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HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTICIPANTS
She's the "Nala" to my "Simba"
How Derrick and Valerie Became an Inseparable Pair
Derrick Pannell, Sales and Event Manager for Morton’s The Steakhouse, joined the MPI Mentorship Program in December 2020. He had just moved to Nashville and hardly knew anyone, much less event professionals. He was paired with Valerie Summers, Gary Musick Productions’ VP of Business Development or as most know her: Queen of Everything.
Derrick’s first trip to Broadway was with Valerie. She set up an entire day of sales visits and tours with venues and sales managers. It was his first real downtown Nashville experience as a sales manager, and he was privileged to have an expert guide. Not only did Valerie introduce Derrik to important people in the industry, but she also invited him to be part of her tribe. Derrick recalls, “Right out of the gate she set up a St. Patrick's Day party at Arrington and invited me; and introduced me to close personal friends, colleagues, and professional contacts.”
Nearly two years later, most MPI TN members know of and love Derrick. He is a true champion of MPI TN and the meetings and events industry, but not everyone realizes that he credits Valerie as his ultimate mentor. “She has such an easy, natural flow for sales, and I've absolutely grown from experiencing her in action. It's somehow warm, easy-going, and comfortable - while being a legitimate force of nature at the same time.”
Valerie professes, “Derrick is the real treasure found and I’m so glad he’s in my life!”
“We immediately knew that we were destined to be close friends, and I can't imagine the experience of moving here without her influence and guidance,” Derrick says. “She's the "Nala" to my "Simba".
While we can’t guarantee a Lion King coupling, the mentorship committee strives to make exceptional mentor/mentee pairings and has connected over 50 pairs since December 2020. The four-month sessions are offered twice a year. February – May and August – November. Each session is limited to 20 participants to keep the group small and personal and includes virtual and in-person group gatherings. If you would like more information, please visit the website or contact Cindy Tipler, ctipler@cctenn.org or Beci Ruzek, sales@southerngiftingco.com.
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