Board Meeting Highlights

December Virtual Board Meeting Recap

by Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office

On December 14, the MPI-CC Board of Directors met for the last time in 2020. I want to start by saying I am SO proud of this resilient group of individuals. This year has easily been one of the most challenging times our industry has ever faced.

This Board is comprised of planners who had to rethink the way they held meetings, rebook meetings they had worked months and years to plan, and make last-minute shifts to a virtual world that was uncharted territory for most. This Board is comprised of suppliers who have had to endure cancellation after cancellation with the hopes that a group would simply rebook instead of canceling; suppliers who found themselves doing jobs in a hotel they’ve never had to do; and suppliers who have lived every day in fear of the dreaded “F” word... furlough. This Board is comprised of small business owners who exude the word “pivot” from every ounce of their being—working hard every day to keep their small businesses alive and keep their families afloat. Every single one of our board members has continued to show up. They are living the unimaginable right now--working from home with kids, working longer hours than ever before, attending Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting for their paying jobs, baking cookies into the early hours of the morning (get some of Mica’s Sweet Treats, y’all) and every single one of them continues to show up. They are working hard to serve the membership, keep the chapter financially stable, and continue to look toward the future.

Now, let me tell you about some wonderful things they’ve been working on!

Easily one of the most important things they have done to date is identifying the need for a 3-5 year strategic plan and the need for a 6-month plan to get us to a better place. During our mid-year retreat in November, the Board outlined areas of strength, areas of weakness, and areas of opportunity for the chapter. They outlined a few key initiatives they want to take on this year and then decided to identify three areas for each department to focus on for the next six months. Our hope is that we’ll reengage our members, reignite our chapter’s passion, and, most importantly, recover as an industry.

Another important and difficult decision that the Board made is to transition our January meeting into a virtual event. We originally planned to meet at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree hotel, even if it had to be a hybrid event. However, with the way cases are trending and the proximity to another potentially high holiday case increase, the Board determined it was best to make January an entirely virtual event to focus solely on planning a virtual program. We will be partnering with Live Events Media Group and TechFactory Productions to bring you a program that you will not want to miss. We intend to keep it a two half-day program over the original January 28-29 meeting dates. [Following minutes, event revised to one-day session on January 28.] I want to give a shout out to the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Hotel for working with us on this last-minute decision. Farrah Staub and her team have been nothing short of wonderful, which I know is not easy during this unsettled business climate. We have some REALLY exciting things planned for this event… mark your calendars!

Following our January chapter program, we will be holding our second virtual CMP Bootcamp with Molly Johnson, CMP, QAS, on February 10-11, 2021. Molly has donated her time and energy to the chapter’s success, and we are so thankful she has partnered with us again. Her first Bootcamp was a huge success for attendees and our chapter and pairs well with our quarterly CMP Study Group led by Sasha Armour, CMP, and Tessa Barrier, CMP. On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our extreme gratitude for this team and their commitment to our chapter members’ professional development.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to give a huge shout out to our Annual Partners. Without their financial support, we would not be where we are today. Their support allows us to continue to serve our members, offer continuing education, and provide networking experiences. Words are not enough this year.

Platinum Sponsors Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort Visit Mooresville

Diamond Sponsors Discover Durham Visit Winston-Salem

Gold Sponsors The Beaufort Hotel Greater Raleigh CVB Live Events Media Group

Silver Sponsors Burroughs Wellcome Fund Cabarrus County CVB Discover Burke County Fayetteville Area CVB Gaston County Greensboro CVB Hickory Metro CVB New Bern Riverfront Convention Center North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives Visit Greenville NC

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

ENGAGING by nature

Socially distant but here to ensure your meeting needs and safety are a top priority!

Convention Center & Visitors Bureau

SEASONAL BOOKING OFFERS NOW AVAILABLE

800.576.1585 • KiawahMeetings.com

Ready, Set, Resume

by Nicole Filippo, CMP

During the 2020 MPI-CC Business XChange, Danielle Golinski, Associate Director of Career Services at Elon University, shared advice for updating resumes.

She recommends maintaining a master resume to collect all your professional experiences and accomplishments in one document. When applying for jobs, tailor a version of this resume to the job description. Customizing the resume includes incorporating skills and buzzwords relevant to the job description and industry.

When it comes to formatting, Golinski says to keep your resume clean and easy to read. Recruiters spend 7-to-10 seconds reading your resume, while application tracking systems, which are growing in use by employers, won’t be able to “see” creative design elements.

Golinski also suggests using T-charts to help you adapt your resume. “T-charts are a great way to connect the dots between you and the opportunity that you’re applying to,” she says.

To make a T-chart, create two columns. On the left “job” column, list what the employer is seeking in an ideal candidate. Reflect on what you’ve done in your career and what examples you can share in your resume to illustrate how you are the ideal candidate. In the right “me” column, match your examples to the traits listed in the left column. Use these examples in your resume, cover letter and interview.

“You’re finding the connection points here,” Golinski said about using T-charts.

Other resume tips from Golinski:

• For a work experience description, start sentences/ bullet points with action verbs, but don’t use the same verb more than once.

• Include quantifiable pieces of information in your work experience to help show the impact of your work.

• Keep references in a separate document.

• Include your education section at the bottom of the resume unless you’re just beginning your professional career.

For more career resources, check out the MPI Career Center, which includes complimentary resume critique for MPI members.

Nicole Filippo, CMP Elon University MPI-CC VP of Program Development

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 VP of Marketing and Communications

Ashelyn Roberts • ConferenceDirect

Editor

Cathy Mauldin, CMP • DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith

Contributing Writers

Amelia Hodges, CMM, CMP, North Carolina Association of CPAs; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; Mica Parekh, CMP, IWP Photography; Nicole Keshler, Visit Raleigh; Nicole Filippo, Elon University

Photographer

Mica Parekh, CMP • IWP Photography

Proofreaders

Kathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Myron Jones, Fayetteville CVB; Nancy Lowe, CMP, FirstPoint Management Resources; Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, NC Association of Electric Cooperatives; Melinda Mowry, DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern - Riverfront; Peggy Anderson, CMP; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport

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.org/carolinas

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