JAN
FEB
2024
VOL 46/NUM 1

C H A P T E R“MPI-WI Chapter is the bridge to knowledge, compelling ideas, andrelationships to create a voice in the meetings and events industry.”A W A R D

TWO PROPERTIES,ENDLESS POSSIBILITIESBook your meeting at The Madison Concourse Hotel or The Ingleside Hotel!

You can do a lot with 27,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club is the largest
convention hotel in Madison. The modern, flexible space is perfectfor everything from large conventions to small strategic planningsessions, and it’s located in the heart of downtown Madison, steps
from dozens of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.

1 W Dayton St, Madison WI • 800 356 8293 • concoursehotel.com

With over 40,000 square feet of meeting space, 20 private event
venues, and 40 breezy outdoor acres, The Ingleside Hotel offers arefreshing change of pace from conventional destinations.
Come experience Lake Country hospitality at its natural, vibrant best.
Plan your next event in the flexible, unique space and enjoy
an inspirational setting unlike any other in the Milwaukee area.

2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukee WI • 800 247 6640 • theinglesidehotel.com
January/December 2024

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

MPI-WISCONSIN
2023-2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORSVOL 46 / NUM 1

Feature Articles

PRESIDENTREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin
rdriscoll@wisbar.org
PRESIDENT-ELECTLIZ UNRUH
Positively Pewaukee
liz@positivelypewaukee.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTREBECCA STAATS
Residence Inn & Fairfield by Marriott Eau Claire
rebecca.l.staats@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIPPOSITION OPEN

February Event Preview: Why Your Speaking Voice is Your
Greatest Communication Tool
				7

Spring Education Preview

11

MPI Holiday Happy Hour

15

Holiday Auction Recap

16

GLES Recap

18

In Every Issue

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
SARA BEUTHIEN
WEDC
sara.beuthien@wedc.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONSKORTNEE CARROLL
Kalahari Resorts
kocarroll@kalahariresorts.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONAMY QUALMANN
Wisconsin Association of School Boards
aqualmann@wasb.org
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECTSELIZABETH POH
La Crosse Center
epoh@lacrossecenter.com

Editor’s Note		4

President’s Message

6

Food for Thought: Chef Michael Shetsky

12

Food for Thought: Chef Shawn McDonald

14

Anniversaries / New Members				

20

Volunteer Spotlight

21

Who’s in the News

22

Save the Date

23

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTSED BUCHNER
Majic Productions
ebuchner@majicpro.com
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSPOSITION OPEN

Experience MPI Wisconsin
Print: Agenda Magazine
6 Different Ways
Web: mpiweb.org/Wisconsin

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER CAREJODY ROOS
Wisconsin Bankers Association
jroos@wisbank.com
DIRECTOR OF AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENT
KATHY READINGThe SCAN Groupreading@scangroup.net
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CHERYL OSWALD
CNH Industrial
cheryl.oswald@cnhind.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mpiwi
Twitter: twitter.com/mpiwisconsin
LinkedIn: MPI-WI Chapter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpi_wi_chapter 																	DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONSGRETA MCCUEHyatt Regency Milwaukee
greta.mccue@hyatt.com
DIRECTOR OF MONTHLY PROGRAMMING
LINDSEY HESS, CMPUW-Madisonlindsey_hess@outlook.com

4075 Vilas Road

fax: 608.204.9818

Cottage Grove, WI 53527

email: admin@mpiwi.org

tel: 608.204.9816

web: www.mpiweb.org/wisconsin

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Editor’s Note
Published bimonthly by
Meeting Professionals International –Wisconsin Chapter

Happy New Year!
I hope you enjoyed your holidays andspent them with those you love.
As 2024 begins, what are your new years
resolutions? Do you plan to attend more
MPI events? Learn something completely
new? Or continue to be the best you canbe? The New Year is the perfect time fora fresh start and mindset! You determine
how you would like your year to be, so be
sure to fill it with what makes you happyand successful.

EDITORSTyler Priefer
Generactyler.priefer@generac.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tyler Priefer
Reggie Driscoll, CMP
Hilary Blair, CSP, MFA
Sharon Beyer
Cheryl Oswald

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs

PUBLICATION DEADLINESMarch/April 2024
Deadline: February 15, 2024
May/June 2024
Deadline: April 15, 2024

This past year of MPI gatherings were always a blast! I have built many
relationships over the last few months and hope to continue to expand my
network. In November, I had the opportunity to attend MPI GLES in Grand
Rapids, and it was a great time spent with everyone! I learned a lot from all
the speakers and even purchased one of their books. I am excited to dive into
reading her book about the Joy in life and stepping out of your comfort zone.
MPI has a lot of exciting events to offer this upcoming year! We are kicking theyear off on January 25th in Elkhart Lake to discuss the Solution Circle at The
Osthoff Resort. This event will be followed by Conversations that Connect in
Neenah on February 15th and Those “Uh-oh” Situations in your contacts on
March 7th in Madison. I am always looking forward to what MPI has to offer foreach of their events!
Cheers to a great year!

July/August 2024
Deadline: June 15, 2024

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PERMISSIONS
Material in this publication may not be
reproduced in any form without permission.
Statements of fact and opinion within the
Agenda are the responsibility of the author(s)and do not imply an opinion of the officers or
members of MPI or MPI-Wisconsin Chapter.

January/December 2024

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L E T’S C R E A T E
YO U R V I S I O N
We know just the place. Our world-class meeting and event centerin the heart of Madison, Wisconsin, is home to 250,000 square feet ofFrank Lloyd Wright-designed space – and every inch of it is customizable
right down to the last detail. From award-winning catering to custom AV
and staging setups, walkable restaurants and nightlife to breathtaking views,

Back to table of contents

if you can imagine it, we can help orchestrate your incredible.

January/December 2024

Madison, WIMPI Agenda|

5

Connect with us at MononaTerrace.com© 2024 Monona Terrace

President’s Message

Hello to all MPI-WI members,
How are you? I hope you all had
fantastic holidays with family andfriends, wonderful food, and greattimes. There always seems to be
so much rushing around to ensure
everything is perfect and timed
correctly. I hope there were plenty oftimes to sit and gather yourself withyour friends and families.
New year, new you, new beginnings,
blah, blah, blah. I’m not much for New
Year’s Resolutions. I usually thinkof them around February and try toremember what I promised myself. Oh
well. I saw a message on Facebook
that made me pause. “Every year, you
resolve to change yourself. This year,
resolve to be yourself.”- Unknown. I
like this. Rather than try to change
your identity, try to be the best
“you.” Like a resolution, this may bechallenging sometimes, but it changes
the focus and makes it seem morebearable.

Please see the event calendar for
our upcoming education events.
January will be at the Osthoff Resort
in Elkhart Lake, February at theBest Western Premier Bridgewater
Resort in Neenah, and March at theMonona Terrace. The April Spring
Extravaganza and Education Day will
be at the Kalahari Resort in the Dells.

Congrats to the RFP Team for having
all our 2024 locations contracted
already. You can go on the MPI-WI
website and look under the “Educationand Events” drop-down on the ribbon,
then click on “Event Calendar.” Get
these on your calendar for the entire
year to make your planning easier.
Be sure to invite a guest or two if you
are able. Increased attendance at our
education events drives our budget.
I’d love to see a monthly increase forthe entire year. Thanks to the Speaker
Team for having our speakers lined
up so far in advance; this is so helpful,allowing our membership to plan.

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Cheers to everyone for making it
through another year. Let’s make2024 an outstanding year forourselves personally, professionally,and MPI-WI.
I am looking forward to seeing you
all soon.
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MPI-WI Chapter President
Reggie Driscoll, CMP

A big “Thank You” to Tamara andour team for putting on such a great
GLES in Grand Rapids, MI. Even
though we weren’t the hosts thisyear, you can’t deny our impact onsponsorships, volunteering, andattendance. A huge THANK YOU
to Brooke Miller for all her workwith the Holiday Auction. This year,
we had fewer prizes, but we still
exceeded our goal for revenue. We
brought in over $8500 in revenue.
We closed the year just before theholidays with our Holiday Happy
Hour Zoom call. I had a great timeseeing everyone’s decorations andoutfits. You never fail to crack me up
with these. Ed Buchner graciously
put together some trivia questions
and a scavenger hunt. Following thegames, we voted on winners for thebest decorations/outfits!. Thank you
to MDS and Majic Productions for
donating the prizes.

Here, we are at the six-month pointof our board terms. This month is
the halfway point for the MPI Board
Term. As you probably know, MPI
is changing to a calendar year fromtheir average fiscal year. This term,
all board terms are for 18 months
instead of 12 months. Our terms
will go through December 31, 2024,
instead of June 30. The board has
been outstanding in taking on thisadded responsibility and is looking fora great future for this calendar year.
There is extra work and a little extra
stress for this extended term, but weare all growing together. We’ve got
this. For all of the non-board members,
during this year, please look at all the
many ways to volunteer, show up,
speak up, and support the board. Your
support makes a huge difference in
how we put on our event and what we
can do. So many committees can use
some assistance. Be bold and tell us
where your talents can best be used.
That will make this extended term somuch better for all of us. The entire
membership will benefit from some
additional volunteer time.

6

BE
F ENT WEV EVIE
PR

seems a bit of an exaggeration, takea moment to recall a time when you
turned off a recorded book or podcast
because the voice or voices bothered
you. Or think about a newscaster you
always turn off because you find their
voice grating, immature, pretentious,
you name it…
Is your voice helping to convey thecontent, emotion, and details of yourmessage, or are you sabotaging yourattempt to connect and not evenrealizing it? Your voice portrays or
betrays you, and you have far more
control over your vocal choices andoutcomes than you may realize.
Tension, breath, placement – all areunder your control in order to shareyour voice more effectively andhonestly.
We often hear this:“That’s just the way my voice is.”…and/or…
“If you ask me to change the way I
speak, I’m not being authentic.”

Why Your Speaking
Voice Is Your Greatest
Communication Tool

Take a moment to consider that there
may be more effective and authentic
ways to use your vocal instrument.
With additional skills andunderstanding, you may be MORE
you, not less.
You will claim who you are, not createa false front or cover.

By Hilary Blair, CSP, MFA; CEO and Co-Founder of ARTiculate:Real&Clear

Your speaking voice is a powerfulelement of your expression of ideas
and leadership. That’s obvious,
especially in the field of law, wherelegal arguments are spoken aloudand verbal negotiations are an

essential part of the process. What’s
not so obvious is the perception of
our voices – how people feel about
what we say and how we say it – iscritical to the success or failure of ourcommunications. Fortunately, we havecontrol over our voices in a way that is
authentic, not manipulative.

Communication Presence &Speaking VoiceIf presence is about how you connect toothers and remain in relationship, thenyour voice is directly connected to yourpresence. Voices are the place wheremost people disconnect from others.

Yes, how our voices are heard by
our listeners greatly impacts whatmessage they do or don’t hear. If that
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continued on page 8

7Back to table of contentsUsing your voice more
effectively, efficiently, andeasily allows you to be moreauthentic and fully yourself inexpression and connection with others.

continued from page 7

1. Feeling overly vulnerable is

2.

3.

4.

perceived as unprofessionalor awkward. The voice isfueled by breath, and freeflowing breath feels more
exposed. You instinctively
hold your breath to protect
yourself.
The self-talk that “this is yourvoice and there’s nothing
you can do to change it.” Not
understanding the basics of
how your vocal instrument
works and assuming thatyou’re stuck with how you
sound.
Lack of awareness thatmisplaced tension causes
your voice to shift – which ismost often in stressful work
situations when the full useof the voice would be more
helpful but overly vulnerable.
And more profoundly than
you may care to admit, theavoidance of the poochy
belly. There tends to be an
idea that your belly needs
to pooch to be connected toyour breath, and most folks
are not into an extended
belly in a work or exposed
situation. But, no, you don’t
have to pooch your belly tobreathe properly or efficiently– quite the opposite.

But a poochy belly is not the mostefficient for speaking – because
speaking is an athletic endeavor.

It takes full breath andmuscle engagement toshare your voice withenough volume andenergy that others hear
it. Speaking is not about
coming from a relaxedplace, but insteada place of properly
engaged muscles.

The Poochy Belly Myth &Proper Breathing Techniques
The idea that proper breathing
involves an extended belly area is
one of the most overused and often
misused breathing suggestions.
Breathing for speaking and breathing
for relaxation are physically different.
And misplaced tension can interfere in
all breathing situations.
If you pooch your belly and suggestthat is necessary for a diaphragmatic
breath, you are misinformed. If you
feel you have to pooch your belly inorder to breathe properly for use ofyour voice, you are misinformed. If
there is no paralysis, then you can’t
breathe without your diaphragm – itworks without your consent or control.

This is very distinct from misplacedtension of the shoulders and neck.

Ward Off Self-consciousness
As professional women, we knowthat we’re capable of being present,
and we can also become aware thatour presence isn’t as effective as it
could be. When this happens, weneed to know what to adjust. Without
tools available, professionals canspin in place and think, “Whatever.
That’s just the way it is.” Without theopportunity for adjustment, our selfawareness becomes undermining
self-consciousness, and we shut out or
dismiss what is available to us in the
moment.

What we do have control over,is where we hold tension.
Your belly area may pooch (not yourstomach as that is an organ, and if you
breathe in your stomach you will burp).
Your belly area may pooch as one of
the most relaxed ways of breathing!
For instance, you may find the happy
poochy belly position of sleeping on
your side which allows your belly topooch as you inhale.

Our speaking voice is one of the mostdismissed tools of communication. We
either ignore what may not be the mosteffective tone or, when others suggest
an adjustment, we loudly defend how
we speak and use our voice. “This is
how I speak. This is me.” It can belike claiming ownership of a familiar
posture: a slouch of the shoulders ora hand over the mouth. Yes, it’s what

continued on page 9

January/December 2024

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We have found this to be mostly due tofour misguided beliefs:

What You May Be Doing toDiminish Your Speaking Voice:to use your instrument does not mean
you will be manipulating yourself orothers or that you will be inauthentic.
In most instances, letting your breath
flow more fully permits you to show up
more fully.

2.

3.

Your speaking voice is an instrumentthat you get to play.
It matters how you use your vocal
apparatus – it impacts how you areheard and understood or not. Learning

Sharing your speaking voice may
be vulnerable and uncomfortable.
And sharing your voice fully, openly
and with intention can be joyous
and powerful for both you and thoselistening. We encourage you to takethe risk and own the awkward so you
can show up connected, authentic, andin relationship with your audience.

Three Communication
Techniques to Understand& Implement Allow Your
Speaking Voice to Connect andCommunicate Better:

1. Exhale your breath. Your

1. The biggest problem ismuscling your voice from yourthroat and neck – pushingyour voice instead of letting it
flow on the exhale. The result
is often your voice will havea tight and/or exaggerated
deeper or husky sound. It will
feel a bit forced.
Talking to yourself – imagine
how you talk when you’ve hadonions or coffee. You speak,keeping the breath flow
minimal. Instead of sharing
your voice out into the world,
you keep it close – and it’salmost as if you are speaking
to yourself inside your own
mouth.
Limited flow and balance
result in a tighter and often
higher sound. Without thestereo balance of your fullflowing voice, you can land
as harsh or shrill. Or, on the
opposite spectrum, it canland as muffled and hard tounderstand.

to shine. Monotone may
feel professional, but it’s notyour friend if you want to beheard. Musicality helps youraudience find the meaningand passion in your message.

2.

3.

voice is vibrations carried onyour exhale. When you holdyour breath, you hold backyour voice. When you breathe
shallowly, your voice doesn’t
get fully powered. So, exhale.
Yup, exhale or sigh out,
and then allow your breathback in. You’re essentiallya vacuum, so mastering theexhale increases the fullnessof the following inhale.
Release the tension in yourshoulders and neck. The
breath carrying the voiceneeds the freedom to flowout. Be careful not to cut
off the sound or flow witha tightness in the neck or
throat. Roll those shoulders,allow your neck to be easy
and your voice to ride on theexhale.
Allow the music of yourmessage to flow forth.
Sharing your voice can feela bit messy. Sometimes
you want to organize yoursound and words, and it
feels tight — as if it’s all
happening inside your mouth
and throat. Instead, let yourvoice be shared out andfreely. Some clients havesaid that it feels messy to
let it go! Allow the prosody,the musicality of your voice,

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Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote
speaker based out of Denver, CO, andis the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real& Clear. She is also a highly regarded,
actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-overartist, and voice expert coach.

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you’re doing right now, and you also
can sit up and remain open. You canremove your hand and speak youropinion or observation. You’re notless yourself for opening your chestor aligning your head. You might evenbe more of yourself. You can always
slouch when you want, and you dohave another option for how you show
up. Are you less yourself when you
have good posture? Are you lessyourself when you allow your voice toflow freely?

9

WISCONSIN DELLS, WI

UNPARALLELED MEETINGS WITHUNIQUE OPTIONS FOR ALL
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is the perfect place to hold yourmeeting. Big or small, we’ll make sure your attendees are taken careof. Our talented culinary team is ready to create a tailored dining
experience to delight. With a full-service spa, a new piano bar andworld-class dining options, Kalahari has everything you need toensure your event is successful.

› 212,000 square feet of flexible event space› Two hours or less from major cities› Diverse team-building options available on-site› Eight food & beverage options› 794 guest rooms & suites| ©2022 Kalahari Management Co. LLC
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KalahariMeetings.com | Call 855-411-4605 to learn more | Follow Us:

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IL W
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AP EVIE
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Journey to the Future:

Kalahari’s Spring Spectacular andSpring Education Await!

Arrive Wednesday night, April 24th for an amazing kickoff
planned by our enthusiastic Spring Spectacular team. Thenwe will head to Redd’s Piano Bar, featuring live piano music.
Bring your dancing shoes for a fantastic night!
Thursday you will experience the “Back to the Future” theme
throughout, embracing the past, present, and future. We
will enjoy a delightful breakfast by Kalahari’s culinary team,followed by captivating keynote speakers in the morning andafternoon. Choose from two breakout sessions in both themorning and post-lunch for a personalized learning experience.
We will all indulge in a culinary feast during lunch – don’t
forget those stretchy pants!

January/December 2024

The grand finale will be an unmissable session from our final
speaker, promising inspiration, and renewed vigor.
Pack your enthusiasm and curiosity for a dynamic blendof education, entertainment, and community engagement.
Kalahari’s April events promise a celebration of learning,
camaraderie, and a glimpse into a brighter future. Join us on
this inspiring journey!
As Doc Brown would say, “Your future is whatever you makeit, so make it a good one!”Get ready to travel through time with us! Mark your calendars
for April 24th & 25th - we’ll be waiting for you on this Back to
the Future adventure!
Click this link to secure your guest room: MPI Spring
Education Day - Start your reservation (passkey.com)

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Get ready for a thrilling April at Kalahari as we invite you to
the Spring Spectacular and Spring Education events. While
we’re still crafting some surprises, here’s a glimpse into theexcitement awaiting you.

FOOD for thought:

CHEF michael shetsky
Meet the culinary wizard, Michael Shetsky, whoreigns supreme as the Executive Chef at Kalahari
Resorts in the foodie haven of Wisconsin Dells.
But hold on to your spatulas, because Chef Mike’s
journey to culinary greatness is as sizzling as aperfectly seared steak!
For the past three years, Chef Mike has been
climbing the flavorful ladder within Kalahari Resorts,
turning the kitchen into his own personal playground.
With over 12 years of culinary magic under his apron,
he’s not just a chef; he’s a culinary sorcerer!
Before donning the chef’s hat at Kalahari, our culinary
maestro took a detour through the musical city of
Nashville, Tennessee, at the Gaylord Opryland.
Starting from the humble world of line cooking, heseasoned his skills to become the ultimate Lead Cookand then emerged as the Sous Chef extraordinaire.
It’s like a culinary version of a country song with aspicy twist!
But Chef Mike’s appetite for adventure didn’t stop
there. He spread his gastronomic wings in Texas with
Hilton Hotels, where he ran a modern Steakhousethat could make even the Lone Star State proud.
Yeehaw!

(This is my mother-in-laws recipe)
1# Unsalted butter
1 ¼ C Sugar
1 C Flour¾ C Milk
2 C Fresh peaches sliced (or 1 can peach cobbler mix)
Preheat oven to 400*F.
Mix together your sugar, flour & milk.
In a baking dish melt your butter.
Add half of your sugar, flour & milk mixture.
Pour your peaches on top.
Spoon the remaining mixture on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes uncovered or until crust is fully cooked.

January/December 2024

Now, at Kalahari Resorts, Chef Mike is the culinary
ringmaster, orchestrating a symphony of flavorsthat will make your taste buds do a happy dance.
From sizzling steaks to tantalizing Tex-Mex, he’s
the mastermind behind the culinary delights thattransform each meal into a gourmet adventure.
So, the next time you savor a delicious dish at
Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, tip your hat (ormaybe your fork) to the culinary maestro, Michael
Shetsky, whose journey from line cook to Executive
Chef is as savory as it gets!

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MiMi’s Southern Peach Cobbler

Next on the menu was a stint in the picturesque stateof Colorado, where Chef Mike opened the Gaylord
Rockies Hotel. There, he ruled over not one, not two,
but FOUR culinary kingdoms – the Steakhouse, Sushi
joint, Poolside Paradise, and a Taste of Italy! Talk
about a chef with a diverse palette!

ANYTHING
BUT BUSINESSAS USUAL
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Recognized as a hidden gem in Lake Country, the Delafield Hotel effortlessly
combines cool, contemporary sophistication with the tools to get the job done.
If you’re in pursuit of a venue that seamlessly integrates modern amenities witha storied history, your perfect destination is none other than Red Circle Inn.

RED CIRCLE INN N44W33013 WATERTOWN PLANK RD, NASHOTAH • REDCIRCLEINN.COM
DELAFIELD HOTEL 415 GENESEE ST, DELAFIELD • DELAFIELDHOTEL.COM

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R T
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FOOD for thought:
executive CHEF
shawn mcdonald
Farmer’s Market Quiche
16 ounces of whipped eggs
8 ounces of heavy cream
2 ounces of roasted diced tomato
3 ounces of roasted diced zucchini
1 ounce shredded parmesan
1 (9in) pie shell
Toast the pie shell in the oven at 325
degrees until golden brown. Remove fromthe oven and let it rest to room temperature.
Mix eggs, cream, and season with salt andpepper. Add egg mixture to the pie shell.
Add roasted tomato, roasted zucchini, andparmesan cheese.
Bake at 325 degrees until the egg mixture isset and golden brown. Cut the quiche into six
pieces and serve hot.

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Shawn’s love for the culinary arts began in 2001. He has beenpart of the success of nationally accredited restaurants, consulted
for high profile menus, and he has owned his own high-end
restaurant. Chef Shawn enjoys creating contemporary menus
with fresh ingredients. His experience, knowledge of the industry
and commitment to every event is unparalleled.

|14mpi holiday happy hour

If you missed the December 14th MPI Wisconsin Holiday Happy Hour, you missed a great time. Lots of holiday cheer
and laughter were had by the 22 members on the Zoom. Ed Buchner from Majic Productions was our game show hostand MDS Association Management, along with Majic sponsored prizes for our first and second-place winners. In our
Holiday Sweater Contest, Stacy Button, CTE, took first place, and Lindsey Hess, CMP, came in second. In our Holiday
Scavenger Hunt, Melissa Falendysz, CMP, came in first place, narrowly edging out Amber Farina.

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There are so many friendly faces,
and it is a great way to lead into the holidays!

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HOLIDAY AUCTION RECAP

Holiday Auction Recap
Breaking Records:
The 2023 Holiday Auctions Soar to New Heights with $8561 Raised!

n a surprising turn of events, the 2023 Holiday Auction
shattered all expectations by raising an astounding$8561, surpassing the initial budget of $5000. The air isa buzz with excitement as organizers and participants
alike celebrate this incredible achievement.

of them are Wisconsin chapter members. The strategic
use of technology not only expanded the outreach but also
ensured a diverse pool of participants, bringing in funds
from beyond the usual circles. As they say, it’s good to getmoney out of other pockets!

One of the standout features of this year’s auction was the
impeccable quality of the items on offer. Despite having
only 25 items in the lineup, the event outshone the 2018
auction, which boasted 50 items but raised a comparatively
modest $8334. The success of this year’s auction provesthat quality truly triumphs over quantity.

One name that stands out inthe success of this event is
Brooke Miller, CMP, Senior
Meeting Planner at the Rees
Group, Inc. Widely recognizedfor her instrumental role,
Miller’s efforts have been
integral to achieving thisrecord-breaking result. The
2023 Holiday Auction will undoubtedly be remembered
as a turning point, showcasing the power of quality
and community engagement in achieving our chapter’s
fundraising goals.
As the event comes to a close, the excitement lingers,
setting the stage for future endeavors with the hope that
this momentum will carry forward, inspiring even greaterachievements in the years to come.

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The use of technology
played a pivotal role inthis triumph. The adoptionof the email option in
Bidding for Good proved
to be a game-changer,
allowing organizers toreach directly into thebidder community. With 20
winning bidders in total, it’s
noteworthy that only three

Brooke Miller, CMPI

By: Sharon Beyer

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INTRODUCING THE
MIDWEST’S MOST ANTICIPATED WINTER DESTINATIONOpen Now — February 24, 2024 | Blackwolf Run®
From fireside s’mores to scenic cross-country skiing, guests will discover endless possibilities
for adventure and connection at Frozen Fairways. Set atop one of Kohler Village’s iconic golfcourses, this unique venue is perfectly suited for private parties and corporate events.

› 3,000 square foot Curling Venue› 3,100 square foot Ice Skating Rink
To start planning, contact our team at TheAmericanClubSalesDepartment@kohler.com.

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Key Amenities:

GLES RECAP

GLES RECAP
rom the amazing Princess Castleberry, sitting
backwards in chairs, a small swig of Tito’s, andAI taking over the world; this event was one toremember! GLES was two days full ofknowledgeable speakers, laughs, great prizes (sorry Tamara,
about the suitcase), and networking.
We need to give a round of applause to everyone who helped
plan this event! The thought and detail put into this event was
fantastic… per usual! I don’t think closing out the Education
Summit could have ended any better.
We need to start off with the Welcome Reception andeverything involved to help make the night one to remember.
The DJ kept the music uplifting, the appetizers were delicious,and the cotton candy drinks were yummy. It was cool to havea local brewery incorporated to show what there is to offer inGrand Rapids.
I can speak for everyone
and extend a huge thankyou to the speakers who
attended our event! They
were a blast to listen to andcame with great motivation.
Melissa taught us all about
the joy in life and it is okay
to step out of your comfort
zone. William talked about
how Dominant Logic isused throughout yourself,
company, and leadership.
Lastly, Brian spoke about
AI and everything it has tooffer. AI is moving at a fast
pace and can be beneficial to everyone on many levels. Side
note – AI was not used in the writing of this article.

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The evening at the Brewery was a blast!!! The food was todie for, especially the Mac n Cheese; I think I ate half thepan. The space itself was beautiful and fit our group very
well. The Wisconsin crew sat together and played a card
game with a lot of laughs! The theme for this night was yourfavorite football team, and many different teams were worn by
everyone (GO RAVENS!).
I am sad to know GLES will be taking a brief pause on being
held each year, but I am looking forward to attending MPI
WEC in Louisville next May.

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WEC Registration is OPEN!
WEC Louisville

Reduced Pricing:
NON MEMBER BUNDLES:

Planner

$949

$749

Planner$1,299$1,099Supplier$1,249$1,049Supplier$1,599$1,399

Faculty

$529

$529

Faculty

$679

$679

Student

$319

$319

Student

$319

$319

But hurry! These prices end on April 15!
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MPI MEMBER RATES:MPI WISCONSINNEW MEMBERS

ANNIVERSARIESCongratulations to those members celebrating amilestone anniversary in January/February!

Congratulations!

WELCOMENEW MEMBER!

20 YEARSJODIE BROTHERTONSHERRY BENZMILLER, CMP
WEIR MINERALS NORTH AMERICA

SAMANTHA BROWNDESTINATION MADISON

10 YEARSKIM CASEY, MBA

DANIELLE ZIEGLER, CMP, CVT, CNAP

VON BRIESEN & ROPER, SC

RED DOG RESOURCES, LLC

SARAH DAVIDSON, CPCE

5 YEARSJENNIFER BRUHN

LUCY KUBLY

SVA

ALEXA LARSON

1 YEAR

IMPACT ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENTSTACY BUTTON CTE, GTP
FOX WORLD TRAVEL- MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES

PAT MUELLERLYNN GEITZ SWATEKJAYME PAQUETTEHOTEL RETLAW

VITENSE GOLFLAND

TINA HUSEMOLLER, MBA

FRANCINE SMITH

FOX WORLD TRAVEL- MEETINGS AND INCENTIVESRYAN SMITHNORTH HAVEN RESORTMANDY NORBIASQEXCELLENCE

AMANDA SOELLEKYRA POPP
KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONSELLIE WEISENSELLAURA PORTZ, CMP
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VISIT MIDDLETONTIMOTHY SMITH
MID-STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE

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20

Jacob is our Spring Education
Lead! He has dived headfirst into being the lead! Fromorganizing meetings to helping
to recruit new volunteers toanswering questions and beinga friendly face. Thank you for allof your assistance! I can’t wait
for April!

Michelle Eggert
Michelle Eggert has stepped
up to lead our January MPI
Planning Team. She has beena great team player, helping
make our January meeting a
success! Thank you, Michelle,
for all your help!!

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Volunteer Spotlight

Jacob Adamski

If you’re interested
in volunteering,reach out to us atadmin@mpiwi.org
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21

Compiled by Cheryl Oswald

1

TYLER PRIEFER
got engaged on
December 17th!

LINDSEY HESS, CMP’s
company is getting a
new name! Center on
Wisconsin Strategy
has changed its nameto High Road Strategy
Center.

2

Congratulations,Tyler!

3

MIKAYLA DHEIN,
CPCE, CWP was
promoted to Senior
Event Sales Manager at
the Milwaukee Bucks!

4

TRACI GAYDOS recently got engaged
and is planning an October 2024 wedding!
Congratulations, Traci!

Congratulations,
Mikayla!

5

NOTE: if you have any news to share in this column,
please contact Cheryl Oswald, Director - Publications & Community Outreach,cheryloswald@cnh.com.
January/December 2024

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KALAHARI opened CINCO NIÑOS, which is a modern Mexican
restaurant & tequila bar encompassing all the resounding classic
flavors as they intertwine with a sizzling plate of pure goodness.
Kalahari cannot wait to show it off to all of you at Spring
Education in April!

Enhance your meeting planning career with the

MPI ACADEMYWith hundreds of hours of free education for MPI members, the MPI Academy is your one-stop shop for
meeting planning and event industry skills training, CE credits and certificate courses. Featuring online andin-person classes and webinars, it's the perfect resource for the job you have - or the job you want.
CERTIFICATE COURSES: https://www.mpi.org/education

SAVE THE DATE
2024 CHAPTER EVENTSJANUARY 25, 2024
JANUARY EDUCATIONThe Osthoff Resort, Elkhart LakeFEBRUARY 15, 2024
FEBRUARY EDUCATION
Bridgewood Resort & Hotel, Neenah
MARCH 7, 2024
MARCH EDUCATION
Monona Terrace, Madison
APRIL 24-25, 2024
SPRING SPECTACULAR & SPRING EDUCATION
Kalahari Resorts, WI Dells
AUGUST 15, 2024
AUGUST EDUCATION
Bars & Rec
The Best Place at Historic Pabst Brewery &Brewhouse Inn & Suites, Milwaukee
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SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
MPI AWARDS GALA
Heidel House, Green Lake
OCTOBER 14, 2024
OCTOBER EDUCATIONThe Abbey Resort, Fontana

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