PlanIt Tennessee

In This Issue
Our Sponsors
Platinum Partners







Gold Partners

The Peabody Memphis

 

Silver Partners
Anchor
Chef's Market
Country Music Hall of Fame ? and Museum
DG International
Drury Plaza Franklin
Embassy Suites Nashville South/Cool Springs
Gary Musick Production
Geo Teaming - John Chen
Hard Rock Caf?/Nashville
Hilton Memphis
Hilton Nashville Downtown
Holiday Inn/Fogelman Executive Conference Center
Hutton Hotel
Knoxville Airport Hilton
Knoxville Convention Center
Liberty Party Rental
ONstage
Park Vista a DoubleTree by Hilton Gatlinburg
Ruth's Chris Memphis
SpringHill Suites Memphis
Schenk Photography
The Cannery
Union Station Hotel

Do you want to become an MPI:TN sponsor and partner with the state's largest and most vibrant community of meeting and event professionals?

For more information, contact Colleen Cussick, Director of Strategic Alliances for MPI:TN!

Educational Message - Central
Ask a Supplier Panel

After the success of last October's "Ask a Planner Panel", we are thrilled to offer its counterpart, "Ask a Supplier Panel" for April's Education Luncheon. Join us for this fun, interactive session on Wednesday, April 15 at Hilton Garden Inn Nashville/Vanderbilt.

This panel of seasoned supplier professionals will share industry insights, innovative event solutions, and best practices for creating long-lasting partnerships. Learn from six suppliers representing an array of specialties including:
  • Robin Bass (moderator) - Owner, Maple Ridge Events
  • Renny Burdick - Sales Manager, G Catering & Events
  • Colleen Cussick - Sales and Client Relations Manager, Brantley Sound Associates
  • Julie Hurst - Co-Owner, Liberty Party Rental
  • Don Morris - General Manager, Hard Rock Caf?
  • Caroline Platz - Director of National Accounts, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
If you would like to submit a questions to the panel, send your question to [email protected].  Registration and Networking begins at 11; lunch and program is from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Please note that immediately following the lunch, we will conduct an information session to discuss the recent CIC changes for how you track your Continuing Education Credits.
April's Education Luncheon is presented by:
Hilton Garden Inn, Liberty Party Rental, Brantley, and OnStage.
Meetings Mean Business day is April 16!  


This month's meeting will be part of "  Meetings Mean Business" day!  U.S. based events will be led by the Meetings Mean Business (MMB) coalition, which represents leaders from across the meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions industries, who have united behind a common goal: to showcase the real impact meetings and events have on businesses, economies and communities. 

Please take photos at the meeting and tweet them using #NAMID and #MPI.  Global will capture those posts, retweet and create an "album" for MPIWEB.org.
Big Nashville Welcome to... 
MPI:TN extends a hearty welcome and thank you to our neighbors from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority for not only joining us at our April educational luncheon, but sponsoring it as well! Gotta love the Southern hospitality and support we all share for each other at MPI!
Celebrate another successful year... 

It's time to celebrate another successful year for MPI:TN at our annual
MPI:TN Awards Gala and Auction

Thursday, May 7, 2015, 5:30 pm - 11:00pm
The Hutton Hotel
Vista Ballroom, 1808 West End Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Registration, Cocktails, Auction and Cocktails
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dinner and Awards
8:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Dinner and Dancing


 
Instead of the live auction this year, we will have a "not-so-silent" auction.  Bring your dollar bills to join in on this fun way to win awesome things for very cheap.  You can win the famous Margaritaville Fuji Blender for $10, a Thirty-One Cooler and gift certificate for $1, or a 60 minute massage for only $5.  More details and awesome items to come!
Donations for the auction are still being accepted.

To donate please click here to download the form.

Biddingforgood.com auction is live.

Great Experience while volunteering for Gala!  
Karin Eggert, CMP
Cross Country Education

I've been a member of the MPI:TN family for more than five years and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this fantastic organization.  I am very thankful for all the wonderful connections made along the way and much of this is due to being part of a committee. Assisting the Special Events Committee for several years and co-chairing the silent auction portion of the annual AWARDS GALA/SILENT AUCTION for the past two years has been a great experience. Knowing I can contribute my time in support of our largest annual fundraiser each year definitely makes it all worthwhile!

This committee has provided an opportunity to collaborate and work with others who share the same vision and common goals while planning this fun event. And, being a part of how that all comes together the evening of the gala and silent auction is what it is all about! I look forward to seeing everyone May 7th at the Hutton Hotel....as we celebrate with the winners of this year's Circle of Excellence Awards, applaud those who are being installed on our Board of Directors for 2015-16 and reach our goals and support the chapter by bidding often on all the great items that will be available during the silent and "not-so-silent" auction. 
CMP Study Groups
The next round of Nashville area CMP Study Groups are forming for 2015.
CMP Intensive Study:
Saturday, September 19               9:00am - 3:00pm
  Domain A Strategic Planning
  Domain B Project Management
  Domain C Risk Management
  Domain D Financial Management
  Domain E Human Resources
  Domain F Stakeholder Management



Saturday, October 17                     9:00am - 3:00pm
  Domain G Meeting or Event Design
  Domain H Site Management
  Domain I Marketing
  Domain J Professionalism
  Review  
All sessions will be held at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown.  Exact room locations will be noted on the reader boards at the venue when you arrive.  Thank you Sheraton Nashville Downtown for your support of the CMP Study Sessions!

Hours spent in the Study Groups do count as classroom hours for the CMP application.  If you have not completed your application and are in need of hours to fulfill the new minimum of 25 classroom hours, the Study Groups are a great way to gain hours.
 
Pre-Registration is required for any/all of the study sessions.  If you are interested in attending please e-mail me back with the date(s) you plan to attend.
 
Also, if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Carol Norfleet, [email protected].
Community Service
Central Region Altrusa

MPI:TN will be collecting donations of gently worn business attire for Dress for Success at the April meeting.  What exactly should I donate?  What would you wear to a job interview? That is exactly the type of clothing we are looking for to distribute to our clients. Your fabulous suits and other professional apparel could furnish another woman with the confidence to enter or return to the workplace, make a great first impression and land a job that could change her life.

Additionally, many of their clients go directly to an interview, so please ensure that all items donated are freshly dry-cleaned / laundered and ironed, not more than 5 years old, and suitable for wearing to job interviews. Thanks!

Dress for Success's Purpose
Dress for Success's purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures.
Know Your Board  - Adam Spivey      
  • Board Position: President Elect
  • Have you held other positions on the MPI:TN Board? Yes - VP of Finance for 2 years
  • Why did you decide to become a part of the MPI:TN Board? I went to my first meeting and was voluntold by Caroline Platz that I needed to be a part of the board when she moved up into her role as President.  I wasn't even a member yet but CP wasn't taking no for an answer so I joined and was elected as VP of Finance.  I have no regrets about it and it has been an unbelievable experience!
  • What is the benefit of being on the Board?
         Besides all the freakin fun we have??  Being involved and a part of an extraordinary team of amazing people is a great experience.  I have not only grown professionally but personally too.  I have learned things about myself I didn't know by just being on the board and a part of the MPI Family.  Also the connections you make and the relationships you build by being a part of the board are lifelong.
  • What is your paying gig?  Senior Sales Manager at Nashville's only 4 Star/4 Diamond property the one and only Hutton Hotel!
  • How long have you been in this position? Going on 2 years
  • How long in the industry? 17 years and yes I look great for my age!
  • Why did you get into the meeting and event industry? I fell into this industry by accident.  I moved to Nashville and had a cousin that worked in the corporate office for Regal Hospitality who at the time owned Maxwell House Hotel.  She secured a job for me at the hotel and hence begun my career in this crazy industry.
  • What do you enjoy the most and least about the industry? It is never the same daily routine.  There are always different personalities and opportunities each day.  Plus the perks aren't too bad.  You get to travel to great cities, stay in some great hotels (some not so great), eat and drink as a part of your job!!  Who wouldn't love it right!
  • What is your favorite meeting or event you have held?  Why? MP:I:TN Annual Gala last year at the CMHOFM.  Need I say more!  It was an amazing night and looking forward to this year's Gala!  I promise it will be a night you won't forget!
  • What advice would you give someone entering the industry? Make sure you are passionate about people. Working you're a$$ off and delivering great customer service.  If you aren't don't do it and get a job in database management!
  • Tell us something about yourself...hobbies, little known fact, etc. I love to sing and dance!  Wanna song? Wanna hear it?  Here it goes!
  • If you weren't in the meeting and event industry what would you be doing? A hobo!  On stage performing for my fans!