MAR
APR
2020
VOL 42/NUM 2

SPRING EDUCATION, APRIL 2, 2020

C H A P T E RFree Attendance for all Planner Members(Thank you, Strategic Partners!)

TERRI WOODIN, CMPSAM GLENNAVA DIAMONDSPRING EDUCATION DAY SPEAKERS“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

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KalahariMeetings.com

Call 855-411-4605
to learn more©2019 Kalahari Development LLC

2|March/April 2020

MPI Agenda																

		

MARCH/APRIL 2020

MPI-WISCONSIN
2019-2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT
JOELLEN GRABER
Impact Association Management
joeygraber1@gmail.com
PRESIDENT-ELECTALISON HUTCHINSON
Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
ahutchinson@foxcities.org
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTTAMARA JESSWEIN, CMPHID Global
tamara.jesswein@hidglobal.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIPREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin
rdriscoll@wisbar.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
SHANNON TIMMERMAN, CMP
Glacier Canyon Conference Center
stimmerman@wildernessresort.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONSJASON KAUFFELD, CMP
jasonkauffeld@hotmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONREBECCA STAATSAAA of Wisconsin
rlstaats@aaawisconsin.com
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTSNICOLE ELLICKSON, CMP
CUNA
nicoleellickson@gmail.com
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSMELISSA FALENDYSZ, CMP
National Association of Tax Professionals
mfalendysz@naptax.com
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER CARELIZ UNRUH
Wisconsin Center District
eunruh@wcd.org
DIRECTOR OF AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENTCATHY CLUFF
Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau
cathy@visitoshkosh.com
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
KATHY READINGThe Scan Group, Inc.
reading@scangroup.net
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONSSHERRY WOLFF
Kohlersherry.wolff@kohler.com
DIRECTOR OF MONTHLY PROGRAMMINGJOSHUA WIMMERRadisson Hotel Milwaukee Westjmwimmer@wi.rr.com
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PROJECTSKYRA POPP
Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
kyra@wisdells.com

VOL 42 / NUM 2

Feature Articles

January in Lake Geneva: Recap from a Guest's Perspective

8

Gather in Appleton to Rock Your Pitch

13

Spring Education Day
What's Your Vision?

15

About Our Guest Speakers

16

Leading from the Inside Out

18

Does Laughter Belong in the Workplace?

19

Strategic Hotel and Contract Negotiations

20

Bidding for Good Support

26

MPI-WI’s CMP 101 – What’s It All About?

33

In Every Issue
Editor’s Note

4

President’s Column

6Social Responsibility: MPI Continues to Fight Human Trafficking

10Supplier Profile: Sarah Banach			12

Who's in the News				

22

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

24

Volunteer Spotlight: Ann Marie Hess, CMP

24

New Members & Anniversaries				28

Food for Thought: Chef Ramses Alvarez

32

Board Member Profile: Joshua Wimmer

34

CalendarBC

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

Facebook: facebook.com/mpiwi
Twitter: twitter.com/mpiwisconsin
LinkedIn: MPI-WI Chapter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpi_wi_chapter 																	MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

3

MPI-WISCONSIN CHAPTEREDITOR'S NOTE
Hello again MPI Wisconsin!

Published bimonthly by
Meeting Professionals International –Wisconsin Chapter

In this Agenda, I want
to discuss technology.
Having worked in hotels
for the past ten years, I
understand that the topic
of technology can inspire
many different angles andsubtopics.

CO-EDITORS
Katie McGinnis
Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Downtown
kmcginnis@firsthospitality.com
Cheryl Oswald, CMP
Kohl'sCheryl.Oswald@kohls.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Steve Reiner
Kathy Reading
Josh Wimmer
Kyra Popp
Rebecca Staats
Ava Diamond
Sam Glenn
Terri Woodin, CMP, CHSE
Beth Schnabel, CED, CUDEPHOTOGRAPHY
Kathy Reading
Shannon Timmerman, CMPJosh WImmer
Sherry Wolff

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs

PUBLICATION DEADLINES
May/June 2020
Deadline: March 15, 2020
July/August 2020
Deadline: May 15, 2020
September/October 2020
Deadline: July 15, 2020

PERMISSIONS
Material in this publication may not be
reproduced in any form without permission.
Statements of fact and opinion within Agenda
are the responsibility of the author(s) anddo not imply an opinion of the officers or
members of MPI or MPI-Wisconsin Chapter.
4|

March/April 2020

In my role, I know that we
strive to have the latest
audio-visual equipment
and technology tools
available, but I wonder if all of our clients understand how to makethe most of our options. When I walk into a space, I want to be able toknow how to use a piece of equipment without having to read throughinstructions. I want my clients to be able to do that, as well.
Technology should be a continual investment to support ourclient’s experience…but staying on-trend is challenging. Your techpurchase may have a newer alternative as soon as you add it to yourpricing sheet. When selecting new equipment for your properties, I
recommend you research expert advice to evaluate what might be afad or what is a lasting game changer.
When you evaluate new options, make sure that you and others canuse the equipment intuitively, with limited instruction. When you tour
your client, you’ll want to demonstrate the equipment confidently andwith ease.
One technology accessory that really can be daunting to keep up withis computer adapters! With every new version of a laptop or mobile
device comes a new adapter. Hotels and all venues do their very
best to keep up, but remember that your particular needed adapter
may not be on hand. In my metropolitan site, we can often run to anelectronics store, but I certainly recommend carrying adapters thatwork with your computer. I also recommend including a label with yourname and phone number on it in case it is accidentally left behind.
For smaller events, consider renting a TV/screen instead of a screen
and projector. Ask to compare pricing to save cost and valuable
space in the room.
If you aren’t confident when using or renting AV equipment, reach out
to one of our fantastic members who work for a media company tolearn more! I hope you enjoy this latest Agenda!

Katie McGinnis

MPI Agenda																

		

The annual business dinner was billed as“The Next Big Thing.” And the organizer
wanted us to make it a can’t-miss experience.
Inspired by our panoramic views of the lakeand state capitol, our AV team createdan all-new 180° of amazing.
Cue the surround sound.

Let us orchestrate your incredible.
Connect with us at MononaTerrace.com
Madison, WI© 2020 Monona Terrace

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

5

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
right here in our Agenda! If you’re looking to get involvedin any way, contact Liz Unruh on our membership team.
She’ll put you in contact with the right person to makesure your volunteer experience is a great fit. There issomething for everyone!

We’re in the midst of an exciting season for
MPI-Wisconsin. March gives us a monthoff, but April brings our annual Spring
Education Days. Last year’s inaugural
JO ELLEN GRABER
President, MPI-WI Chapter

Trivia Night was a fun-filled success! I lookA

event, the night before Spring Education.

forward to seeing you all at this year’s Trivias I write this, we’re halfway through our 2019-20
MPI year. I remember how nervous and excited
I was to start this journey. I recall insight froma former president: “people will fall into two
categories, people who never know you were president
and people who still think you are.” When I first heard it,
I thought it was a funny line for my transition speech for
Tamara, our current IPP, but in retrospect, it holds a lot oftruth. Who our president currently is may not stand out.
And, I understand that I may be most remembered as thepresident who brought a zoo of kids to the gala.
Our chapter thrives because of our talented team -- bothon the front lines and behind the scenes. These behindthe scenes leaders and volunteers are really at the heartof this organization.
If you have ever thought about volunteering, we have aposition that fits your needs. If you’re not sure if you havethe time, an easy first step is to be a table captain -- an
opportunity to make sure everyone at your table has an
introduction and feels welcome. My goal, and that of ourmembers, is that our chapter is a warm and welcoming
place to old and new members alike.

May gives us a chance to visit Appleton for another
terrific educational and networking meeting. Please makeplans to spend the night to enjoy a historic pub crawl
after the reception, hosted by the Fox Cities Convention
and Visitors Bureau is hosting.
In June, we break for the summer, and some members
head to the World Education Conference (WEC) in
Grapevine, Texas. If you have never been to WEC, I urge
you to attend. It is a valuable opportunity to see whata city can do for a meeting or conference, and a great
opportunity to network with fellow MPI members from allover the world.
See you soon in Wisconsin!

Another goal is to make sure that volunteer opportunities
give members a chance to grow professionally andknow what they are doing is meaningful to the chapter.
If you want to get your creative juices flowing, join our
Gala Team, Trivia Team, or Spring Education Team. Wantto have a say in the speakers at our events? Join our
speaker team. Do you enjoy writing? Contribute an article

6|

March/April 2020 MPI Agenda																	MEET CENTEREDIN THE HEART OF MADISONThe Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club is the largest convention hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.
We offer 373 guest rooms and 27,000 square feet of flexible meeting space--all located steps from the Wisconsin State
Capitol and State Street. Meeting attendees can experience Madison at the top by staying in our Governor’s Club
executive level: The Governor’s Club. With spacious guestrooms and access to a newly-renovated lounge with a capitol
view; meeting attendees will have a place to connect and relax.

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

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

7

Januaryin Lake Geneva:
Recap from a Guest’s Perspective
By: Steve Reiner, Director of Development, Mid-West & Mid-Atlantic Regions, at Private Jet ServicesAs a frequent supplier guest to MPI chapter
events all across the Midwest, I wanted tohighlight my incredible experience this pastmonth at the Lake Geneva Resort, hosted by
the MPI-WI Chapter.
The Grand Geneva Resort was a warm winterwonderland, with an exceptional menu that included
plenty of options for all diets. The comforting venue andhospitality made me feel like I was on vacation rather
than a mid-week work conference.
Fantastic Keynote speaker in Matthew D. Jones who
overcame such incredible odds in his life, was very
engaging upbeat and informative, overall a real positive
influence on all that attended.
Most importantly, the chapter members were genuinely
welcoming and hospitable to me as a first-time guest,
who didn’t know any other attendees. I walked intoa warm greeting by the registration staff who wereincredibly helpful and friendly. During breakouts,
I found plenty of engaging conversations. Several
knowledgeable members would escort me across theroom, introducing me to other professionals who would
be beneficial to my network.
One of the best networking experiences I’ve had to date!”

Note from the event team: We always love to hear thatour guests enjoy our events. Special thanks to the teamat Grand Geneva for the unique and delicious food. (Thehummus bar had everyone buzzing!) From the flurry ofnotes and social media posts, we know that Matt Jones
was inspirational to all. For all of the people who helped
make this a successful event, we’re feeling “too blessed
to be stressed!”

8|

March/April 2020 MPI Agenda																	Photo credits: Kathy Reading, Shannon Timmerman, CMP, Josh WImmer, Sherry Wolff

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

9

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYMPI CONTINUES TO

FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
By: Kathy Reading

MPI Global takes its role seriously in combatting humantrafficking—which affects an estimated 21 million people,
including children, around the world.

•In, 2019, MPI signed the ECPAT-USA’s Code of Conduct
for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in
Travel and Tourism (known as “The Code”). This is the only
voluntary set of business principles that companies within
our industry can implement to prevent child sex tourism
and trafficking of children.
While there is still room for improvement, awareness has
increased among meeting professionals. According to therecent MPI Meetings Outlook report, 27% of respondents
believe that hoteliers and venues are doing enough tofight human trafficking—up from 13%, year over year.
When it comes to whether or not planners are doing
enough, the results are essentially unchanged, with 18% of
respondents indicating planners are doing enough.
Traffickers are still using hotels and airlines to carry out
their heinous crimes. We all can do more.

•

Download and use the Traffickcam app, which enables
you to help combat sex trafficking by uploading photosof the hotel rooms you host or stay in when you travel.
The purpose of TraffickCam is to create a database of
hotel room images that an investigator can efficiently
search to find other photos from the same location as
an image that is part of an investigation.

10|

March/April 2020

Hotels should train every employee to recognize thesigns of human trafficking. This training should be
repeated often to keep it front of mind.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

888-373-7888••

Planners can inquire in RFPs if hotels have antitrafficking awareness programs in place, and request a
copy of their policy.
Watch for signs at your venue or while traveling. While
not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags
that could alert you to a potential trafficking situationthat should be reported:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Multiple people in cramped space
Inability to speak to individual alone
Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed“Employer” is holding identity documents
Signs of physical abuse
Submissive or fearful

Together, we can learn more and make a difference in thefight to end human trafficking.

MPI Agenda																

				

HOME OF THE

FLYINGART MUSEUM
ON THE WATERTHE

BLOODYMARYMETROPOLISHOME BASE OF

HARLEYDAVIDSON

Sometimes random. Always wonderful.
Plan your next meeting in Milwaukee at visitmilwaukee.org/meet
300,000 SQ. FT. CONVENTION CENTER | 17,000 HOTEL ROOMS
170 DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS | 10 MILES OF LAKEFRONTMPI Agenda

March/April 2020|11

Supplier Profile: Sarah Banach
Senior Account Manager, Marcus Hotels and Resorts
Tell us about your company and/or position:
I represent our three Marcus Hotels downtown
Milwaukee – The Pfister Hotel, Hilton Milwaukee City
Center, and our newest property: Saint Kate the Arts
Hotel. I am the Senior Account Manager on the M1
Sales team focusing on the Corporate Market. Marcus
Hotels owns or manages 22 properties across the US.
We also have the Marcus Theatres division, which is
the 4th largest Theatre Company in the US!
How long in the meetings industry?: I’ve been in
hospitality my whole life, specifically with Marcus
Hotels and the meetings industry since 2003.
What drew you to our industry? My parents haveowned and managed Mr. G’s Supper Club in DoorCounty for the last 43 years. For many reasons, andthanks to my upbringing, hospitality was always
something I loved. As I continued through college, I
learned more about the Meetings and Events industry
and decided to follow my path in that direction.
What drew you to become a member with MPI and/or what do you like most about being a member of
MPI? Marcus Hotels has always supported MPI and its
mission, especially our Wisconsin chapter. When I joined
our sales team, I saw it as an opportunity to meet people
and a chance to represent our Hotels proudly.
Favorite pastimes: Golfing, traveling, and any outdoor
time with Bennett!

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March/April 2020

Teams or projects that you have worked on for
MPI or would like to be involved with: As soon as
I joined MPI, I started volunteering – it was the BESTway to meet so many people that were also passionate
about the organization! I then joined the Special Events
Committee and soon after our MPI-WI Board.
Tell us whatever you like about your family and home
town: My hometown of Jacksonport, in Door County, isa special place to grow up. I have four brothers. Yes, I’m
the only girl! And my parents are the most hardworking
individuals I know. My husband Greg and I started ourown little family in 2018 when we welcomed Bennett,
our adorable little boy (#babybennyboo)! Family is mypriority, so working for a company like Marcus Hotels
and having organizations like MPI that support work-lifebalance is precious.
Favorite music/band/artist/movie or book:
I’ve got an appreciation for a wide variety of music.
From Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones to Vampire
Weekend and Foo Fighters – there is an endlessamount of talented artists!
Still on my bucket list: Travel, travel, travel! This world
is full of beautiful places to see.
Words to live by: The things you think about, focus on,
and surround yourself with will ultimately shape whoyou become. Try to see good in all things.

MPI Agenda																			Gather in Appleton to
Rock Your Pitch!
By: Josh Wimmer and Kyra Popp
Mark your calendars for May 14. You’ll want to join us
at the Red Lion Hotel in Appleton for a fun and fruitfulafternoon of networking and education. With a premierlocation in the heart of downtown Appleton, the Red Lion
Hotel Paper Valley offers 38,000 square feet of event
space, free 24-hour shuttle to Appleton International
Airport (ATW) and on-site dining at the award-winningLombardi’s Steakhouse.

investment in a business, talking your boss into a raise, or

Our speaker, Melanie Spring, will present a powerfulapproach to Rock your pitch! Whether you’re asking for

Watch your email and MPI-WI social media for details to

explaining the value of proposition, numbers tell the story.
Melanie Spring will help you to craft a pitch from the story
the numbers tell in a straightforward and manageable way.
You’ll walk away with things you can change immediately inyour current presentation or just what you needed to create
the one that’s in your head.

Photo credit: Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley

follow for this exciting May event.

		

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

13

CONNECT.
COLLABORATE.
CELEBRATE.
Brookfield is Wisconsin’s premier
event destination!

Now Open: The Brookfield
Conference Center!

Over 235,000 square feet of meeting space.

Two completely modular ballrooms- 18,000
sq ft and 6,000 sq ft,

16 hotels and more than 2,500 sleeping
rooms available,
3 million square feet of shopping and 150
restaurants,
Located on I-94 between Madison and
Milwaukee.

Seasonal outdoor green space and glass
atrium- perfect for smaller gatherings,
Onsite catering and beverage service,
Attached Hilton Garden Inn and plenty offree parking.

262-789-0220 www.visitbrookfield.com
March/April Full page ad.indd 1

14

2/3/20 9:09 AM|
March/April 2020
MPI Agenda									
14|March/April 2020 MPI Agenda																																			

		

Spring Education Day
What's Your Vision?
By: Rebecca Staats & Kyra Popp

Get your education, fun, and networking all in one place!
Join us April 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee for our
Trivia Night and Spring Education Day!
We will kick off Wednesday night with our Second Annual
Trivia Night! On Thursday, get ready to get focused ona full day of education. Speakers will provide insight on
event design, negotiation, leadership, and tools for apositive outlook to tackle the decade ahead. We promisea day education that is full of vision and inspiration.

This year’s Trivia Night competition will feature a broad
range of topics, including movies, celebrities, sports, andfun facts about our sponsors. Build your team of four-eightpeople! Make it even more fun with a team theme, attire,and name. No teammates? No worries! We’ll create teams
for anyone who wants to play! Please register and email
your team name, member’s names, and email addresses
to admin@mpiwi.org by March 25, 2020.

We are excited to announce we will again be offering
complimentary planner member registration for the thirdyear in a row! Thanks to the support of our chapter’s
Strategic Partner Program, our Spring Education Day will
be free of charge to our planner members.
TRIVIA ON TAP
Join us for “Trivia on Tap” - MPI-WI’s Second Annual
Trivia Night! The evening will include a reception hosted
by the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, a cash bar, silent
auction (which will carry over until after lunch the nextday), option to purchase mulligans for free answers, andprizes you won’t want to miss! Registration is only $25!
Trivia Night is an excellent opportunity to connect, meetother MPI-WI members, and enjoy a fun-filled kick-off
evening before our outstanding Spring Education Day.

MPI
MPIAgenda
AgendaMarch/April
March/April2020
2020

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15

Spring Education Day
About Our Guest Speakers

AVA DIAMONDSAM GLENNTERRI WOODIN, CMP

Ava Diamond works with organizations
to leverage the talent and potential of
their leaders and their people so they
can do the best work of their lives. She
works with everyone from executives
to front line professionals to createaligned, focused organizations where
people are passionately committed toresults.

“I didn’t set out to be the best
motivational speaker in the world. I
simply wanted to make a difference.
You don’t have to be perfect to make apositive contribution. You just have to bewilling and start small. Eventually, thelittle things add up.” - Sam Glenn

Terri Woodin, CMP, is Vice Presidentof Marketing and Global Meeting
Services at Meeting Sites Resource(MSR). She has been with MSR
since 2012 and is responsible forstrategically partnering with MSR
customers on all facets of globalsite research, custom hotel contract
negotiations, meeting support
services, and Strategic Meetings
Management (SMM) solutions.

Ava Diamond fills her programs with
the inspiration, motivation, and tools
people need to succeed. Participantsin her programs find her inspiring,empowering, down-to-earth, andfunny! You’ll walk away with greatideas and the know-how to implementthem.
Ava has worked for global
corporations and nonprofits, including
owning two businesses. She hasserved as a leader in change
management, business consolidation,
diversity, strategic planning,leadership development, and effective
team building. She has also served
as an executive director of a nonprofit
and has owned two businesses.
She holds a Masters Degree inManagement and Organizational
Behavior.

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March/April 2020

Sam Glenn’s wisdom and stories aregleaned from his own life experiencesof successes and failures. Having
lost a very successful business due
to fire, Sam became negative, broke,
depressed, jobless, and homeless,almost overnight. It was a chanceencounter — and subsequent
friendship — with Zig Ziglar thateventually gave Glenn a “kick in theattitude.” Within two years, Glenn wentfrom sleeping on the floor to achieving
dreams he once thought impossible.
Sam’s ability to pull positivity out ofadversity has led him to become theleading voice on the topic of attitude
as it relates to being a leader, dealing
with change, cultivating a culture ofengagement, improving customer
service, and improving your personal
and professional development. Overthe years, Sam’s energetic and often
humorous programs engage, equip,
and empower audiences with anattitude recharge that will improve
performance in their professional, as
well as personal lives.

Terri is an industry veteran with
35 years in the hospitality industry
with extensive experience in hotel
operations, hotel sales, and meeting
planning. She has been an MPI
member since 1996 and has held the
CMP designation since 1997.
Terri currently serves globally on The
Meeting Professional Advisory Board
for MPI and with her alma mater on
The School of Hospitality Businessat Michigan State University Boardof Directors. She also volunteers for
Project Angel Heart, Ronald McDonald
House, and Children’s Hospital. Most
recently, Terri was awarded one of theTop 25 Women Industry Leaders by
SMART Meetings Magazine, awarded
the (MIC) Meetings Industry Council
Leadership Award, and earned the
SPIN 40 Over 40 Leadership Award.

MPI Agenda																

				

Welcome to the Premier Life!
Best Western Premier
Waterfront Hotel andConvention Center

Located on the banks of the Fox River in downtown Oshkosh,the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel offers guests a variety ofÞrst-class amenities, friendly hospitality and a beautiful location.

• 176 guest rooms, including eight suites. Rooms feature a
refrigerator, microwave, high speed internet, safe and river views.
• TripAdvisor® #1 Oshkosh hotel 2013 - 2020
• 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space for up to 1,200 guests• Pool and whirlpool with extended hours• 24-hour Business Center and Fitness Center• Located on the river walk and within walking distance torestaurants and shops• Ground Round at River’s Edge - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner#1 in Guest Satisfaction
among Upscale Hotel

1 N. Main Street
Oshkosh, WI
920-230-1900

bwoshkosh.com

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|17

Spring Education Day

Guest Speakers' Articles

Leading from the Inside Out
By: Ava Diamond
There’s a truth that many of us
don’t want to hear. We turn awayfrom it, ignore it, and say it isn’tso, but it’s still the truth.
Here it is.

All of the choices you
have made up until thispoint make up the life you are living rightnow. All of them.
The jobs you’ve had, the books you’ve read, the places
you’ve traveled, the relationships you’ve formed, theopportunities you’ve pursued or not pursued, your selfconcept, what you think, what you say to yourself daily,
and what you’ve done with the cards you’ve been dealt. Allof these things combined created your current life.
Many people believe the opposite. They believe that“facts” and circumstances of their lives have shaped whothey are today. They allow themselves to remain victimsof those circumstances. They get stuck in “if only” and“what could/should have been.” Yet, those events, thosecircumstances don’t shape our lives—we do!
It’s how we think about those events, what meaning we
assign to them, what action we choose to take, what
impact we let them have that shape our lives. And it all
starts with our thoughts and our beliefs.
STUFF HAPPENS
Let’s face it. Challenging circumstances happen.
Relationships end. Clients drop us. Children disappoint us.
An event doesn’t turn out the way we envisioned it. Friends
move away. People die. The question is what we do withthese challenges.

THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN US AND
SUCCESS IS…
One of my clients, Larry Firestone, the CEO of Eastside
Distilling tells his team, “The only thing standing between
us and success…is us!” Yikes!
That means the only thing standing between me andsuccess is me. The only thing standing between you andsuccess is you. The only thing standing between us andwhat we want most in the world is us: our thought patterns,
our beliefs, and our willingness to take effective action.
SELF LEADERSHIP
Each of us is 100% responsible for our own lives. We’ve
got to influence ourselves to think and behave in ways thatenable us to live the lives we crave.
To live a purposeful and fulfilling life, we need to takecharge of our thoughts, our words, and our actions.
START HERE
To be a leader in your industry, in your community, in yourfamily, or anywhere else, you must first lead yourself.
Here are five questions to think about as you move toward
more consciously leading from the inside out:

1. What are your most important values. Do you live themevery day?

2. What can you do to live a more meaningful life?
3. How can you simplify your life and focus on what’s mostimportant to you?

4. What is stopping you from living the life you crave?
5. If you could send a message that would influence theworld in a positive way, what would you say in one
minute?
Please join me in April at your Spring Education for myprograms:

Will we let life’s trials stop us dead in our tracks, give up,
and keep us stuck? Or will we find our way through anduse our challenges as a catalyst to dig deep, to remindourselves of our values and our value, and to live more
fully than we’ve ever lived before?

Extreme Engagement! How to Create Irresistible Meeting
Experiences for Maximum Impact - and -Ultimately, the choice is ours.

I’ll see you there!

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March/April 2020

Inside Out Leadership: Developing Your Inner Leader toMake a Positive Difference and Drive Results.

MPI Agenda																

		

Spring Education Day

Guest Speakers' Articles

Does Laughter Belong in the Workplace?
By: Sam Glenn(Edited for space)
If I spent a day in your workplace, how much laughter
would I hear? That was thequestion I posted on Facebook @samglennspeaks, and it went viral
to over 25 million people! People
started tagging their coworkers,
saying things like, “I am so glad
we can laugh at work because,
without laughter, we would go crazy.” “I need a new job!
I only hear crickets.” Others shared their not-so-uplifting
opinions as to why laughter doesn’t belong in the workplace.
(I can only imagine they must be fun to work with – NOT!)
So, that begs the question: does laughter or having a
sense of humor really belong in the workplace? Can you be
serious about your work and still enjoy a good laugh witha coworker or a client from time to time? Is it allowed? Is it
good for business? Does it help morale?
In all my research, the needle points to “YES.” Having a
sense of humor and laughter in the workplace is healthy,
valuable, and improves the wellness of attitudes.
Let’s examine a few benefits of why humor in the workplace
is a good thing for everyone’s attitude.
1. HUMOR IS AN INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP TOOL
I have had the pleasure of speaking to nearly every type ofindustry you can imagine over 25 years, and the smartest
leaders I have met use positive humor as a positive
resource for creating a more positive workplace. Notice, I
didn’t say they try to be comedians. They use a little lightheartedness to add a jolt of positivity to everyone’s day.
They use humor to connect and demonstrate that they, too,are human.
“A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting
along with others, and of getting things done.”– D. Wight Eisenhower
2. LAUGHTER IN THE WORKPLACE CREATES APOSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
Laughter allows employees to see situations in a lessthreatening way. A light-hearted perspective doesn’t ignore
the seasons of work or daily adversity, but instead, it helps
us acknowledge it with a clearer frame of resilient thinking.
That is what a little laughter can do – it cleanses the mental
palette, so we think better, do better, and live better.

3. LAUGHTER IN THE WORKPLACE GETS MORE WORKDONE
A study by Mark Bean and John Kounios of Northwestern
University found that people in a better mood are more
likely to perform better at carrying out a task or solving aproblem. The researchers played a funny video and ananxiety-inducing video for the participants and measured
their work performance afterward. They discovered thatthe participants were able to solve more problems after the
mood-lifting comedy video.
4. HUMOR IN THE WORKPLACE IS GOOD MEDICINE
If laughter is the best medicine, why not incorporate thatwellness into the workplace? There is significant researchthat laughter is a powerful therapy that reduces anxiety anddepression. According to Heidi Beckman, Ph.D., UWHC
– Health Psychology: “Workplace laughter is a realistic,
sustainable, and generalizable intervention that enhances
employee’s morale, resilience, and personal efficacy/
productivity beliefs.”“Humor has the ability to rise above any situation, even if
only for a few seconds.” – Viktor Emil Frankl
5. LAUGHTER AT WORK STRENGTHENSRELATIONSHIPS
When we laugh together, we grow stronger together. We
form a connection that makes what we do and who we do itwith more enjoyable. Long before I became a professional
speaker, I worked the graveyard shift cleaning floors at
office buildings in Chicago for little pay. It was work, andI was grateful. I didn’t have a supportive boss, resources,
or situation, but what took the “lousy” out of the job was
enjoying a good laugh with my coworkers. I needed thoselaughs. They gave me energy, made me feel better, cleared
my mind, and helped me look forward to something positivein a mess of not so positives.
In closing, I would like to point out that laughter andhumor in the workplace are not about being a comedianor something you should try to force. Let it come naturally.
Keep it pure and positive. Nobody should ever feel hurt or
belittled by it. My work is about helping people think better,so they do better and live better. If you want to improve thepower of positivity in your attitude, workplace, health, andrelationships, start by looking on the lighter side.
“You will never look back on your life and wish you had
laughed less. So lighten up!” – Sam GlennMPI Agenda

March/April 2020|19

Spring Education Day

Guest Speakers' Articles

Strategic Hotel and Contract Negotiations
By Terri Woodin, CMP, CHSE
Q. Our industry is undergoingsignificant change. What
are the current trends that
impact meeting planner andhotel communications andnegotiations?
A. First, meeting demandhas greatly increased, which
has spiked hotel occupancy,
average daily rate, and RevPAR (revenue per availableroom). Add significantly reduced new hotel room inventory
to the equation, and we remain in a seller’s market.
Q. How do meeting planners successfully negotiate inthis changing marketplace?
A. In a seller’s market, hoteliers can be choosy. Planners
must evaluate each meeting, assess their leverage, andhave a negotiation plan. Hotels in the upscale brands areturning down two-three meetings for every one they accept
and contract.
Q. Can you provide a few tips that planners can use toensure improved communications and negotiations?
A. There are several steps planners can take, including:• Utilize a strategic RFP process. In addition to sleeping
rooms and suites by category/night, and meeting andevent agenda, identify minimum square footage andceiling height for all space, set up/tear down times,
production and technology needs, three years of meeting
history, and any special requirements. Incomplete RFP’s
often receive an automatic “no availability” response.
• Assess your leverage for each meeting. From each RFP,
calculate total sleeping room revenues (hotels’ biggest
profit center at 77% on average), food & beveragecontribution (second-biggest profit center at 38% on
average), rooms to space ratio (heaviest day space needs
as percentage of total hotel space) and ancillary spend on
AV/production, business center, golf, spa, etc.
• Create a custom hotel contract process. This allows
all contract content and terms to be presented at one
time and properly evaluated by the hotel for review andcounteroffers. Your custom contract should include allcontract legal components, value-added concessions,hotel fees, and surcharges (eliminate or reduce),
performance clauses (based on profit, not revenue), andcompany liability language.
• Track all meeting history and spend. Contracted rooms
vs. per night pick-up, F & B revenues, hotel services
spend, total volume by individual hotel, chain, anddestination. Review performance and total revenue

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March/April 2020

contributions during the negotiations process for added
meeting value.
Q. Many planners utilize hotel contract addendums.
What are the issues and challenges associated with thisprocess?
A. While popular, addendums often don’t address all
responsibilities and performance accountability. Typically,addendums include select performance clauses, concessions,and legal department liability language. When the planner’s
addendum is added to the hotel’s contract, it creates
conflicting language. Instead, the addendum language
should be incorporated into the hotel’s contract to avoid aconflict as to what standards should apply in the event of
non-performance. In most cases, an arbitrator would sidewith the hotel’s master contract. The intent of an addendum
is for changes to the contract content to be modified after thecontract is countersigned, such as room block or meeting
space changes.
Q. On the topic of negotiations, what are some key
components that planners should focus on today?
A. Planners flag select meeting components that can impact
both the quality and cost of their meeting. As an example,
technology support is not only complicated but a potential
budget buster. For major technology needs, many potential
fees must be evaluated and negotiated, including hardware
needs, set up/tear down, internet, bandwidth, access fees,
and technology support costs. Of course, all these techcomponents are negotiable, and specific services and pricing
should be addressed in the contract.
Another growing focus is the trend for ancillary hotel fees.
Although meeting demand and attendance is up, meetingbudgets remain flat. To compensate, hotels are incorporating
a multitude of fees and surcharges (which topped three billion
dollars in the US in 2019). All hotel fees are negotiable, and thegoal is to reduce or eliminate them based on the value of yourmeeting.
Q. What do you see as the biggest challenges for meeting
planners in this current environment?
A. There are increased expectations by senior management for
improved planner productivity, added meeting value, contract
risk reduction, and ROI. Planners need to create specific metrics
to define and measure success and share results with managers
and meeting stakeholders. An easy first step is creating a costsavings and contract risk reduction/cost containment report foreach meeting. Many other value components can be captured
and reported, both from the countersigned contract and during
the meeting management process.

MPI Agenda																

		

L A K E COU N T RY ’ S
GAT H E R I NG PL AC E
Our complete property renovations provide a
simple yet beautifully designed space for businessand 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.

2 6 2 . 5 4 7. 0 2 0 12810 Golf Road
Pewaukee, WI 53072
theinglesidehotel.com

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|21

Compiled by MPI-WI Members

Sarah Banach and her husband Greg
are expecting their second child.
The future Banach will be welcomedby two-year-old big brother Bennett.
Can’t wait to meet the next Baby
Banach!

Kimberly Himes has been promoted
to National Sales Manager for Las
Vegas Convention and Visitors
Authority. We’re proud to have
Kimberly as an active member of ourchapter. We love Vegas, Kimberly!

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March/April 2020

Kristen Salewski, CMP has beenpromoted to Vice President ofMarketing at Midwest Financial
Group. Kristen brought her provenexperience to the group in 2018,
and will use her knowledge andleadership skills in this new role. Wellearned, Kristen!

Jason Kauffeld, CMP, has accepted
the position of Marketing Director
with Destination Lake Winnebago
Region (fdl.com). Jason is excited
to be part of the Destination Lake
Winnebago team promoting thisregion to groups and visitors. Jason,
your background and enthusiasm willserve FDL well!

Katie McGinnis, her husband Sean,
and their daughter Shae are all
looking forward to welcoming a new
baby to their happy family. Katie isalso the new Director of Sales atthe Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
Milwaukee. This historic Hilton venue
features 127 guest rooms, over 8,800
square feet of on-site meeting andevent space, and a historic downtown
setting. Katie, you’re making it ALL
happen in 2020!

Pam Seidl, Fox Cities Convention &Visitors Bureau (FCCVB) Executive
Director has been named to a

MPI Agenda																

				

committee for the Governor’s
Council on Tourism. Pam will serveon the Meetings and Convention(M & C) Committee, which provides
specialized knowledge and tools
necessary to advance the state’s
meeting and conventions sector.
Thank you for your service, Pam!

everything the property and local
community has to offer. Onsite
options include nightly s’mores
roast, personalized team building
competitions, oversized games, andthemed scavenger hunts. Additional
options are available incorporating
local venues or charitable giving.

The Harley-Davidson Museum®
has officially rebranded its private
events operations as 1903 Events™.-paying tribute to the year HarleyDavidson® was born. The team at1903 Events has the resources forevery occasion, from an intimate
event to a campus-wide bash on abeautiful, 20-acre, park-like campus,
with indoor and outdoor event spaces
ranging from Bolt and Rumble to
Chrome and The Garage.

The Grand Geneva and their Grand
Grille simulated food truck was
mentioned in a December New
York Times article, reporting on theuse of food trucks in meetings andconferences. The appeal is clear,and many planners find that “fake”
food trucks offer smoother logistics.
(For the full article: https://nyti.
ms/31O6asN)

The Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, WI,
has launched Experience Ingleside,a program allowing guests to explore

Wingspread Retreat & Executive
Conference Center in Racine,
has taken top honors in Northstar
Meetings Group’s 2019 Stella Awards.
Meetings and events professionals

and a panel of judges named thisFrank Lloyd Wright-designed facility
the Best Conference Center in the
Midwest. While in existence as a
private facility and home to The
Johnson Foundation for decades,
Wingspread Retreat & Executive
Conference Center opened its doors
for public use in 2018. Kudos to yourtransformation!
The Wisconsin Center in downtown
Milwaukee announced the selectionof an architectural team for their longplanned expansion project. Atlantabased tvsdesign and Milwaukeebased Eppstein Uhen Architects.
Marty Brooks, WCD president andchief executive officer states “Theexpanded Wisconsin Center will be afacility providing superb, captivating,and buzzworthy experiences to all
who enter.”(Courtesy of Biztimes.com)

Please let us know of any MPI member news for future Agenda issues: reading@scangroup.net.

Meetings meet Convenience

Complimentary services

Delightful dining

Team & social activities

Conveniently located directly off I-94, between Milwaukee and Madison 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

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

23

Would you like to meet some new professional contacts? Looking to make the most of your talents? Do you want to be an
integral part of one of the leading MPI Chapters? We have an opportunity for you! Get involved by volunteering and allow ourchapter members to meet you. You’ll be glad you did. Please make the most of your membership by volunteering for one of our
upcoming events. We have many options to suit your interest.

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Wednesday, April 1
Trivial Night, HyattRegency, Milwaukee
Table Captains | Red Carpet
Team | Raffle Tickets | Agenda
Article Author – write orcontribute to a recap article!

Thursday, April 2
Chapter Meeting and
Education, Hyatt Regency,
Milwaukee
Table Captains | Red Carpet
Team | Photographer |Raffle Items | Raffle Tickets| Agenda Article Author –write or contribute to a recap
article! | MPI 101

Thursday, May 14
Chapter Meeting and
Education, Red Lion Hotel,
Paper Valley, Appleton
Table Captains | Red Carpet
Team | Photographer |Raffle Items | Raffle Tickets| Agenda Article - write orcontribute to a recap article! |MPI 101

Thursday, August 20
Annual Awards Gala
Brookfield ConferenceCenter, Brookfield
Table Captains | Red Carpet
Team | Photographer |Raffle Items | Raffle Tickets| Agenda Article - write orcontribute to a recap article!

VOLUNTEERSPOTLIGHT

If you would like additional information or to volunteer for one of these opportunities,
please contact the chapter office at admin@mpiwi.org.

24|

Ann Marie Hess, CMP
Ann Marie Hess has been an MPI
member since 1995 in four different
states: Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, and
now Wisconsin! In 2004, the St. Louischapter recognized her as Volunteer
Member of the Year. We’re all reaping thebenefits of her services in our Wisconsin
chapter. She is currently serving on the
Speaker liaison team, assisting speakers
with their logistics and details for ourmonthly education programs. Visit
Brookfield is also lucky to have her as asales manager. Ann Marie brings a ton ofexperience and energy to our education
team. We appreciate her sharing her timewith our chapter. Thank you, Ann Marie!

March/April 2020

MPI Agenda																

				UniqueVenues &Locations

Chri

nt
l
v
l
,
n
ci
l
i
e
hsoi m

inl
i
a
t
a
s
rl stnvn e

Photo courtesy of the Janesville Woman’s Club

Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside is theideal destination to hold your next meeting,convention or retreat! Janesville offers a variety
of meeting spaces and a wide selection of hotels,
restaurants and attractions including manyaffordable options that provide you with greatvalue. Our team will work with you every stepof the way to ensure the best experience for you
and your group. Janesville is easily accessible right off of I-39/90. Planners - call today andbe sure to ask how you can earn money backwhen you hold your meeting in Janesville!

janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 F

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|25

Thank you for the 2019
Bidding for Good Support
By: Beth Schnabel, CED, CUDE

We extend our appreciation to the following donors:
Chicago Marriott Naperville
Cincinnati USA CVBCMIAV, Audio Visual Services

Our grateful Bidding for Good team: Nicole Ellickson, CMP,
Lindsey Hess, CMP, Brooke Miller, CMP, Judy Keller, and I
would like to thank everyone who helped support our 2019
Bidding for Good campaign. We raised just over $5,500 to
put towards our chapter education, events, and networking
opportunities.
For those of you who like the thrill of an in-person bid, don’t
forget to join us for upcoming education days where someof the remaining prizes will be available. If you’re interested
in finding out more about Bidding for Good, or would liketo contribute for 2020, please contact Beth Schnabel atbeths@filene.org.

Doubletree by Hilton Salt Lake City Airport
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown
Hilton Anaheim
Hilton Anatole
Hilton Minneapolis
Hilton National Sales
Hilton San Francisco
Hilton Worldwide Sales
Holiday Inn Orange County Airport
Hyatt Convention Alliance
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Poconos

THIS IS SEAMLESS

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Sandusky
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Wisconsin Dells
Kimpton Palomar San Diego
Lake Lawn Resort - Majestic Oaks Golf Course
Magnolia Denver
New Orleans & Company
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Omni Hotels & Resorts
Omni William Penn Hotel-Pittsburgh
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
Red Lion Hotel (Radisson Paper Valley Appleton)

THIS IS WHY“Alliant Energy Center provides my showwith everything needed from event
coordination, to high quality on-sitecatering and concessions. My exhibitors
enjoy the one-stop-shopping for all of theirbooth needs, and my attendees appreciate
the abundant parking and central location.”- Chris Mode, Event Promoter,
Art Glass & Bead Show|

March/April 2020

The Godfrey
The Osthoff Resort
The Peabody Memphis
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites Los Angeles
The Westin Harbour Castle
The Westin San Diego Hotel

ALLIANTENERGYCENTER.COM
SHIRLEY KALTENBERG | 608-267-1549
KALTENBERG@ALLIANTENERGYCENTER.COM

26

Renaissance Seattle

Visit Anaheim
Visit Baltimore
Visit Indy

MPI Agenda																

				It’s Good to Do Businessat Your place on the lake! ®
Voted Best Lakeshore Resort by Best of Wisconsin Meetings
2019, The Osthoff Resort offers 38,000 sq. ft. of elegant,state-of-the-art function space.

Grand Ballrooms

With spacious accommodations, recreational lakefront,
Aspira Spa, cooking school, nearby golf and many otherpremier amenities, including team building activities andprograms, The Osthoff Resort is one of the Midwest’s premiermeeting destinations.
For more information on The Osthoff Resort, visit
OsthoffMeetings.com or call 888.748.1136.

Culinary Team Building

Elkhart Lake, WI

Spacious Accommodations

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|

27

MPI WISCONSINNEW MEMBER

ANNIVERSARIESLISA ARES
General Manager
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®)
COURTNEY CUTA
Meeting and Event Coordinator
Dairyland Power Cooperative

20 YEARSLYNETTE RESCH
Corporate Event Planner
TDS Telecom

10 YEARSELLIE FEITLINGER
Events Lead
Zendesk

NICKI BOWLING
Marketing Manager North America
CALEFFI North America, Inc.

KELLAN FITZGERALD SR.
Conference & Event Specialist
Zaner Bloser Educational Publishers

5 YEARSAMY HEPPEManager, Event Management
American Society for Quality (ASQ)SUSAN K. SMOLAREK
Director of Group Sales
Visit Lake Geneva

STEPHANIE HERR
Assistant Meeting Planner
National Funeral Directors Association

CARA M. WALLNER
Group Travel & Event Coordinator
Kohl’s Department Stores
		

1 YEARSSHANNON MAJEWSKI
Education Program Coordinator II
Medical College of Wisconsin
DAVID MCCOY
Owner
Roamin’ Studios, LLC
TRICIA SCHONER
Senior Space Revenue Manager
Hyatt Regency Chicago
RAEANN THOMAS
Sales Associate
Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention
Bureau1 YEARS
STEPHANIE COPSEY
Director of Sales
The Riviera
ANN FEIST
University Conference Coordinator
University of Wisconsin Madison
CAROLE FLEETWOOD
Group Sales and Event Management
Visit Eau Claire
DAVID HOCHMUTH
Rentals Supervisor
Full Compass Systems
DARCIE HOLTENational Sales Manager
Destination Lake Winnebago Region
MIREK JANOWIAK
Omnipress

TESSA AUGUST
Director of Sales
Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva

ERICA MORRIS
Catering Sales Manager
Holiday Inn Madison at the American
Center

KAYLA BOONE
Group and Meetings Manager
Hotel Indigo Madison Downtown

MINDY NEESE
Student

JENNIFER MARIE BRUHN
Business Development Coordinator
SVA

JEFF SEIDL
Director of Sales & Marketing
Crown Plaza Milwaukee WestJENNIFER ZALEWSKI
Event and Facilities Manager
Rockwell Automation Allen BradleyCompany

Refer a friend to MPI.
When a new member joins, tell them to use the MyFriendMPI promocode, and tolist you on the application as the referring member. The new member will receive$50 off their membership and you’ll receive a $25 credit to apply toward your next
renewal.

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March/April 2020

MPI Agenda																				WE’LL TIE UP ALL THE DETAILSFOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND CONFERENCE

ONE-OF-A-KIND UNWIND.
Create a unique destination experience for your conference.
Your next meeting destination - Lake Geneva.

VISITLAKEGENEVA.COM

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|29

Delta Hotels by Marriott is

CHANGING THE GAME

for meetings and events in the Green Bay area
“We’re in a unique position to provide a one-stop event
experience for our clients,” Dennis said. “We’re able to givethem the security and peace of mind that if there’s something
they need, we’re on top of it. Our team has really fine-tuned
their process and is able to provide the outstanding client
service you just don’t find at other venues.”
Beyond event services, the Delta also provides a variety ofother amenities to make their hotel a premier destination inGreen Bay. They offer 149 renovated guest rooms and suites,
on-site dining at Urban 80 Kitchen + Bar, on-site Starbucks,
indoor pool with waterslide, kids pool and hot tub, a large
state-of-the-art fitness center, and more. They’re located in
the heart of one of Green Bay’s busiest shopping and retail
districts and are just a 5-minute drive away from downtown
Green Bay. As a part of Marriott’s global portfolio hotel, theyalso provide access to Marriott’s Bonvoy rewards program.

F

ormerly the Ramada Plaza, the hotel completed a
total-property renovation and conversion to the Delta
by Marriott brand last year. They have completely
overhauled their event spaces and meeting rooms,
and are offering elevated event services through their Inspired
Events team to create one-of-a-kind events for their clients.
“Our hotel has an upscale, urban chic vibe,” said Dana Ecker,
Director of Sales at the hotel. “We pair that with top notch
chef-crafted catering and a great team of event professionals
to create events like none other in our market.”
The hotel offers nearly 6,000 square feet of event space witha contemporary design and has the capacity to host events ofjust over 200 attendees. They specialize in corporate eventsand meetings, banquets, weddings, conferences, and otherspecial occasion celebrations.
When you book your event at the Delta, you can expect anexperience tailored specifically to your needs.
“The sales team always strives to go above and beyond toserve our clients,” said Ecker. “We work to give our clientsexactly what they want, and make sure that every detail – frompre-event planning to room layout to catering – is perfect.”Through their Inspired Events approach, Ecker and her teamare able to use their flexible space and event capabilities tocustomize and create the perfect event for their clients. They
utilize an in-house team of event specialists, alongside a chefled catering organization, to provide comprehensive event
services from initial planning to day-of event execution. They
are there for their clients every step of the way to ensure theirevent goes smoothly.
James Dennis, interim General Manager at the Delta, says that
this gives them a leg up on the competition.

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March/April 2020

“Our hotel offers something truly unique to the Green Bay
market,” Dennis said. “By tapping into the power of Marriott’s
global brand - and specifically as a part of their Delta
portfolio - we’ve really elevated our services and amenities
across the board. We’ve had guests and clients who stayedwith us or booked events with us in the past as a Ramada
come back and visit us again, and they’re blown away every
time. From top to bottom, we’re an all-new hotel, and are
excited to share that with the Green Bay community.”
To learn more about the Delta, you can visit their website– www.marriott.com/grbde. To get in touch with their team
about event planning, you can reach out to the sales
department: dana.ecker@nhshotels.com or 920.784.2249

MPI Agenda																

				

TOP 10 REASONS TO CHOOSE

Delta Hotels by
Marriott Green Bay
For your next meeting, conference or
corporate event.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Green Bay is a great choice for a wide variety of events. Newly renovated andtransformed to the Delta Hotels brand, we’re ready to work with you to plan your perfect event!

1 A great location
2 Modern meeting space
3 21st century technology
4 Award-winning service
5 Mouth-watering catering- We’re situated in one ofGreen Bay’s busiest retail and business districts.
- We recently finished atotal-property renovation with numerous upgrades.

- Enjoy high-speed wifi
throughout the hotel & modern meeting tech.
- We embody
Wisconsin’s spirit of welcoming hospitality.
- Choose from anextensive menu and customizable options.

6 Planning expertise
7 Upscale accommodations
8 Special room rates
9 Top-notch dining
10 Plenty of perks- Our Event Specialists
will work with you to make every detail perfect.

- We offer premium
guest rooms and suites for your out-of-town guests.
- Enjoy special group rates onblocks of rooms to accommodate your guests.

- Grab a post-event bite at our
on-site restaurant - Urban 80 Kitchen + Bar.
- Our hotel features a large
fitness center, Starbucks, water park, and more.

Contact us to get started planning: 920.499.0631 or jmandich@nhshotels.com

MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|31

As soon as you begin speaking with Chef
Ramses, you can tell that he genuinely loves
what he does. He focuses on incorporating
local ingredients (including a vegetable andherb garden right on the roof of the hotel) andshowcasing Milwaukee as a foodie city. “Hereat the Hyatt, our event guests come from allaround the country, even across the world.”
says Alvarez. “This is the perfect opportunity
for us to show them food that makes Milwaukee
unique.”Chef Ramses makes sure to stay ahead of
movements in the industry and incorporates
those trends into his recipes and cooking style.
One of his favorite techniques is sous vide, amethod of cooking foods at a low temperature
for a long time while sealed in a plastic pouch,in a water bath. Some of his favorite items tosous vide are short ribs and shrimp. “I sous
vide my short ribs for 48 hours. It infusesamazing flavor and results in incredibly tender
meat,” says Alvarez.
Chef Ramses says that one of his favorite
things to do is to take a traditional dish andmodernize it, which is why he incorporates
molecular gastronomy into his cooking.
Cooking with liquid nitrogen adds an extra layerof creativity to the dish and allows diners to“eat with their eyes,” as well as their taste buds.
Alvarez says that one of his favorite molecular
gastronomy recipes is a foie gras French toast,
topped with vanilla crema that is frozen withliquid nitrogen.

Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee, WI

In his free time, Alvarez always makes it apriority to serve the community. He volunteers
with the Milwaukee Empty Bowls project, as
well as Flavors of Wisconsin (an annual benefit
for the American Liver Foundation). He is also
an active member of Chef Latinos Wisconsin,
a new and rapidly growing group that was
created for Latino employees in the foodindustry to come together, learn, cook, andshare their stories.

Growing up in Mexico City, Chef Ramses Alvarez took inspiration fromhis godfather, who worked as a chef. Over the years, his passion forfood grew, and he ultimately came to Milwaukee in 1999 to gain better
experience and training in the industry. Chef Ramses’ nearly twodecade-long career has taken him on a journey through a broad rangeof restaurants, ranging from gastropubs to fine dining. Now, in his firstyear as Executive Chef at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, Chef Ramses’
passion and creativity shine through in every dish he creates.

Chef Ramses is pleased to share a recipewith MPI Wisconsin that has been createdespecially for them: One-Bite Riverwest-SteinGlazed Short Ribs. You can make them on yourown with this recipe – or join us on Wednesday,
April 1 at MPI Wisconsin’s second annual
Trivia Night to try them straight from the HyattRegency Milwaukee’s kitchen!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Chef Ramses Alvarez

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March/April 2020

MPI Agenda																

				

Lakefront Riverwest
Stein Short Ribs

MPI-WI’s
CMP 101:
What’s It All
About?

by Chef Ramses Alvarez

Join MPI-WI for our valuable CMP 101 info sessions,occurring the same day as each monthly education
event. (Please see MPI-Wisconsin Chapter website
for specific scheduling at each event.)

APRIL 2
Summary of exam process and content
5 lbs boneless short ribs
1 lb. mirepoix (equal parts diced carrots, onions and celery)
2 oz. roasted garlic
2 oz. tomato paste
16 oz. Lakefront Riverwest Stein beer
16 oz. chicken stock
1 sachet garni (bay leaf, thyme, parsley, peppercorns)
1 lb. cippolini onions
8 t beurre manie
Season ribs with salt and pepper. In a hot braising pan,sear all sides of the meat and then set the ribs to the side.
In the same braising pan, add the mirepoix, garlic, tomato
paste and a little more oil and saute. Once the veggies aretranslucent, deglaze with beer. Add the meat back into thepan along with the chicken stock, sachet garni, and cippolini
onions and cover. Braise for 2-3 hours at 350 degrees, oruntil internal temperature reaches 145 or your preferreddoneness. Once cooked, reduce drippings in a saucepanwith beurre manie on low heat until thick. Serve as anappetizer in bite-sized pieces, top with sauce and roasted
cippolini onions.

YES, you should attend these CMP 101
Sessions!
Even if you missed the first CMP 101 intro sessionin October, the next few sessions are a great way tohear about the “ins and outs” of the CMP process.
In the second and third sessions, we’ll review thenine domains of the CMP to give attendees anoutline of what topics to study in preparation for the
CMP exam. The final session is an overview that
reviews the application process, study tips, andexam day suggestions.
These sessions are complimentary to those whohave registered for that month’s educational
program.
These sessions apply to anyone regardless of
where you are in the CMP process. If you’ve only
just heard of the CMP, stop by to hear more about
it. If you are getting ready to take the CMP in twomonths, sit in on the session to get a refresher andask any questions you may have.
________________________________________For more information, contact Jodi Goldbeck, CMP,
at jgoldbeck@madisoncollege.edu.
MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|33

Board Member Profile

JOSHUA WIMMERJOSHUA WIMMER

Director of Monthly Programming
Tell us about your company and/or position:
I work for Radisson Milwaukee West in Wauwatosa as
the catering manager. My role includes sales, detailing
meetings and events, booking room blocks, andhelping with the banquet department.
How long in the meetings industry?
I have been in the meetings industry for four years:
three years as a meeting planner and one year on the
hotel side.
Teams or projects that you have worked on for MPI
what you’ve enjoyed about your participation:
I’ve been part of the golf committee and the May
education team. I have really enjoyed getting to know
different members and making new connections.

Radisson Milwaukee West, Catering manager

Tell us a few things about what you’re responsible
for with our chapter board?
I am responsible for working with the properties where
we have our education events. I also help with theevent page on our website as well as make sure our
events go smoothly.

What drew you to serve on our chapter board?
MPI has done a lot for me while I was in school and helpedme get to where I am today in my career. I want to be able
to help our members the way MPI has helped me.

Other than board service, what do you like doing:
I like to play a lot of different sports including
basketball, soccer, football, softball. I also coachSpecial Olympics.

What do you enjoy about your board service, and what
are you learning?
I enjoy getting to work with my fellow board members andgetting to know our new and current members of MPI.

Advertise in thisPublication!
This bimonthly full color magazine is a must-read for ourmembers. Reach over 300 top professionals involved inmeeting management and meeting services in Wisconsin andsurrounding areas.
Our Editorial Calendar:
January/February - Supplier Showcase & Hot Topics
March/April - Technology
May/June - Special Events
July/August - Destinations
September/October - Unconventional Meetings
November/December - Midwest Destinations

34|

March/April 2020

MPI Agenda																

				

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MPI Agenda

March/April 2020|35

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

DATEBOOK: C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

2020& Spring Education in Milwaukee!

WHEN
Trivia Night
Wednesday, April 1
Spring Education Day
Thursday, April 2

WHERE
Hyatt Regency Milwaukee

1-2

TRIVIA NIGHT & SPRING EDUCATION
Hyatt Regency
Milwaukee, WI

14

MAY EDUCATION EVENT
Red Lion HotelAppleton, WI

20

ANNUAL AWARDS GALA
Brookfield Conference Center
Brookfield, WI