Blitz February-March 2016

Carolina Blitz February - March 2016

Spartanburg Marriott Spartanburg, SC | March 17-18, 2016

Kathy Creech New Member Spotlight Page 8

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

in this issue...

features 10 Steps to Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17

in every issue Our Annual Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Monthly Meeting Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MPI-CC Board & Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 14-15

Andrew_Mayovskyyk/iStock/Thinkstock

Board Meeting Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20

Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 1

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

Diamond Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

2 | Carolina Blitz | August - September 2015

our members Welcome New Members!

Ashley Busman Tin Roof ashley@tinroofbars.com Joe Capone Melia Hotels International joec@sol-group.com Evan Carroll Attended Events evan@attendedevents.com Coyte Cooper Coyte Cooper Company coytecooper@gmail.com Kathy Creech North Carolina Hospital Association kcreech@ncha.org UnChu Crosby Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) ucrosby@epri.com Randy Danison Great Wolf Resorts Concord RDanison@greatwolf.com

Jamila Dickey Nova Southeastern University dickeyjal@aol.com Rachel Dodson, CMP, CEM UNC Charlotte dodsonr91@gmail.com Marc Dooner Durham CVB marc@durham-cvb.com Jessica Garrett IMI Association Executives Inc. jessicagarrett@imiae.com Cathy Gilbert Hyatt Place Raleigh West cathy.gilbert@hyatt.com Victoria Harris Cempra Pharmaceutical veh827@yahoo.com Whitney Horne wlhorne87@outlook.com

MPI-CC Anniversaries 20 years Yvonne Patton, CMP, CMM Hamner Conference Center Elizabeth Peeler, CMP, CMM D-P Planning Meetings & Events 15 years Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, MHA, CSEP Burroughs Wellcome Fund

5 years Sarah Astroth Continental Tire the Americas, LLC

Amber Howard Hickory Metro CVB amber@hickorymetro.com Sarah Johnson Appalachian State University sarahmolliejohnson@ gmail.com Leanna Lee Great Wolf Resorts Concord LLee@greatwolf.com Allison Locke Omni Grove Park Inn allison.locke@ omnihotels.com Paige McGeorge Diplomat Resort and Spa paige.welch@ diplomatresort.com

Elisa Ramey, CMP Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown elisa.ramey@hyatt.com Shannon Redden SAS Institute Inc. shannon.redden@sas.com Maria Rodillo AgFirst Farm Credit Bank mrodillo@agfirst.com Kathryn Stachowicz Hendrick Automotive Group Kathryn.Stachowicz@ Hendrickauto.com Angela Williams UNC Charlotte anwillia@uncc.edu Worth Wilson worth.wilson@gmail.com

Crystal Murphy UNC Charlotte clh3942@yahoo.com

First Timers and New Members at the January Mixer

Sherri Martin Michelin North America Sandi Owen AMCOL Systems

Jean Travers HelmsBriscoe

Nicole Robinson Greater Raleigh CVB

10 years Julia Blackwell, CMP Wake Forest University

Marie Snider The Small Business Success Project

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

(Front row, left to right) Makeda Pride, Karen Kunz, Kathy Creech, Jenna Davis, Whitney Horne (Back row, left to right) Ashley Richburg, Paige McGeorge, Robert Sullivan, Elisa Ramey, Lena Sanok, Leanna Lee, Worth Wilson Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 3

monthly meeting planner

March 17-18, 2016

June 11-14, 2016

Spartanburg, SC

MPI World Education Congress

Spartanburg Marriott

Atlantic City, New Jersey

April 14, 2016

Global Meetings Industry Day

· Hilton Charlotte University

July 14-15, 2016

Chapel Hill, NC

The Carolina Inn

Charlotte, NC

· 21c Museum Hotel

Durham, NC

· Holiday Inn Charleston – Mt Pleasant

September 15-16, 2016

Education & Business Exchange

Raleigh, NC

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

Charleston, SC

· Hilton Kingston Plantation

Myrtle Beach, SC May 9-10, 2016

Annual Meeting

Hilton Head Island, SC

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

November 3-4, 2016

Concord, NC

Great Wolf Lodge – Charlotte/Concord

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is March 25, 2016. Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM, at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com.

engage in good company

CO N F ER EN CE S . CO N V EN T I O N S . E V EN T S . M EE T I N GS

visitgreenvillenc.com 800-537-5564 4 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

president’s message

With your involvement, the best is yet to come...

by Christian Schroeder

President Obama gave his final State of the Union address earlier this year which provided a forum to reflect on past successes and set goals for the future. It is a common practice for leaders to recognize accomplishments and gather feedback to assess in developing goals. Thanks to the hard work of many dedicated volunteers, the Carolinas Chapter has had much success during the fiscal year.

Let’s take a look at some highlights and what’s ahead:

Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem 2015-2016 MPI-CC President

Education: The education and meeting planning team have worked hard to secure venues and speakers based on membership feedback and availability while providing multiple successful CMP study groups. Post event education scores have been strong. Our educational programming has covered a variety of topics from thriving in the multi-generational workplace and generational panel discussions in July to our most recent January sessions covering food and beverage trends along with a food truck panel.

MPI-Carolinas should take pride in knowing that our 2015 Technology Boot Camp is an MPI RISE Award national nominee for educational programming. We look forward to the return of Jim Spellos and our technology theme at the May 2016 annual meeting in Hilton Head. Did you know if you register for and attend our March meeting in Spartanburg that you will be entered into a drawing to receive complimentary registration for our Annual Meeting in May? Membership: Through efforts of our membership team, the Carolinas Chapter membership continues to grow and is currently 425 members. Recruitment and retention efforts continue through potential member interest forms online, referrals, events, and most importantly word-of-mouth.

Our Leadership and Volunteer Development Committee has been able to place volunteers on committees that best match their passions, times, and skills. In September, we hosted our first Volunteer appreciation event. Later this year, we will be able to recognize members with Nancy B. Holder Scholarships and annual awards including the new Volunteer of the Year award.

Communication: Our communication team has developed a long-term marketing calendar for all forms of communication that other MPI chapters have asked to use as a model. Earlier this year, a Carolina Blitz article written by April Ferguson was also used in MPI’s “The Meeting Professional.”

A committee structure is in place to strengthen our presence across multiple social media platforms. Committees have become a great opportunity to learn from one another as members become more familiar with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Look for another Click Game on our meeting app to encourage some friendly competition in the future.

Finance: The finance team is tasked with generating revenue to reinvest in our membership. We have had several projects from the Business Exchange, to fundraising efforts such as the corn hole tournament, to annual sponsorship packaging. The Business Exchange continues to evolve, and the production redesign was well received. We are using member feedback to improve our 2016 Business Exchange.

Great packages were donated for our Fall Bidding For Good campaign, and we look forward to building on this momentum.

Please consider donating items for our next Bidding For Good and/or our annual silent auction in Hilton Head in May. Please see a member of the silent auction committee, board member or the Management Office regarding details on how you can donate items. Money raised goes toward scholarships and reinvesting in our membership.

Administration: The Nominating Committee reviewed and interviewed candidates for the 2016-2017 Board. Congratulations to our incoming board! This group will participate in a board retreat later this spring. At the retreat, results from the annual MPI ___________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on page 8 Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 5

MPI-CC 2015-2016 Board of Administration President Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4218 Christian@ visitwinstonsalem.com

President-Elect Barbara Dragan The Westin Charlotte 704-335-2114 Barbara.Dragan@westin.com

Immediate Past President Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE Greater Raleigh CVB 919-645-2668 mharrell@visitraleigh.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 Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM North Carolina Association of CPAs 919-469-1040, ext. 8 ahodges@NCACPA.org

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

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

Strategic Partnerships Committee Chair Needed

Director of Fundraising Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP Marriott Columbia 803-744-6922 Karolyn.stone@ marriottcolumbia.com

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

Director of Leadership & Volunteer Development Nicole Robinson Greater Raleigh CVB 919-645-2682 nrobinson@visitraleigh.com

Awards Committee Co-Chair Wendy Bassett, CMP HelmsBriscoe 843-243-0554 wbassett@helmsbriscoe.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 Alyce Kelly, CHSP Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville 242-241-8402 Alyce.kelly@hilton.com

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

Finance VP of Finance Amy Johnson Courtyard by Marriott at Carolina Beach 910-458-2617 amy.johnson@ crestlinehotels.com

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

6 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

f Directors and Committees

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

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

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

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

Meeting Planning Committee Molly Nelson Spartanburg Marriott 864-591-3113 Molly.Nelson@marriott.com

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Farrah Staub, CMP Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley 919-571-5319 farrah.staub@marriott.com

Fun-Raising Committee Chair Needed

Silent Auction Committee 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

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

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

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

Scholarship Committee Liz Guertin Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4231 liz@visitwinstonsalem.com

Member Care Committee Alex Oates PSAV 919-439-6214 aoates@PSAV.COM Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 7

new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: Kathy Creech

by Selah Havard, TMP

How long have you been in the Industry?

Attending the MPI-CC meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn provided the opportunity to network with friends I have not seen for some time. I have been in the meeting industry for almost 30 years and have experienced many Kathy Creech changes, challenges and successes. The relationships developed through my career in the hospitality industry continue to be memorable and rewarding. Joining MPI gives me the opportunity to give back to members as my mentors have done with me throughout the years. My career with event planning started with Marriott International as a catering manager and a group sales manager.

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

I now work for the NC Hospital Association(NCHA), a statewide trade association serving North Carolina hospitals and health systems. NCHA’s mission is to promote improved delivery of quality and affordable healthcare in NC through leadership, advocacy, information and education in its members’ interest for public benefit. I have been the meetings manager for 7 years for the Education Department at NCHA. My role includes working with hotel or venue representatives, including all meeting details prior to the meeting and on site during the meeting.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I will celebrate 33 years of marriage this year with my awesome husband. We have a daughter who is a registered nurse and a son who is currently in basic law enforcement training. The joy of my life includes three grandchildren ages 5-10. We have fun together swimming, hanging out at the park and shopping, just to name a few activities. Being involved in church activities, walking, swimming, cooking and beach vacations are my life passions.

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

My advice to those who are interested in the hospitality industry is to get as much experience working with a team to do what it takes to achieve customer satisfaction. Growth comes from learning from your failures and celebrating successes. Make sure you like working with people and have fun. Be able to laugh at yourself. I recommend belonging to MPI to network and be on a committee to enhance your leadership skills. n

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

With your involvement, the best is yet to come... ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from page 5 survey distributed in February along with our chapter surveys will be reviewed. Member feedback is always used to strategize how to best meet members’ needs in the future.

the impact that our industry has. Please make plans to join us as we celebrate the impact that we have on our economy and our society. Remember that when we meet, we change the world.

Our Advocacy Committee is making plans for the first Global Meetings Industry Day on April 14, 2016. This is an expansion from last year’s North American Meetings Industry Day and provides an opportunity to showcase

As for the state of our chapter, we will continue to build on past successes and look forward to a bright future. We still have work to do and with your involvement in our chapter, the best is yet to come! n

8 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

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EMLYN KOSTER, Ph.D. SCIENTIS T A ND V ISIONA RY

Director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Emlyn Koster, Ph.D., is an insightful local mind, sharing his knowledge and network with meeting organizers from the Association of Science-Technology Centers to the world’s first conference on animal tracking.

Consider how a smart city’s pipeline of experts can help simplify planning, identify corporate partners and customize programming, impressing your most savvy attendees. Think Raleigh. Where science, innovation and education grow from the ground up.

“ Science surrounds us as

the means by which we can better understand the challenges we face and the opportunities that are there.”

Learn more at visitRaleigh.com/smart Photo Credit: News & Observer

Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 9

10 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

education

January Education Recap: Catering Trends

by Mallory Middleton

The beginning of the New Year brings exciting new opportunities, both personally and professionally. In the month of January, attendees of the Meeting Professionals International Carolinas Chapter meeting were educated about catering trends for events ranging from 20-1000 attendees.

Kate Jansen with Centerplate at the Raleigh Convention Center kicked off the education session with a presentation on best practices for large-scale catering events. She covered the challenges and solutions of planning these types of events as well as overcoming creative obstacles while still incorporating trends.

Jansen explained that when planning a large catered event, a helpful way to approach the planning is to think of it in the same way that runners plan their goal of participating in a marathon. To do this, she advised to set small goals to get to the final desired outcome. Jansen also encouraged attendees to outline their expectations. Then, Jansen stressed that management of these expectations is key, particularly if the catered function is a first-time event or the first experience working with a particular catering company.

In planning a large catered function, Jansen emphasized that one of the most valuable resources is the catering coordinator/manager. Planners should have very open and clear communication with their catering contact. As Jansen put it, “Your catering manager is like your quarterback-they work with their team to learn plays.” The catering manager or “quarterback” for your event will do everything she can to help you win the game, while adhering to and navigating the house rules.

A common misconception in planning large catered events is that the meal cannot be customized because of the quantity of food. However, with the right amount of advanced planning, Jansen says that customized menus are attainable with creativity and collaboration between planner and catering. Certain ingredients can be added or substituted to give a menu item a certain feel for the theme or type of event. Customizing names for certain menu items are another great way to enhance and showcase the theme of catered events.

A creative and cost-saving tip that Jansen relayed to attendees was to use dessert displays as both the beautiful centerpiece and an enjoyable item for the end of the meal.

A steadily rising trend among all catered functions is ensuring there are menu options for all types of dietary restrictions. Large venues and catering companies can be just as accommodating to dietary restrictions as any other food vendor. The key is planning for alternative menu items and communicating to the catering manager and service staff onsite if the meal is plated. Labeled name tags or place cards with a color-coded dot or symbol that specifies that a guest has a certain food allergy or intolerance can be used. Jansen concluded her presentation by opening up the session to questions or concerns. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

EDUCATION FOR MARCH Behind the Curtain— The Real Secret to Public Speaking

by Will May, DTM, Spartanburg Toastmasters

An overview of my presentation is the Three Keys to Presentations: 1.

Who are you speaking to?

2.

Why are YOU speaking to them?

3.

What do you and they want to walk away from this event with?

This will be a presentation that challenges the conventional wisdom of public speaking. There will be no tips on appropriate dress, or how to avoid “ums” and “ahs,” or injecting humor into your speech. These are periphery issues and mostly solved by those three big questions above. We will focus, instead, on your audience, your message, and the change you want to see coming out of your presentation.

Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 11

Look Who We Spotted at the...

12 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

... January Meeting in Cary!

Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

education

January Education Recap: Food Truck 101 Panel Discussion

by Mallory Middleton

The food truck panel at the MPI-CC January meeting consisted of Jared Plummer, owner and manager of TWOROOSTERS Ice Cream, Amanda Moffatt, previous events coordinator for Chirba Chirba Dumpling, and Doug Grissom, assistant director and director of special events with the Raleigh Convention Center.

Collectively, the food truck representatives explained that setting up catering for private events is, for the most part, the same among all types of food trucks. The questions that food trucks will ask include the following: When is the event? How many people? What is the budget? What is the location? Are all guests eating at once or on a flow schedule?

nyengendadi/iStock/Thinkstock

The first two questions are standard and typical of any caterer, the last two are a bit different than catering options within a meeting space venue. Food trucks need to know where you would like to cater the event; e.g., on property of the organization for which attendees’ work or at a venue that allow outside food and beverage.

The biggest concern for both planners and food truck operators is the location for parking the food truck due to various venue and private property regulations and city ordinances that must be adhered to. All event space venues have guidelines which outline whether they allow outside food and beverage. If the venue does not allow food and beverage, then it is unlikely that they will allow a food truck to park on the premise and cater a meal, even if it is small in size. Venues with exclusive in-house catering have food safety performance measures to uphold and for some venues, allowing food trucks on site is too much of a liability.

Not only do planners run into road blocks with venues allowing food trucks to park on the premises, but it is also a very intricate process trying

14 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

to find a place on a desired street location for food trucks to park.

There are many zoning rules for when, where, and how long food trucks are allowed to park on a street, if at all.

Doug Grissom has had experience with coordinating food truck vendors along the streets of downtown Raleigh where the Raleigh Convention Center is located. As director of special events, he has worked with the City of Raleigh to permit road closures for large special events and festivals.

Grissom explained to attendees that there is a very delicate balance between a venue and food trucks. Also, to make things even more complicated, the rules vary from county to county.

The other unique question that food trucks will ask planners is: Are all guests eating at once or on a flow schedule? Depending on the size of the truck’s kitchen and their staff, the truck must be able to assess if they can accommodate the number of people that the planner is hoping to feed. If a planner needs 100 guests to be served all at one time, some trucks can accommodate this number, while others may not be able to handle a request of this volume if their menu items couldn’t be pre-prepped or packaged ahead of time. For some trucks, this is not always a problem. Jared Plummer with TWOROOSTERS Ice Cream told MPI-CC meeting attendees that for a few large private catered events, he was able to make ice cream ahead of time. He prepackaged ice cream in individual containers so that guests were still able to order their favorite TWOROOSTERS flavor without the wait of hand scooping. This is an important detail to review when thinking about food trucks for private events and it will come up in conversation with the food truck representative.

The benefit of hiring food trucks is the ability to offer a highly unique and diverse catering experience. Food trucks are an extremely popular option for everyday consumers and are steadily climbing in popularity among private catering as well. Most food trucks can offer customized menu items and be sensitive to dietary restrictions. Both Plummer and Moffatt confirmed that the trucks they were representing could offer customized menu items for private events and accommodate dietary restrictions. They do this by having items on the event menu that are void of

known allergens or intolerances such as peanut and gluten.

However, it is difficult for a food truck to accommodate a life-threatening food allergy since they work out of small kitchens with limited surfaces and equipment.

Grissom with the Raleigh Convention Center explained that when coordinating food trucks to feed attendees of the large special events in downtown Raleigh, he has to think about food truck vendors that will offer the most variety to all tastes and dietary restrictions. He also tries to have a combination of savory and sweet food truck vendors while matching the food to the type of event he is coordinating.

Both food truck representatives on the panel confirmed that the booking and payment method of food trucks are similar for all trucks. Events are typically booked on a minimum spend basis. However, depending on the requested date, minimums could be more than they normally would be. For example, Fridays in the spring and summer will be more costly than another day of the week because food truck vendors could have a prime revenue location by a brewery.

Also, holidays and festival days will be more difficult to lock-in a food truck vendor because they most likely have already confirmed a place to set up shop for the day.

Set-up and clean-up are two important factors that planners often ask food trucks about when thinking of coordinating a private catered event. Both Plummer and Moffatt told

MPI-CC meeting attendees that food truck vendors are conscious of both set-up and clean-up and that food trucks are very self-sufficient when it comes to set needs, power needs, and clean-up. Most food truck vendors will bring a generator for power if the location does not offer a power option. They will also provide all flatware and utensils for guests and usually bring their own waste baskets for guests to dispose of their trash.

Food trucks can be a fun and trendy alternative for catering a private event, but plenty of thought and planning must go into coordination early on. No doubt these mobile units of good food can and should be enjoyed by consumers, but is it the right choice for your next event? Getting in touch with the food truck contact, asking questions, and starting the conversation will help you determine if a food truck is a viable option for your event. If all the factors align feasibly and you select a food truck to cater your next event, be sure to remember your sunglasses and get ready for an original dining experience. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

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

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

hickorymetro.com | 828.322.1355 Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 15

Steps to Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking

by Rick Weaver

Public speaking is a common source of stress for everyone. Many of us would like to avoid this problem entirely, but this is hard to do. Whether we work alone or with large numbers of people, eventually we will need to speak in public to get certain tasks accomplished. And if we want to be leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful.

The 10 Most Common Hidden Causes for Public Speaking Stress 1.

stressful.

2.

The truth about public speaking, however, is IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE STRESSFUL! If you correctly understand the hidden causes of public speaking stress, and if you keep just a few key principles in mind, speaking in public will soon become an invigorating and satisfying experience for you.

With Preparation & Persistence You Can Overcome Your Fear Did you know that public speaking is the number one fear in North America? The second greatest fear is death!

If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone.

We must, first, recognize what “fear” is. It has been said that fear is nothing more than the anticipation of pain.

QUESTION: Is your fear real or imagined? It has also been said that fear is… False Evidence Appearing Real.

Hmmmm.

The Mayo Clinic says that fear of public speaking is a common phobia. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people just avoid public speaking altogether, or just suffer through it. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear.

Thinking that public speaking is inherently

Thinking you need to be brilliant or perfect to succeed.

3.

Trying to impart too much information or cover too many points in a short presentation.

4.

Having the wrong purpose in mind.

5.

Trying to please everyone.

6.

Trying to emulate other speakers rather than simply being yourself.

7.

Being afraid to reveal yourself (the real you).

8.

Being fearful of potential negative outcomes.

9.

Trying to control the wrong things.

10. Thinking your audience will be as critical of your performance as you might be.

Even if you don’t need to make regular presentations, you might have to talk about your organization at a conference, make a speech after accepting an award, teach a class to new recruits, speak to an audience when training a virtual team, speak to a group of customers in an online meeting, make a speech at a friend’s wedding, or give a eulogy for a loved one. Being a good public speaker can boost your self-confidence and open up countless opportunities.

16 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

ViktorCap/iStock/Thinkstock

The Importance of Public Speaking

[STEP 1] Know your topic.

The better you understand what you’re talking about — and the more you care about the topic — the less likely you’ll make a mistake or get off track. Do your homework.

Your audience is looking to you to be the “authority” on the topic.

Remember: You don’t have to be brilliant or perfect to succeed. Your organization will provide VALUE, and they will be grateful for the time they spent with you.

[STEP 2] Get organized.

Ahead of time, carefully plan out the information you want to present, including any props, audio or visual aids you’ll use. The more organized you are, the less nervous you’ll be. Use an outline on a small card to keep yourself on track. If possible, take time to visit the place where you’ll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.

[STEP 3] Practice, and then practice some more.

Practice your complete presentation several times. Do it for a few people you’re comfortable with. Ask them to give you feedback. Or, record it with a video camera and watch it so that you can see opportunities for improvement.

[STEP 4] Visualize your success.

Imagine that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety. EGO is your biggest deterrent - the noise that lives between your left ear and right ear.

[STEP 5] Don’t think of yourself as a public speaker.

While it may seem paradoxical, the best way to succeed as a public speaker is not to consider yourself a public speaker at all. Many of us have distorted, exaggerated views of what successful public speakers do. When speaking in public, be yourself – not something you think a public speaker is. Start from a place of giving instead of getting. Be a teacher instead of a speaker.

[STEP 8] Your audience truly wants you to succeed.

Most audience members are scared to death of public speaking, just like you. Your audiences judgments and appraisals will usually be much more lenient than yours.

They’ve come to your session to learn and need you to succeed so their needs are met.

[STEP 9] Recognize your success.

After your speech or presentation, give yourself a pat on the back. It may not have been perfect, but chances are you’re far more critical of yourself than your audience is.

Everyone makes mistakes during speeches or presentations.

Look at any mistakes you made as an opportunity to improve your skills.

[STEP 10] Get support/resources.

Join a group that offers support for people who have difficulty with public speaking.

One effective resource is Toastmasters International the world’s leader in communication and leadership development.

Membership is 313,000 strong and members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 14,650 clubs in 126 countries that make up our global network of meeting locations.

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two.

Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.

When you join Toastmasters, you will…

•

Learn to communicate more effectively

•

Become a better listener

•

Improve your presentation skills

•

Increase your leadership potential

•

Become more successful in your career

[STEP 6] Focus on your material, not on your audience.

•

Build your ability to motivate and persuade

•

Reach your professional and personal goals

People mainly pay attention to new information — not how it’s presented. Be real and authentic and focus on your content. Some of the most humorous moments in a talk can happen by pure accident. Don’t be afraid of them.

•

Increase your self confidence

[STEP 7] Be real and authentic. Be yourself and don’t be afraid to screw up.

Some of the most humorous moments in a talk can happen by pure accident. Don’t be afraid of them.

Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org)National Speakers Association (www.nsaspeaker.org) n

Rick Weaver Chief Inspiration Officer Armarion Solutions rweaver@amarionsolutions.com www.armarionsolutions.com Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 17

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18 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

board meeting highlights Board of Directors Meeting Minutes January 14, 2016 | Cary, NC

by Christine Irwin, CMP

Attendees: Christine Irwin, CMP, Christian Schroeder, Barbara Dragan, Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, MHA, CSEP, Maureen Donovan, Vince Chelena, Karolyn Stone, CMP, CHSP, Selah Havard, TMP, Nicole Robinson, Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, Alyce Kelly, CHSP, Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE Excused Absences: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM, Amy Johnson, Brittany O’Shaughnessy Minutes: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE presented the minutes from the November 5, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting and made a motion to approve.

Motion: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE made a motion to approve the November 5, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes as presented.

Second: Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP Vote: Approved Financials: Vince Chelena presented the December P&L statement, Balance Sheet and Aging Report.

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

Second: Alison Harding Vote: Approved Chapter Office: Christine Irwin, CMP reviewed the December Metric Report. We are currently trending very well on our membership total and retention numbers, ending the month with 423 members and a 77.62% retention rate.

Consent Agenda: Christian Schroeder asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda.

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

Second: Selah Havard, TMP Vote: Approved Global San Diego Partnership Opportunity: Christian Schroeder reported that he received a request from Brad Shanklin that the San Diego CVB wanted to partner with Global and the Carolinas Chapter to promote a client event they are having in Raleigh on February 18th. The event will be limited to 30 planners – members or non-members.

Christian will follow up with Brad for further details on

this sponsorship. The board unanimously agreed to move forward with it.

2016-2017 Board Slate: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE presented the 2016-2017 Board Slate.

Motion: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE made a motion to approve the 2016-2017 Board Slate as follows: President: Barbara Dragan President-Elect: Alyce Kelly, CHSP Immediate Past President: Christian Schroeder Vice President: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP Vice President: Nicole Robinson Vice President: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM Vice President: Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, MHA, CSEP Directors (Completing the 2nd year of their 2 year term) Brittany O’Shaughnessy Maureen Donovan Directors (1 year term) Deanna Griffith, CMM, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM Ricardo Hicks Molly Nelson Selah Havard, TMP Second: Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP Vote: Approved We will present the slate to the membership next week.

After 30 days, as long as there is no contesting, we’ll send the final slate to Global no later than March 1st.

Blitz Reminder: Alyce Kelly, CHSP reminded the board that all articles are due one week from the conclusion of the chapter meeting.

South Carolina Recruitment Event: Selah Havard, TMP announced that the SC membership recruitment event has been set for Wednesday, January 27th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the Marriott Columbia. Online registration will be set-up with no fee to attend (members and non-members).

November Mid-Year Retreat Follow-up: Christian Schroeder recapped outstanding items from the November mid-year retreat. The SC membership recruitment event will __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on the next page Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 19

Continued _________________from _________previous _______________page _____________________________________________________________ happen on Wednesday, January 27th. We need to continue to promote Annual Sponsorships and Bidding For Good as these are two strong revenue resources for the chapter.

The next Bidding For Good auction will be in late February/ early March. In March we will also be doing a brewery tour/tasting on the Thursday evening of our meeting as an additional fundraiser. The fundraising team is also holding a 50/50 raffle at this meeting.

Global Survey: Christian Schroeder reported that the Chapter Satisfaction Survey from Global will launch on February 1st. We can obtain metric incentive points for our score and participation number. We will be putting this on the marketing team’s radar and are set to receive more information from Global soon on the details of the survey communication plan.

November Meeting Survey Results: Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, MHA, CSEP reviewed the results from the November Meeting survey and addressed feedback with the board.

AENC: Christian Schroeder reported that he, Barbara Dragan, and Christine Irwin met with Karen Peterson and Jovita Mask with AENC to discuss potential collaboration for both groups in the future. This was a brainstorming session and nothing concrete has been determined yet.

MPI Foundation: Barbara Dragan reported that she recently participated on a conference call for the MPI Foundation updates. Chapter Grants will be opening up by the end of January 2016. There are a couple of new scholarship opportunities through the Foundation as well. All information can be found on the MPI Global website. Barbara will coordinate the information with the marketing team to be promoted to the MPI-CC membership.

RISE Award: Christian Schroeder announced that our chapter was nominated for a RISE Award for Educational Programming for our MPI-CC Annual Meeting Technology Bootcamp.

Next Board Meeting: The next board meeting will be held on March 17, 2016 at the Marriott Spartanburg in Spartanburg, SC. Meeting Adjourned. n

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

news you can use March 17-18, 2016 Spartanburg, SC Marriott Spartanburg

Do you dream of being a published author? If so, the Blitz is looking for you! While we’re not the Wall Street Times, 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.

20 | Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016

Award-winning meetings industry trade publisher Meetings Focus rebranded as Meetings Today, in November 2015.

The rebranding was applied to all of Meetings Focus’ assets, such as Meetings Focus magazine, MeetingsFocus.com, Meetings Focus Newsline e-newsletters, Meetings Focus Live! events, all social media outlets and all other products currently carrying the Meetings Focus name.

Starting with the November 2015 issue, the company will produce Meetings Today magazine, maintain a website at www.MeetingsToday.com, hold Meetings Today Live! hosted buyer educational events, produce the Meetings Today e-newsletter and offer Meetings Today Webinars, among other rebranded content channels. Take a look at the digital version of the magazine at http://www.digital.meetingstoday.com/ meetingstoday/november_2015?pg=2#pg2. n If you have news we can use, please send to ginny.fountain@ncemcs.com.

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Carolina Blitz | February - March 2016 | 21

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 Christian Schroeder, Visit Winston-Salem; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; Selah Havard, Cabarrus County CVB; Mallory Middleton, Raleigh Convention Center; Will May, DTM, Spartanburg Toastmasters; Rick Weaver, Armarion Solutions 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; Connie Hayes, Student; 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 (7 1/2”W x 9 1/2”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 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!