Ever since she was a little girl Carolyn has been volunteering to help organize 'something' and once word got out about her skills she was always being asked to help out, whether it was organizing get-togethers for the other wives on the Air Force base in New Mexico who all had husbands over in Vietnam to being the mom who planned all the class parties in her kids classes to planning over 400 programs a year at the Oregon State Bar. And in there she also sold wigs, worked her way up at U.S. National Bank, taught Hotel & Convention Management at Mt. Hood Community College, and raised two kids!
Carolyn has had her own business, Plans & Action, since 1997 and everyone who knows her will know that she isn't kidding when she says she loves to stay busy! MPI Oregon has benefited from this greatly as she has volunteered on a committee every single year in her 30 years of being a member including a year of being President from 1996-97.
"Carolyn has been a tireless champion for the local event industry with a focus on inspiring others in our profession. She has been with our Chapter since the start, and has been involved with a genuine commitment and passion since 1990! Our Chapter reveres Carolyn and appreciates all her contributions - so excited for her and her well-deserved award!" says Cathy Mason, MPI Oregon past president (2019-2020).
Some of the past awards bestowed upon Carolyn by MPI Oregon are Planner of the Year in 1993, 1998 and 2007, Mentor of the Year in 2009, Torchlight Award in 2006 and the Dian Lindsay Award in 2012. She has served on the Board, co-chaired the Spring Conference (now Cascadia) in 1992 and literally served on every committee at one time or another!
Carolyn not only gives so much of her time to help MPI, she is also very involved in the Greater Oregon Society of Government Meeting Professionals serving as president for a 2-year term and is currently a National Board Director for the national SGMP.
One of the events she is most proud of is honoring Portland's homeless on Christmas Day. Carolyn started this event and ran it from 1988-95 in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Her team of volunteers collected clothing, food, hot drinks, blankets, hats and gloves and invited anyone without a home in Portland to come enjoy some Christmas cheer. They served between 300-400 people each year and were helped by the Governor and the First Lady, Girl Scouts, fellow employees, family and friends. The project is still being organized by the Girl Scouts.
We are so happy to be able to recognize Carolyn Wence, CMP, CGMP for all her contributions and commitment to the meetings industry and MPI. We look forward to celebrating Carolyn's accomplishments with all of you at the August Awards Celebration!
About the August Awards Celebration
MPI Oregon wouldn't be able to offer all our programs to our members without the great work from our many volunteer leaders! Some of these leaders have gone above and beyond and we are excited to be able to honor all of our award nominees for this year's August Awards Celebration (formerly known as the Annual Awards Gala but re-imagined this year with physical distancing for the safety of all our members). We hope you will
SAVE THE DATE for August 18
and join us as we announce the winners in each of these award categories.
Mentor award nominees
Greg Heinze
Kristina Shipley
Amanda Eriksen, CMP
Carole Astley, CMP
Jenny Moore, CGMP
Torchlight award nominees
Jenny Moore, CGMP
Greg Heinze
Juanita Metzler
Rising Star award nominees
Amy Hildahl
Morgan Baker
Janet Denman, CMP
Planner of the Year award nominees
Janet Denman, CMP
Anne Hallinan, CMP
Carole Astley, CMP
Supplier of the Year award nominees
Amanda Houghton
Jenny Moore, CGMP
Juanita Metzler
Kathleen O'Connor-McNew, CMP
Greg Heinze
Congratulations to all of our award nominees!
