Connecting you to theglobal meeting + event community

MPI-WISCONSIN CHAPTER“MPI-WI Chapter is the bridge to knowledge, compelling ideas, and relationships tocreate a voice in the meetings and events industry.”

MAY
JUNE
VOL 40/NUM 3

2018

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Locations

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2 | May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

May/June 2018

MPI-WISCONSIN
2017 -2018
BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT
CLAUDIA CABRERA
Madison Marriott West Hotel & Conference Center
claudia.cabrera@atriumhospitality.com
PRESIDENT-ELECTTAMARA JESSWEIN, CMPHID Global
tjesswein@hidglobal.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTJEN MELL, CMP
Travel Leaders
jmell@tlcorporate.com
VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE
SARA KERN
Blue Harbor Resort & Spaskern@blueharborresort.com
VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP
JOELLEN GRABER
Mount Horeb Chamber of Commerce
adminassist@trollway.com
VICE PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONSMARIA PEOT, CMP
First Business Financial Services
maria.peot@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION
KATIE MCGINNISThe Iron Horse Hotel
kmcginnis@theironhorsehotel.com

VOL 40/NUM 3

Feature Articles
Thank You Volunteers!

7

Spring into Action with a Little CSR!

10

February Event Recap

12

Join MPI-WI for our Annual Golf Outing in June!		

13

The Power of "Buy MPI"		

13

The Name of the Planning Game

14

Nomination Time

17

March Event Recap

18

Safety & Security: Don't Get Overwhelmed

18

May Event Preview

20

Global Meetings Industry Day

28

In Every Issue
Editor’s Note

4

DIRECTOR-AWARDS ANDSCHOLARSHIPS, & RECRUITMENTALISON HUTCHINSON
Fox Cities Convention & Visitor Bureau
ahutchinson@foxcities.org

President’s Column

6

Who's in the News

22

Board Member Profile: Amanda Ridout		

22

DIRECTOR-MEMBER CARE
AMANDA RIDOUT
Harley-Davidson Museum
aridout@levyrestaurants.com

Food for Thought: Executive Chef Brian Singer

24

Supplier Profile: Stacey Lucas

26

Planner Profile: Darla Leick28

New Members & Anniversaries

30

CalendarBC

DIRECTOR-SPECIAL EVENTSJANE KINCHELOE
Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce
jane@minocqua.org
DIRECTOR- SPECIAL EDUCATION, PROJECTSDANIELLE ZIEGLER, CMP, CVT
danielleaziegler@gmail.com
DIRECTOR-MONTHLY PROGRAMMINGTRACEY BOCKHOP, CMP
Meet Meetings
tracey@meetmeetings.com
DIRECTOR-PUBLICATIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
CHERYL OSWALD, CMP
Kohl's Department Stores
cheryl.oswald@kohls.com
DIRECTOR-STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, SPONSORSHIPS &FUNDRAISING
LIZ UNRUH
Wisconsin Center District
eunruh@wcd.org
DIRECTOR-WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, & PUBLIC RELATIONSCATHY KREITERVISIT Milwaukee
CKreiter@milwaukee.org

Experience MPI Wisconsin
Print: Agenda Magazine
6 Different Ways
Web: mpiwi.org
Facebook: facebook.com/mpiwi
Twitter: twitter.com/mpiwisconsin
LinkedIn: MPI-WI Chapter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpi_wi_chapter																	MPI Agenda
May/June 2018 | 3

MPI-WISCONSIN CHAPTEREDITOR'S NOTE
Hello MPI!

Published bimonthly by
Meeting Professionals International –Wisconsin Chapter

Summer is around the corner (hopefully!) andbefore you know it we will be enjoying all thewarm, sunny days that Wisconsin has to offer! I
know when I start to think about summer I think
about all the special events that occur around thestate. Every weekend there’s is a different festival,
sporting event or concert... The list goes on!

CO-EDITORSCheryl Oswald, CMP
Events Project Manager
Kohl's Department Store
cheryl.oswald@kohls.com
Kathy Reading
Account Executive
The Scan Group, Inc.
reading@scangroup.net
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jessie Zelenock
Alison Hutchinson
Emily RauberJane Kincheloe
Carrie Jensen, CMP
Alan L. Kleinfeld , MTA, CMM, CMP
Amanda Ridout
Erin Marquez
Naomi Tucker, CMP, HMCC
Rebecca Staats

Summer also brings new opportunities for MPI
members new and old to connect with eachother at upcoming special events. June offers
two exciting events, WEC in Indianapolis and ourannual golf outing in Green Lake. Madison will hostour first Summer Social in July and the Fox Cities and Milwaukee will host theirevents in August. Remember these summer socials are fun and FREE, so bring afriend! This is a great way to introduce someone to the spirit and camaraderie that
MPI membership offers.
I hope everyone has a great summer. Remember to stay connected with yourfellow MPI members through these special event opportunities!

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs
PHOTOGRAPHY
Craig Augustine Photography
Emily Wayland
PUBLICATION DEADLINES
July/August 2018
Deadline: May 15, 2018
September/October 2018
Deadline: July 15, 2018
November/December 2018
Deadline: September 15, 2018

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

e
s
o
h
t
k
Roc s!
sunnieMadisonJuly 18

Concerts on the
SquarePresented by:
Madison CVB

OshkoshAugust 7th

Presented by:Best Western Premier
Waterfront Hotel andConvention Center &the Oshkosh CVB

Milwaukee
August TBD

Presented by:
The Kimpton
Journeyman

More details at mpiwi.org

4 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

			

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18580-Happy_MPI-7.5x9.5.indd 1

1/19/18 3:37 PMMPI Agenda

May/June 2018|5

President's Column
WOW! What a year it has been!
I can’t believe that when you receive thiscopy of the Agenda, we will be wrappingup the 2017-2018 MPI year.
I’m nothing but grateful for putting yourtrust in me and for letting me lead this
Chapter down a successful path. My termas the Chapter president was nothing
but rewarding both personally andprofessionally.
I know that the Chapter will be in great
hands with Tamara Jesswein, CMP leading
next year. She and the new Board of
Directors have already been working hard
and are in a good position for progress forthe new year.
I want to share some exciting news
with all of you. We, as a Chapter, haveaccomplished much this year:

Strategic Alliance Partners

We ended with a total of $65,700 in
Strategic Alliance revenues this year and27 partners — the most in the historyof the Chapter. We exceeded our yearlyrevenue goal of $40,000 by $25,700!!! The
Chapter is in the best financial shape that
we have ever been and our partners are
the main reason for it. So a huge THANKYOU to our amazing 27 Strategic Alliancepartners. Your support will be forever
appreciated.

Free Event for Planners

Due to our exceptional outcome in ourStrategic Alliance program this year,
we are able to offer for the first time,
unlimited complimentary registrations toall of our Chapter Planner members toattend this year’s MPI Spring Education
event on May 16 & 17 at the Radisson
Green Bay. This was a Chapter goal forquite some time, and we finally madeit happen this year thanks to our 2018
Strategic Alliance Partners.

Attendance Records

We have one of the best registration
records for the first quarter of the year,with a total of 284 in attendance. Ourattendance and revenue significantly
exceeded our previous two years. Thisis all possible because of our amazing
speakers, RFP, and monthly programs
teams… you are all ROCK STARS! Thankyou for putting together such great eventsfor our members. I cannot wait to see
what is in store for the upcoming year!
These are just a few things that we asa chapter have accomplished and thisMPI year is not over yet. Let’s keep the
momentum moving!
As I always say in each of my columns inevery issue of the Agenda, this is not a
one person job, but a team effort. Behindthe scenes are your amazing Board of
Directors who share the same passion
for this industry and for our success asa chapter. When I started in this role as
your Chapter President, my vision was toprovide great education and networking
opportunities while helping our members
grow professionally and personally. Whilelooking back at this year I can confidently
said that we accomplished all of that.
If you see one of our Board members
at an upcoming meeting, please take amoment to say thank you. They’ve beenworking so hard this past year and many
are already looking forward to serving on
the Board again next year.
To MDS for their continued guidanceand hard work in making this a topperforming Chapter and for making our
events run nothing but smoothly eachmonth: Thank you!
Personal thanks to my family for theirinfinite support. And finally, thank you to
two of my MPI-WI colleagues and former
MPI-WI Presidents Janet Sperstad, CMP
and Cindy Foley, CMP. Thank you so much

Claudia Cabrera
President, MPI-WI Chapter

for mentoring me throughout this process,for your advice, and for always cheering
me on throughout my term.
I hope to see everyone again at our 2018
“Viva Las Meetings” theme inspired Spring
Education event on May 16 & 17 at theRadisson Green Bay. It’s going to be filledwith top of the line speakers as well as fun
casino game clinics which will benefit the
MPI Global Foundation for scholarships
and grants. Please check out our website
and articles in this issue of the Agenda for
more details.
Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars
for our Annual Golf Outing on June 14
at the beautiful Heidel House Resort &Spa. We have sponsorship opportunities
available, so please visit our website fora full list of available sponsorship andfurther details.
I want to finish by saying THANK YOU toeach and everyone one of you for yourcontinued support of our MPI-WI Chapter.
This has been truly an amazing year andthe accomplishments and experiencesthat I made I will forever cherish. To our
Board of Directors, it was a pleasure tohave served with all of you! Thank you for
all your efforts and time commitment to
the Chapter.
Have a wonderful Spring everyone!

6 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

						Thank you Volunteers!
By: Amanda Ridout
Volunteers are the very heart of the MPI-Wisconsin Chapter. At the April 12
Education Day at the Radisson Paper Valley and the Fox Cities Exhibition Center,a moment was taken to thank the volunteers from the 2016-2017 committees.
Volunteer opportunities with the MPI-Wisconsin chapter come in many forms.
Some options are behind-the-scenes, and can be done from the comfort ofyour office or home. Other volunteer roles take place at the event itself. Fromselling raffle tickets at an event, to social media postings, or even participation
on an Education Day planning committee, there is a volunteer opportunity forevery member.
Prior to the days luncheon, a name was drawn from our list of last year’s
volunteers. After showing all the 132 volunteers from the 2016-2017 MPI
committees, Michelle Tyo-Johnson was presented with this year’s appreciation
award! This award included an MPI-Wisconsin water bottle, an overnight stay at
the Green Lake Conference Center, $100 off her membership renewal, and a copyof Eat, Drink & Succeed from our keynote speaker, Laura Schwartz!
Thank you to everyone who donates their time to volunteer! There are always
volunteer opportunities available. Contact Amanda Ridout at aridout@
levyrestaurants.com to connect you with the committee that will allow you toshine and continue to help our chapter grow and succeed!

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|7

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8 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

			BLUE HARBOR RESORT& CONFERENCE CENTER

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estled on the western shore of the alwaysmajestic Lake Michigan, the picturesqueand stately Blue Harbor Resort &Conference Center is the #1 resort on
Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Coast.
The Victorian style architecture of Blue Harbor
Resort’s structure is like a castle on a bluff. The interior
and exterior features of the property capitalize on
many water views.
With 64 villas and180 hotel rooms,
Blue Harbor offers
a wide variety ofaccommodations
perfect for groupmeetings and events.
Suites have a clean,fresh, sophisticated
but relaxing feel.
Blue Harbor offers a wide variety ofaccommodations, all of them spacious,
comfortable and far roomier than atother resorts and hotels.
A gathering at Blue Harbor Resort
can also include a wonderful array ofrecreation and team building activities—take part ina golf tournament on a top rated course, freshwater
fishing on Lake Michigan, lessons on an indoor surf
simulator or yoga on the beach.
As an added benefit, guests can treat themselves tothe personalized care in a relaxing setting available
at the award winning, Reflections Spa & Salon.

Expert culinary experiences lead by our executive
chefs, combined with the upscale accommodations
and scenic settings, are key reasons groups enjoy
this Lakeside retreat. In addition to a vast array ofbanquet menu options from our newly designed
menu, group guests can enjoy a memorable dining
experience in The Beacon Restaurant or On The
Rocks Bar and Grill, both with scenic lake views.
Blue Harbor Resort’s newly renovated conference
center offers more than 16,800 square feetof meeting and event space with free WiFi. The 81-foot by 122-foot grand ballroom
may be partitioned into seven different stylemeeting spaces and has 16-foot ceilings.
Each space is equipped with a new AppleHDMI audiovisual system that enables you toconnect with any sort oflaptop, iPad, projector
or other device forseamless presentations.
Blue Harbor Resort
also has well-appointed
areas to accommodate
receptions, trade show
booths, reservation desks
and meal functions.
One of the many attributes of Blue Harbor Resort
is its convenient and scenic location—an easy drivefrom major Midwest Metro areas and less than one
hour away from Milwaukee and Green Bay. Blue
Harbor Resort is located in the Harbor Center
District in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a city growing
in popularity for its scenic waterfront, sailing,boating and fresh water surfing.

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MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|9

Spring into Action with a Little CSR
at our May Education Day Event!
By: Naomi Tucker, CMP, HMCC
This spring, May Education Day will sprinkle in a little CSR activity for all to enjoy. MPI
Wisconsin Chapter will be partnering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Green Bay and the Fox
Cities alongside Meetings & Incentives Worldwide (M&IW) to bring a smile to the youth faces
as they anticipate a new school year.
M&IW wants to support causes that are important to their employees which is why they
started the Global Giveback Initiative. M&IW divided their employees by teams, primarily
driven by location. Each team was able to choose a cause of their choice. The Fox Valley
M&IW team chose Big Brothers Big Sisters as the organization and have been finding ways togive back in a big way ever since.
MPI Wisconsin Chapter has an opportunity to participate in this Global Giveback Initiativeand help the Fox Valley M&IW Team raise as many donated items they can for Big
Brothers, Big Sisters. Help us by bringing as many items as you can from the list below.
Get your neighborhood, friends, and family involved by bringing items they would like todonate as well.

Items to donate:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Wide ruled notebooks
Wide ruled loose leaf paper
Binders
RulersPencil cases
Sharpened pencils
Colored pencils

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Washable markers
Crayons
Erasers
Glue
Glue Sticks
Scissors
Two pocket Folders – prime colors

For more insight into how the Global Giveback Initiative is working, follow#miwglobalgiveback on your social media channel of choice. Visit www.mpiwi.org/2018May for more information on items to donate, as well as the event details.
We look forward to seeing you at the May Education Day event and making little hearts smile.

10 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

			

START
PLANNING.

The Fox Cities offer
convenience, versatility
and venues for every typeof meeting. An array of
exceptional dining options,3,200+ hotel rooms
and group activities,
along with our walkable
downtown areas willcomplete your experience.

©ADAM SHEA PHOTOGRAPHY; TOWN COUNCIL, NEENAH, WI

NEW in 2018 —Fox Cities Exhibition
Center (38,000 sq. ft. facility)

Plus Wisconsin’s
Best Shopping!

FoxCities.org/meeting

Contact Amy Karas at akaras@foxcities.org or 800. 236.6338

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|

11

FEBRUARY EVENT RECAP
By: Jessie Zelenock
On Thursday, February 15 the Westin Milwaukee hosted
our monthly educational meeting. Having opened in Juneof 2017, this was the first time MPI-WI held an event in
the newly constructed property. Between the 9,000+
square feet of beautiful accommodations, delicious
food and welcome from General Manager, Jeff Hess,the members were very well taken care of. Service andexecution were seamless for each event, including theboard meeting, CMP 101, and education session held in
the Grand Ballroom.
Our speaker, Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM put on avery informative educational session. Christy worked with
us to demonstrate the value of what we do and how we
can become strategic planners through what she labels as“Strategic Planning Principles.” Throughout her session,
we discovered ways to value ourselves in the workplaceand how to gain more respect in the industries we all
represent.
February's Community Outreach partner was the
Alzheimer’s Association-Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter.
During lunch, we were able to see the impact of ourdonations and we hope that all members understandhow valued their support is.
We concluded the day with a reception and raffle
drawings in the beautiful Lower Lakes room, featuring
floor to ceiling windows overlooking downtown
Milwaukee. As a reminder, proceeds from the raffle go
directly to the chapter, so thank you to all those who
donated and purchased tickets!

12 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

						Join MPI-WI
for our Annual
Golf Outing in June!

The Power of“Buy MPI”
By: Carrie Jensen, CMP

By: Jane Kincheloe

I’ve always been an advocate of “Buy MPI.” When I bookprograms on behalf of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities,
the first thing I do is reach out to an MPI member I know, either
the CVB in the area I’m planning or individual supplier, and thengo through the proposal/RFP process.
Recently, two brand new MPI connections landed themselves
in my contracted events - one in Brookfield and another in
Milwaukee. The Brookfield connection was literally withindays of Ann Marie Hess of Visit Brookfield becoming amember of MPI-WI. We ultimately booked the event at the
Embassy Suites Brookfield. The Milwaukee booking happened
through networking with Tricia Smith from The Bartolotta
Restaurants when she attended her first MPI-WI meeting thispast January. We ended up booking the event at the ItalianCommunity Center.
Our Summer Spectacular on June 13 & 14 is going to be a fun-filled
event for golfers and non-golfers alike. We are excited to have Heidel
House Resort and Tuscumbia Golf Club hosting our event this year inGreen Lake.
In 1945, when Herb and Lucille Heidel purchased the property for$20,000, it consisted of a main house, stable house, tack houseand pump house. The charming estate expanded as the property’s
reputation for hospitality and fine dining grew to one of the mostpopular lakeside destination resorts in the state. The Heidel House
maintains that reputation today.
On Wednesday evening, June 13, we will have a kick-off reception
at the Heidel House with special entertainment you will not want to
miss. There will also be an exclusive Wednesday night golf ball raffle
for a Green Lake package giveaway. Make sure you watch for updated
information about the special entertainment provided by local Green
Lake and Ripon businesses.
The golf outing will be held at Tuscumbia Golf Course, the oldest
golf course in Wisconsin. Not a golfer? Not to worry, we have a great
non-golf activity planned with Escapade Yacht Cruise followed bypainting lakeside. All attendees, whether golfing or not, will havetime with our hole sponsors.

In both cases, with just one connection, thebusiness booked covered the cost of theirannual MPI-WI membership. My organization
gained multiple new potential locations for
future events. This was a win-win for all, andtruly shows the power of “Buy MPI”!

I believe in “Buy MPI” because I think there is a higher levelof quality and service with MPI Partners. I believe in building
relationships within our industry exactly because of theexamples outlined here. Planners – do yourself a favor andreach out to MPI suppliers. They are a powerful wealth ofresources, and you’ll be amazed at what these relationships
will bring you over the years!

The day will conclude with a reception and networking. We will again
have a silent auction featuring extraordinary trips and experiences.
Sponsorship and donation opportunities are available. Learn more byvisiting mpiwi.org!

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|13

Reprinted with permission from Northstar Travel Group, LLC. Originally published in
Successful Meetings magazine (March 2018 issue). Written by Dawna L. Robertson.
Copyright 2018.

The Name of the
Planning Game
HOW TO ELEVATE YOUR MINDSET AND SKILLSETTO THE STRATEGIST SPHERE —BY DAWNA L. ROBERTSONYOU’VE BECOME BOTH A “JACK” AND “MASTER” of all trades.
You nailed down transportation, accommodations and venues. You
secured guest speakers, entertainment, and food and beverage schemes.
You fluidly crunch numbers and negotiate contracts while creating arock star buzz across social media platforms. You also assembled a dream
team to assist with the nitty-gritty of permits, programs and on-site registration. You’re ahead of schedule and below budget—all while monitoring
communication systems that have raised the bar on efficiency.
This daunting checklist merely skims the surface of your responsibilities as a meeting and event planner. Also understated is that the aforementioned job moniker fails to reflect the expertise you bring to the tablebeyond simply managing logistics.
You’re goal isn’t to simply arrange event components. You have astrategy-based comprehension of how an integrated, well-orchestrated
program can generate a hefty return on client investment. Your last event
made you a hero, and you’re determined to remain on track.
According to the 2018 Global Meetings and Events Forecast by
American Express Meetings & Events (AmEx M&E), you’ll likely have an
opportunity to do just that.
Issa Jouaneh, the organization’s senior vice president and generalmanager, comments in the report that the meetings and events industry
should be optimistic about growth in terms of “spend, number of meetings
and attendees,” and that, “meeting owners are prioritizing attendee experience and engagement over scale.”
While key insights point to continued uncertainty of economic andgeopolitical influences, Jouaneh voiced that the industry anticipates

OY L E

14 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

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uccessful Meetings I March 2018 I SuccessfulMeetings.com

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Simply stated, your profession is
growing more complex. Corporations areelevating their expectations of meetingand event professionals beyond being
practitioners who execute.

ongoing resilience and continued focus on successful experiences.
On the financial front, budgets are predicted to remain flat or inch upa mere one percent above 2017 numbers. Since the investment in events
is typically a substantial chunk of a corporate marketing expenditure, it’seven more critical that you ramp up from a tactical to a strategic mentality
for scrutinizing every line item.
Simply stated, your profession is growing more complex. Corporations
are elevating their expectations of meeting and event professionals beyond
being practitioners who execute.
Stephanie Harris, AmEx M&E’s director of Global Marketing & Event
Strategy, deems the progression from meeting planner to Business Events
Strategist as fundamental for gaining recognition that yours is a legitimate,essential occupation rather than a part-time function.
“This role, more than many others in an organization, delivers anexperience that is a direct reflection of the brand,” says Harris. “By extension, recognizing and supporting the importance of this role equates torecognizing and supporting the importance of a brand.”Harris stresses that through aligning event and business strategies,
a Business Events Strategist will skew toward operating in more of a“partner” role. Your end-to-end accountability begins with helping tocreate a vision for how an event can achieve company goals via a positive
impact on the key players—whether those are customers, partners orinternal team members.
It then flows to establishing and accomplishing priorities, elevating theattendee experience and reporting a positive return on investment.
“Post-event, you’ll understand how to deliver information about what
the event returned to the organization—either in opportunity, perception or
experience—and provide direction for how that learning canbe applied across a full event portfolio,” Harris says.
Alex Doyle, vice president of sales for 21st Century
Group, a meetings management and site selection
firm, considers an event planner as a logistics
partner, while a Business Events Strategist helps tocreate, enhance and deliver the corporate vision.
“As a Business Events Strategist, you must beable to offer specific strategic solutions to achieve

			

AT
F K A RA M
RIF
S

R
HE

her industry peers stimulates both personal andprofessional growth. “When you’re planning ameeting to advance the future of a client, and yourskills and ideas are not at the forefront of what’s
happening, how can you help that client advance?”
This is where PCMA becomes your champion
through a wealth of resources, initiatives and forums
designed to guide you toward reaching and remaining at the top of yourgame. Among these are two recent Knowledge Exchanges hosted in London
and Barcelona (at IBTM World).
“Sometimes to get to the heart of a matter, you don’t need a big group ofpeople,” says Karamat. “You need a core group to think through a subject
impacting them in their community, and then do a deeper dive.”
In both cases, the Knowledge Exchange format opened the door for
greater understanding of risk management. PCMA shared findings with abroader audience via white papers, face-to-face programs and webinars.
Eight additional Knowledge Exchange events are on the calendar for 2018,with four slated for Europe and four for Asia.

Other PCMA assets include:• Annual Education Conference–Series of networking and educationalsessions highlighting business events strategies and industry-shaping
trends. Scheduled for June 10-13 in Cleveland.
• European Influencers Summit–Brings together high-level event
professionals to discuss issues related to European meetings. Scheduled
for Sept. 23-25, with location TBA.
• Incentive, Conference & Event Society Asia-Pacific–Draws thoseworking with or for MICE Business Events sectors across the
Asia-Pacific region. Scheduled for November 2018, with Asia location
TBA.
• Business Event Boot Camp–Shares the constantly changing strategies
critical for keeping events vibrant, compelling and successful.
• Digital Experience Institute–Course and certification program thathelps to effectively plan, produce, and measure results of live stream anddigital engagement events.
• PCMA Education Foundation–Supports scholarships for promisingindividuals and funds critical industry projects.
• CMP Online Prep–Provides study for CMP certification.
• Learning products, media library and event session rebroadcasts.
Check PCMA.org for a roll out of specific dates and locations, as well asother education aids.

The Education Edge

The Low Down on Data

Karamat, Harris, Doyle and Bockhop collectively laudeducation as a key component for advancing from atactical to strategic operating mode.
For Bockhop, continuing to learn and interact with

It’s a natural process. With an uptick in education and practical experience,
you should find yourself deviating from a planner who “takes orders” intoa more collaborative team player who guides your clients toward achieving
their overarching objectives and goals.

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|15

BOCKHOP

Sherrif Karamat, the new president/CEO of Professional Convention
Management Association (PCMA), agrees that it’s difficult to pigeonhole
industry pros as simply meeting planners.
“Today, meeting professionals are being tasked with so many things—
employing strategies to drive growth, helping to create a bigger pipeline forsales, and conveying the best way for learning in a face-to-face and digital
environment,” says Karamat.
“ It’s key to understand that the profession is multi-layered, with opportunities existing at every level. Responsibility can range broadly from brandexperience and deliberate experience to flawless execution of any event.”
While Karamat doesn’t believe that every meetings industry professional aspires to become a Business Events Strategist, he feels that they
do want access to education and tools for becoming a greater resource
for an organization or client.
His hypothesis paints an image of each upper management leader ina corporation as having a MBA. “In reality, maybe less than 10 percent
do. Does that mean that those who don’t have a MBA don’t want access tobusiness education? Actually, the opposite is true.”
Naturally, a percentage will seek full certification to become recognized
as a top tier professional. “Others would seek to get knowledge,
but may not be able to commit the time required to get therelevant certification,” says Karamat. “Meeting professionals
are no different.”

TEY

The PCMA Perspective

PCMA
BUSINESSSCHOOLAC

event goals—best delivery efficiency, impact of message, and best counsel
on which destinations and venues will support and enhance the event’s
goals and objectives.”
Doyle adds, “To deliver the best results, it takes vision, creativity, strongorganization skills and a keen sense of which partners to engage.”
For Meet Meetings President/CEO Tracey Bockhop, CMP, a true
Business Events Strategist is proactive in thought and action. “You can takean open-minded approach to achieving the end goal, and make the timeor event for reaching that goal be both innovative and interesting for those
involved.
“Looking at what you want the meeting to accomplish, who shouldbe there and how you will deliver the message you need to deliver are all
strategic factors.”
Bockhop recalls a situation where she found herself transitioning fromplanner to strategist. “I was looking at a panel of leaders saying that they
couldn’t do something a particular way because they had always done it
differently.” While she initially considered holding her comments, Bockhop
found herself doing just the opposite.
“I remarked that we needed to plan events where people don’t go homefeeling as if they wasted their time,” she says. “The shift was in focusing on
what would make a positive impact on the attendees and the company inthe long run, and how to reach that goal.”
As a result, Bockhop’s input and recommendations prompted entirely
new thought processes in the organization and the events produced.

R			

Reprinted with permission from Northstar Travel Group, LLC. Originally published in
Successful Meetings magazine (March 2018 issue). Written by Dawna L. Robertson.
Copyright 2018.

Reprinted with permission from Northstar Travel Group, LLC. Originally published in
Successful Meetings magazine (March 2018 issue). Written by Dawna L. Robertson.
Copyright 2018.

Data and analysis are poised to become your greatest allies, especially as
the meetings industry faces a monumental shift from a qualitative to a morequantitative realm.
“It is said that without data to back us up, all we have is opinion,” says
Karamat. “Every organization has data, but very few of us have our data in
one single system. We are moving toward a data-centric organization so that
we can make informed business decisions.”
Karamat adds that it speaks to the evolution of business events that theindustry now features employment opportunities specific to data analysts
and data scientists.
In this data-addicted world, however, recognition and utilization are often
on different pages. In fact, the imbalance is somewhat startling, as indicated ina recent study that is part of Cvent’s new “The Power of Live Events” campaign.
Findings indicate while the meetings and events industry understands
the value of data collection, technology and experiential marketing, it
faces an implementation gap. In other words, while most industry pros
nod to the relevance of amassing data at events, few are actually efficient
at leveraging it in terms of audience development and in elevating theoverall attendee experience.
Of the 600-plus meeting planners, event producers and corporate event
marketers polled in the Cvent survey, 81 percent viewed data at live eventsas “extremely important so that event planners can track the attendee
journey to create better events and realize their full ROI.” However, amere 20 percent indicated that their organizations are effective in actually
integrating the collected data.
This is especially revealing since only 38 percent of event professionals
say they understand what their attendees actually do while at their events.
Only 29 percent of those queried say that their organization is effective atdata collection, with 23 percent indicating that their organization is effective
at using their event data.
Also worth noting is that 75 percent of event professionals queried reported
that their organization is missing out on marketing opportunities by failure toestablish and utilize data-based attendee profiles that track their event journey.
Beyond harvesting, it is imperative to analyze, report and apply the
specifics. With a deeper understanding of attendees’ habits, interests andpreferences, you can help your clients create more engaging, empowering
programs that maximize that coveted return on investment.
Coupling data analysis with these additional skills should posture you as
more fundamental in the overall process—in more of a “relationship owner”
framework as you build trust with your clients based on your mutual successes.
“Strategists should have a keen handle on the metrics and reporting associated with events, and not consider their role on an event as complete until they
have delivered this information back to key stakeholders,” says Harris.
Think beyond a single program to a more comprehensive, ongoing
relationship that continues to strengthen based on past successes, trust andrespect. “By taking this reporting-focused path, you can gain greater visibility
into investment, and work with meeting owners and key stakeholders on
recommendations for how to optimize their full event portfolio.”
Harris adds that an event strategist is ultimately most successful when
adding diversity of experience and perspective into the fold. “This often
comes from being part of a true community of professionals who aresharing best practices, and then bringing that insight to their clients andapplying best practices to their programs,” she says.
“It is this collective power within meeting professionals that elevates notjust one individual, but the entire industry.” n

MAXIMIZING YOURMEETINGS MOJOMARALYNN ADAMS, CMP, of
The Corporate Event Group, LLC
has etched a career evolving frommarketing program manager for Oracle
Corporation to owner and senior event
director of the Silicon Valley-based company
that she launched in 2008.
Adams suspected that becoming a strategist versus a logisticsfocused planner would be important on the corporate side. She
then learned the value on the independent planner side as well.
Here are five areas of focus that Adams spotlights forindependent planners seeking to elevate your professional profile.
YOUR EXPERTISE“I was recently talking to someone interested in pursuing event
planning as a career and mentioned that just planning events
isn’t really enough anymore. Your value to your client is really
your expertise—your past experiences, triumphs, mistakes, clever
solutions, what you’ve done and what you’ve learned from it. Allof these aspects help to make you a vital team member.
“Implementers are common. Hiring experts who can also give
you strategic ways to make your event more effective or more
impactful is where you get the biggest bang for your buck.”
DISTINGUISHING YOURSELF“Differentiating yourself from the pack is crucial. While anyone
can call himself or herself an event planner, it doesn’t make that
person an authority. In this industry, it’s fairly easy for clients
to find someone cheaper. And the moment you are seen as acommodity, you’re dead.
“Showing your worth is key. Be transparent and illustrate
the value that you’re providing to your clients. Your negotiation
skills, your diplomacy, your ability to make friends and influencepeople—they are all part of your package.”
MARKETING YOURSELF“Focus on your strengths and what you love about event
management. Immerse yourself in those areas within your own
company and reach out to fellow independent planners to offer
your talents.”
SHARING EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR PROFESSIONAL PEERS“Getting together with other planners (independent and corporate)
to ‘talk shop’ can be eye-opening. The ideas and experiences
swapped over a cocktail or a meal can help you immensely.
During my 24 years in the event industry, I’ve drawn from manycolleague stories. And I’m hoping my experiences have helped
others, too!”
UNDERSTANDING THE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT“Many more companies are recognizing that they impact not only
their customers, but also the planet. You should keep an eye
on how groups affect the environment, on cultural and regional
menu trends, and on sourcing locally for handmade goods tosupport local communities. Mindfulness is definitely an importantquality that we should all strive to achieve!” -D.L.R.

16 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda																					

NOMINATION TIME:

Meetin
Wisconsin!

Do you know a chapter member
who stands above the rest?
By: Alison Hutchinson

The MPI-WI Chapter is fortunate to have over 110 active members
who currently devote their time and energy to support our Chapter’s
events, publications, fundraising and membership goals. Only becauseof the involvement of our talented members does our Chapter
continue to be successful in achieving the organization’s goals andinitiatives each year!
This June, Chapter members will be asked to nominate and recognize
our outstanding individuals and teams in their volunteer roles. Pleasetake a moment to nominate your peers (and even yourself!) for theseamazing awards. It is truly an honor to be nominated!
The awards open for nominations are:
MEETING INDUSTRY ADVOCATE: This award will be presented to amember whose actions consistently promote the meetings industry
in Wisconsin. Individuals that also encourage the growth and imageof our industry through education, promotion, or lobbying should be
nominated.

search these properties& hundreds more at

WisconsinLodging.org
DOOR COUNTY
Landmark Resort
4929 Landmark Drive, Egg Harbor, WI
920/868-3205 | thelandmarkresort.com
Meeting rooms: 10; Sleeping rooms: 260; F&B: Yes
Simplify your meeting planning.
Beautiful Door County venue with eight of ten
meeting rooms featuring a water view. All suites.
GREEN BAY
Kress Inn & Bemis Conference Center
300 Grant Street, De Pere, WI
920/403-5100 | kressinn.com
Meeting rooms: 10; Sleeping rooms: 46 F&B: Yes
Experience our boutique style Inn on the scenic
St. Norbert College campus. Exceptional lodging &conference facilities in a quiet educational setting.

TEAM OF THE YEAR (TOTY): This award is designed to recognize
an entire team’s accomplishments. The TOTY will be nominated by
the Team Lead, and will outline what each member of the team has
contributed to the team’s success.
RISING STAR AWARD: This award is presented to a newer member of
MPI-Wisconsin who has become an active part of our organization. 	
The award is designed to recognize an individual whose time andefforts put him or her on a path to being one of our Chapter’s next
leaders. Individuals who have been a member between six months
and two years may receive the Rising Star Award.
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award is the top award for MPIWI supplier members. The award is a tribute to the recipient’s service,accomplishments, recognition and contributions to our industry.
This individual must be a MPI-WI member for a minimum of threeconsecutive years.
PLANNER OF THE YEAR AWARD: This award is the pinnacle award
for MPI-WI planner members. This honor recognizes the recipient’s
service, accomplishments, recognition and contributions to ourindustry. This individual must be a MPI-WI member for a minimum of
three consecutive years.
The full list of details and criteria for each award, as well as the listof prior years’ winners, can be found on the MPI-WI Chapter website
under the Member Benefits tab in Member Recognition.
Awards will be presented at our signature event – the MPI-WI Awards
Gala on September 20, 2018 at the Miller High Life Theater. Mark yourcalendars – we’d love for you to join us!

SHEBOYGANBlue Harbor Resort & Spa
725 Blue Harbor Drive, Sheboygan, WI
920/452-2900 | BlueHarborResort.com
Meeting rooms: 10; Sleeping rooms: 180; F&B: Yes
Blue Harbor on Lake Michigan offers scenic meetings
spaces for groups of 10 to 1000. Just one houraway from Milwaukee and Green Bay.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS
Hotel Mead & Conference Center
451 E. Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
715/423-1500 | hotelmead.com
Meeting rooms: 12; Sleeping rooms: 150; F&B: Yes
Meetings are made easy at the Hotel Mead &Conference Center. We offer 12 stylish rooms
spanning 17,000 square feet of versatile space.
STATEWIDEBest Western Hotels & Resorts of Wisconsin
Best Western makes planning groups and meetingseasy. Think of us as your partner when planning yournext meeting. Our simple online planning solution
will guide you quickly through the process.
Book now at bestwestern.com/groups.

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|17

March Event Recap
By: Emily Rauber

On Thursday, March 15 the Madison Concourse Hotelhosted the MPI-WI monthly educational meeting. The hotel
presented a remarkable event from start to finish, creating an
unforgettable experience for all attendees. Their dedication andapproach to service is evident in every staff member.
The Madison Concourse Hotel offered creative cuisine,presenting a mouth-watering tenderloin for lunch, followed
by a wide variety of snacks for the afternoon break. And the
chocolate mousse cake was to die for!
Our speaker, Steph Pfeilsticker, put on an enlightening
educational session as well, sharing her expertise on hybrid
event strategies.
The March Community Outreach partner was Domestic
Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS). It was terrific to learn
more about DAIS and how our donations impact theirorganization.
We finished out the day with a perfect reception. The hotel
crafted a signature drink for MPI - Strawberry Moscow
Mules – which were unique and delicious! Appetizers
were displayed and passed while attendees mingled andnetworked before closing out the event with a raffle
drawing. Thank you to everyone who donated items andpurchased raffle tickets.

18 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda																					SAFETY & SECURITY:
Don’t Get Overwhelmed
By: Alan L. Kleinfeld, MTA, CMM, CMP

True story. Several months ago, at a reception held at a public college,an attendee collapsed while returning from the buffet. For a moment
time stood still. The silence broken when someone shouted, “He
collapsed! He collapsed,” and in a flurry of activity, someone was calling
911 and two other people started CPR. Everyone else stood nearby,
cemented in place, hands clasped to their mouths.
The meeting planner ran next door to the campus health center andgrabbed the nurse on duty while people took turns doing CPR. All thewhile, the 911 operator was still on the phone. “Continue CPR. Do
you know his age? Is he on any medication?” The attendee’s wife was
nearby, but too stricken with grief and shock to be very helpful. “He’s
only taking Sudafed. He’s 72 years-old,” she said through sobs.
It felt like an hour had passed, but from the time the 911 operator
picked up to the time Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived, amere seven minutes had lapsed. EMS took over with an AutomatedExternal Difibulator (AED), put the man on a stretcher, and off theywent to the hospital.
The incident demonstrates not only how important safety and security
planning is, but that it’s more likely for a medical emergency or theft tooccur than anything as tragic as an active shooter. Wouldn’t it be nice if
we could be prepared for all of it?
Sure, for some planners, an emergency is when the CEO runs out ofGrey Goose. More seriously, though, planners and their companies findthe need now more than ever to be prepared for whatever comes theirway. Knowing what questions to ask is a beginning.
For example, what’s the difference between safety and security? Safety
is the freedom from harm or injury while security is composed of
the steps put in place to prevent harm or injury. The heart of a good
security plan is safety. If you know the difference, you’re moving in theright direction.
You don’t have to come up with safety and security plans all by
yourself, either. Get other parties involved and make sure to engage
venues, vendors, and local public safety agencies, as needed. Reach out
to other colleagues and see what they’re doing.
Make sure your security plan includes at least the basic elements.
Here’s a brief list of some simple safety steps:• Make sure exit signs are working• Confirm ADA compliance• Keep a list of contacts for emergency response from local public

safety (fire, police and medical)• Include venue security staff at pre-con meetings and ask to see their plan

• Know where local hospitals are located• If you have international attendees, know where their embassy or
•
•
•
•
•
•

consulate is located (and find US Embassies for your international
meetings)
In your RFPs, ask what other groups will be in-house over yourmeeting dates
On your registration forms, ask for attendee emergency contact info
Tape down cables and extension cords and any other trip hazards
Use battery operated candles instead of live flames
Back up and protect data and registration files
Keep abreast of news and weather, so you can plan and prepare

Hotels and venues also have an eye on safety. It may depend on sizeand location, but it’s common now for many sites to have 24-hour
security, which can include personnel, cameras, and programmable
door locks, among other elements.
Often a range of staff, from sales to housekeeping, are certified in
CPR and first-aid and assigned resources have relationships with local
emergency responders and hospitals. Large chains have even begun
training staff on active shooter scenarios.
With so much gun violence in the news, it is important that we try to
prevent the wrong people from getting into our meetings. Althoughhuman behavior is one of the hardest to predict in terms of security,
here are a few things to help you prepare:• Require attendees to wear name or registration badges while at themeeting (and have them take them off when not at the meeting)• Make sure hotel staff has a list of attendees and knows what
registration badges look like• Hire extra staff or a security firm to secure venue entrances, and ask
to see room keys at hotels• Train staff to know what to do or whom to contact when they see
someone who doesn’t belong (See something? Say something!)• Use polygraph or psychological evaluations when hiring new staff
and employees• Hire off-duty police officers to roam venue space and create a police
presence• Provide active-shooter training for your staff (and confirm hotel staff
has been trained, too)
• Create evacuation plans for your staff members in case they need toget attendees out in an emergency• Make first responders aware of your presence
Don’t be overwhelmed. You can’t prevent all bad things fromhappening, but by adding safety as part of your routine planning, you’ll
go a long way to making your attendees feel more secure.

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|

19

May Event Preview
By: Rebecca Staats

Viva Las Meetings! Long live meetings & long live MPI WI!
Join us and win BIG at our Las Vegas-themed 2018 Spring Education Day
which will take place on Wednesday, May 16 & Thursday, May 17. This year’s event will
be held at the traditionally beautiful Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Green Bay. The
property is located across from the Austin Straubel International Airport in the Green Bay,WI area. With the Oneida Casino attached to the venue, and sponsorship from the Las Vegas
Convention & Visitor's Authority, the Last Vegas theme was sealed! helped seal the deal on
the Las Vegas theme.
Viva Las Meetings Spring Education Day will kick off with our
Welcome Reception and Chairman’s Challenge on Wednesday
evening. Craps, Roulette, Black Jack got you stumped? Learnsome Vegas-style tricks of the trade with MPI-WI PresidentElect Tamara Jesswein and the professionals from Casino
Events! Never again feel intimidated to hit the casino floor. The
cost will be $20 to participate, and all proceeds go to the MPIFoundation for scholarships and grants. There will be plentyof bites, beverages, cards to play and dice to roll! Chairman’s
Challenge is sponsored by Radisson Hotel, Greater Green Bay
CVB and Casino Events, LLC.
Thursday includes can’t be missed education, (yourentertainment!), breakfast and lunch, exhibitors, three generalsessions, Community Outreach activity and two breakout
sessions.

Our showstopping education sessions
feature Michael Dominguez – Senior Vice
President and Chief Sales Officer for MGM
Resorts, Tyra Hilliard – speaker, attorney,
and professor of business, hospitality, andevent management at the College of Coastal
Georgia, and Alan Kleinfeld – a member of
MPI’s Security & Risk Management Task
Force and trained in Event Security by the
Department of Homeland Security.
Before lunch, we will have the opportunity to participate in thismonth’s Community Outreach program benefiting Big Brothers

20 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda																					Big Sisters of Green Bay and Fox Cities. During this Community
Outreach project, we will be stuffing backpacks with schoolsupplies for children facing adversity.
I don’t know how you will choose, but in the afternoon, there
are two breakout sessions to choose from: The Lawyer is (Real)In with Tyra Hilliard and Leadership Today – Are You Playing Chess or
Checkers? with Michael Dominguez.
Make a bet and experience the MPI WI Education Event of the Year!
For more information regarding the 2018 Spring Education Day andto register to attend, please visit www.mpiwi.org/events.

MICHAEL DOMINGUEZTYRA HILLIARD, PH.D., ESQ, CMP,

ALAN KLEINFELD, CMP, CMM

Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer

Hospitality Legal Expert, Author andMember of MPI’s Security & Risk

MGM Resorts International

Event Project Management

Management Task Force

Michael is providing oversight of sales
strategies in the MICE and transient
segments, including industry relations,diversity sales, and MGM Resorts
Events & Production Services. Michaelis actively involved in leadership roles in
the Meetings and Events Industry andcurrently serves as the Immediate Past
Chairman on the International Boardof Directors for Meeting Professionals
International. Michael’s Keynote titled,
Connecting The Dots: What Does All The
Disruption Mean From A Strategic View,
will assist us in understanding the needto move fast in changing organizational
structure, look at the impact of global
political and economic forecasts andhelp us understand new competition anddisruptive forces that will move us all.

Tyra is an attorney and professor
whose expertise is in legal and crisis
preparedness issues for the meetings,
events, and hospitality industries. Her
25-year meetings industry career has
included management roles in hotels,
travel, destination marketing, associations,catering, law and academia. She is oneof the only two people in the world who
is a practicing attorney, has a Ph.D. in
Hospitality, and has earned the Certified
Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Tyra’s Keynote titled, Bite Me! The Law
of Food & Beverage, will help us better
define service standards, evaluate due
diligence when dealing with ADA issues
and clarify the responsibilities andopportunities with food donation.

Alan is a planner with a badge! He’sa member of MPI’s Security & Risk
Management Task Force and trainedin Event Security by the Departmentof Homeland Security. He’s earned his
CMP, CMM and a Masters in Tourism
Administration, which he’s used forplanning events from 10 people toover 5,000 attendees for associations,
corporations and government all over
North America. Alan’s Keynote titled,
Band-Aids to Bad Guys: Turning Perils
into Protection, will help us learn how weshould react when an emergency occurs,
how to make conferences and meetingssafer and help us identify what questions
to ask yourself, venue and stakeholders inorder to keep attendees safe.

We look forward to seeing you all at our Las Vegas-Themed Spring Education Day!

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|21

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE

Amanda Ridout
Greater eau

Congrats to the following members who passed
the CMP exam in February and received their
Certified Meeting Planner credentials!

● Melissa Falendysz, CMP - National
Association of Tax Professionals● Allison Rocca, CMP - Orascoptic● Tricia Smith, CMP - Bartolotta Restaurant
Group

Congrats to Tracey Bockhop, CMP, who wasfeatured in the March issue of Successful
Meetings magazine! (see reprint of article on
page 14)
Place of employment: Harley-Davidson Museum
Where do you currently live? Milwaukee
How long in the meeting/event industry? Seven years
Tell us 2-3 things you are responsible for on the board:
As the Director of Member Care, I strive to bring value to our members throughdifferent programs and opportunities. I oversee the Red Carpet Team, who standnear the registration area to greet new members and help all members withquestions. I also facilitate an MPI 101 session at various programs throughout theyear. These sessions are for new members and guests to learn more about chapter
opportunities, as well as for veteran members to share experiences and get abroader understanding of our chapter.
What is the best part of being on the board? It amazing to be a part of a groupthat has very different perspectives and ideas, and to be able to have respectful andthoughtful conversations. We all have a common goal of doing what’s best for ourchapter, and we work hard to collaborate to make thoughtful decisions.
What have you learned most from being on the board? Being able to learn about
the intricacies of how a successful chapter operates is fascinating and is a great
learning experience.
What is the best advice you can give to someone who is thinking about getting
more involved in MPI? It’s a great opportunity to grow, both personally andprofessionally. There are volunteer opportunities available for anyone – beginningwith as little as one hour a month. Some volunteer opportunities are done at
chapter events, and some can be completed from a remote location. We can never
have too many volunteers!
Favorite hobbies or pastimes? I love watching sporting events, playing sandvolleyball in the summer, and spending time with my husband, Brad, and my dog,Max.

Congrats to Cheryl Oswald, CMP who received
the Venetian | Palazzo Experiential Event
Scholarship from the MPI Foundation for theupcoming NFL Draft Experiential Event!
Congrats to Cheryl Oswald, CMP on being
named one of Connect Magazine’s 40 under 40.
Congrats, Cheryl!

Waukesha’s Country Springs Hotel will
undergo extensive renovations to its guest
rooms, meeting space and other areas, andwill be renamed. The 187-room hotel, which
includes a water park, will be known as The
Ingleside Hotel when the project is completed
in spring 2018.

The Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton
will become the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley
under a new 20-year agreement. The property
has been undergoing millions of dollarsof renovations as part of a managementagreement for the new Fox Cities Exhibition
Center. Public spaces within the property havebeen renovated and work on the façade is set
to begin soon. The name change is scheduled
to occur sometime in May.

Favorite musical artist or band? I have a broad appreciation for music! Right now
my top three Pandora stations are Janet Jackson, Billy Joel, and The Steeldrivers.

22 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda																					

WE ARE BUSINESS MEETS PLEASURE
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800.867.9453 | WISCONSIN DELLS | WildernessResort.com

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|23

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Executive Chef Brian Singer
Growing up on the South side of Milwaukee ina predominately Polish neighborhood and the
youngest of five children, an intrigued young
Brian Singer spent a lot of time in the kitchen
helping his mother make shopping lists, cut up
vegetables and cook meals for the family.
At age 8, Singer was exposed to his first taste of
Asian cuisine. Only experiencing Polish fare so far,learning how to make Asian food was fascinating
to him. Instead of playing outside with friends,
Singer would ride his bike to the local library andseek out cookbooks searching for different recipesthat he and his mother could make for the family.
Brian’s mother always encouraged him to explore
different forms of expression and so enrolled him
in Alverno College to take art classes. Here, Singer
learned various skills in woodworking, welding
and metal fabrication, but his passion for theculinary arts would inevitably call to him.

Milwaukee Center for Independence’s “Meals
on Wheels” program as an instructor. Having
no previous teaching experience, Singer
worked with thirty disabled clients at one time,developing and teaching them to work in a
kitchen setting, producing 1,000 meals a day formany years!
While the city life would always be in his blood,in 2000, Singer took a hiatus from the corporate,city life and moved to his cottage in Northwoods,
something he always wanted to do since he wasa child. Accepting a position as Chef Manager
with Waube Lodge outside of Lakewood, Singer
felt he was home. But after a few years, the city
life called him back, which ultimately broughtSinger to the Green Bay area and eventually, to
the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.

Singer attended Milwaukee Area Technical College
and earned his Associate Degree in the Culinary
Arts, and later was awarded an apprenticeshipthrough the American Culinary Federation with
the Milwaukee Country Club. Singer’s goal was
to work and continue his education, but to his
surprise, the Federation granted him full credit
due to his on-site work experience and schooling.
Upon his successful completion, the Milwaukee
Country Club offered Singer a full time position– a first ever in the history of the Club! Over the
next five years, Singer was presented with a great
opportunity, as personal chef to the Pettit Family.

Under the guidance of Executive Chef, Craig
Kowsek, Singer started as Sous Chef in the
Shenandoah Restaurant. With his eagerness
to learn new skills Singer was promoted to
Banquet Chef, then became Executive Chef
in 2009. Since then, Executive Chef Singer has
built a team based on virtues he’s learned
growing up – cooperation, integrity, respect
and personal accountability. Chef Singer
believes these characteristics encourage hard
work, bringing with it personal empowerment
and achievement. He has developed methods
to increase productivity and continues to
exceed expectations through his patience andmentoring.

Singer’s resume continued to grow from there.
After working at the country club, he went on
to be a food contractor as a Corporate Chef forseveral years before taking a position with the

Executive Chef Brian Singer is successful because
he cares, shares and dares to move forward withhis Radisson family, utilizing core principles of
the “Yes I Can” brand.

Rolled Pork Loin Stuffed with Polish Sausage
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Pound a 2-3lb boneless pork loin with a meat mallet until about ½
inch thick.
Spread the pork loin with about 1/2lb fresh polish sausage(removed from casing)Roll meat up and tie with string
Roll in flour and brown in 4 tablespoons of hot vegetable oil
Season with salt, pepper, paprika and top with sliced onions

6. Transfer roast to an oven-safe baking dish7. Add ½ cup water to bottom of pan and place roast in pan
8. Bake covered at 325 degrees in oven for 1.5 hours
9. Replace liquid that evaporates as needed
10. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight
11. Remove string
12. To serve hot, slice thin and reheat in reserved pan drippings

This meal is excellent with braised red cabbage, sauerkraut and bacon, baby red potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and a cold beer.

24 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

			

MEET

1 W. Dayton St. Madison WI 53703 | 608 257 6000 | concoursehotel.com

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|25

SUPPLIER PROFILE

Stacey Lucas
Place of Employment: Paloma Resort Properties, which owns andmanages Geneva National Resort & Club and manages The Ridge
Hotel and The Cove of Lake Geneva
Job Title: Corporate Sales Manager
How long in the meetings industry? 10 years in the hospitality
industry, five of which has focused on planning meetings
Tell a bit about your company and/or current position:
Paloma Resorts manages a variety of venues in Lake Geneva, WI.
I am able to provide clients with several options for their retreatsand meetings, from a mid-century modern hotel or boutiquegroup villas to a gracious and sprawling clubhouse overlooking
Palmer’s 18th hole. I enjoy learning about groups and theirobjectives, and then devising ways for them to achieve their goals
in a relaxing, fun, and productive environment. I’m not restrictedto specific event menus or room setups, so I can create a uniqueexperience for each group — a challenge I really enjoy.

CORPORATE SALES MANAGER
PALOMA RESORT PROPERTIES

Person you admire and why: My mother, an incredibly strong
women who battled three different types of cancers in her
lifetime. Throughout her entire battle, she never gave up andmaintained a positive mentality, which I have adapted to a new
way of thinking about my own life. She will live on foreverthrough our family, but most importantly, I will carry her positive
outlook on life with me, embracing each new adventure head-on
with her strength and perseverance.    
Dream Vacation: Staying in one of those huts in Fiji — right out
in the middle of the water!

Meetings meet Convenience

Tell us about your family: I have an amazing father who lives on
the beach in Florida and is always my direct go-to when I need toescape the Midwest winter. My older brother lives in NYC with hiswife and two children. Together with my dad, we have a standing
Skype appointment every Sunday morning to reconnect. I take myrole as an aunt very seriously, meaning, my niece and nephew geta lot of care packages from Wisconsin! Online visits aren’t enoughfor us; we travel often to see each other throughout the year.   
Where were you born? Richmond, Virginia
Where do you currently live? Fontana, Wisconsin, a resort town
on Geneva Lake
If I won the lottery I would: Hire a driver so I could enjoy the ride.
Favorite Pastimes: Golf, mountain biking, and downhill skiing.
Checking out a new brewery is always fun, and if football is on,
it’s bound to be a Sunday fun day! GO PACK GO!
Favorite Musical Group: I am a huge country fan, especially theold-school classics like Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, andDavid Allen Coe.

Conveniently located between Milwaukee andMadison in Wisconsin, we offer complimentary
personalized services to help make your meeting a
success. Additionally, our area offers:
 More than 100,000 square feet of affordable,
flexible meeting space 1,100 guestrooms with complimentary parking
 Plenty of after-hours dining and entertainment
options for your attendees

Learn more at visitwaukesha.org/meetings

26 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

						

MILWAUKEE, WIMILWAUKEE HAS
IRON IN ITS BLOOD.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON WAS BORN HERE. GIVE YOUR ATTENDEESA TASTE OF THE FAMILY TRADITION OF CHROME, FREEDOM AND
WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE. YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANYARE ALREADY HOG WILD.
300,000 SQ. FT. CONVENTION CENTER | 16,000 HOTEL ROOMS | HOME TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S 115TH ANNIVERSARYMEET IN MILWAUKEE

VISITMILWAUKEE.ORG/MEETMPI Agenda

May/June 2018|27

PLANNER PROFILEDARLA LEICKManager, Global Accounts
Independent Associatewith HelmsBriscoe

Global Meetings
Industry Day
By: Katie McGinnis

How long in the meetings industry? 10+ years. A few years before
beginning with HelmsBriscoe I was an in-house meeting planner at asmall company in Central Wisconsin. I did everything from sourcing
and presenting options to the client, to organizing activities, creating
name badges, and going onsite with the group. That experience has
allowed me to have a better understanding of the entire meetingsprocess and the ability to better assist my clients. This year I willcelebrate 10 years with HB!
How long in MPI? Six years in March 2018.
Tell us about your company and/or position: Working withHelmsBriscoe allows me to streamline the meeting planning process
for my clients. I help them manage the time-consuming tasks ofsending RFPs, tracking down answers, following-up with hotels,setting up site visits, reviewing contracts, and AV quotes.
Teams or projects that you have worked on for MPI or would liketo be involved with: I was on a planning team for the Stevens Point
meeting, have sold raffle tickets, worked on the Bidding for Good
fundraiser, and this year will be greeting attendees upon arrival.
Tell us about your family: My husband and I have been married
for almost 36 years. We have two sons. Ryan is married toRebecca and they live in the Salt Lake valley with our two amazing
granddaughters, Emma (almost 8) and Elizabeth (almost 6). Our
younger son, Brad, is married to Sara and recently welcomed our
first grandson to the family!
Where do you currently live? My entire life I have lived in themetropolis of Stratford, WI. Current population 1571.
Favorite Pastimes: I live to travel. My most recent trips included a
girls-only trip to Greece, and a family and friends trip to Iceland. A
few other favorite travel memories include safaris and winelands inAfrica, doing the sound of music bike tour in Austria, Plitvice Lakes
and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and two Rotary Friendship Exchanges
to India and the Philippines. I have seen most of our beautiful
United States and love hiking in Canada. This year includes Tucson,
Edinburgh (thanks to the MPI-WI silent auction), Disney World withthe grandbabies, and Pennsylvania since it is one of the few statesthat I haven’t been to yet!
Favorite Musical Group: If I’m not listening to the local Christian Rockstation, I enjoy singing and car dancing to Billy Joel or Rod Stewart.
Dream Vacation: Life is too short so just save up and go! Africa was
my dream vacation. My husband’s bucket list includes Nepal, so thatwill be planned in the next year or two. Looking forward to seeing,
not climbing, the Himalayas.
Words to live by: Open your heart. Take risks. Enjoy life!

Over the last couple years, GMID has become an industry acronym
often used by meeting industry professionals and has become
an industry day of advocacy we all look forward to. GMID, orGlobal Meetings Industry Day is every April and is a day for all of
us to celebrate and bring awareness to the impact that businessmeetings, conferences, conventions have on people, business andcommunities. This year’s tagline is “Real results, real impact, allaround the world.” GMID started as National Meetings Industry
Day (NMID) that has been held in Canada for over 20 years. Afterthat it became North American Industry Meetings Day (NAMID) andquickly grew global for 2017. This event each year has been backed
by Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) which is an industrywide coalition to showcase the value of meetings and conventions.
Meetings Mean Business along with Meeting Professionals
International (MPI) rallied together to create a live feed of eventsfrom around the world where you could connect with your peersfrom 6 a.m. CST to 6 p.m. CST. From Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe,
North and South America we all united to celebrate our industry
and its importance in every country. MPI-WI chose to celebratewith Laura Schwartz, Professional Keynote Speaker and Emcee andbest-selling author of “Eat, Drink & Succeed!” and where we had
an amazing day. Other MPI events included MPI Atlanta learning
about networking with Colette Robicheau. Together MPI Belgium incooperation with MPI Germany learned how to “Energize the Future’
and MPI Brazil learned how to Innovate after economic crisis. All of
the events, which were over 160 noted by MMBC are all topics we
could relate to and learn from.
From a report about Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S.
Economy Report by Oxford Economics, every dollar spent on faceto-face meetings and business events generates an additional $1.60
for the U.S. economy. In 2016, 1.9 million meetings were held in the
United States, generating $845 billion in economic impact.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our GMID celebration a
success! Let’s keep celebrating and sharing the importance of inperson meetings and our industry.

28 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

						

COMING JUNE
2018
Lake Country’s favorite meeting and event venue
will soon become its newest. Our complete property
renovations will provide a simple yet beautifully
designed space for business and leisure travelers.
Featuring over 40,000 sq. ft. of flexible banquet
and meeting space, we invite you to experience
contemporary Lake Country hospitality at its
natural, vibrant best.
262-547-0201|

2810 Golf Rd., Pewaukee, WI

is becoming|

COUNTRYSPRINGSHOTEL.COM

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|

29

MPI WISCONSIN

New Members

Receptionist
Anniversaries
Madison College Trustyle Salon

35 YEARSMICHELLE FERRAROQ Centermichelle.ferraro@dolce.com
SUSAN M. IRIZARRY
Hotel Retlaw
sirizarry@thehotelretlaw.com
ANGELA JELLUM
Hyatt Regency Green Bay /KI Convention Centerangela.jellum@hyatt.com

SHIRLEY KRENTZ
American Society for Quality
Manager Event Management

25 YEARSSUSAN GRIGSBY, CMP
Gilda's Club Madison
Director of Events & Corporate
Partnerships

MELISSA KADLEC
Rockwell Automation Allen
Bradley Company
Corporate Events Planner

HOUA MOUA, CMP
University of Wisconsin Madisonhoua.moua@wisc.edu

JENNIFER LANZEL
Seventhwave
Meeting Planner

AMY MURPHY
Independent Pharmacy Cooperative

MARYANN MLEKUSH
Magna Publications, Inc
Conference Manager

JENNY SEFFROOD
Association of State Floodplain Managers
jenny@floods.org

SUSAN ARTS, CMP, HMCC
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc.
Project Director, Global Operations

5 YEARS

MARJI MONAGHAN
Hotel Mead & Conference Center
m.monaghan@hotelmead.com

DAN OTOOLE
Lake Shore Transportation
dan@lakeshoretransportation.com

20 YEARSLALIA RACH, EDD
University of Wisconsin Stout
Founder and Partner
KINDRA EVANS
PC/Nametag
Business Developtment Manager
JAMIE COWLING
Keystone Event Concepts LLC
President

1 YEARKELLY BOOTH
Hotel Marshfield
General Manager

BARBARA WIENHOLTZ
Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care
Executive Assistant/Event Planner

JILL ENGL
Milwaukee Public Museum
Events Director

ARIANNA DAVISHoliday Inn
Sales Executive

ETHAN ROSE
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Student

SCOTT DAVISMediasite Events
Account Executive

KATHY SCHULTZ
Lodge Kohler
Sales Executive

MIKAYLA DHEIN
River Club of Mequon
Director of Event Sales and Marketing

KILEY TIMM
Student

MONICA EGLI
Marriott International
Event Manager

ADAM VANOUWERKERKHyatt Regency Milwaukee
Sales Manager

30 |May/June 2018 MPI Agenda															

			

			

15324_Kalahari_2018 Group Sales_MPI Wisconsin_February 2018_v2
Trim: 7.5" W x 9.5" H • Bleed: .125" • Live: .125"› OPENING SEPTEMBER 2019
› ADDING A 52,000-SQUAREFOOT BALLROOM› DOUBLING IN SIZE: NOW
212,000 SQUARE FEET OF
FLEXIBLE CONVENTION SPACE› 10 MORE MEETING ROOMS,FOR A TOTAL OF 45

EXPANDING THE IDEALMEETING & EVENT EXPERIENCE
In September 2019, Kalahari Resorts& Conventions is expanding the venue
that consistently delivers personalized
meetings of all sizes. More space, moreamenities and more first-class service
means that your convention will be evenmore incredible.
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI

KalahariMeetings.com

Call 855-411-4605
to learn more©2018 Kalahari Development LLC

MPI Agenda

May/June 2018|31

WISCONSIN
CHAPTER

2820 Walton Commons, Ste 103
Madison, WI 53718
tel: 608.204.9816
fax: 608.204.9818
email: admin@mpiwi.org
web: www.mpiwi.org

MAY

16-17

JUNE

2-5
13-14

Spring Education Days
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Green Bay, WI

WEC
Indianapolis Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN

Golf Outing
Heidel House Resort & Spa
Tuscumbia Golf ClubGreen Lake, WI

JULY

Connecting you to theglobal meeting + event community

2018

18

Summer Social - Madison
Concerts on the Square

AUG

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

7

Summer Social - Fox Cities
Oshkosh, WI

TBD
SEPT

Datebook:

20

Summer Social - Milwaukee
Location TBD

Awards Gala
Miller High Life Theater
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Milwaukee, WI