Carolina Blitz October-November 2015

Carolina Blitz October - November 2015

The Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach, NC | November 5-6, 2015

Greenville, South Carolina – one of the fastest growing destinations in the Southeast – has quickly become that Greenville. The one with an award-winning downtown set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The one with a growing reputation as the South’s next big culinary hotspot. The one with countless things-to-do diversions and an incredibly diverse venue mix from big boxes to innovative and unique alternatives. The one more and more planners and organizers are choosing to hold their events. Yeah, that Greenville.

Learn more online or call us at 800-351-7180.

in this issue...

features Is it time to think about your CMP recertification? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MPI Foundation Is For You. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Joe Blake: Forever a part of the Carolinas Chapter . . . 20-21

in every issue Our Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 New Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

thostend/iStock/Thinkstock

Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

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Carolina Blitz New in 2016 All Newly Renovated Rooms

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 - Ginny.Fountain@ ncemcs.com EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Director of Marketing Brittany O’Shaughnessy • Francis Marion Hotel Editor Ginny Fountain, CMP • North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives

ART of the RETREAT MEETING AT SANDERLING

The meeting of minds is always enhanced in an aesthetically pleasing environment, and Sanderling, set amidst the complex beauty of the Atlantic seascape, brings the retreat to the level of art. Offering

stunning sound and ocean views, private and productive meeting facilities, and the resort’s renovated four-diamond amenities, Sanderling is the natural choice for your meeting, event or reunion.

Contributing Writers Christian Schroeder, Visit Winston-Salem; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Company; John Cruz, CMM, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC; Mallory Middleton, Raleigh Convention Center; Elizabeth Lyons, CMP, TD Convention Center; Tammy Kockaya, CMP, CMM, MPI Global Foundation; Molly Johnson, CMP, Wilmington & Beaches CVB; Alison Harding, CMP, GTP, Global Knowledge; Nicole Robinson, Greater Raleigh CVB Photographer Micah Parekh - IWP Photography Proofreaders Kathy Flowe, CMP, Alabama Theatre; Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Cathy Mauldin, CMP, DESA, Inc.; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial; Myron Jones, Fayetteville CVB; Lynn Rich, CMP, American Express Meetings & Events Publisher Vince Chelena • The Management Office 704-377-5648 • Fax 704-333-6927 • staff@themanagementoffice.com

1461 Duck Road, Duck, NC 27949 l Phone 855.578.8890 l www.sanderling-resort.com

Advertising Maureen Donovan • Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach • 910-256-2231 Design Kistin Jordan • Kistin Jordan [Graphic Designer] • 704-724-9188 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.

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Visit our website at www.mpi-cc.org for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities! | Carolina Blitz | August - September 2015

our members

Welcome New Members!

Mark Donaldson Events/com mdonaldson@eventscom.com

Charles Parrish, PhD Student - George Mason University ctparrish@email.wcu.edu

Tracie Garrett, CEM North Carolina Home Builders Assoc. tgarrett@nchba.org

Robert Sullivan Absolutely Charleston rsullivan@absolutelycharleston.com

Katelin Barnett Premier katelin_barnett@premierinc.com

Victoria Holden Student - University of South Carolina holdenv12@yahoo.com

Josh Swain Student - Clemson University jdswain@clemson.edu

Erin Boylan, CMP MetLife eboylan@metlife.com

Ted Johnson MetLife theodore.johnson@metlife.com

Lee Campbell IMI Association Executives Inc. leec@imiae.com

Amanda King ON Event Services aking@oneventservices.com

Beth Tanner Duke University Medical Center, Office of Corporate & Venture Development beth.tanner@duke.edu

Carolina Cely Sensus Linaq5@gmail.com

Dwight Miller Miller Marketing Communications, Inc. djmiller@mmciglobal.com

Fernanda Araujo fcca1977@gmail.com Marlene Barbera Chapel Hill Orange County & Visitors Bureau mbarbera@visitchapelhill.org

MPI-CC Anniversaries 25 years Martha Howard Inn on Biltmore Estate

10 years Julie Prine Premier, Inc.

Beverly Stewart Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB

5 years Lory Lachapelle Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

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

Wendy Sprintz Duke Clinical Research Institute

Timothy Miron Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

Francesca Szabo Omni Charlotte Hotel

10 years Deanna Griffith, CMP GWPgM, CME, PMP, PCM Time Warner Cable

Melissa Riggle New Bern/Craven County Convention & Visitors Center

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

Jennifer Williams, CMP WNCN (Media General, Inc.) jennbw1@gmail.com

First Timers and New Members at the September Mixer

Back Row (L to R): Gary Balser, Durham Convention Center; Wendy Evalle, Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront; Linda Eisan, Virginia Beach CVB; Alicia Perry, Graylyn International Conference Center; Beth Tanner, Duke University Medical Center; Allison Smith, Global Events Managers; Paige Trimble, Gather Digital; Marlene Barbera, Chapel Hill / Orange County CVB; Nathan Kittrell, Visit Greenville SC Front Row (L to R): Ashley Squire, Student; Carolina Cely, Sensus; Amanda King, OnEvent Services; Kim Howard, Global Events Manager Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 | 3

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

Diamond Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

president’s message Time to Volunteer?

by Christian Schroeder, Visit Winston-Salem | 2015-2016 MPI-CC President

As we prepare to display holiday decorations, it is hard to imagine that 2015 is winding down. The idiom “time flies when you are having fun,” is an expression we apply to time periods and activities which pass by too quickly, such as the holiday season and volunteering to serve the Carolinas Chapter.

There are several opportunities to give of your time within the Carolinas Chapter. By volunteering to serve on a committee, you receive personal and professional development while networking and having fun with fellow members.

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

Our Chapter has several committees to choose from and the Leadership & Volunteer Development Committee can assist you with finding the one that can be the best fit for your time and talents. MPI considers any member that serves for a minimum of one hour throughout the year to be counted as a volunteer. (This equates to fifteen minutes every three months.)

Since serving on a committee is such a rewarding and enjoyable experience, many serve more than an hour because... well, time truly does FLY when you’re having FUN! Also, it is important to note that these volunteer contributions make a tremendous impact on our chapter.

Don’t let another year pass by without getting involved with your chapter!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to thank all of our members for their support and recognize the following chapter volunteers for their service: Alex Oates

Crystal Bryant

Karen Wall

Neelam Patel

Alison Bosinger

Deborah Slivensky

Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP

Nicole Filippo

Alison Harding, CMP, GTP

Debra Furr

Kathleen Van Geluwe

Nicole Robinson

Alyce Kelly, CHSP

Denise Ryan, CSP, MBA

Kathy Flowe, CMP

Pat Fogelman

Amelia Hodges, CMP

Diane Patterson

Kay Grant, CMP

Paula Greene

Amy Heiskell

Diane Weems

Krista Bartlett

Paula Kastanek

Amy Johnson

Donna Blake-Weems

Linda Ilsley, CMP

Renita Williams

Andrew Schmidt, CHME, MPA

Donna Rabon

Lindsay Myers

Ricardo Hicks

April Ferguson, CMP, CMM

Elizabeth Lyons, CMP

Lisa Royster, CMP

Rich Phaneuf

Aundrea Hopkins

Farrah Staub, CMP

Liz Guertin

Sandi Owen

Barbara Dragan

Gillian Dobbins

Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, MHA , CSEP

Sandie Holley

Barbara Evans

Ginny Fountain, CMP

Lynn Rich

Sarah Davis

Benny Williford

Heide Roland

Madi McDougald

Sarah Sharkey, CMP

Beverly Stewart

Janele Reynolds

Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE

Scott Crotty

Blair Jernigan

Jean Travers

Mallory Middleton

Selah Havard, TMP

Brea Fisher

Jeanette Keys

Mandy Lowe, CMP, CMM

Stacy Pegg

Brent Lancaster, CCM, CMP

Jennifer Kern, CMP , CTC

Maureen Donovan

Stephanie Risbon

Brittany O’Shaughnessy

Jennifer Kist, CMP

Mica Parekh

Tammy Jeffries

Carolina Cely

Jessica Chappel

Michelle Bemis, CMP

Tarshi McCoy, TMP

Cathy Adair, CTIS, TMP

Jim Masek

Michelle White-Sukala

Teresa Palmieri

Cathy Mauldin, CMP

John Cruz, CMM

Molly Johnson, CMP

Tim Miron

Christy Marcinkowski, CMP

Kai Zander

Molly Nelson

Tina Derasmo

Cindy Beckham

Karen Knox, CMP, CMM

Myron Jones

Vicky Richter

Connie Hayes

Karen Miller

Nancy Lowe, CMP

Wendy Bassett, CMP

Together let us continue to excel so that we might better serve current and future members! n Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 | 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

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

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 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

Management Office Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office 704-377-5648 Christine@ themanagementoffice.com

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Jennifer Kist, CMP 704-607-1454 jeakscot1@yahoo.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 | October - November 2015 |

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new member spotlight New Member Spotlight: Nathan Kittrell

by Alison Harding, CMP, GTP

Nathan Kittrell

I love meeting new members and finding out more about them! At our new member and first time attendee mixer at the Sheraton in Chapel Hill, I had the pleasure of meeting Nathan Kittrell. He’s going to be a fantastic addition to our MPI-CC family…. check out this edition’s New Member Spotlight and I’m sure you’ll agree.

How long have you been in the industry?

I have been in the industry full time since May of 2014. I previously was an intern with VisitGreenvilleSC for 1.5 years, while I was in college.

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

My current position is “Sales Manager” at VisitGreenvilleSC. I have been in this position for one year as of October 1, 2015.

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

I work for VisitGreenvilleSC, and I believe I have one of the best jobs in the world, because I get to tell people about how awesome Greenville, South Carolina is! In a nutshell, my job is to bring visitors to Greenville. I love bringing people here because it not only boosts our local economy, but everyone I seem to bring in falls in love with Greenville. We have become one of the fastest growing destinations in the Southeast over the past five years, and there is no slowing down in sight! We really have something special here, and would encourage anyone to take a weekend trip to visit us and take part in the Greenville, SC experience.

What are your hobbies and interests?

A few of my hobbies include: watching college football (I am a HUGE Georgia Bulldawg fan), running, biking, and hiking the great trails we have around Greenville, such as the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail and the miles of mountain trails in and around the area near my home.

My interests include anything that has to do with professional development and sales training. I have tried to surround myself with several great mentors (in and outside of our industry) who can speak to my professional life and give me advice on handling complicated situations as well as how to progress to the next step in my career and be the best I can be in my current career stage. I am also very involved with my church and love to volunteer as often as I can.

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

Tell me about your family life.

I have been married to my beautiful wife since June 21, 2014, and she makes me a better man every day. She teaches 8th grade honors math and has been very successful. After only her first year of teaching, she was asked to help write curriculum for all of Greenville County! Needless to say, I am very proud of her. Also, any woman that can handle 35 8th graders at a time has to be a wonderful person! Currently, we do not have any children, but we plan on making a new addition to our family with a puppy in November.

Why did you join MPI-CC? I joined MPI mainly for the networking opportunities with other people involved in our industry in the Carolinas. I have found this to be the quickest way to get plugged in, and it also serves as a great platform to talk about best practices within the industry. I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief time with MPI-CC, and I look forward to many more great years to come!

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

If I could meet one famous person alive or dead, that person would be Jesus Christ. The reason being is He is the person I try to model my life after (although I often fail). I would also love to meet Him because from reading His teachings, it is apparent that He is a very skilled communicator and that is a part of my skill set I am always trying to sharpen!

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

The advice I would give to anyone wanting to enter the industry is to make absolutely certain that you love to work with people. There is a reason the industry we are in is called the “hospitality” industry. I spend a majority of my working days talking to people, taking people out to eat, flying across the country to visit a client, and entertaining. It can be emotionally and physically draining, even if it is something you love doing. So make sure you love interacting with people! It is my favorite part of my job! n

Alison Harding, CMP GTP Global Knowledge MPI-CC Vice President of Membership

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

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— Dr. Linda H. Gilliam, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“

“

Successful is an understatement.

Winston-Salem was near perfection!

®

• More than 4,800 hotel rooms • 100,000+ square feet of meeting space downtown • Over 100 restaurants and shops within walking distance of Convention Center complex • A Forbes’ Top 10 Best Downtown • Centrally located in the state FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Christian Schroeder, Director of Sales and Services Christian@VisitWinstonSalem.com 866-728-4200 main • 336-728-4218 direct Karen Wall, Sales Manager Karen@visitwinstonsalem.com 866-728-4200 main • 336-728-4210 direct VisitWinstonSalem.com

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

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

news you can use

Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Announces the Promotion of Beverly Stewart to Vice President of Sales Southern Pines, NC (October 2, 2015) – The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area has announced the promotion of Beverly Stewart to vice president of sales. Stewart has served as the CVB’s director of sales Beverly Stewart since 1991, where she has led the direct sales initiative. With numerous industry accolades and 27 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, Stewart will oversee all sales functions at the CVB, and work on key strategic initatives with the CVB’s executive team.

According the CVB CEO Caleb Miles, “Integrity is a powerful agent when it comes to working with meeting planners. Beverly’s unique ability to quickly gain their trust in our product and services here has been a real difference maker, and it’s why she is so widely respected in the industry by clients and peers alike.”

Professional memberships include: Association Executives of North Carolina [AENC-Board of Directors for two years]; Meeting Professionals International—Carolinas Chapter [Meeting Planning Chair]; and Society of Government Meeting Professionals [Board/Founding Member; 2014 Meeting Professional to Watch].

The Displays Unlimited satellite office in the Triangle will be in the existing Party Reflections Raleigh location. Since 2009, Party Reflections has established itself as the premier special event rental company in the Triangle providing an extensive inventory of tents, linens, china, and custom pieces. With the addition of Displays Unlimited’s broad range of tradeshow inventory, convention services, in house graphic design, and signage capabilities, the Triangle market will benefit exponentially from the combined resources, expanded inventory, and efficiencies.

The Displays Unlimited satellite office in Charleston, SC will function as the hub for the company’s calculated growth in South Carolina and the Southeast.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Christian Eastman at 704.309.7185 or email at ceastman@partyreflections.com.

Congratulations to new CMM! We would like to congratulate Amelia Hodges, CMP, with the North Carolina Association of CPA’s, on receiving her Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) from GBTA and MPI. Way to go Amelia!

Amelia Hodges, CMP, CMM

If you have news we can use, please send to ginny.fountain@ncemcs.com.

“I’m honored with this new position,” Stewart said. “The potential to promote to new planners and markets the resources and assets that are available in our area is an opportunity I’m looking forward to tackling. Moore County has so much to offer – wonderful sport facilities, a wide variety of meeting site options and a strong hospitality industry – all waiting to host the perfect event or memorable meeting!”

Displays Unlimited Announces Its Expansion into Raleigh, NC and Charleston, SC Columbia, SC, September 21, 2015– Displays Unlimited would like to announce its expansion into the Triangle region of North Carolina and into Charleston, SC with the opening of satellite offices in each city. In January, Party Reflections, Inc. announced its merger with Displays Unlimited, a South Carolina based exhibition services company headquartered in Columbia, SC.

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 at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com or submit via our website at www.mpi-cc.org.

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

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Business Exchange in Review

by John Cruz, CMM

The 2015 Business Exchange was hot..RED hot…. The event really brought together new contacts and enhanced old ones as well. Many thanks go out to the attendees for making the event a success! We encourage you all to provide your feedback so we can build off this year and continue to make it better. We appreciate all the folks that got the word out about the event. We had a diverse crowd and several first-timers who hopefully will join the chapter.

I heard many wonderful and positive comments about the

Know a Helping Hand?

décor and room set up…way to go AFR, Party Reflections, and Scott Brown Media. Also, the crowd seemed to really enjoy the variety of music videos that were displayed. Once again, thanks to all that made the 2015 Business Exchange special and we ask that all members of the chapter get involved next year and help us bring more planners and suppliers together. n

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

John Cruz, CMM Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Business Exchange Committee Chair

oms tel ro o h est rea s larg 00 a ’ t 0 s , 6 a e er 1 outh • Ov the S enters f o e • On vention c eum ts colis con t ates a uran e terst esta 00-s n r I 5 r , 0 3 0 •2 majo an 5 re th om 3 r o f s M s • ce sy ac • Ea

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

are and how they went above and beyond for your committee. Please send nominations to Lindsay Myers at lmyers1@caesars.com

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

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Look Who We Spotted at the...

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

... September Meeting in Durham!

Photography by Mica Parekh – IWP Photography

education

MPI-CC September Meeting Education Recap: Tonya R. Perry: 5 Critical Mistakes That Kill Productivity

by Mallory Middleton

During the MPI-Carolinas Chapter September meeting, Tonya R. Perry, MBA spoke to attendees in the education session on Friday, September 18, about the “5 Critical Mistakes That Kill Productivity.” Perry prefaced her “5 Critical Mistakes” presentation by encouraging attendees to live their best lives and use the time that is given to them wisely. She personally witnessed her own brother not living his life as productively as he could have and his life ended just four years ago. Accomplishing work productively is important, but Perry urged audience members to enjoy life as a whole. She noted that being busy is not the same as being productive. Individuals can be extremely busy without actually being productive in those tasks that are vital to the success of their company and career.

The 5 Critical Mistakes That Hinder Productivity 1. You don’t plan. Planning is an essential part of being productive. Perry also suggests that when we plan out our week, we should include details such as waking up, walking the dog, blocking out time for lunch, and going to bed in order to stay the course. Some best practices mentioned include: • Planning for the upcoming day by preparing the night before (checking calendar and laying out clothes) • Blocking out time for lunch and exercise • Dividing house chores into days throughout the week instead of completing everything over the weekend Perry points out that time seems to pass by so quickly in our lives, so we must make sure what we’re doing is intentional and with a purpose.

2. You don’t respect time. Adhering to a schedule created through planning is important to productivity as well as being on-time for appointments. Perry emphasizes that we should always respect the time set for appointments and meetings because we can lose our credibility if we do not.

She also points out that we are unable to gain extra time so we must manage it as effectively as possible by doing the following: Do it, Delegate it, or Delete it. Perry shares that it would be appropriate to delete an email or item brought forth if it involves:

16

| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

• External websites not related to our course of work.

• Any irrelevant information from individuals that does not add positive value.

Perry advises that meetings worthy of our time should be the following: purposeful, prepared, and productive.

3. You Don’t Create Routines. Having a routine helps create consistency in our lives which can develop good habits of how to best prioritize and effectively manage time. Some examples Perry gives of routines include checking email first thing in the morning and organizing our week.

4. You Make Excuses. Excuses are a great hindrance to productivity because they allow the rationalization of not adhering to a plan. Common excuse examples attendees gave included: “I don’t have time,” “I have too much on my plate,” “It’s not in my job description,” and “Someone else said they would do it.”

5. You Don’t Ask For Help. It is almost impossible to complete all tasks individually without seeking the assistance and/ or guidance of others. Perry mentions the idea of having an accountability partner to help keep ourselves in-check with our plan/schedule and pointing out where we may have areas of improvement to maximize our productivity.

Everyone has made one or all of these critical mistakes which kill productivity at some point in their working career. Now that these five critical mistakes which kill productivity have been identified and examined, we can do our best to recognize when we are making these mistakes and work towards avoiding them going forward.

It is inevitable that we will all continue to make mistakes, but how we learn from them and plan to avoid making the same mistakes in the future is what will shape us into more productive individuals. n

Mallory Middleton Raleigh Convention Center MPI-CC Education Committee Chair

November Education Session Move Their Bodies, Move Their Minds An “Exercise” in Delivering a Creative Brainstorming Session Speaker:

“netwalking” and then debriefs the best of the ideas and

Tara Liaschenko, CMM

concepts. Let us take you on a creative brainstorming

Creative Executive Officer,

journey!

The Link Event Professionals, Inc. 2015 MPI RISE Award Winner – Member of the Year

Actionable take-aways:

Description:

1. Learn real world applicable examples of corporations that design creative environments and how to apply that to

How do you improve your attendees productivity,

your meetings and conferences.

creativity and loyalty to your meeting? This physically interactive session takes the attendee on a journey of

2. Realize how to incorporate physical activity into your

creative and interactive brainstorming you can learn to

meeting or conference with applicable knowledge as the

apply to your conference or meeting sessions. Learn real-

end result.

world applicable examples of corporations that design creative cultures in an effort to increase productivity,

3. Walk away with a creative brainstorming session that

creativity and loyalty. Realize the value in using physical

you can bring directly to your meeting or conference. n

movement as a means to elicit creative thought, retention and brainstorming. Learn how to use the conference and meeting setting as a way to experience this concept.

Rather than have a speaker or panel, the audience becomes the content driver through the use of brainstorming during FYV-473c-Events-Ad-3.5x4.75-FINAL-[021615]-RW.pdf

3

2/16/15

2:54 PM

The use of the CMP Preferred Provider Pre-Check logo is not an endorsement by the Convention Industry Council of the quality of the session. This logo means that this session has met the criteria to be pre-approved for CMP certification credit.

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

17

Is it time to think about your CMP recertification?

by Elizabeth Lyons, CMP

Every five years the Convention Industry Council mandates that all CMPs recertify their designation. I’ve had my CMP designation for 15 years. In December of 2015, my CMP will be lapsing once again. And, I just received the following notice from the Convention Industry Council: Please note that since your last application, CIC has transitioned to an all online application system and your recertification application must be completed through the online portal: www.myaccount. conventionindustry.org.

Effective January 1, 2016, the grace period for lapsed recertification will be reduced to three months, down from one year. This does not change your recertification date or the regular recertification deadline. However, if you miss your 12/31/2015 recertification deadline, you must submit your recertification by March 31, 2016, or your CMP will expire and you will have to re-apply for and pay to retake the CMP exam. You worked hard to get your CMP! Don’t risk losing it!

For complete information on the recertification requirements, please review the 2015 CMP Recertification Handbook on the Convention Industry Convention website.

To find pre-approved continuing education activities, visit the Preferred Provider Directory for both face-to-face and online opportunities.

I’ve attended some conferences over the last five years, but I’m not sure I have enough credits. The Convention Industry Council has made this process somewhat easier by offering credit for approved online webinars. The Convention Industry Council’s CMP Preferred Provider Program was launched in February 2015. Since the launch, they have added over 68 Preferred Providers who offer quality continuing education for CMPs - including MPI-CC! How does five years go by so fast? Nothing makes me more nervous than to go through this process! Start now, and don’t find yourself looking at making up your CEU’s in your last year. I promise you don’t want to take THAT test again, especially with all the technology changes. Good luck! n

Elizabeth Lyons, CMP TD Convention Center MPI-CC Publications Committee Member

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

Winner of the ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award Voted as one of the 10 most beautiful towns in NC

Success Stories Read about how the Foundation has helped members just like you! http://www.mpiweb.org/foundation/Success-Stories MPI FOUNDATION STAFF CONTACTS Please feel free to reach out to an MPI Foundation team member with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Tony Fundaro MPIF Sr. Director of Development, MPI Foundation tfundaro@mpiweb.org

MPI Foundation It Is For You! PURPOSE OF THE MPI GLOBAL FOUNDATION The MPI Foundation fuels the growth and advancement of MPI members by providing them professional development and career opportunities through grants and scholarships.

The MPI Foundation propels the meeting and event industry forward by funding research initiatives that support the strategic plan of MPI. RESOURCES OF THE FOUNDATION We want to make sure you know how to access the resources of the Foundation to share with your members.

Grants & Scholarships All grants and scholarship opportunities can be found at www.mpiweb.org/foundation/grantsandscholarships. New opportunities are added frequently so be sure to visit often!

• Scholarships • Membership – There are three types of membership scholarships available for new members in need of financial assistance.

• Professional Development – Several scholarships are available to assist members with industry-related development programs or leadership programs such as Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC), and the Meetings and Events at Sea Certificate.

• Conference Attendance – Funding to aid members in attending MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) and European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC), and IMEX America and Frankfurt are available each year.

MPI Foundation Annual Report View the MPI Foundation 2014 Annual Report for an indepth recap of what we were able to accomplish last year, thanks to the generosity of our contributors.

Jodi Ann LaFreniere Ray MPI Sr. Director, Membership & Volunteer Experience jray@mpiweb.org Susan Prophet Director of Business Development, MPI Foundation Canada sprophet@mpiweb.org Holly McCauley MPI Volunteer Experience Specialist hmccauley@mpiweb.org We greatly appreciate the support our Chapters provide to the MPI Foundation to allow us to fulfill our mission to fund education and pan-industry research that drive the success of meeting professionals. n

As received from Tammy Kockaya, CMP, CMM, Chapter Liaison, MPI Global Foundation Board of Trustees

THANK YOU to MPI-CC Volunteers!

by Nicole Robinson

Thank you to all of the volunteers who attended our “Cake & Cocktails” reception at the September Chapter Meeting and Business Exchange in Chapel Hill. MPI-CC relies on our volunteers to be successful and we appreciate everyone who gives their time to our chapter. Please let us know if you are not happy with your volunteer experience or if you are interested in working with other committees. Contact Nicole Robinson, Director of Leadership Development at nrobinson@visitRaleigh.com with any questions or comments. Look out for another volunteer event soon.

Thank you again to ALL the MPI-CC volunteers. n

Nicole Robinson Greater Raleigh CVB Director of Leadership and Volunteer Development

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

19

ABOUT JOE

by Molly Johnson, CMP

The first time I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Blake, he was wearing a leisure suit and an afro. It was the annual meeting, May 2002. The theme was 70’s disco. Joe was the outgoing President. He and I bonded instantly. He became a very good friend and someone whose opinion I valued greatly, especially during my term as chapter president.

Joe’s career in the hospitality Industry began when he graduated from NC State, starting at the Embassy Suites in Raleigh as a sales manager. He then moved to the Marriott in Durham. Joe joined the CVB in Chapel Hill where he worked for seven years before going back to the hotel world at the Sheraton Chapel Hill and spent the last 10 years at the Rizzo Conference Center where he was the Director of Sales. Joe was always the professional, working hard to assure his clients left happy with exceeded expectations.

Joe joined the Carolinas Chapter of MPI in 1996. Like everything Joe has been an advocate of, he jumped in and gave 100%. He served on almost every committee and held almost every board position. Within five years he was sworn in as our Chapter President 2001-2002. Joe continued his volunteer involvement through committees and rejoined the board after his presidency. Joe won the Supplier of the Year award as well as the Hall of Fame award.

Having been an active member and leader of our chapter for two-thirds of its existence, Joe has been a huge part of decisions that have shaped our chapter’s success. Whether you had the privilege of knowing Joe or not, his presence will always be with us. Below are just a few memories from our fellow chapter members.

DISCO JOE The memories of Joe that I want to keep at the forefront are really the two sides that made up the man we loved.

One is his place in the industry as the consummate sales professional. Joe knew how to build and nurture relationships, to be honest and ethical and to always deliver on his promises. He was personally invested in ensuring a positive outcome for each of the events he booked. The other side, of course, was his energy and love of a great time. He loved life and could always be counted on to liven up any gathering. He could make the most boring event into a fun time..…just add Disco Joe. His passing is a great loss to our industry, and especially to those of us who had the good fortune of spending time with him over the years.

Nancy Lowe, CMP NC Medical Society

A FRIEND I will so miss Joe. He was my friend and I could always count on him. One of my strong memories is the many times we disco danced, and disagreed on who should lead.

I respected Joe and always knew I could get a direct answer to a question whether it was what I wanted to hear or not.

Joe was the first chapter president to implement MPI’s strategic approach in the business plan. His leadership and patience with the process was apparent to those of us serving on the MPI-CC Board when he was President.

I feel like I watched Tyler grow up. We always compared family pictures, and discussed the stages our families were at. He was so proud of his son and was a great Dad to him.

Linda Ilsley, CMP LPI Events

PROUD FATHER My best memory of Joe is that he always spoke of his son whenever we had a conversation. He was really proud of him.

Jovita S. Mask Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC)

MAKES ME SMILE After I lost weight a couple of years ago, Joe would get close to me and say, “Girrrrl, you lookin fine!” I can still hear him in my mind and it makes me smile now. He knew we gals needed a little praise on our outfits and he was happy to provide it to any of us!!

When I made the March 2008 cover of Successful Meetings magazine, the pictures were taken at Rizzo and Joe was there with me every minute. We cut up and laughed the whole time. That is a favorite memory for me.

Jean Travers HelmsBriscoe

Molly Johnson, CMP Wilmington & Beaches CVB MPI-CC Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

21

board meeting highlights Board of Directors Meeting Minutes September 17, 2015 | Chapel Hill, NC

by Christine Irwin, CMP

Attendees: Christine Irwin, CMP, Christian Schroeder,

Motion: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP made a motion for

Barbara Dragan, Amelia Hodges, CMP, Alison Harding,

Selah Havard to fill the remaining term for the Director of

CMP, GTP, Nicole Robinson, Selah Havard, Alyce Kelly,

Membership position.

CHSP, Karolyn Stone, CHSP, CMP, Maureen Donovan,

Second: Barbara Dragan

Vince Chelena, Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE, Brittany

Vote: Approved

O’Shaughnessy Metric Incentives: Christian Schroeder reported that we Excused Absences: Lori Hedrick, CMP, CMM, CSEP, MHA,

received 13 metric incentive points for the goals we met

and Amy Johnson

during the 2014-2015 fiscal year. To redeem these points,

Minutes: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE presented the minutes from the July 13, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting and made a motion to approve.

Motion: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE made a motion to approve the July 13, 2015 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes as presented.

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

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

Second: Nicole Robinson Vote: Approved Chapter Office: Christine Irwin, CMP reviewed the August Metric Report and September meeting app.

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

we have looked at the best way to maximize their value that would benefit the chapter financially. We will be using the points for $1,000 towards a retreat facilitator and $800 towards an education speaker.

Updates from WEC: Christian Schroeder reviewed some key takeaways from the Chapter Leaders Forum and WEC this year.

The North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) held in 2015 will be expanded to now be called Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) and will be held on April 14, 2016 this year.

MPI Global is updating their bylaws, which will in turn update our chapter bylaws. The major changes affect the nominations process and board terms. All board positions will be one year moving forward. The nomination process will also begin earlier as the slate is now due to Global by March 1, 2016.

Advocacy Committee / Buy MPI: Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE announced that in creating the Advocacy committee

Motion: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP CASE made a motion to

(under the IPP), it was discovered that much of their

approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

efforts overlap with the efforts of the Buy MPI committee

Second: Karolyn Stone, CMP, CHSP

(currently under membership). After speaking with

Vote: Approved

the membership team, it was decided that the Buy MPI

Director of Membership Vacancy: Christian Schroeder reported that Jeanette Keys, Director of Membership, had to resign from the Board of Directors effectively immediately. Jeanette will continue to volunteer with the membership team as a committee member. The Director of Membership position will need to be filled for the

committee and the Advocacy committee would join forces under the Advocacy Committee title. Molly Johnson and Linda Isley will be co-chairs. The purpose of the committee is to get the message out about the impact of meetings on the community, so GMID will fall under the responsibilities for the this committee.

remainder of the year. Christian Schroeder asked for a

Blitz Publication: Brittany O’Shaughnessy reminded the

motion to fill the Director of Membership vacancy.

Board that all Blitz items will be due to Ginny no later than a week after this meeting. The marketing team will work on getting those reminders out to everyone.

22

| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

2016 Meeting Calendar: Amelia Hodges, CMP presented

to launch November 2. The Business Exchange team will

the 2016 proposed meeting dates and locations as

be collecting testimonials from both business exchange

follows:

exhibitors and planner attendees to market for next year’s

January 14-15, 2016 Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary | Cary, NC March 17-18, 2016 Spartanburg Marriott | Spartanburg, SC May 9-10, 2016 The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Hilton Head Island, SC

exchange. In the next week, they will be working hard on post event follow up to all vendors and participants.

Communications The marketing team has created a Communications Form that everyone will need to start using. It will be a communications request form for you to request what communications you want sent out to the membership through e-mail, social media, etc. This will help the marketing team strategically plan out all of our chapter

July 14-15, 2016

communications. All forms must be received at least 72

The Carolina Inn | Chapel Hill, NC

hours in advance of the communication deadline. Brittany has worked very hard to create a master Communications

September 15-16, 2016

Calendar for the chapter and it will be a fluid, working

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley | Raleigh, NC

document that we will use from year to year.

November 3-4, 2016

Education

Great Wolf Lodge – Charlotte/Concord | Concord, NC

The education team is working on their 18-month calendar

Motion: Nicole Robinson made a motion to accept the 2016 meeting dates and locations as presented by Amelia Hodges, CMP Second: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP Vote: Approved Volunteer of the Year Award: Nicole Robinson and her committee will work on creating a form for this new award based off of the Annual Award nomination forms.

They will present it to the board before it is sent out to the membership.

Leadership & Volunteer Development Committee: Nicole Robinson asked each Board member to make sure they are engaging the volunteers assigned to their committees. If you need additional volunteers, please let Nicole know. After each Board meeting, Nicole will send out the full chapter committee volunteer list for you to review and have for your records. The L&VDC would also

for both meetings and speakers. Amelia participated in the Education bootcamp at the Chapter Leaders Forum at WEC and will be implementing some great takeaways including a professional development roadmap / “learning ladder” idea for our education sessions. Now that we have the 2016 meetings secured, we will begin securing speakers for all of next year as well as finalizing all 2017 meeting locations.

July Meeting Survey Results: Amelia Hodges, CMP reviewed the results from the July Meeting survey and addressed feedback with the Board.

Chapter Needs Assessment Survey: Alison Harding, CMP, GTP announced that the membership team will be sending out last year’s chapter needs assessment survey for everyone to review and provide feedback on. In order to review the feedback at the mid-year Board Retreat in early November, we will set to launch the survey October 5 with an October 16 deadline.

like to begin collecting volunteer testimonials, so if you

Next Board Meeting: Christian Schroeder announced that

have someone who would be good for that – please send

the next board meeting will be held on Thursday, November

their names to Nicole.

5th sometime in the afternoon at the Courtyard by Marriott

Team Updates / Business Plan Update: Membership During the Membership Bootcamp yesterday, the membership team looked at restructuring their committees to really focus on recruitment, engagement

Carolina Beach in Carolina Beach, NC. We will be having the mid-year board retreat Wednesday, November 4 – Thursday, November 5. Once an agenda is set for that, we will send out the times, but plan on a noon start on November 4.

Meeting Adjourned. n

and retention. In the coming weeks, they will be meeting with all membership committees to discuss changes moving forward and how each committee interacts with the membership.

Finance The Finance team is currently collecting silent auction

Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office

items for the November Bidding for Good auction set Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

23

November 5-6, 2015 Carolina Beach, NC Courtyard

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| Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015

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Carolina Blitz | October - November 2015 |

25

monthly meeting planner

November 5-6, 2015 Carolina Beach, NC Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach

July 14-15, 2016 Chapel Hill, NC The Carolina Inn

January 14-15, 2016 Cary, NC Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary

September 15-16, 2016 Education & Business Exchange Raleigh, NC Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

March 17-18, 2016 Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Marriott

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

June 11-14, 2016 MPI World Education Congress Atlantic City, New Jersey

Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is November 13, 2015. Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Ginny Fountain , CMP, at Ginny.Fountain@ncemcs.com.

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