Carolina Blitz February - March 2017

Carolina Blitz February - March 2017

New Member Spotlight Erin White Page 8

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Myrtle Beach, SC | March 16-17, 2017

in this issue...

features It’s Complicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-19

in every issue Our Annual Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Our Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Monthly Meeting Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MPI-CC Board & Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,13 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 See MPI! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Antonel/iStock/Thinkstock

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

Carolina Blitz | February - March 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 | February - March 2017

our members Welcome New Members!

Abigayle Allen US National White Water Center abigayleallen1@gmail.com

Pam Green Radisson Hotel High Point rhi_high@radisson.com

Jessica Bernhardt Kessler Collection Jessica.Bernhardt@kesslercollection.com

Gloria Harris Student - Ashworth College gmharris32@yahoo.com

Dayma Edwards, CMP Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS dayma@wrar.com

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

Bethanye Fink Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center bethanye.fink@atriumhospitality.com

Sharon Salz, CMP SAS Institute Inc. shari.salz@sas.com

MPI-CC Anniversaries

Meg Smith Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort and Conference Center meg.smith@atriumhospitality.com Klinton Talmadge Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa klinton.talmadge@westin.com Claudia Wooten-Outlaw Blockade Runner Beach Resort claudia.outlaw@blockade-runner.com

First Timers and New Members at the January Mixer

20 years Teresa Palmieri Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center 10 years Diane Weems North Carolina Aggregates Association 5 years Renita Williams Greensboro Area CVB Paula Greene The Duke Endowment

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

Sitting L-R Erin White – FMI; Jessica Garrett – IMI; Lauren Velasco – NC State; Jessica Bernhardt – Kessler Collection; Joan Green – Experient Middle L-R Heidi Tyson – Go Promotions; Jennifer Carlin – MicoMass Communications; Shannon IIsley – MicoMass Communications; Bethanye Fink - Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center; Claudia Outlaw – Blockade Runner; Jennifer Ghera – Holiday Inn Charlotte City Center; Jess Parris – MicroMass Communications Back L-R Jason Foster – Haverstick Group; Lena Sanok – DoubleTree by Hilton; Amy O’Meara – Meet Minneapolis; Meg Smith Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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monthly meeting planner March 16-17, 2017

July 27-28, 2017

Myrtle Beach, SC DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

April 6, 2017 Global Meetings Industry Day

September 28-29, 2017

May 10-11, 2017

BrianAJackson/iStock/Thinkstock

Annual Meeting New Bern, NC DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern – Riverfront

Winston-Salem, NC Graylyn International Conference Center

Raleigh, NC Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

November 9-10, 2017

Greensboro, NC Grandover Resort & Conference Center

June 19-22, 2017

MPI WEC Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is March 24, 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.

COMING EARLY 2018

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visitgoldsboronc.com | 919-734-7922 4

| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

president’s message

What do you expect from MPI-CC?

by Barbara Dragan

The goal of MPI Carolinas Chapter is to fulfill the needs of you, the member.

Are you inspired by what is happening in the industry and how you can be involved?

How about looking for something different in education or personal growth? Maybe your goal is to go outside of the box to try something out of the norm or maybe it is to find the power to renew relationships or find new partnerships between other planners or suppliers!

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

No matter what the need, each of us has a voice, and our actions speak louder than words. One may ask, “How can I make a difference that will be an inspiration to others in the meeting planning and hospitality industry?” Volunteering with a group of people brings about creativity, causing the imagination to flow with great ideas, which results in your ideas being taken to a higher level. This cycle continues and becomes contagious as others become part of what was started. There is an inspiration to move on to the next thing and create more ideas while volunteering and forming new partnerships.

Mentoring to an individual or group, whether they are new to the industry or just renewing their passion for the industry, is vital for the future of the association and the industry as a whole. Seek out someone who is eager to share or to learn more about what we do, give back, and volunteer. In return, the rewards you will receive are endless.

Rawpixel/iStock/Thinkstock

Get involved! You are MPI! n

Carolina Blitz | February - March 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, CMP 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 Bideau 980-221-7637 selahbideau@gmail.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 | February - March 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 christymarcinkowski@gmail.com

Member Care Committee Chair Needed

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new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: Erin White

by Selah Bideau, TMP

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

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

Erin White

Audrey Hepburn – who wouldn’t want to be that timeless and classy?

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

Don’t give up!! There are some long, hard days, but the successful events make it worth it. n

MPI-CC Family, please give a very warm welcome to Erin White.

How long have you been in the industry?

Since June 2011.

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

Training Program Coordinator with FMI Corporation – July 2016.

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

FMI – Leading management consulting and investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to engineering and construction, infrastructure and built environment. FMI serves all sectors of the industry as a trusted advisor.

More than six decades of context, connections and insights lead to transformational outcomes for our clients and the industry.

I coordinate the Signature Programs – Emerging Managers Institute, Project Manager Academy and Construction Executive Institute.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Painting, hanging out with my two nieces, shopping, relaxing – I’m a typical girl.

Why did you join MPI-CC? To network with people in the industry, gain knowledge from others, and grow in my current position.

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

| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

Selah Bideau, TMP MPI-CC Director of Membership

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Meetings were held here long before clubs.

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And we’d love to host yours. Consider Pinehurst for your next corporate function.

You’ll find our meetings as legendary as our golf.

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Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

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education MPI-CC January 2017 Education Recap “The Communication Deviation” from Troy Peters, CTS

by Mallory Middleton, CMP

On Friday, January 20, attendees had an informative, educational session titled, “The Communication Deviation.” The session was presented by Troy Peters, Certified Technology Professional (CTP). Peters is Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Video West, a national event audio visual company based in Phoenix, Arizona. He also sits on the MPI Arizona Chapter Executive Board as Vice President of Education.

The meeting was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh-Brownstone-University.

In “The Communication Deviation,” Peters used examples from the popular TV show The Big Bang Theory to demonstrate examples of how communication styles can be perceived, even when there are good intentions.

He began by posing the question, “How are we unique?”

Then went on to state, “You’re unique…just like everyone else.” The point he made was that all of us strive to be our most unique, authentic selves, but the deeper questions are, what really makes us stand out and how will we make an impression? Each and every person has her own set of characteristics which sets her apart.

Peters encourages attendees and readers alike to own that individuality. For those who have watched The Big Bang Theory, they know Sheldon is not the most social or congenial character. However, he is certainly the most iconic, memorable, and downright lovable for staying true to his individuality. It doesn’t take a genius IQ to differentiate ourselves. Just by owning our personalities, interests and essence, we are embracing our authentic selves.

Peters then relayed the top three things that recruiters are looking for in order to find someone “uniquely different” that puts their name at the top of the list.

Those three things were: searchability, who you know, and personality. Searchability refers to what comes up on a web search of your name. Your social media profiles, name listed on an organization’s staff directory, published works, etc. All these things will help the person gathering data to get a better idea of who you are. Who you know is related to those you’ve worked with, done business with, acquaintances, and friends on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media. Finding common connections, just like common interests, are key in connecting with new contacts.

Lastly, your personality should shine through, not just on

the social media outlets, but in everyday interactions at social events, association meetings and work environment.

Effective communication can help us discover commonalities with new acquaintances and make friends and lifelong connections. Those new individuals can be found at professional associations, chambers of commerce, CVB’s and interest groups. To find those quality friends, Peters relayed to attendees that we’ve got to have empathy and soul. We can ask meaningful questions and connect deeper with our working relationships.

The deviation question that Peters posed is “What has taken us away from communication?” There seems to be a false sense of connectivity because of social media.

However, we have to ask ourselves if we really know our connections or if we just think we do based on the social media activity or email trail that we read. Peters stated that who you know means everything and who you don’t means more. If we think about that, it would lead us to the conclusion that our opportunities could be even greater if we expand our network. If we want to take on a leadership role, then we must be willing to go first. Different people prefer different communication styles. Some prefer talking face-to-face or on the phone at the very least; others prefer digital communication by email or texting. Finding the preferred method of communication is the first step to connecting deeper.

No matter the personality style, connecting with our true selves and expressing that to others is the winning combination to becoming more memorable and connecting more authentically with others. Peters encourages us to expand our networks, but connect more meaningfully by asking questions and finding commonalities while letting our own character take center stage. n

Mallory Middleton, CMP Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

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FYV-514s MYRON-AD-3.5x4.75-v3[10.12.16]-ms.pdf

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Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

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education Looking Ahead at Education – MPI-CC March Meeting

by Mallory Middleton, CMP

On March 16 and 17, 2017, the MPI-CC meeting in Myrtle Beach, SC, will offer unique education sessions about creativity and positivity both in the workplace and while off-site executing events. The sessions will be engaging and active while delivering powerful lessons in success, failure and personal/professional growth. Producing great events and having an effective work team begins with the organization’s culture and creating an environment that fosters creativity and positivity. At the MPI-CC meeting held at The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, attendees can expect to gather energizing insight into creating a culture of success from professional speakers Thursday and a panel of experts and fellow MPI-CC members on Friday.

Thursday’s speakers are Paul Miller and Dawn Daria with “Flow Circus.” Paul Miller is an entrepreneur and nationally touring performing artist who began his early career in the hospitality industry. His industry experience mixed with street performing experiences taught him that connecting with the audience is at the core of customer service. He then went on to perform on stages including Off-Broadway, Disney Cruise Line and TEDx Creative Coast. Miller used his acquired knowledge and experience to begin an education company promoting active learning and play through the juggling arts.

in building and managing a successful team to effectively execute events or meet sales goals. Examples of panel questions are: “What are a few ways you foster a culture of success within your teams?” and “How do you maintain positivity and encouragement under a stressful deadline?”

Later on Friday morning, members will break into groups and share their insights as we dive deeper into the topic of overcoming team differences in order to work effectively to complete deadlines. Everyone has had an experience overcoming a challenge within their team or executing an event. Sharing perspectives will allow attendees to further broaden their knowledge of how to best solve a team conflict to unite individuals and inspire creative collaboration.

Join MPI-CC at the March meeting to learn more about creating a culture that supports celebration of individual accomplishments, team wins and successful events.

It’s going to be an exciting meeting filled with new and unique ideas for how to improve your collaboration in the office and at events, goal setting, resilience and innovation. We hope to see you there! n

On Friday, attendees can expect to gather further inspiration from the panel of fellow MPI-CC members surrounding the topic of “Building a Successful Team.”

The Education Committee has assembled a panel of fellow MPI-CC members who have extensive experience

klenger/iStock/Thinkstock

Dawn Daria is an award-winning educator and author.

She inspires individuals to step out of their comfort zones in order to uncover something they didn’t know about themselves, their friends and colleagues and the world.

Daria holds degrees in psychology and education and has the ability to assess group dynamics and facilitate collaboration. Together, Miller and Daria harness the power of creative, playful flow to excite, energize and enliven groups. Their session on Thursday afternoon will shake up the day-to-day and provide a fresh, inspiring perspective. To see them in action and catch a preview, visit www.FlowCircus.com.

Mallory Middleton, CMP Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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Look Who We Spotted at the...

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| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

... January Meeting in Raleigh!

Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

Controversial social legislation isn’t necessarily causing states or cities to be blacklisted, but it is definitely influencing decisions about where to invest in meetings.

One thing’s for sure...

IT’S COMPLICATED OpenRangeStock/iStock/Thinkstock

Bytmonas/iStock/Thinkstock

Arrangements-Photography/iStock/Thinkstock

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Purestock/Thinkstock

by Elaine Pofeldt

When news spread that Tennessee was considering a law that the American Counseling Association (ACA) considered discriminatory to the LGBTQ community, its leadership team began getting worried.

The law allows counselors to refer patients who have “strongly held beliefs” that differ from the counselors’ to other providers. Richard Yep, ACA’s CEO, said that, in essence, it would “allow counselors to deny services to anyone they wanted to”—a direct violation of the group’s code of ethics. That was a big problem, given that the ACA, based near Washington, D.C., was planning to hold its 2017 annual conference in Nashville in March 2017, bringing 4,000 to 5,000 people to the city.

When Tennessee’s governor signed the law in April 2016, the ACA held an emergency meeting, where board members discussed the message the group might send if they still held the meeting in Nashville. The stakes were high. The board, responsible for the fiscal health of the organization, knew the ACA might pay as much as $750,000 in penalties if the meeting was canceled. They decided to pull out anyway and search for another venue.

“Because we are an organization focused on social justice, diversity and inclusion, we made the decision to relocate the conference,” Yep says. By negotiating to use the hotel chain for future events, the ACA was able to reduce the penalties to under $200,000. After considering 14 states, the group moved the meeting to San Francisco, and will hold it in March 2017, the same month the conference was slated for Nashville. “What took precedence was finding a welcoming city,” Yep says.

Decisions like the ACA’s are happening in conference rooms across the U.S., according to the results of a recent survey by MPI and the U.S. Travel Association. The survey of meeting professionals in late May found that when specific types of controversial social legislation passed in certain locales, these laws were deterring from three percent to 41 percent of meeting professional respondents from holding meetings there—a scenario with clear implications for local economies affected by social legislation.

The survey looked at laws empowering religious freedom, prohibiting universal restroom use, restricting or liberalizing handgun or weapons use, raising workers’ wages, punishing illegal immigrants or undocumented workers, liberalizing the use of marijuana and either loosening or restricting policies on admittance of refugees (in the EU).

Of those issues, laws prohibiting universal restroom use had the biggest effect, with 41 percent of respondents saying destinations with such laws were being avoided.

Handgun and weapon-friendly laws were also a deterrent for some, with 26 percent reporting that they had experienced these destinations being passed over because of the laws. And 23 percent said laws empowering religious freedom or privilege had prompted avoidance of these venues.

Meanwhile, 57 percent of respondents said an organization’s ethics had a “significant” influence on meetings and events, while 47 percent said personal ethics did. In contrast, 27 percent said political elections did.

Controversial social legislation isn’t necessarily causing states or cities to be blacklisted, but it is influencing decisions about where to invest in meetings, according to Bill Voegeli (MPI Georgia Chapter), President of Association Insights, the Atlanta-area research firm that conducted the survey.

“Rather than seeing a blanket boycott on areas that have this controversial legislation, what we’re seeing is more likely a blanket second thought,” he says. “We see that with some of the larger events and meetings, where there is a high public profile, there may be a greater tendency to boycott a particular destination because they can make a political statement.”

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR IMPLICATIONS Recent headlines tell the story. After North Carolina passed the controversial HB2 law—which prevents transgender people from using the public restrooms of the gender with which they identify—entertainers Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam and Blue Man Group pulled shows out of the state. The Association for Library Service to Children, B Corp, the American College Personnel Association, the Southern Sociological Society and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation also cancelled events in North Carolina. In July, the National Basketball Association (NBA) pulled its 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte because of HB2.

“Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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After North Carolina passed the HB2 law, entertainers Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam and Blue Man Group pulled shows out of the state.

league and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community— current and former players, league and team officials, business partners and fans,” the NBA said in a statement. “While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.”

And more recently in September, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) moved seven championship events out of North Carolina—among them the first and second rounds of the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. In explaining why it pulled out, the NCAA noted that the law “invalidated any local law that treats sexual orientation as a protected class or has a purpose to prevent discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.”

Then, two days later, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) pulled its 2016 football game from Charlotte. The game was planned for Dec. 3. “The ACC Council of Presidents reaffirmed our collective commitment to uphold the values of equality, diversity, inclusion and nondiscrimination,” said a statement by the ACC presidents after a meeting at Clemson University. “We believe North Carolina House Bill 2 is inconsistent with these values.”

The economic implications are significant. The Charlotte Observer reported the game had been expected to “pour millions into Charlotte’s economy.” Meanwhile, the ACC also plans to pull its championships in baseball, golf, soccer and swimming, The Observer reported.

All of this lost business has had a significant impact on North Carolina’s economy. Beyond the $100 million tourism experts said the NBA All-Star Game would have contributed, the Charlotte Chamber has said the city will lose about $285 million and as many as 1,300 jobs in the region, according to NBC News. The Greater Raleigh CVB says the law could cost Raleigh $40 million in convention business, NBC reported.

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Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

“It’s not clear that bans and boycotts are the most effective way to achieve a political end, but what is very clear is that travel revenue losses mean travel job losses,” says Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “It’s not governors and legislators that feel the most immediate pain from these actions— it’s waiters, concession workers and front desk clerks.

However well-intentioned a protest is, I doubt that’s what its organizers really have in mind, and I would suggest to them that there must be a better way.”

To stem the damage, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority has posted a statement on its website welcoming events to the city. “We appreciate your consideration of Charlotte as a destination to host your event,” the statement reads. “We continue to work hard on behalf of the visitor economy regardless of the current political climate to let you, our customers, know that Charlotte is an inclusive and welcoming destination and that we value your business.”

Meanwhile, Raleigh has posted a series of statements from the city itself, Mayor Nancy McFarlane, other municipalities, the Greater Raleigh CVB and the Raleigh Convention Center in response to the law.

“Whether your group is set to meet in Wake County and the City of Raleigh or your group is still considering a future meeting here, we welcome you to our destination with open hearts and hospitality that assures respect for all customer needs,” the page begins.

April Ferguson, CMP, CMM (MPI Carolinas Chapter), an event logistics manager at Cisco who is based in Raleigh, has worked on a national, Cisco-sponsored event focused on diversity and inclusion for a consultancy in New Jersey, which considered pulling out of the state because of the law. However, after some discussion, the consultancy decided to hold the meeting because they did not think doing so would have a big impact.

“It was only a small meeting, a couple of hundred people,” she said. “It wasn’t like the NBA pulling out of Charlotte and Bruce Springsteen and other musicians cancelling their concerts.”

LAWS PLAY DUAL ROLES Though HB2 has driven some meeting organizers out of North Carolina, MPI’s survey found that in some cases, a law that makes a place attractive for some meetings may keep others away. For instance, while two percent of respondents gravitated toward locations with more liberal gun laws, 11 percent said they sought locales with more restrictive handgun or weapons laws.

When Yep, at the ACA, found himself on the hunt for a new location for his group’s meeting after pulling out of Tennessee, he looked into 14 locales that were not subject to legislation that would violate the association’s code of ethics.

“We absolutely looked for those states and cities that did not have these types of laws so damaging to people trying to seek the services of a professional counselor,” Yep says. “We weren’t going to relocate it a second time.”

When the group finally settled on San Francisco, the city’s progressive legislative climate was a major draw, he says.

No respondents in the MPI survey said that more liberal laws regarding the use of marijuana were a draw—and eight percent found such laws a deterrent to holding meetings there. However, Joseph De Palma, founder at CannaConnections Events, which runs the CannaGrow Expo and DispensaryNext Conference and Expo, aimed at marijuana growers, says he actively seeks out states with liberal laws on marijuana usage because of difficulties in siting meetings over the past two-and-a-half years.

Typically, De Palma needs a hotel with a ballroom of about 25,000 square feet, and has found that big hospitality chains are generally not receptive. Though there is no marijuana on site at his shows—if plants are needed for demonstrations, rose bushes are often used as a proxy—that doesn’t seem to make a difference because of the stigma associated with marijuana. “We’re left with a lot less selection than any other meeting planner might be,” he says. As soon as he mentions cannabis, he says, “A lot of them stop the conversation and don’t reply. You see these patterns start to emerge over time.”

Even when the hotels are willing to take his business, CannaConnections often gets a chilly reception. “It’s shocking, because the money is no less green,” De Palma says. In some situations, hotels have been unwilling to discount a room block. “They will literally say, ‘We’re not going to discount it for drug dealers.’”

After De Palma had a bad experience holding a oneday event in May 2015 at a theater in Arizona—where recreational use will be on the ballot in November but is not currently legal—he began seeking more welcoming states. While he was holding the Arizona show, he got a call from a local law enforcement official. “He said, ‘I’m keeping an eye on you. If you have any drugs, we’re going to take you down,’” De Palma says.

To avoid that happening again, he has focused his search for venues in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Voters will consider legalizing adult recreational marijuana use in California in November, and the other three states have already legalized it. “We’d

go to Washington, D.C., but they are extremely expensive, which keeps us out of there for now,” De Palma says.

Recreational adult use is also legal in Washington, D.C.

“It’s not legislators that feel the most immediate pain from bans and boycotts—it’s waiters, concession workers and front desk clerks.”

For some meeting organizers, finding the right state to host a meeting isn’t the issue— it’s finding a venue that does not stigmatize their meeting because of its controversial subject matter.

Community Solutions of El Paso, a Texas-based nonprofit, has run a conference for the past nine years for families of prisoners that is now called the InterNational Prisoners Family Conference. Originally, Executive Director Carolyn Esparza held the event, which she chairs, in El Paso but found that one local hotel she approached threw up roadblocks when she mentioned the group’s involvement with prisoners. The hotel told her it would only confirm whether it had rooms for the 250-person event a month in advance—essentially making it impossible for the group to organize it.

Esparza did find another hotel in the city, which she said was wonderful, but decided to try Florida for the next year. Though the hotel she found there did not balk at renting space to her, a hotel representative called her into a private room the day of the event and, in whispered tones, asked her, “What do you want to call this conference?” When she said it was the Prisoner’s Family Conference, its name at the time, he asked, “Are you sure you want to put that on the signage?” The hotel complied with her wishes to stick with the conference’s existing name and treated the group well otherwise.

Today, she holds the event in Houston, where the group gets plenty of bids. “Wyndham Garden hotel has just been wonderful to us,” she says. She has no plans for looking outside the city, given how hospitable the climate there has been. In the end, that’s what many meeting organizers are seeking in today’s polarized political environment. n

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

Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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see mpi!

Holiday Mannequin Challenge

by Jean Travers

While most of the nation forged ahead into new overall change, others just stopped and enjoyed the moment. That was the case when the proverbial ‘Buy MPI’ was promoted by our chapter’s own Joe Capone, Melia Hotels International, Director of Sales – Southeast, Meetings & Events.

Melia Hotels International held their annual holiday party at Second Empire Restaurant in downtown Raleigh in December. It was a wonderful success and many MPI Carolina’s Chapter members as well as local planners came out to jingle and mingle with Melia Hotels representing Mexico, the Caribbean, and the U.S. International Hoteliers shared some great new information about the company and the hotels that each represented, but most of all it was a time for Melia to say thank you to their customers and friends. But then a very cool and current thing happened…….

Joe Capone orchestrated all the holiday attendees into a well performed Mannequin Challenge! It was entertaining to watch and be a part of it. We did not move one bit for well over one minute. It’s funny to watch chapter members Beth Tanner, Duke Cancer Network, John Cruz, BCBSNC, and Leah-Catherine Seaton, Quintiles, as they used their

imagination and stability to become a part of one of the most unique video rages of 2017. It was a magnificent evening and one more way that your membership to MPI and participation in supplier and planner activities pays off. Thank you #MeliaHotels #SecondEmpireRestaurant #MPICAROLINAS n

Jean Travers HelmsBriscoe MPI-CC Marketing Committee Member

Your Fundraising Committee at Work!

by Kathy B. Flowe, CMP

We are excited to report that MPI-CC members have been very generous in helping Bidding for Good (BFG)and the Silent Auction Committee reach our 2016-2017 budget.

Thank you so much to each member who has contributed.

Once again, we will be posting packages for Bidding for Good in March. You may visit our website to access the March Bidding for Good form. The Silent Auction Committee has come up with a great idea! We will have a wine table at the March Meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Myrtle Beach, SC. If you get the BFG form to me, Kathy Flowe, on or before the deadline of Friday, March 3, 2017, you will receive a raffle ticket free to participate in the drawing for a bottle of wine.

Forms may be emailed to Kathy B. Flowe, CMP: kflowe@alabamatheatre.com or faxed to (843) 272-7748.

Mail the original certificates to the attention of

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| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

Christine Irwin, CMP at MPI-CC, 1307 West Morehead Street, Suite 207, Charlotte, NC, 28208.

Home Depot has been kind enough to give us some of their wine that they have stored in their wine cellar. One of the bottles is Dom Perignon! We will also be selling raffle tickets, just in case you miss the deadline, or you were unable to put a package together for this meeting. They will be $5.00 for one ticket for the Dom Perignon or $5.00 for six tickets to win a chance at the other wines. Be sure to bring some CASH! Thank you in advance for your contributions! n

Kathy B. Flowe, CMP Alabama Theatre MPI-CC Silent Auction Committee Chairperson

Then there was that Sunday in December... ...when our story broke in The New York Times.

Yeah, THAT New York Times. There we were on newsstands, kitchen tables and in offices across America and around the world; a story celebrating a destination’s transformation that “few could have imagined.” Transform your next event into a story people will talk about long after they finally remember to take off their lanyard.

Get the scoop on Greenville, South Carolina.

Yeah, THAT Greenville.

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

800.351.7180 Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

March 16 – 17, 2017 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront is excited to welcome MPI Carolinas Chapter members and attendees to the newly renovated, oceanfront resort for the March meeting. Set across 27 acres on the south end of Ocean Boulevard, this resort has beautiful private beaches, lively entertainment and plenty of activities.

Featuring 452 oceanview hotel rooms and suites, each room offers a private balcony, refrigerator and microwave.

Additional on-site amenities include two waterfront restaurants, six pools, two lazy rivers, business center, fitness center, miniature golf, volleyball, bocce ball and more.

The resort features the largest oceanfront conference center in Myrtle Beach. With 38,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, 23 meeting or breakout rooms, and three 8,500 square-foot ballrooms along with flexible hospitality suites and versatile, landscaped outdoor spaces, including oceanview decks and oceanside green areas available for outdoor functions, the DoubleTree Myrtle Beach provides an ideal destination for your next meeting or event.

Enjoy our signature chocolate chip cookie, and know that this welcoming gift is only a taste of the warm, personal service you will experience at DoubleTree by Hilton.

To book an event, visit www.myrtlebeachresort. doubletreebyhilton.com or call 843-315- 7100. n

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

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

hickorymetro.com | 828.322.1355

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| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017

board meeting highlights

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes January 19, 2017 | Raleigh, NC

by Christine Irwin, CMP

Attendees: Attendees: Selah Bideau, TMP, Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP, Christian Schroeder, Alyce Kelly, CHSP, Barbara Dragan, Christine Irwin, CMP, Vince Chelena, Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM, Maureen Donovan, Molly Nelson, Ricardo Hicks Excused Absences: Brittany O’Shaughnessy, Nicole Robinson, Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM and Deanna House, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM, CMM Minutes: Christian Schroeder presented the minutes from the November 3, 2016, Board of Directors Meeting and made a motion to approve.

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to approve the November 3, 2016, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes as presented.

Second: Alyce Kelly Vote: Approved Financials: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM presented the December P&L statement, Balance Sheet and Aging Report.

Motion: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM made a motion to approve the December P&L, Balance Sheet, and Aging Report as presented.

Second: Maureen Donovan Vote: Approved Chapter Office: Christine Irwin, CMP reviewed the meeting app and locations for all meeting rooms on the agenda. She noted that we have exceeded budgeted revenue for January meeting attendance and reviewed the December metrics report.

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

Motion: Selah Bideau, TMP made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Second: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Vote: Approved Global Initiatives: Barbara Dragan presented updates from MPI Global. MPI Global is currently requesting chapter stories, pictures, testimonials and videos to be used in

MPI Global marketing and publications. Please submit anything you may have directly to MPIchapterstories@ mpiweb.org.

The WEC Chapter Challenge is underway. There are two different challenges happening – the “Registration Race” and the “Bundle Race.” The Registration Race goes to the chapter with the highest percentage of chapter members registering for WEC 2017 between December 2, 2016 and May 31, 2017. The Bundle Race goes to the chapter securing the highest number of WEC registrations with a membership for MPI to non-members.

Barbara reminded the group that the deadline to apply for WEC scholarships is February 28, 2017.

Lori Hedrick announced that MPI-CC board members will be given a WEC pin to wear at each meeting leading up to WEC 2017 to promote registration. Social Media campaigns will also take place from now until June.

2017-2018 Slate of Officers: Christian Schroeder presented the Slate of 2017-2018 Officers proposed by the Nominations Committee.

Motion: Christian Schroeder made a motion to accept the Slate of Officers for the 2017-2018 Board of Directors as proposed by the Nominations Committee: President: Alyce Kelly, CHSP President-Elect: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, CMM Immediate Past President: Barbara Dragan Vice President of Finance: Maureen Donovan Vice President of Membership: Selah Bideau, TMP Vice President of Education: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM Vice President of Communications: Nicole Robinson Second: Alyce Kelly, CHSP _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued on the next page Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 |

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________________________________________________________________________________________________ Continued from previous page Discussion: Christian Schroeder reminded the group that the officers are voted on by the current board of directors and the directors are voted on by the membership. The proposed Slate of Directors will be:

Deanna House, CMP, GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM, CMM

Ricardo Hicks

Molly Nelson

Michelle Castro

Mica Parekh

Mallory Middleton

Vote: Approved Publications: Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP reminded the board that all Blitz items are due to Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM no later than Friday, January 27.

Next Board Meeting: The next board meeting will be held on March 16, 2017, at 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront in Myrtle Beach, SC. Meeting Adjourned Motion made via e-mail on January 5, 2017 Motion: Deanna House, PMP, CMM, CME, PCM made a motion to move forward with the following dates and locations for the remainder of the 2017 meetings.

• Sept 28-29, 2017 – Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley with a $159 room rate • Nov 8-10, 2017 – Grandover Resort with a $129 room rate Second: Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM Vote: Approved

Social Media and Communications Form: Lori Hedrick, MHA, CMP, CMM, CSEP reminded the board to utilize the new Communications form for any type of communication you would like sent out. The team needs to know exactly what you want to say in your communication to the membership.

Committee Chairs Update: Christian Schroeder reminded the board that we had identified a list of potential board members and committee chairs at the mid-year board retreat. Now that the nominations process has taken place, we need to follow up with those that were not nominated to the board of directors to ensure that the list of candidates remains engaged and is asked to chair a committee if appropriate. Please send all updates to the office of the president. Updates should include which committee chairs are planning to return as well as any new committee chairs identified.

November Meeting Survey Results: Barbara Dragan reviewed the results from the November meeting survey and addressed feedback with the board. She announced the March education plan as presented from the Education team that could not be present.

Annual Awards Review: Ricardo Hicks presented updates from the Annual Awards Committee. Feedback from the board was given and Ricardo will take those points back to the committee.

Chapter Business Summit: The Chapter Business Summit will be held March 30 – April 1, 2017 in Dallas, TX. The positions that will be attending are the 2017-2018 President-Elect, VP of Membership, VP of Education and VP of Communications.

RISE Awards: Christian Schroeder reminded everyone that we nominated Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM for Member of the Year.

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

Meet.

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Just a stone’s throw from Sunset Beach, NC, Sea Trail is your one-stop destination with over 40,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space, full-service catering, all-suite accommodations, golf and entertainment.

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| Carolina Blitz | February - March 2017 SeaTrail-MPI-August.indd 1

7/25/16 9:31 AM

Making Our Connections Smarter 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 sciencecentric meetings and recently held research symposia as well as the upcoming Citizen Science 2019.

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.

Learn more at visitRaleigh.com/smart

Carolina Blitz | February - March 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 who has offered a helping hand?

Committee Chairs, please nominate one of your members who has volunteered her time and efforts this month and thank her for helping to make your goal possible. Let me know who he is and how he 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 Bideau, TMP; Mallory Middleton, CMP, Raleigh Convention Center; Kathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Jean Travers, HelmsBriscoe; Elaine Pofeldt 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 Willison, CMP, American Express Meetings & Events; Nancy Lowe, CMP, NC Medical Society; Melinda Mowry, DoubleTree by Hilton New Bern 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

March 16-17, 2017 DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Myrtle Beach, SC

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

To submit your articles or ideas, please contact Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com or submit via our website at www.mpi-cc.org.

ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINES AD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER NON-MEMBER

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

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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 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 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!