESA, Inc.; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial; Myron Jones, Fayetteville CVB; Lynn Rich, CMP, American Express Meetings & Events; Nancy Lowe, CMP, NC Medical Society Publisher Vince Chelena • The Management Office 704-377-5648 • Fax 704-333-6927 • staff@themanagementoffice.com Advertising Maureen Donovan • Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach • 910-256-2231 Design Kistin Creative Studio • 704-724-9188 • kistincreative.com MPI-CC Web Site: www.mpi-cc.org

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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 Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com or submit via our website at www.mpi-cc.org.

ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINES AD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER NON-MEMBER

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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

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6X $640/issue $850/issue (Produced and provided by advertiser) There are 6 issues of the Blitz published yearly FEB/MAR, APR/MAY, JUNE/JULY, AUG/SEPT, OCT/NOV, DEC/JAN 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, 1800 Camden Road, Suite 107, #213, Charlotte, NC 28203 Christine@TheManagementOffice.com • Fax: 704-333-6927 For more advertising information contact Maureen Donovan at mdonovan@wrightsville.holidayinnresorts.com or 910-256-2231.

Visit our website at www.mpi-cc.org for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities!