Carolina Blitz December 2016 - January 2017

Carolina Blitz December 2016 - January 2017

New Member Spotlight DeLauren Everett

digidreamgrafix/iStock/Thinkstock

Page 10

Happy Holidays!

TRADITIONALIST & TRAILBLAZER

WILLIAM LEWIS William Lewis dances to the beat of his own banjo. In his role as the executive director of PineCone in Raleigh, N.C., William preserves and protects blues, bluegrass and other forms of traditional music. And that’s not all. He helps nonprofits like the International Bluegrass Music Association make the most out of meetings and events.

“ There is great collaboration and

partnership that is the nature of this city. Everybody is talking and thinking out loud. That always leads to great things.”

Raleigh’s passionate locals maximize resources to create events that hit all the right notes, helping draw more than 140,000 fans to World of Bluegrass. Think Raleigh.

Learn more at visitRaleigh.com/meet

in this issue...

features Creating A Perfect Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Meet MPI-CC!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15, 18 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 See MPI! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

AGrigorjeva/iStock/Thinkstock

Board Meeting Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-24

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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

Diamond Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

our members Welcome New Members!

Susanna Balian skbalian@gmail.com Sharon Barbour International Society on Thrombosis & Haemostasis sharonecu@gmail.com Megan Beasley Colonial Williamsburg Hotels mbeasley@cwf.org Ray Berrouet King Charles Inn rberrouet@kingcharlesinn.com Chris Chassagneux Relias Learning cchassagneux@reliaslearning.com Leigh Comis Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach Leigh.Comis@crestlinehotels.com

Brittney Eustache Hyatt Sales Force-Americas brittney.eustache@hyatt.com

Melissa Murray Mosaix Group mmurray@mosaixgroup.com

Morgan Evans morgevan@cisco.com

Madison Norris Hampton Inn by Hilton Wilmington Downtown mnorris@vhghotels.com

DeLauren Everett LPL Financial delauren.everett@lpl.com Jessica Greenstein Kessler Collection jessica.greenstein@kesslercollection.com Gerrie Hildebrand Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. ghildebrand@krispykreme.com Josie Matthews University of North Carolina Wilmington jvm5143@uncw.edu

MPI-CC Anniversaries

Shanna Scott Suzanne Evans Coaching shannamscott@icloud.com NaTasha Smith nsmith0473@aol.com Grace VandeVisser Burlington/Alamance County Convention & Visitors Bureau grace@visitalamance.com Debbie Zanino dzanino@gmail.com

First Timers and New Members at the November Mixer

10 years Debra Brodie Plannernet Gwen Hampton, CMP South Carolina School Boards Association Alison Javier Zoetis Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem 5 years Lynn Rich, CMP American Express Global Business Travel Congratulations to each of you for reaching a milestone in MPI!

DeLauren Everett – LPL Financial Megan Beasley – Colonial Williamsburg Hotels Maria Meidanis Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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monthly meeting planner January 19-20, 2017

Raleigh, NC

DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh

Brownstone-University

May 10-11, 2017 Annual Meeting

New Bern, NC

DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern – Riverfront

March 16-17, 2017

Myrtle Beach, SC

June 19-22, 2017

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton

MPI WEC

Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand

BrianAJackson/iStock/Thinkstock

April 6, 2017 Global Meetings

July 27-28, 2017

Industry Day

Winston-Salem, NC

Graylyn International Conference Center

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is January 27, 2017.

Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com.

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

president’s message

The Results Are In!

by Barbara Dragan

You, the members of the Carolinas Chapter have spoken and our Board of Directors and committee members are listening to your feedback from our recent Chapter Needs Assessment survey! The results from the survey were evaluated at the recent mid-year board retreat and you have given us an indication as to how you would like to see the chapter move forward. Our business plan was updated based on YOUR feedback, so we can better achieve our goals and meet the needs of our members.

We received a record number of 96 responses: 46% were planners and 51% were suppliers.

Barbara Dragan Visit Greenville SC 2016-2017 MPI-CC President

What you told us: Volunteering: 58% of respondents are NOT volunteering. If you would like to volunteer and are not currently on a committee, please reach out to us and we would be happy to get you connected!

Education: You would like to have panel discussions, roundtables and separate tracks for planners and suppliers. You would like to see more advance workshops related to industry specific topics AND more networking opportunities. Overall, you like our current meeting formats.

37% of respondents said they are not attending meetings due to time constraints, while 33% said it was due to geographic location.

88% of respondents said that our chapter programs are meeting your expectations with regards to education offerings! 59% of respondents want us to continue with more meeting industry specific topics.

When asked how you would rate the value you receive as a member of MPI-CC based on benefits and rewards, 48% of respondents said excellent and 37% of respondents said good.

It is evident that our members are much more engaged now than ever before and want their voices to be heard. The number of members that completed the survey is an increase of 53% over 2015.

We want to continue to hear from you! Please connect with your board members and committee chairs and let us know how we can improve your experience as a member and involvement in the chapter. I encourage you to visit www.mpi-cc.org to get the overall results from the survey.

Remember, you do not have to be a board member to attend our board meetings! n

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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MPI-CC 2016-2017 Board of Administration President Barbara Dragan Visit Greenville SC 864-421-0000 bdragan@visitgreenvillesc.com

President-Elect Alyce Kelly, CHSP The Inn at Pine Knoll Shores 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 Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau 828-258-6121 mnelson@exploreasheville.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 | December 2016 - January 2017

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

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

Member Care Committee Alex Oates PSAV 919-439-6214 aoates@PSAV.COM Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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meet mpi-cc!

Meet MPI-CC is a new feature in the Carolina Blitz—thanks to Lori Hedrick for the idea. Our goal is to include a photo of everyone who attended the last chapter meeting to help you remember who you met. We hope this is beneficial to you!

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Peggy Anderson, CMP

Shelby Antoniewich DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern - Riverfront

Herb Arnold Biltmore Farms Hotels

Rick Cammer The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Michelle Castro Residence Inn Durham McPherson/Duke University Medical Center

Kimberly Corbets Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

Lisa Cox FMI Corporation

Jenna Davis Wilmington and Beaches CVB

Sarah Davis Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

Lu Ann DeBolt Domtar

Kelly Finnessy Great Wolf Lodge Concord/Charlotte

Ginny Fountain, CMP CMM North Carolina Assn of Electric Co-ops

Debra Furr Hilton Charlotte University Place

Teresa Gitomer heyRED Speakers Agency

Lynette Gulledge EPRI

Malinda Harrell, CMP CASE Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

Selah Havard, TMP Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Lynne Houston Grandover Resort

Amber Howard Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

Dana Hrubik Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel

Joanna Hurt Sheraton Greensboro Hotel- Koury Convention Center

Linda Ilsley, CMP LPI Events

Tammy Jeffries Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

Molly Johnson, CMP Wilmington and Beaches CVB

Leanna Lee Wingate by Wyndham

Allison Locke Omni Grove Park Inn

Debra Mann Duke Energy

Thomas McClure Twin City Quarter

Tarshi McCoy, TMP, CHSP Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Maria Meidanis

Alicia Miller State Employees Association of NC

Elizabeth Peeler, CMP CMM D-P Planning Meetings & Events

Elisa Ramey, CMP Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown

Danielle Richards Fontainebleau Miami Beach

Ashley Richburg Visit Charlotte

Patrick Ridgeway Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville

Donna Riggs NC Retired Governmental Employees Assn.

Nicole Robinson Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau

Kimberly Waffke Sea Trail Golf Resort

Mikki Walls Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Vernice Whitaker DoubleTree by Hilton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront

Erin White FMI Corporation

Ursula Witherspoon, CEM Myrtle Beach Convention Center

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

Judy Webster MPI

Diane Weems North Carolina Aggregates Association

meet mpi-cc!

Krista Bartlett Omni Hotels and Resorts Global Sales

Wendy Bassett, CMP HelmsBriscoe

Susie Bayne Westin Poinsett

Megan Beasley Colonial Williamsburg Hotels

Cindy Beckham Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa

Michele Bemis, CMP Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Patricia Byrd Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau

Brenda Dempsey Nashville CVB

Barbara Dragan The Westin Charlotte

Jennifer Duble Embassy Suites Charlotte/Concord Golf Resort & Spa

Sonya Dukes Greensboro Marriott Downtown

Brittney Eustache Hyatt Sales ForceAmericas

DeLauren Everett LPL Financial

April Ferguson, CMP BCD M&E Onsite at Cisco Systems

Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM MHA, CSEP Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Neil Hibbert Discover DeKalb CVB

Ricardo Hicks American Audio Video

Tara Hicks CITE Shows, LLC

Tyra Hilliard Speaker, Educator, Writer

Amelia Hodges, CMP CMM North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants

Natalie Hoekstra Hilton Garden Inn Rock Hill

Myron Jones Fayetteville Area CVB

Alyce Kelly, CHSP The Inn at Pine Knoll Shores

Jeanette Keys Greenville Convention Center

Audrey Kidd DoubleTree Atlantic Beach

Jennifer Kist, CMP

Georgette Lake Sheraton Atlanta Hotel

Brent Lancaster, CMP CCM Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Timothy Miron Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

Melinda Mowry DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern - Riverfront

Danielle Murnieks Displays Unlimited

Brittany O’Shaughnessy Francis Marion Hotel

Mica Parekh IWP Photography

Dianne Parker Embassy Suites Historic Charleston

Kim Parsons, CMP Duke Energy

Karolyn Stone, CMP Marriott Columbia

Jean Travers HelmsBriscoe

C. Christian Schmidt II PRG

Christian Schroeder Carrie Sepesy, CMP Deborah Slivensky John Sneed II Visit The Ballantyne, Holiday Inn University Wilmington and Beaches Winston-Salem A Luxury Collection Hotel Executive Park CVB

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: DeLauren Everett

by Selah Havard, TMP

What makes our chapter so successful and such a great community?

Our members, of course! Getting to know new members is something that I look forward to at each meeting. I especially love seeing new members that jump right in and get involved. It really makes an impact!

DeLauren Everett

DeLauren Everett attended her first MPI meeting in Concord as a guest and within the week she had already become a member. I hope you will all give DeLauren a very warm welcome to our MPI-CC family.

How long have you been in the industry?

I have worked in corporate events for seven years and owned my own event planning business for two years prior to that.

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

I am a Senior Event Planner at LPL Financial and have served in this role for a year and a half.

Tell me about your job and the company you work for?

LPL Financial is an independent brokerage firm. We provide back-office support for over 14,000 independent and bank financial advisors. I work on the Corporate Events team where we manage hundreds of employee facing events – CEO Town Halls, Board of Directors meetings, learning and development sessions, holiday parties and other social events. We also support and consult in the planning of community and media events as well as conferences.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love spending time with my son and husband. They bring me so much joy and they teach me so much! Much of what I do in my spare time is exploring the world and making memories with them. I am also very active at my church. It’s important to give back to my community, so I serve weekly! I also love to entertain and have guests at my house. I enjoy wine tasting, travelling and meetings new people!

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

Why did you join MPI-CC? I have a few colleagues who are members of MPI and have encouraged me to join. The membership benefits, the connections you make to other industry professionals, the networking opportunities and the education are all invaluable! The cherry on top was learning about the support I would receive as I prepare for my CMP! If you were able to meet any famous person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet Oprah. She is so intelligent, inspirational, resourceful, and has a heart of gold.

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

They should do it! It’s a lot of fun and the possibilities and opportunities are endless. One thing my manager always says is working in this industry is 20% skill and 80% relationships. What I keep front of mind is, if you have strong relationships, others will be happy to work with you to get the job done. Skill comes with time and experience. You are your own brand, so always show up nicely, give respect, be prepared and be confident in your abilities! n

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

January 19-20, 2017 DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Brownstone-University Raleigh

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

10/12/16

1:44 PM

education Thursday Education Recap Active Shooter: Challenges to our Society

by Mallory Middleton

Floyd Yoder, founder of Survival Tactical Concepts, Inc., is a retired Lieutenant Commander with the Hickory Police Department and has 26 years of experience as a tactical team member and commander. His active shooter presentation goals to MPI-CC members included increasing awareness, instruction of a tactical mindset, and techniques to remain calm during an active shooter situation. All of his information was provided to help keep you safe at work and in public areas against the threat of an active shooter.

The presentation began with Yoder outlining some challenges and concerns regarding active shooters.

Yoder relayed that incidents with an active shooter are a major concern to every facet of society and reminded attendees that those incidents bring destruction, death, and emotional disaster. While it can’t be predicted when an active shooter situation will happen or where, a better understanding and proper training can lead to a more prepared response.

Yoder describes an active shooter as one or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree while demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others. Historical facts point to findings that active shooters in the U.S. range in age anywhere from 13-88 years in age. Of those shooters, 92% were male and 8% were female. The locations of their shootings include businesses, education, government, open public spaces, residences, worship quarters, and healthcare facilities.

The majority of weapons used are handguns, but also multiple weapons including rifles, shotguns, and even explosives were used. Another key finding about active shooter history that Yoder relayed was that 80% of active shooter incidents involved at least one person having knowledge that the shooter was thinking about or planning an attack. Furthermore, 85% of the incidents involved a current or former student or employee.

Once an active shooter was defined and key findings were shared, Yoder moved on to policies and procedures.

Any organization must have an up-to-date policy and procedure regarding active shooter. This is often referred to as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). He stressed that it is important to understand it. This plan is created from various stakeholders and is a credible method for responding to emergencies. It should include the following: a detailed emergency escape procedure, list of who should be contacted during and after an

incident, posted evacuation routes, contact information for all responsible parties, and the type/method of an emergency alert.

There are three types of awareness that Yoder defined for attendees: personal (only moving as fast as one mentally and physically can process), situational (what is happening at the present time), and environmental (know the facility, co-workers and their duties, where you are, where the incident is coming from, what are people doing around you, where do you need to go). During this awareness, individuals must develop and utilize a “Tactical Mindset.” Yoder explained that a Tactical Mindset is an attitude focused on utilizing various resources and tactics to accomplish a purpose. In this type of mindset, one should focus on clarifying thoughts and perception using sense of vision, hearing, smell, and feeling. The O.O.D.A. loop can be used in the Resolution Tactics Mindset, developed by Colonel Boyd, a Korean War combat pilot. O.O.D.A. stands for orient, observe, decide, and act. A slow O.O.D.A. loop can result in death, but a fast loop can result in success and safety.

Another useful tool Yoder conveyed to attendees is tactical breathing, which is an effective self-regulation technique designed to help you keep calm and focused in a high stress situation. It involves slowly breathing in and out, focusing on the O.O.D.A. loop, taking action and remaining safe. Tactical breathing can be used to control the fight, flight, and/or freeze response.

It is important to know the location of exits in the case of an incident. If you are in an office or room, remain there and secure the door. If caught in a hallway during an incident, it is imperative to get into a room and secure the door. The very last resort would be confronting and attempting to neutralize the shooter. Yoder shared that it’s important to make decisions you can live with. It is also important to have an escape plan developed ahead of time, leave belongings and assist others if possible.

When in hiding, Yoder explains that one should hide out of the active shooter’s vision and lock the door, utilizing equipment such as desks for protection. Movement options should not be limited, but remain quiet, turn off any equipment and whisper into a phone or leave it open for dispatch. If one were to be confronted by the active __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on next page Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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education __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from previous page shooter, then they should use any object as a weapon and throw any “ballistic” object while yelling and screaming at the active shooter.

The law enforcement’s response is strategic and differs from the civilian response. Their first priority is to stop the shooter and second is to tend to injuries. They have three goals: locate the threat, move to contact, and then neutralize the threat. Civilians should follow law enforcement’s directions and try to remain calm when they arrive onsite. If any weapons were obtained by civilians, put them down and ensure hands are visible to the law enforcement and make sure not to grab or hold onto officers. If civilians get in touch with a dispatcher, then they should try to speak with a clear and understandable tone while explaining what is happening.

Civilians should give their location, the location of the active shooter and any description if they have seen him.

They should also describe the type of weapon, sounds they hear, as well as any potential victims.

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Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

Yoder then transitioned the presentation by explaining what we as a society can do about the threat of active shooters. He stated we must accept the reality that the active shooter can happen anywhere and anytime, which is why it is important to know the active shooter policies and procedures as well as your facility. Meeting with law enforcement is also an important step to develop a professional relationship and include them in your active shooter training.

In conclusion, Yoder reminded attendees that society continues to experience these various tragedies involving active shooters. It is important to develop a tactical mindset and have a plan that is reviewed often. He also encouraged attendees to develop stronger working relationships within their organization, community, and with law enforcement to unite in efforts to prevent, deter, and stop senseless acts of violence. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

education Friday Education Recap Meeting Safety & Security: Little Things Add Up

by Mallory Middleton

On Friday, November 4, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina, during the Friday education session, MPI-CC members were asked “What keeps you up at night?” Speaker Tyra Hilliard posed this question to the session attendees, specifically addressing the stress of planning an event. The majority answer was “the unknown, and not being prepared.” Hilliard led attendees through a presentation about how the little things add up when it comes to meeting safety and security.

The first item Hilliard talked about was the Emergency Management Cycle. This cycle begins with prevention and goes through mitigation. Prevention begins with putting measures in place at your meeting or event such as police officers, metal detectors, and identifying the exit doors at every meeting or event. Moving on to preparedness – it is important to have a plan of action and know what to do in the case of an emergency.

This also will help with recovery from an emergency or crisis as well as the response. Hilliard relayed her findings regarding the preparedness of meeting planners.

When planners were asked if they had a Crisis Plan for meetings, 46% answered yes, but 56% said no. Lack of time and staff was the main reason offered of why most planners do not have one.

Hilliard encouraged attendees to only be concerned about the right things, but not let the worry dominate the mind. She relayed that the top fears in the meeting industry include: terrorism, economy, health concerns (including meeting attendees, staff, and self), and natural disasters. Due to these concerns, Hilliard urged members not to look at a crisis plan as “another thing.” Instead, she told attendees to incorporate it as an important item to address into their current meeting/event planning process they already use.

She then asked attendees to discuss and write down the safety and security measures they consider or implement regarding the destination, venue, food and beverage, and vendor aspects of the events they plan. Hilliard then went through each of these aspects with the entire attendance group. Beginning with destination, it is important to look for safety and security features such as road access (are there multiple ways to get in and out of the destination for emergencies or VIPs?) as well as

flights in and out per day. It is also important to look at the political climate of the destination, crime stats, and natural disaster profile. Once a destination is selected, then contact and communication channels should be established with the local emergency management office, hospitals, 24-emergency and dental care.

Moving on to the venue portion when considering safety and security concerns in planning an event, there are items to be addressed in the selection process and onsite. How the venue was constructed can be an important item of consideration. For example, if event attendees are elderly, then the event space should be on one floor for easier and safer access. With any venue site inspection, some safety features to look for include (but are not limited to) carpet, lighting, emergency exits, and house phones. It is also a good idea to ask about walking through the back of house to see how materials are organized, ensure doors are not being blocked and confirm the facility looks clean. Talking with the loss prevention or security team about their processes and measures to ensure safety and security for meetings/ events can prove beneficial as well. If your group will be staying overnight, ask the hotel about their policy for not disclosing room numbers to anyone not on the reservation.

Food and beverage poses another layer of risk to the safety and security of event attendees--including how the food and beverage is prepared and food allergies. This can be life-threatening to some attendees, so it is vital that food allergies are inquired about during the event registration process. Then take the necessary steps to make sure those individuals are appropriately identified to ensure those food or beverage items are avoided to keep them safe. Hotels may stock EpiPens onsite, but planners should not assume this.

With third-party vendors at the meeting or event, Hilliard states to be sure to include safety and security features in the RFP. Confirm there is a solid indemnification clause.

Contracting the vendors, food and beverage, venue, AV, and any other service required for the event must be paid close attention to in regards to safety and security.

Contract clauses such as Cancellation, Force __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on page 25 Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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Look Who We Spotted at the...

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

... November Meeting in Concord!

Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

education Looking Ahead at January 2017 MPI-CC Education

by Mallory Middleton

January 19 & 20, 2017 will bring a beneficial range of industry education sessions for MPI-CC members at the first meeting of the New Year. The meeting will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Brownstone-University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Between the Thursday afternoon and Friday morning education sessions, there will be a variety of topics covered including a technical session about managing the audio-visual experience, a communication skills networking workshop, and a session focused on understanding the buyer/seller relationship.

The Thursday session titled “Event Technical Direction – It’s Just Rocket Science!” will be led by Troy J. Peters, CTS. In this session, attendees can expect learning how to best interact with the onsite AV engineers, talent, producers or event planners, and the audience to create and manage the perfect live event. Attendees will learn how to “speak the talk” and observe real and relevant examples from recent events involving Presidents, CEOs, entertainers and keynote speakers. Working in teams, attendees will build a show flow, anticipate challenges, manage timelines, and learn how to interact with the talented engineers behind the scenes.

On Friday, we will kick-off with an early-morning social media education opportunity led by the MPI-CC Social Media Committee. In this session, the Social Media Committee will focus on teaching members the ins and outs of social media within the chapter. This brief 30-minute session will include a summary of all the social media sites that the chapter uses and how to get the most out of the MPI-CC meeting app. Attendees will also learn what is considered appropriate to post on each app.

Later, during the Networking Workshop, attendees will learn simple communication tools and channels to develop their network of potential future resources, potential employers, and employees. Members will learn about communication deviation during this session.

Deviation is the action of departing from an established course or accepted standard. The session will cover what is today’s accepted standard when it comes to communication and common miscommunication mistakes.

Finally, the last session titled “Bought & Sold: Understanding the Buyer/Seller Relationship” will be presented in a dual-role format. Attendees will take a look at both sides so that perspective can be gained from the other party and truly see what makes their machine run. For the meeting planner, they will learn how to ask

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the right questions to maximize the event and get exactly what is needed. Peters will also demonstrate to attendees how to build vendor relationships that will allow them to minimize the price and understand the needs of your supplier.

For the supplier, Peters says the cold calls are over, creating a database and checking off the list of potential prospects is the wrong way to grow revenue. Creating trust while connecting with buyers is the path to true long-term revenue growth and collaboration is key. He will dive into understanding the RFP process from the planner’s side of how it is created and the bidding process of how suppliers build an estimate and proposal. After going through all the information, the session will break into team workshops to put the knowledge into a working example.

From the technical details of event production to the communication and relationship, building skills covered in the January MPI-CC meeting, there will be plenty to gain from this meeting to jump start your best year yet. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

SAVE THE DATE to help MPI-CC celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day on April 6th, 2017 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in Raleigh, Charlotte and Myrtle Beach.

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) will shine a light on the real impact meetings have on businesses, economies and communities.

Meeting Professionals, organizations, association chapters, corporations, destinations, partners and other supporters will hold events in all around the world to support this international day of advocacy.

Sponsorship opportunities available at each location, contact Molly Johnson, CMP mjohnson@wilmingtonandbeaches.com 910-332-8747 for more information.

see mpi!

So Much to See!

by Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM

Have you been to IMEX before? If your answer is no, trust me when I say that you should make your way there in the coming years. I just returned from my very first IMEX and I was blown away. I had no idea what to expect. I walked in to the hosted buyer lounge on my first day and thought to myself “get ready Alison because this is going to knock your socks off!” As I entered the trade show floor, I had a detailed plan, appointments and knew exactly what booths I wanted to visit. However, once I started walking around, I realized there were many more suppliers that I knew I needed to meet with.

From hotels, to travel agencies, to CVBs, to MPI’s booth, there were just so many people to stop and chat with. I even had the pleasure of running into a sumo wrestler!

It was such a wonderful networking opportunity, but I was also able to sneak in some great education! Caesars Entertainment hosted me and they did a phenomenal job taking care of me while I was there, even giving me the opportunity to meet Giada in person. She was as kind and gracious as I had always imagined her to be. I ended my trip spending my last night at MPI’s Rendezvous.

Through the wonderful people I know in MPI, I heard all about Rendezvous, but not until I arrived did I truly see how incredible this event was. I won’t go into details on that part of the trip because as they say “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Whether your company supports you or not, you must pay your own way, or you have to apply for the hosted buyer program, find a way to go to IMEX – you won’t be disappointed! n

Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Global Knowledge MPI-CC VP of Finance

What’s the Buzz About Nuts & Bolts?

by Mica Parekh

There’s a lot of buzz around social media these days, but are you up to speed on how to use the apps that are in place for MPI-CC? In 2017, MPI-CC is going to kick our social media into high gear and we need YOU to help us do it! Don’t know what I am talking about or don’t think you know enough to help? Well, no worries, MPI-CC has you covered!

Starting at the January meeting being held at the DoubleTree Brownstone-University in Raleigh, NC and during each meeting in 2017, we are going to offer a “Nuts and Bolts” class about each of our social media platforms.

These sessions will cover our very own APP that’s used during the meeting to get around, connect, and play the click game. This short 30-minute early morning session

will start just before breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and will cover a different social media app at each chapter meeting.

The first session will include a summary of all the social media sites that the chapter uses to connect and how to work the MPI-CC meeting app. You will learn how to download the app and log in as well as how to use it.

At future sessions, each social media platform that the chapter uses will be covered (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) where you will learn the applications and how to post your information to our chapter pages.

Each session will finish by 8:15 a.m. This will give you plenty of time for breakfast before the chapter business announcements begin and you’ll be prepared to start sharing info on the app! n

Mica Parekh IWP Photography & Video MPI-CC Social Media Committee Chair

Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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CREATING A PERFECT PATH There is no work-life balance; it’s work-life integration— one big, dynamic, challenging experience.

by Annette Gregg, CMP, CMM, MBA

One topic that has plagued working women is the elusive work-life balance. We have seen it come in and out of fashion, with each new generation of meeting professionals debating its relevance and interpretation.

While established figures such as Sheryl Sandberg have encouraged us to “Lean In” and take steps to become successful within existing conditions, Millennials are said to lead with their personal needs before business: “The younger they are, the more your employees view their jobs as something to do between the weekends.

For most, early employment has nothing to do with a career path; it is a way to earn money to have fun in their free time” (Cam Marston, Generational Insights). Does any generation have a mastery of work-life balance that everyone has been searching for?

Dealing with Guilt and Accepting the Tension

In the meeting and hospitality industry, travel as well as weekends and nights on the job are common. This makes it even harder to “leave work at work” like a regular 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m., Monday-through-Friday position. If friends and family aren’t used to these irregular shifts, that can add tension to the relationships and make it hard for workers to balance priorities, especially causing women to feel guilty about their loyalties. A 2008 study in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology said a larger proportion of women (versus men) felt they did not meet their own very high standards for work and family commitments. What you can be sure of is that there is no secret formula that any of us has mastered.

For high achievers (or type-A performers), accepting the tension between the conflicting priorities of work and personal life is tough. There is a desire to solve it or control it. We don’t want to believe that there may be impossibilities with staying in the fast lane for a career and still pouring ourselves wholeheartedly into a personal life. Meanwhile, as we run around trying to be top salesperson and still president of the PTA or adopting another rescue dog, we leave little time for our own health and needs. My dear friend and mentor Terri Breining, CMP, CMM (MPI San Diego Chapter), once told me that I could have it all, just not all at the same time.

The reality is, we all have limitations, no matter what superwoman cape we wear.

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Embracing the Gray: Integration

As a Gen Xer, I thought that the key to work-life balance was keeping my personal and professional lives separate.

What we may be finally realizing as women continue to advance in business is that there is no work-life balance, it’s work-life integration—one big, dynamic, challenging experience. It’s all part of a quilt that makes us who we are. In fact, the thought that we can compartmentalize different roles we play is a myth. The social theory of Intersectionality proposes that we should think of each element or trait of a person as inextricably linked with all of the other elements in order to fully understand one’s identity. If we have a bad day at work, it’s tough not to bring that home, and vice versa. I began to realize that I wanted to show up fully authentic in every setting, and the more we can all do that, the more successful we will be. If I wanted to create meaningful relationships at work, I had to let them in to what I cared about outside the office. And in my personal life, it is OK that I really enjoy working and building a career. It doesn’t make us any less dedicated to either effort.

Redefine Success

In Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women do Differently, author Marcus Buckingham discusses that better education, better jobs and better pay have simply not left women feeling more fulfilled in the past few decades. Instead, he believes that women should stop looking for the perfect balance and instead focus on whatever specific things make them happiest. Flynn Heath and Holt say it another way in Break Your Own Rules: “Set priorities around what makes you feel most fulfilled and have realistic goals that you can build on along the way.” The sole author of your success is you—it’s for no one else to judge. To create a path perfect for you, try these four key steps.

1. Know what success looks like, what you really want personally and professionally. Not everything matters the same, so be clear on what matters most. Flexibility?

Title? Team management? Be honest if your present position or work culture will or will not support your priorities. Staying in a no-win situation causes frustration for both parties. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on page 22

People are talking about us behind our backs.

They’re saying things like we’re one of “The 10 Places in the US You Absolutely Have to Visit” (MSN Travel), a 2015 “Top 6 Hot Spot for Travel in the World” (CBS This Morning), and Oprah’s “Favorite Unexpected Vacation Destination” (O, the Oprah Magazine). The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) even honored Greenville with its highest award for outstanding people engagement.

While it seems everyone is hailing Greenville, South Carolina as a wow-worthy destination, it comes as no surprise to us.

Now the rest of the world is beginning to take notice, too.

Guess the only thing left to say is thanks for all the kind words…and we hope to see you soon!

Ready to get YOUR people talking?

Plan your next meeting in the place that has everyone talking. #yeahTHATgreenville

800.351.7180 Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from page 20 2. Be innovative and creative to get what you need. Propose a solution that works for you and still meets the needs of the company.

3. Let go and get over it. Getting over a negative situation quickly is critical to professional success; don’t let it derail your next project or job move. In the end, we are the ones solely responsible for our choices and tradeoffs. And every situation presents us with a choice.

4. Find your voice and support. Learn to say no—or not right now—when needed. Accept that timing may not be right for every opportunity and the door may be open at a better time.

A trusted advisor or group at work can help support your efforts and create a culture to support other women as they navigate these issues. n

Annette Gregg, CMP, CMM, MBA Annette, vice president-West for AlliedPRA has taught at several universities since 1995 and is program advisor for San Diego State University’s meetings and event certificate program.

Reprinted with permission from the June 2016 issue of The Meeting Professional, the official monthly magazine of Meeting Professionals International. All Rights Reserved.

PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE Meeting & Event Planning Certificate Program

Spring Program Begins February 10, 2017 Complete the Meeting & Event Planning Certificate Program in 4 weekends!

▪ February 10 & 11 ▪ February 24 & 25

▪ March 3 & 4 ▪ March 17 & 18

Free Info Session:

January 11 ▪ 6-7 p.m.

UNC Charlotte Center City 320 E. 9th St. ▪ Charlotte, NC 28202 UNC Charlotte is a CMP Preferred Provider.

The Meeting & Event Planning Program meets the requirements to receive continuing education (CE) credit for the CMP credential.

704-687-8900 ContinuingEd.uncc.edu/mep 22

| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

board meeting highlights Board of Directors Meeting Minutes November 3, 2016 | Concord, NC

by Christine Irwin, CMP

Attendees: Barbara Dragan, Christine Irwin, CMP, Sarah Johnson, Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM, Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP, Nicole Robinson, Alyce Kelly, CHSP, Christian Schroeder, Selah Havard, TMP, Brittany O’Shaughnessy, Ricardo Hicks, Judy Webster Excused Absences: Molly Nelson, Deanna Griffith-House, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM, CMM, Maureen Donovan, Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Minutes: Christian Schroeder presented the minutes from the September 15, 2016 Board of Directors Meeting and made a motion to approve.

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to approve the September 15, 2016 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes as presented.

Second: Nicole Robinson Vote: Approved Financials: Christine Irwin, CMP presented the September P&L statement, Balance Sheet and Aging Report.

Motion: Alyce Kelly, CHSP made a motion to approve the September P&L, Balance Sheet, and Aging Report as presented.

Second: Selah Havard, TMP Vote: Approved Chapter Office: None reported as all items were covered during the mid-year board retreat on November 2-3, 2016.

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

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Second: Nicole Robinson Vote: Approved Chapter Needs Assessment Survey: All results were reviewed during the mid-year board retreat. Alyce Kelly, CHSP and Barbara Dragan will write a synopsis to send out to our members, post online and include in the next issue of the Blitz.

RISE Awards: The categories for this year’s RISE Awards were discussed during the mid-year board retreat. Any

member is allowed to nominate anyone they see fit for nomination. If we as a chapter would like to nominate someone or a program that we held, please let Christian Schroeder know. Our retreat facilitator, Tara Laischenko, is a great resource as a previous RISE Award winner and judge. Last year the Carolinas Chapter was a finalist for the “Technology Boot Camp” program we did in May 2015.

Nominations: Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to appoint Linda Ilsley to the 2016-2017 Nominations Committee.

Second: Nicole Robinson Discussion: Christian Schroeder reminded the Board that we appointed four committee members at the September 2016 Board meeting, but one position still needed to be filled. Linda Ilsley has served on this committee in the past and as a past President, is excited to serve on this committee again.

Vote: Approved Publications: Brittany O’Shaughnessy reminded the Board that all Blitz items are due to Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM no later than Friday, November 11th.

MPI-CC Thank You Cards: Barbara Dragan announced that we have MPI-CC Thank You Cards and envelopes for all of our board members. These will be used to divide up the list of first timers, new members, planners and exhibitors from the November meeting and send thank you notes to them. Barbara Dragan will send out those assignments next week.

September Meeting Survey Results: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM reviewed the results from the September Meeting survey and addressed feedback with the Board. Overall, feedback was very positive.

Director Realignment: Christian Schroeder announced that during the mid-year Board retreat, the Office of the President had discussions with the Finance team __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on the next page Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from previous page regarding its current structure and rebranding the “Director of Fundraising” title.

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to rebrand and realign the two current director positions (Director of Fundraising and Director of Strategic Partnerships) under the VP of Finance to two Director of Special Events positions, still under the VP of Finance beginning with the 2017-2018 term.

Second: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM Discussion: Christian Schroeder clarified that one Director of Special Events will be over the Annual Silent Auction, Bidding for Good, and any miscellaneous meeting auctions.

The other Director of Special Events will be over the Tradeshow/Business Exchange, meeting vendor tables and any miscellaneous fundraisers. The duties that used to fall under the Director of Strategic Partnerships will now be handled by the VP of Finance and The Management Office.

Vote: Approved Christine Irwin, CMP will add this under the Finance notes section in the metrics dashboard to show record of this change for 2017-2018.

Helping Hand Award: Ricardo Hicks presented the list of nominees for the November Helping Hand Award. After

s room otel t h s e a are larg ,000 ast’s 6 e 1 h r t e u • Ov of the So ters e en n c •O tion n e seum s v s t coli staurant con a e state s e 0 r 0 Inter 0 ,5 r 0 3 5 jo 2 • an ma re th m3 • Mo ss fro e c sy ac • Ea

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017

the Board submitted their written votes, Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM was announced as the winner.

Next Board Meeting: The next board meeting will be held on January 19, 2017 at 2pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Brownstone-University in Raleigh, NC. Meeting Adjourned. n

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

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.

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__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from page 15 Majeure, Insurance, and Indemnification should be diligently reviewed with the appropriate manager or attorney for liability protection. Safety and security is such an important consideration, not only within meetings and events, but everyday life. It should be approached carefully and thoroughly so that steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of an emergency or crisis. Prepare for the worst, recover if an incident were to happens, and respond appropriately. Accidents and emergencies are a part of life, but with the right measures in place, planners and suppliers alike can feel better about the steps taken to prevent and respond to such occurrences. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

COMING EARLY 2018

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“

We were blown away by everything Winston-Salem had to offer.

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

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“

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Carolina Blitz | December 2016 - January 2017 |

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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 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, Visit Greenville SC; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; Selah Havard, Cabarrus County CVB; Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM, Global Knowledge; Mallory Middleton, Raleigh Convention Center; Annette Gregg, CMP, CMM, MBA, AlliedPRA 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 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 6 issues of the Blitz published yearly FEB/MAR, APR/MAY, JUNE/JULY, AUG/SEPT, OCT/NOV, DEC/JAN

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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!