Carolina Blitz December 2021-March 2022

Carolina Blitz December 2021 - March 2022

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) Charlotte Convention Center Charlotte, NC April 7, 2022

CAROLINAS CHAPTER

Look Forward,

Meet Again

Centrally located in North Carolina, Winston-Salem is a welcoming meeting destination with a history committed to reinvention and innovation. Named one of the South’s Best Cities on the Rise by Southern Living, Winston-Salem boasts a vibrant, walkable city center, 100+ downtown shops and restaurants, and over $2 billion in downtown development initiatives. Elevate your next event in downtown’s Benton Convention Center, now offering 150,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Winston-Salem will have you looking forward to playing, meeting, and staying in our hip and historic city.

5,000+ HOTEL ROOMS

UP TO $3,000 IN

1, 200 Downtown

Meeting Incentives

Karen Wall

Senior Sales Manager Karen@VisitWinstonSalem.com 336.728.4210

Christian Schroeder

Director of Sales & Services Christian@VisitWinstonSalem.com 336.728.4218

Learn more at VisitWinstonSalem.com

in this issue...

features IMEX Returns and Flourishes During 2021 Pandemic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A New Slate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Global Meetings Industry Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A New MPI-CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

in every issue Our Annual Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Monthly Meeting Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MPI-CC Board & Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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

Platinum Sponsors:

Diamond Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Silver Sponsors:

Convention Center & Visitors Bureau

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

our members Welcome New Members!

Membership Engagement would like to welcome all of our new members who have joined us recently. Please plug in to the chapter, volunteer and engage! We welcome your questions and will connect you with an ambassador once you have registered for your first meeting. However, if you would like an ambassador before you attend your first meeting, just let us know. We are here to help and make sure you are right where you would like to be with your membership! Please reach out to Rachel Whitten, Vice President of Membership Engagement at RWhitten@greenvillenc.gov. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you soon!

Please welcome the following new members from the October 1 - February 28 period. n Lola Balulis Jones, CMP Wild Dunes Resort lola.jones@destinationhotels.com Cynthia Bell cynthia.bell.127@gmail.com Alex Bentzon Drive Shack Inc abentzon@driveshack.com Corinne Boe calford247@gmail.com Kymberly Brantigan The Charlotte Destination Group kbrantigan@charlottedestination.com Morgan Buhrow morganlbuhrow@gmail.com Dana Canby Greater Raleigh CVB dcanby@visitraleigh.com Kay Clark, CMP KBC Planning, LLC kay@kbcplanning.com

Dana Collier colliermomma@gmail.com Robyn Farmer Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel robyn.farmer@windsorhospitality.com Kailey Fryor krfryor@ncsu.edu Elizabeth Green, CMP UNC Health liz.green@unchealth.unc.edu Beth Hilton The Francis Marion Hotel beth.hilton@thefrancismarion.com Eli Kahan 21c Museum Hotel Durham ekahan@21chotels.com Leandra LaRonde leandralaronde12@gmail.com Christina Laskorunsky Greater Raleigh CVB claskorunsky@visitraleigh.com

Karen Lawrence, CMP, DES It’s My Affair, LLC karen@itsmyaffair.com Jenna Light The Cary Collection of Hilton Hotels jenna.light@parkshotels.com Charles Little Target Stream Media Management Inc. colittle@targetstream.net Derrick Norris Kash Hotels derrick@kashhotels.com Katee Sissler IMIAE katee@imiae.com Katie Suddreth Drive Shack Inc ksuddreth@puttery.com Allison Thomas Student - UNC Charlotte allit2020@aol.com

Rachel Whitten Greenville-Pitt County CVB VP of Member Engagement Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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monthly meeting planner

April 7, 2022 Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) | Charlotte, NC

May 15-16, 2022 Harrah’s Cherokee | Cherokee, NC

June 21-23, 2022 MPI World Education Congress (WEC) | San Francisco, CA

July 14-15, 2022 Rizzo Conference Center | Chapel Hill, NC

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is Friday, April 15, 2022.

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

CALLING ALL WRITERS Do you dream of being a published author?

If so, the Blitz is looking for you! While we’re not the Wall Street Journal, getting published in the Blitz is a great way to share your ideas with fellow MPI-CC members and earn points toward your CMP certification. The Blitz is always accepting original articles and great topic ideas.

To submit your articles or ideas, please contact Cathy Mauldin, CMP, at CathyMauldin@gmail.com or submit via our website at www.mpi.org/carolinas.

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

MPI-CC Anniversaries 25 Years Teresa Palmieri Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park 15 Years Diane Weems North Carolina Aggregates Association

5 Years Nick Hancock Spectra Venue Management

Sandie Holley, VEMM Face 2 Face Meetings & Incentives

Tessa Barrier, CMP MHI

10 Years Renita Williams Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Kathryn Atkinson, CMP NC Academy of Family Physicians

Paula Greene, CMP CMM The Duke Endowment

Linda Toro UIDP Ashley Tannert SAS Institute Inc., JMP Division

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

president’s message

Our Members are the Key Ingredient Hello my fellow MPI-Carolinas members. We’ve made it to spring 2022. Things are continuing to evolve in our industry.

As we are planning for this year’s meetings, we are going in with contingencies and backup plans. What happens if we can’t go live, do we go virtual? What happens if we go live and 25% of attendees don’t feel comfortable, do we keep a virtual component? Can we afford a hybrid event that caters to both?

Can we afford not to offer both? Just as the industry is making crucial decisions and changes, we must keep in mind that our chapter must consider many things on a year-to-year basis to Richardo Hicks Tech Factory Productions MPI-CC President

remain solvent and relevant.

This tension is necessary for sustainability and furthermore for the overall health of the organization. We want to hear from you (our members), to better understand what you would like to see for your MPI-Carolinas Chapter. Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m a firm believer in building relationships. That’s only one component of the “special sauce” that makes MPI-Carolinas what it is and will be in the future. Again, we want to hear from you, so talk to our board members, so that we can continue to make strides for years to come. You have the additional elements needed to make the “special sauce.” There is nothing more important than the people in our chapter! n

MPI-CC Annual Awards Get your submissions in for your fellow members!

Nomination forms and eligibility requirements are online. Make your voice heard by March 31, 2022.

Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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NESTLED

IN

NATURE

CaesarsMeansBusiness.com | 855-633-8238

MPI-CC 2021-2022 Board of Directors and Committees Leadership President Ricardo Hicks Tech Factory Productions rhicks@techfactoryproductions.com

President-Elect Brandon Crumpton Key Signature Entertainment brandon@keysignatureonline.com

Immediate Past President Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs ahodges@NCACPA.org

Director of Professional Development Seth Macchi Live Events Media Group (LEMG) seth.m@lemg.live

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Najauna White, CMP The Diversity Movement Najauna.white@gmail.com

Chapter Administrator Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office Christine@ themanagementoffice.com

Publications Committee Chair Cathy Mauldin, CMP DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith cathymauldin@gmail.com

Social Media Committee Chair Melanie Mason, CMP Melanie.mason35@gmail.com

Education Committee Cathy Carpenter Visit Mooresville cathy@visitmooresville.com

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Jessica Garrett, CMP Cisco jegarret@cisco.com

Communications VP of Marketing and Communications Sarah Casella McGill & Hill Group sarah.casella@mcgillhillgroup.com

Education VP of Program Development Nicole Filippo, CMP Elon University nfilippo@elon.edu

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Tessa Barrier, CMP MHI TBarrier@mhi.org

Finance VP of Finance Jamie Frydlo JDS Consulting jfrydlo@gmail.com

Tradeshow Committee Chair Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM NC Trucking Association aharding@nctrucking.com

Auction Committee Nicole Keshler Visit Raleigh Nkeshler@visitraleigh.com

Member Engagement VP of Member Engagement Rachel Whitten Greenville-Pitt County CVB RWhitten@greenvillenc.gov

Director of Member Engagement Chair Needed

Member Engagement Committee Chair Chair Needed

Awards Committee Chair Molly Johnson, CMP Wilmington & Beaches CVB mjohnson@ wilmingtonandbeaches.com Leadership & Volunteer Development Chair Chair Needed

Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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Look Who We Spotted…

Virtual

...at the January Meeting 8

| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

IMEX Returns and Flourishes During 2021 Pandemic

By Alan Kleinfeld, CMP, CMM

IMEX America returned in 2021 after a COVID-19 (C19) spoiled absence last year. If you didn’t make it this year, here’s a little of what you missed.

COVID

IMEX required attendees to upload vaccination records prior to attending. I don’t know how or if the records were confirmed or verified. Attendees were required to download and create an account in the Clear Health app.

Then, after you answered the app health questionnaire one time, you would show your “green” status and be allowed to enter the show, at which point staff put a narrow, hi-glow green cotton wristband on you.

As a covid compliance officer (CCO), I would have preferred if the app required attendees to refresh it each day of the event and for staff to put on a new wrist band, of a different color, as you entered the event each day.

The band turned out to be a point of contention for many attendees because it frayed, sprouting long strands of green cotton dangling in your food, drink, and getting stuck in your name badge, watch, or other personal belongings. After three days, it was like wearing a sticky, germ-riddled animal tail The hotels required masks in all public areas. On the show flow, masks were optional.

Las Vegas

I’m not a Vegas fan. To me, 36 hours is all you need in the city where “what happens here stays here.” The lights, noise, labyrinth casino floors, and large crowds are just too much to consume. Staying here for three or more days can feel like punishment.

But Vegas is Vegas. It’s an adult playground and everything seemed to have returned to pre-C19 commonness. There were lots of shows, buffets, and gambling. And people. Lots and lots of people.

room before 4 p.m. And if you wanted to get cash out of an ATM, the “surcharge” was nearly $10. Even on the IMEX show floor, a ham and cheese sandwich ate up more than $20. Are these ways we’ll pay for Covid-19?

One other exhaustive element in Vegas: the lines. There were long lines for everything – taxi cabs, coffee shops, bell desks, front desks, slot machines, gaming tables.

The only place I didn’t see a line was the restroom. And the lines moved at a snail’s pace. At one small Starbucks, they had four staffers behind the counter and it still took 10 minutes to get a venti coffee to go. Maybe it’s rustiness from the C19 shut down or perhaps the crowds were larger than expected. Whatever it was, of the five days I spent in Vegas, I think I stood in line for three of them.

IMEX

IMEX was good. There were no lines to get in and the show floor was a buzz with activity. I don’t know how much business was conducted, but the attitude was all big smiles and friendly outlooks. It was great to see people face-to-face and reconnect since being down-andout since March of 2020. Of the exhibitors I spoke to, all said the show was productive. As one supplier put it, it felt like normal.

I suppose in the end, that was the best thing to come out of IMEX. Excerpt from the Arrive Conference Solutions Blog where MPICC member and frequent MPI speaker Alan Kleinfeld updates planners and suppliers on current safety trends and changes in the industry.

Blog | ArriveConfSolutions

Alan Kleinfeld, CMP, CMM Arrive Conference Solutions

It was also surprisingly expensive. A glass of wine was $22. Some hotels charged a $75 fee to check in to your Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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WHAT EXPERIENCE WILL YOU

C reate? ashevillemeetings.com

d r a w r o F g n i g v n o i t M c e n & Recon more r been e v e n in as tings h here to help n mee e r o s a r e e to in-p are ready, w u g back g.

Gettin nt. When yo econnectin r ta d r n o a p im ard g forw movin

Sarah Davis, CMP, Director of Sales & Marketing 828.322.1335 Sarah@hickorymetro.com www.visithickorymetro.com Convention Center & Visitors Bureau

Meet at a spot that has been launching businesses for more than 300 years.

While our hotel may be new, our location has been a hub for thriving businesses for as long as we can remember. Originally a fishing ground for American Indians, it became a center for the Menhaden fishing industry after the Civil War. Today, our site continues to inspire business with expansive waterfront views, natural light, luxurious accommodations and tempting cuisine. Stimulate your business at Beaufort Hotel.

Where your Outer Banks adventure begins.

2440 Lennoxville Road | Beaufort, NC 28516 | (252) 728-3000 | BeaufortHoteINC.com

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

A NEW SLATE The 2022 – 2023 Board slate was presented to the membership on January 31, 2022.

After 30 days with no positions contested, it has been approved! The new Board is excited to begin serving the members of MPI-CC and hopes to see you very soon.

President Brandon Crumpton Key Signature Entertainment

President-Elect Najauna White, CMP, CDE Miles Partnership

Immediate Past President Ricardo Hicks Tech Factory Productions

VP of Finance Seth Macchi Live Events Media Group (LEMG)

VP of Marketing and Communications Sarah Casella McGill & Hill Group

VP of Member Engagement Rachel Whitten Greenville-Pitt County CVB

VP of Program Development Nicole Filippo, CMP Elon University

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mitch Savoie Hill, CPC SavHill Consulting LLC

Chapter Administrator Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office

Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs ahodges@NCACPA.org

Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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Celebrate IN PERSON

with meeting and event planning professionals across the Southeast!

On April 7, 2022, the industry will come together to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day—an international day of advocacy showcasing the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. Join us in Charlotte, NC as we gather in person with organizations across the southeast to celebrate GMID and everything it means to us this year.

The agenda will consist of: • Lunch sponsored by Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority • Kickin' it with NC's Political Leaders: an informative session hosted by NCTIA about NC politics and the effects it has on our meetings industry • No Need for a Crystal Ball - Meetings Outlook by MPI - The Meetings Industry Forecast • What's New? What's Normal? What to Expect as Meetings and Events Begin Their Recovery: This session will cover the latest expectations for group recovery, what challenges suppliers may face as group business returns, and what planners and attendees expect as events resume • Moving Forward Together. Meeting and Event Planning for 2022 and Beyond - Whether you've been in the industry for years or are still learning the ropes, we all need to understand what it takes to plan successful meetings as we move back to in person events • GMID Celebration - We'll hold a GMID Celebration at the NASCAR Hall of Fame with live music, food and drinks!

With the event taking place from 12:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., come in for the day or stay overnight and enjoy some time in downtown Charlotte.

Cost to attend is $25

More information can be found on our GMID website.

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

Meet over cocktails ...or spreadsheets.

YOU’RE WELCOME.

You’re welcome to work hard and play hard in Greensboro.

VISITGREENSBORONC.COM

Work has never looked so

Plan your next event at our newly renovated facility and you’ll find all the amenities you need for a new way of doing business.

203 S Front Street New Bern, NC (252) 637-1551 www.RiverfrontConventionCenter.com

Welcome The Gastonia Conference Center, located in the revitalized downtown and adjacent to the boutique Esquire Hotel, is a state-of-the-art facility providing 30,000 square feet of tech-savvy space accommodating groups of up to 450 and located only minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

GoGastonNC.org 704-825-4044 | @GoGastonNC Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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SERENE by nature WE ARE KIAWAH ISLAND

visitcabarrus.com

NETWORKING UPTOWN STYLE

Another hidden gem

Beyond our modern meeting spaces and networking-friendly hotels, you’ll discover legendary Eastern NC whole hog BBQ and a vibrant Uptown District. We’re ready to host your corporate event, trade show or reunion whenever you are.

NC’s Emerald City is filled with countless hidden gems.

PROUD HOST

800.576.1585 • KiawahMeetings.com

See you soon at VisitGreenvilleNC.com

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| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

It is no surprise to anyone reading this that COVID-19 has turned the world as we know it upside down. We have felt that very strongly in our personal lives, in our professional lives, this industry, and MPI-CC. During the November 2021 Mid-Year Board Retreat, the Board had an opportunity to come together and dig deep into how MPI-CC will evolve with our members. There is no better time than the present to evaluate how we operate as a chapter. What are our members needs? How can we show value to our members? How can we get back to having fun and learning together... in person?

How can we grow as a chapter and an industry?

The tentative 2022-2023 calendar will look like this: July 2022 Chapter Meeting at Rizzo Conference Center July 14-15 August 2022 New Member Lunch’n Learn – Virtual September 2022 NC and SC casual regional networking meet-up October 2022 Chapter Meeting and Business Exchange

CAROLINAS CHAPTER

While changes won’t happen overnight and initiatives continue to evolve as we take on the last half of our fiscal year, one change was particular. The Board decided to revamp our meeting and event calendar. We will have four signature events a year – July to kick off the new year, October will be our business exchange month, February will be our new Annual meeting, and April will consist of a signature GMID event. In the “off” months from our signature events, we will hold casual networking meet-ups in North and South Carolina and hold New Member Lunch’n Learns virtually to engage new members throughout the year. Our Annual Awards Gala and Board Installation will now be a standalone event during June, mindful not to interfere with WEC, which takes place in June.

The Board of Directors is here to serve you, the member. We appreciate your continued support of the chapter, and without you, we wouldn’t be here.

November 2022 New Member Lunch’n Learn – Virtual December 2022 Networking Social Hour - Virtual February 2023 MPI-CC Annual Meeting March 2023 New Member Lunch’n Learn – Virtual April 2023 GMID Event – Education and Networking May 2023 New Member Lunch’n Learn – Virtual June 2023 MPI WEC MPI-CC Awards Gala and Board Installation

Christine Irwin, CMP MPI-CC Chapter Administrator The Management Office Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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CMP STUDY GROUP Designed to help prepare you for the CMP Exam, the MPI-Carolinas Study Group will help you break down the study materials into manageable chunks over a seven-week period with a series of virtual meetings set for a day/time that works for the group. The next group study begins the week of June 9, 2022.

REGISTER TODAY! Complimentary for chapter members $150 for non-MPI-CC members 16

| Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022

Jonathan Corbett

In-person meetings are back—and we’re truly excited to see groups of all sizes returning to Raleigh once more. Major meeting hotels and venues like the GBAC STAR™-accredited Raleigh Convention Center are safely hosting events again, while restaurants and attractions continue to welcome attendees to explore and enjoy. If you’re planning your next meeting or convention, we can help ensure your event makes its way back.

visitRaleigh.com/wishmeetings Carolina Blitz | December 2021 - March 2022 |

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Carolina Blitz The Carolina Blitz is the official publication of the Carolinas Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is published every other month. All contributions, articles, and photographs should be submitted to Publications Committee Chair/ Editor one week after the meeting. Send to Cathy Mauldin, CMP CathyMauldin@gmail.com

Volunteers are the heart of our organization.

Help make a difference in our chapter and shape its future. Volunteering on a committee is a great way to elevate your membership, engage with fellow planners and suppliers, develop your leadership skills, and learn new professional skills.

Visit mpi.org/Carolinas or email Rachel Whitten, Leadership & Volunteer Development Chair, at RWhitten@greenvillenc.gov for more information on getting involved.

EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE VP of Marketing and Communications Sarah Casella • McGill & Hill Group Editor Cathy Mauldin, CMP • DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith Contributing Writers Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; Ricardo Hicks, Tech Factory Productions; Alan Kleinfeld, CMP, CMM, LEO, MTA, Arrive Management Group; Nicole Keshler, Visit Raleigh; Amelia Hodges, CMM, CMP, NC Association of CPAs Proofreaders Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Nancy Lowe, CMP, NC Medical Society; Peggy Anderson, CMP; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial Hotel RaleighDurham Airport; Jake O’Dare, Aloft Greenville Downtown; Stephanie Trimble, GCT Chauffeured Services 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

Nominate a Member Volunteer Do You Know a Volunteer of the Quarter?

We have so many active members who deserve recognition for their efforts! If you know of someone who is going above and beyond, share their name and volunteer accomplishments with us so we can give them a shout out. This person can be a committee chair or member or even a brand new MPI-CC member who has already started to shine. The Volunteer of the Quarter Award is given four times a year and nominations are accepted all the time! Please send your nomination to Molly Johnson, CMP at mjohnson@wilmingtonandbeaches.com.

ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINES AD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER

RATE Quarter Page 1X $220 (3 1/2”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $200/issue 6X $160/issue Half Page Horizontal 1X $420 (7 1/4”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $400/issue 6X $360/issue Half Page Vertical 1X $420 (3 1/2”W x 9 1/2”H) 3X $400/issue 6X $360/issue Full Page 1X $640 (8 1/2”W x 11”H) 3X $620/issue 6X $580/issue Full Page Insert 1X $700/issue 3X $680/issue 6X $640/issue (Produced and provided by advertiser)

NON-MEMBER RATE $290 $270/issue $230/issue $550 $530/issue $490/issue $550 $530/issue $490/issue $840 $820/issue $780/issue $910/issue $890/issue $850/issue

There are six 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, 1307 West Morehead St, Suite 207, Charlotte, NC 28208 Christine@TheManagementOffice.com • Fax: 704-333-6927 For more advertising information contact Christine Irwin, CMP, at Christine@TheManagementOffice.com or 704-377-5648 Visit our website at www.mpi.org/carolinas for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities!