“I think it’s time to come together, you and I can make a change
Maybe we can make a difference, make the world a better place
Look around and love somebody, we’ve been hateful long enough
Let the good Lord reunite us ‘til this country that we love’s undivided…”
Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard
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At the start of 2021, we were all excited to have a fresh start, a new beginning. January did bring about change, but we are still dealing with the pandemic, and our beautiful country is facing many challenges in the months ahead. The night of the inauguration, two of our incredible cities were highlighted when Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons sang in the streets of Memphis, while Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard crooned the lyrics above with the Nashville skyline as the backdrop. Dang – we looked good!
To start, thank you to Beth Z, our “Nerdy Best Friend” for her incredible presentation last week at our January Education event! For a tech-challenged person like myself, any help I can get is greatly appreciated; especially since it came out that I really need to start changing my passwords up. It was wonderful to connect with everyone while seeing some new faces in the group.
This year, our membership team started a new Mentorship Program, and we want to give a huge THANK YOU to Courtney McGee of Event Logistics for generously sponsoring the program! You are truly amazing. In addition, I am so proud of Cayce Brasel and Beci Ruzek for their hard work on giving our members the opportunity to work with experienced and gifted mentors.
Our February Education session is going to be a special treat with Rachel Sheerin. Her topic, “F This S,” will make you laugh while you learn tips on handling burnout.
Make sure you check your emails and mark down your calendars for the virtual Women in Leadership class on March 1, and the in-person “Lucky to Have Each Other” MIX event on March 11 at the Grand Hyatt.
The board and I appreciate your dedication to our chapter. Without our members, we wouldn’t be one of the Top Performing Chapters in the world!
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Until we meet again,
Jill
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We hope everyone in our MPI family is staying safe and healthy as we continue to battle COVID-19 and the affect it is having on our industry and our membership. Our board is here for you if you need anything. We hope the information below is helpful to you as we all navigate the near future. Please reach out to any of us directly if you are struggling, have questions, or just need to chat. |
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MPI Tennessee Financial Assistance – If you have lost your job,suffering financial hardship during this time and are unable to attend our events, please take a moment to fill out the Financial Hardship Form. We value you and would love to continue seeing you at our membership events! Click below to fill out a form!
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MPI Member Resume Support – Did you know that MPI members have access to complimentary resume critique through our career centre? Members will need their MPI username/password to access this service. Click on the following link and follow the path listed to have your resume critiqued: www.mpi.org > Resources > Career Center > Sign In > go to My Account (top left corner) > go to Resume > check mark “Send me my free professional resume critique from TopResume” > click on Upload Resume to, you guessed, upload your resume.
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MPI Global Member Assistance Program: We do not want to lose any of you as members. For those whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19, MPI Global has several options to help if you are up for renewal, and they will be reaching out to you. You can also contact MPI Global directly at help@mpi.org, call 972-702-3053, or fill out and follow the instructions in this form.
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Update Membership Profile: If you or someone you know has new contact information, be sure to reach out to us at info@mpitn.org or 615-373-8002 so we can update that information with our chapter and MPI Global. Remember, your membership belongs to you and follows you even when your employer changes.
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MPI Tennessee Private Facebook: Join our private Facebook page to learn more about these events and to connect with the fun and informative things going on with our MPI Family.
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MPI Tennessee has partnered with Belmont University to bring you a Meeting & Event Planning program for CMP credit! This five-week program will be held on Zoom every Friday from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Each class is taught by a member of MPI Tennessee who is a subject matter expert.
This course is introductory to event planning and intended for individuals new to the industry or interested in learning more about it for current or future job knowledge.The course also qualifies for the classroom requirements of CMP certification.
- Feb 26 - Meeting Planning Basics
- March 5 - Site Selection
- March 12- Food & Beverage Planning
- March 19 - Event Budgeting & Return on Investment / Contracting Audio, Video & Lighting
- March 26 - Introduction to Special Events
You will receive 35 hours of industry education and earn 1 CEU for every 10 hours of class time. You must attend all five classes to receive your MEP Certificate.
Full course - $975 for non-MPI members
$780 (20% savings) for MPI members.
Each class can be taken as a stand-alone class and is $250/person/class.
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Do you want to become an MPI Tennessee Chapter
sponsor and partner with the state's largest,
most vibrant community of meeting and event professionals?
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For more information, contact MPI Tennessee's Director of Strategic Alliances, Ashleigh Cote! |
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You and your work make a difference in people's lives every day - and that gives you pride and joy. But what happens when we lose that loving feeling?
In this interactive, high energy program, we’ll take a look at our beliefs on success, why burn out happens, and how you can enjoy your life, own your joy & absolutely love your success.
Rachel’s hilarious “truth bombs” on who and what causes us to burn out are matched with easy-to-use strategies and mindset shifts that will keep us feeling and being our best.
Rooted in the goal of keeping high performers and awesome professionals in our industry, attendees walk away with awareness about burnout, signs to watch for and how to save yourself from walking away from work you love that changes the world.
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Women play key roles in the hospitality and meeting industries, but many find it challenging to move into leadership positions.
What are the skills necessary to be considered for high-level leadership roles, and how do they translate to the level of leadership you seek for your career?
Through the MPI Women in Leadership program, based on where you want your career and leadership to grow in the next three to five years, and you’ll create an action and development plan that advances your career, your leadership and your influence.
**Please note this class is limited, register ASAP to reserve your spot**
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Join us for a wee party as we celebrate luck, life & laughter at our St. Patty’s Day Mix!
March 11, 2021
Grand Hyatt Nashville
Registration Coming Soon!
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Save The Date for MPI Connect!
"The one where we pivoted, again"
April 9, 2021
Analog at Hutton Hotel
Registration Coming Soon!
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CMP Bootcamp with
Molly Johnson, CMP, QAS
March 18-19, 2021
9am - noon CST
Considering getting your CMP this year?
Join us for our CMP Bootcamp class! This program will:
- Walk through the process of obtaining the CMP certification
- Overview of each of the nine (9) CMP-IS Domains and twenty-eight (28) skills to gain a better understanding of the complex material in the CMP Manuals
- Learn key terms and acronyms
- View sample exam questions: discuss the way they are structured to include math questions
- All attendees will receive a 250-question practice exam
- Discuss resources available
- Attendee will have ongoing support until they sit for the exam
- Gain test taking tips
- Review how to maintain your certification
This bootcamp is eligible for 6 CE hours
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Calling all Meeting & Event Professionals!
If you haven’t joined MPI Tennessee yet, this one’s for you!!
Come learn about the benefits of an MPI membership and hear real stories from our members that want to meet you and support your career in the industry we all love!
Virtual MPI Tennessee Perk
Thursday, February 28
9:00am-10:00am
Registration Coming Soon!
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Join our Mentorship Program! Mentoring benefits the mentor and the mentee by increasing your engagement, social skills and professional development. Click below for more information and to sign up! |
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The Annual Gala is our largest fundraiser and biggest celebration of the year! We are seeking 2 (two) Auction Chairs and 5-7 committee members.
This opportunity gives you a special opportunity to connect you with members that you may or may not know by working through our membership list!
It's also a great way to connect with non-industry professionals or industry-non members that might be looking for exposure to our membership by making a donation!
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Join our Strategic Alliance Committee and work on sponsorship fulfillment, community outreach programs and more!
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Do you enjoy networking and getting to know your fellow MPI Tennessee community members? Consider volunteering on our Membership committee! We are seeking volunteers for:
- Membership Liaison
- Membership Retention
- Membership Recruitment
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We want to give a huge SHOUT OUT to all of our members who also volunteer and share their talents with MPI Global. Your service is to be commended!
Cory Brooks, CMP - Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force
Shannon Jones, CMP – Chapter & Membership Advisory Board (Chair)
Erica Monroe – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Sarah Kelley Freeman – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Angela Layton, CMP, CMM, DES – MPI@50 Task Force
Natalie Norris, CMP, CMM – RISE Awards Committee
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Courtney McGee, CMP
CEO
Event Logistics, Inc.
How long have you been in the events and hospitality industry? 40 years. . . same as our Chapter!
Why did you join MPI? Originally for networking, then I realized that the educational programs were amazing! I became a dedicated follower of both John Foster Esq. and Jonathan Howe Esq. I have learned so much from both of them that I think if I had it to do all over again I would be in hospitality law.
What do you hope to get from your MPI Tennessee membership? I want to continue to learn and grow as each meeting and event that we produce something new and exciting can be gained from the experience. Also, as a seasoned meetings professional I feel a responsibility to give back to younger planners and suppliers to help them to grow and strengthen our collective industry.
What is your favorite meeting or event you have been involved in and why? MPI meetings and events have always been memorable as we are fortunate to be able to experience whatever is new in town. There are many "firsts" that come to mind . . . the Gala on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, the opening of the Country Music Hall of Fame..
Professionally something that Event Logistics, Inc. has produced - it is a tie between a convocation at the National Cathedral in DC for the United Methodist Church where everyone was dressed in the regalia from their Church or University; and the Nashville Salutes program for our nation's Medal of Honor recipients. These men are our true national treasures. I remember during the planning phase we would start each meeting at our office learning the story of how a recipient was nominated for the medal. We were all in tears hearing their heroic stories.
Tell us more about yourself…hobbies, fun fact, etc: I spent the Covid lockdown learning how to shoot and got my conceal and carry permit. Shockingly, even to myself, I'm a darn good shot! I do love a good crafting project and anything with a glue gun has my name all over it!
What would you sing at karaoke night? Nothing! Music City did not get its nickname from me! I do love old school rock and roll though. I might with the right libation try "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog"!
What makes you laugh the most? My dogs, they are the greatest gift ever. I had a secret service agent tell me one time that the reason you hardly ever see a chocolate lab is that they have a recessive gene. I guess that explains Brisket and Coco, my two! There is also a Husky and Dachshund in the mix!
Which decade do you love the most and why? I like whatever we are in as I love change but I guess I'd have to say the 70's as that was both High School and College for me. Fashion was a hoot. The start of the 70's had us in mini skirts and hot pants (yeah, I know) and we ended with maxi dresses and the start of wide shoulder pads and bling. Fun times!
You can have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what is it Lipstick! I'm a true southern girl. I also kinda have an addiction to Command Hooks!
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We want to know more about you! Our membership is diverse, and we have grown so much over the last few years. We want to recognize each of you and help all of us feel more connected by learning more about each other.
Click on the link below to fill out our Member Spotlight form. We will include your responses in newsletters, social media posts, and other MPI Tennessee communications. Don't forget to include your picture!
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As we start to reopen business after the COVID-19 "Safe At Home" orders, we know businesses will start to re-hire their employees. However, some businesses will need new candidates to join their team. If your organization is looking for a new team member, click this link to fill out the online job submission form, and we will make sure to
include it in our next MPI Tennessee Newsletter and on social media.
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New to the family in January |
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Jon Brown - LEO Events
Nicholas Brown - Integrated Production Solutions
Caroline Cole - Belmont University
Carla Keibler - Ashworth College
Matthew Wassmer - Advanced Solutions, LLC
Jill Yochim - St. Lukes Community House, Lynn University
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Congratulations to our members celebrating
a MPI anniversary in February!
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Elizabeth T. Wagster - 29 years
Barbara H Campbell, CMP, CGMP - 26 years
Kevin F Brewer, DMCP - 17 years
Paula D Currie, CMP - 12 years
Lori Hulet, CMP - 12 years
Holly W Stevenson, CMP - 9 years
Kayce Kiningham, CMP - 5 years
Ashleigh Cote, CMP - 4 years
Stacey Wilson - 4 years
Ashley Hollis - 3 years
Harry Lemont - 3 years
Taylor Guardino - 2 years
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Clint Strange - 2 years
Daria Wang, CMP - 2 years
Emily Cogdell - 1 year
Anita Joy Felton - 1 year
Vonne Gaddy - 1 year
Sheila Harrell - 1 year
Jennifer C Jones - 1 year
Darius Kidd - 1 year
Michelle Meadows - 1 year
Libby Monette - 1 year
Wayne Petersen - 1 year
Ethan Shane - 1 year
Hailey Warriner, CMP - 1 year
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*Note: If you notice that your designation or years of membership are wrong, or you don't see your name, your profile on MPI Global's website may need to be updated! Log in to your profile on www.mpi.org to make changes, or contact us at 615-373-8002 if you have any questions.
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