MAY 2019
HOW MUCH FUN was our annual Circle of Excellence Gala?!?! What a great night of celebrating the year, the achievements and the volunteers that continue to help MPI Tennessee be an amazing home for our industry family. Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners – I hope it was a night you’ll remember. And a HUGE thank you to the team that made it happen, especially Melanie Blanche, Lisa Schneider, Jennifer Squires, and Cayce Brasel.
We just returned from our annual Board of Directors retreat at the beautiful Downtown Chattanooga Marriott . We spent 2.5 days planning for the upcoming year, and I am so excited for what they have in store for you. I can tell you, we came away with a BIG GOAL before the end of this current year – to hit 400 members by the end of June. We’ve had our eye on this prize for a while – more members means a larger network for you and more industry friends that get the educational, personal, and professional benefits of our membership . I’ll tell you – we’re about 30 shy of our goal and we’d LOVE YOUR HELP!!! If you have a colleague that has been on the fence, this is a great time to join. Our membership team is happy to answer any questions, or even reach out on your behalf – just let us know a name and contact info.
One more note for you - World Education Congress (WEC), MPI Global’s premiere event of the year, is next month! Each year 30+ members from our chapter make the trip to a fantastic city, and this year we’re headed to Toronto! From June 15 – 18, we’ll get phenomenal education, enjoy camaraderie with industry colleagues, experience trends first hand, and in general just bask in the awesomeness of MPI. We would love to have you join us! There are still several opportunities to help defray the costs of your attendance, including a chapter scholarship or applying for the Hosted Buyer program directly through the MPI website. Please let us know if you are attending, and we’ll be sure you get all of the information on group get-togethers and more.
Last, I’m going to offer up coffee on me to the first person that can answer the following question (it will require surfing the mpiweb.org website!). Which two members of MPI Tennessee have highlighted quotes on the MPI Global website?

Best,
Platinum Sponsors
Do you want to become an
MPI Tennessee Chapter
sponsor, and partner with the state's largest and most
vibrant community of meeting
and event professionals?
For more information, contact
VP of Finance for MPI Tennessee!
The MPI Foundation is a non-profit organization that fuels the advancement of MPI members by providing them professional development and career opportunities through grants and scholarships. The MPI Foundation also propels the meeting and event industry forward by funding innovative research and pan-industry initiatives that support the strategic plan of MPI.
 
MPI Tennessee Chapter is asking restaurants to participate in our “One Night of Giving” campaign to help benefit the MPI Foundation. If your restaurant is interested in participating, please send your contact information, logo and website link to Cortney Novak at  Cortney.Novak@Hilton.com .
 
Click here  to learn more about the MPI Foundation. 
Membership 101
Tuesday, May 21
Topgolf Nashville
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Come join MPI Tennessee on March 21 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm for Membership 101 (previously New Member Orientation). This event will act as an orientation for new members as well as a networking and benefits refresher for current members. We will cover scholarships, award nominations, using the membership directory as a resource, and how to showcase yourself and your company to the global MPI community.

Space is limited so make your reservation as soon as possible.
Get the most out of your MPI Tennessee membership!

RSVP by emailing Natalie Norris and Don Osborn at the emails listed below.

About Topgolf
Topgolf is a premier enter entertainment destination where there’s no pressure to have a good golf swing or score a lot of points. It’s all about everyone having fun. They’ve made socializing a sport through a blend of technology and entertainment – and that’s just the game! If you journey through our venue on any given day, you’ll find a place buzzing with energy. Every Topgolf features dozens of climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round comfort with HDTVs in every bay and throughout our sports bar & restaurant.

Complimentary self-parking available
Valet available for an additional fee
Clear Eyes ~ Full Hearts ~ Can’t Lose
by Sarah Brown, CMP

On May 1, MPI Tennessee held our annual Circle of Excellence Awards and Gala at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. It was an evening of networking, celebrating chapter successes, and recognizing our outstanding members, all while also raising over $20,000 for the MPI Tennessee Chapter! The Dynamic Duo of Michelle Johnson with The Anchor Group and Tim Barrett from MPI Georgia hosted the gala. President Erika Biddix, CMM, CMP reflected on the past year of her presidency and the accomplishments of our chapter. President Elect Shannon Jones, CMP shared with us her passion for MPI and her path to leadership. She reminded us that with a clear vision and a servant heart, the MPI Tennessee Chapter can’t lose. We are all excited for what is in store for the 2019-2020 MPI Tennessee Chapter.

If you were not able to attend the awards gala, we hope to see you in 2020! It will surely be a night you won’t forget!

Here is a link to view all pictures taken at the Gala!!
Be sure to share them and tag yourself!
Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners for this year’s Circle of Excellence Awards!! (*denotes winner)
New Member of the Year
Cayce Brasel
Sarah Kelley Freeman*
Tina Gionis
Holly McElyea

Planner of the Year
Sarah Brown, CMP, CVP
Heather Dameron, CMP*
Lori Curd Hulet, CMP
Kelli Myers
Tammie Vogel, CMP

Supplier of the Year
Ashleigh Cote, CMP
Vicky Garner, CMP
Robert Hickman
Holly McElyea
Shannen Stewart*
Valerie Summers, DMCP

The Beth Calveard Volunteer Spirit Award
Rip Beazley*

Central Meeting of the Year- Venue
Nissan Stadium*

Central Meeting of the Year- Speaker
Judi Holler*
Pillar Award- West Region
Sheryl Baker
Kaylee Carmen, DMCP
Holly McElyea
Tammie Vogel, CMP*

Pillar Award- Central Region
Macro Productions
Sarah Brown, CMP, CVP
Shannon Worley*
Shannen Stewart

Volunteer of the Year
Sarah Brown, CMP, CVP*
Ashleigh Cote, CMP
Robert Hickman
Tammie Vogel, CMP
Shannon Worley

West Meeting of the Year- Venue
Crowne Plaza Downtown Memphis*

West Meeting of the Year- Speaker
Angela Gaffney*

President’s Award
Macro Productions*
Patrick Biddix*

Our MPI Central June Meeting is traditionally a community service meeting. This year is no different! We will be welcoming our feature speaker, Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms and so much more! Becca has been featured in the NY Times, on ABC World News and NPR, was recently named a 2016 CNN Hero and White House “Champion of Change”. She was featured in the PBS documentary, A Path Appears, named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America and inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. You do not want to miss hearing what she has to say to our MPI membership!

Join us at Wellspire Center at 907 Gleaves Street, Nashville to enjoy a great lunch by T.Party Catering as we also present our 2019-2020 MPI Tennessee Chapter Board Installation. Thistle Farms will have their awesome goodies for purchase to support their efforts to provide a sanctuary for survivors of trafficking, violence and addiction. Mark your calendar and circle it in red for Wednesday, June 12.

Mark your calendars for these important educational meeting dates in 2019:
  • July 17: Jody Lentz, “Think with Your Hands” experience with Legos” at the new Tribrands Nashville Hotel Group.
  • August 21: Organized Audrey, “The Myth of Catching Up“ at Ole Red
  • September 18: Deborah Gardner, CMP “MPI Feud” Industry Update and Bring your Boss to MPI
  • October TBD: West Educational Luncheon
  • November 21: MPI Musical Meet Up and Connect Reception
  • November 22: “Create a Legacy for Your Event”
  • Patrick Henry, Community Connection/Service
  • Chance Thompson, Sustainability
  • Jessica Pettitt, Diversity and Inclusion Beyond the Law
Have you ever wanted to include the MPI logo on your business cards or in your email? While you cannot use the main MPI logo, there is an MPI Member logo you can use however you wish! The MPI Member logo comes in various file formats and can be downloaded by clicking this link .
Shared Experiences are Unforgettable.
Learn how to create them at WEC19.

Creating shared experiences is the ultimate goal for you as a meeting and event professional.  MPI’s World Education Congress in Toronto on June 15-18, 2019 will show you how to do it . The learning will be social. The connections meaningful. The business exchanges purposeful. And you’ll have a shared experience like no other - with thousands of your peers in Canada’s Downtown.

Want to learn more about WEC?  Click here to see pricing, register, and see the schedule of events!

Don’t forget to check out our website to see how you can apply for a
Chapter Scholarship to go to WEC!! 
2019 Connect Marketplace & Luncheon

Don’t forget to Save the Date for our annual Connect Marketplace & Luncheon!! The Musical Mixup will be held on November 21 and Connect will be held on November 22. Details will be posted soon!
New to the family in April
Gabrielle Becker
Sea Salt

DeAnna Beedy
AB (AllianceBernstein)

Ashley Darling
CSI DMC

Shana Devin e
Elite Multimedia Productions

Heather Holland
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

Sheila Horvath
HeavenlyTreats4U LLC

Amanda Kuppe
Sheraton Music City
Michael Lambert
Crescent Event Productions

Ellie Lentz
Hilton Nashville Green Hills

Elise Nixon
LEO Events

Arielle Reynolds
Chattanooga Marriott Downtown

Inna Soifer
University of Mississippi

Stephanie Spallino
Margaritaville Hotel Nashville

Travis Wilson
Hotel Indigo Nashville
Congratulations to our members celebrating an MPI anniversary in May!
Courtney A. McGee, CMP - 28 years
Nyla R. Davis, DMCP - 15 years
David A. Fischette - 15 years
Velvet C. Graham, CTC - 13 years
Katie L. Rogers, CMP - 11 years
Gary S. Musick - 9 years
Camille Wellington - 4 years
Jenny Decker, CMP - 4 years
Sarah Rowan - 4 years
Kim Fuller, CMP - 3 years
Anita M. White, CMP - 3 years
Caron Shelton, CMP - 3 years
Courtney Burgin, CMP - 2 years
Kate Parrish - 1 year
Lindsey Paige Shell - 1 year
Dusty Schleier, CMP - 1 year
Anna Kaye Gilbreath, CMP - 1 year
Suzie Lusk, IOM - 1 year
Jeni Williams - 1 year
Casey Boughan - 1 year
Alexandria Gary - 1 year
Shane Fortner - 1 year
Kayla Hadley - 1 year