MAY
JUNE
2021
VOL 43/NUM 3

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

You can do a lot with 27,000 square feetof meeting space.
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s
Club is Madison’s largest convention hotel. Social
distancing and smart crowd flow are a breeze with our
flexible and customizable space. And you can breathe
easy knowing we’re GBAC-certified.
From large conventions to small strategic planningsessions, The Madison Concourse Hotel andGovernor’s Club is perfect for your next successful
event.
Read about our Safe Promise Plan at concoursehotel.com

1 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53703
800 356 8293 | salesinfo@concoursehotel.com

MEET WITH CONFIDENCE
With 20 private event venues, over 40,000 square
feet of indoor space, and 40 expansive, open-air
acres to gather outdoors, The Ingleside Hotel offers
a refreshing change of pace from conventional
destinations.
Why choose an ordinary venue for your event when
extraordinary is just 20 miles from Milwaukee?
The Ingleside Hotel provides an inspirational setting
unlike any other in the Milwaukee area.
Read about our Safe Promise Plan attheinglesidehotel.com
2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072
800 247 6640 | salesinfo@theinglesidehotel.com

May/June 2021

MPI Agenda|

2

MAY/JUNE 2021

MPI-WISCONSIN
2020-2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENTALISON HUTCHINSON
Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
ahutchinson@foxcities.org
PRESIDENT-ELECTSHANNON TIMMERMAN, CMP
Glacier Canyon Conference Center
stimmerman@wildernessresort.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTJOELLEN GRABER
Impact Association Management
joeygraber1@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIPREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin
rdriscoll@wisbar.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCEREBECCA STAATS
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
rebecca.l.staats@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONSJASON KAUFFELD, CMP
jasonkauffeld@hotmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONKYRA POPP
Kahalari Resorts
kpopp@kalahariresorts.com
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTSBETH SCHNABEL, CMPFilene Research Institutebeths@filene.org
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSMELISSA FALENDYSZ, CMP
National Association of Tax Professionals
mfalendysz@naptax.com
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER CARELIZ UNRUH
lizherrmann555@hotmail.com
DIRECTOR OF AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENTWANDA GILLES
IFF
wanda.gilles@yahoo.com
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYMARIA PEOT, CMP
maria.peot@gmail.com

VOL 43 / NUM 3

Feature Articles

From Start to Finish: Preparing for the CMP Exam
CMP Application Sections

7

Giving Back to Frontline Workers + Celebrating Nurses Week

8...And the Winners Are...

10

Where did my people go?

15

Join Us in Person (Again!) May Chapter Education Event

26

Food for Thought: May Event

18

Nomination Time

26

In Every Issue
Editor’s Note

4

President’s Column

6

New Members & Anniversaries				

12

Volunteer Spotlight: Carrie Wunderlich

13

Board Member Profile: Melissa Falendysz, CMP

14

Who’s in the News

22

Calendar

28

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 																	DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONSSHERRY WOLFF
Kohlersherry.wolff@kohler.com
DIRECTOR OF MONTHLY PROGRAMMINGJOSHUA WIMMER
Premier Choice Association Management
jmwimmer@wi.rr.com

2820 Walton Commons, Ste 103

fax: 608.204.9818

Madison, WI 53718

email: admin@mpiwi.org

tel: 608.204.9816

web: www.mpiweb.org/wisconsin

May/June 2021

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3

MPI-WISCONSIN CHAPTER

Editor’s Note

Published bimonthly by
Meeting Professionals International –Wisconsin ChapterA

s I write this, my mind isswimming with Wisconsin
destinations. (In nine days,
my husband and I will bothhave met our coveted “two-weeks-pastsecond-shot-of-two-part-COVID19vaccination”.) I have spent 100% of
my off-time planning and booking trips
throughout Wisconsin. (Lookout!)

CO-EDITORS
Kathy Reading
The Scan Group, Inc.
reading@scangroup.net
Maria Peot, CMP
maria.peot@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathy Reading
Maria Peot, CMP
Jodi Goldbeck, CMP
Wanda Gilles
JoEllen Graber
Allison Hutchinson

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs

For our industry, the desire to meet is mighty, and virtual attendees
want to feel involved and experience the culture of your event. As inperson attendance is building, we’ve seen groups using virtual attendee
packages in brilliant ways to connect your destination:• Sales incentive campaigns - Keep your sales teamengaged with periodic mailings featuring teaser gifts fromyour destination. We’ve shipped fun packages with sports
team gifts, Costa-Rican coffee, custom puzzles with branded
messages, collectible glassware, spices, apparel, and more.

• Engage event attendees - Pre- and post-event

packages to attendees have become more creative, withitems building excitement and focus for both in-person andvirtual attendees. Along with printed agendas, apparel,and notebooks, I’ve seen QR codes launching timed digital
events, lists of colloquialisms and local yore, menus, snacks,
stickers, pins, earbuds, posters, artwork, and more!

PUBLICATION DEADLINES
July/August 2021
Deadline: June 15, 2021
September/October 2021
Deadline: July 15, 2021

• Announce the reopening of venues andbusinesses - Custom packages for VIP visitors, media,
and potential guests announcing your re-opening. I’ve
received a few coupons, samples, new photos, literature,and promo items. It’s worked on me to build excitement!

November/December 2021
Deadline: September 2, 2021

For event planners, your local CVBs and MPI members are the bestsources to help you showcase the unique qualities of your event’s
destination. We all love to see each other excel. Go MPI-WI!

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) and do
not imply an opinion of the officers or membersof MPI or MPI-Wisconsin Chapter.

May/June 2021

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4

The annual business dinner was billed as“The Next Big Thing.” And the organizer
wanted us to make it a can’t-miss experience.
Inspire d 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© 2021 Monona Terrace

May/June 2021

MPI Agenda|

5President’s Column
A Reflection on my Yearas your PresidentThank you for the opportunity to serve as your President for the 2020-2021 year. It
was an honor to be leading this organization. With just a couple of months to go, it issafe to say that my year as your “pandemic president” has been like no other.

My goal this past year was to move forward with new ideas and share resources forour members. During the pandemic, my plan was to help make connections and support ourmembers. We are still in this, but now we are all in recovery together. That’s the best partabout being in MPI. Your organization supports you in good times and bad.

ALISON HUTCHINSON
2020-2021 President, MPI-WI Chapter

This chapter offers somany opportunities
for developing great
relationships both
personally andprofessionally. My
time on the Board of
Directors has taught mea lot and expanded myskillset...”While many of us were at home, MPI-WI provided opportunities to stay connected. Members
began receiving weekly updates to provide transparency of our navigation through theuncertain territory. After MPI Academy sessions, we offered a Zoom chat to discuss what welearned and to share ideas. On many Fridays, we Zoomed for a little Whine and Cheese. Ourboard reached out to many members to check in on their well-being.
In September, we hosted our first virtual chapter meeting. We assembled the Tech Avengers
and they delivered with their use of video editing and Zoom.
October brought our first in-person event since February. We recognized our talented
volunteers at the annual Awards Gala. The next day, we had our long-awaited Education Day.
Additionally, we used our Bidding for Good app to expand our silent auction audience.
We started January learning 7 Habits of Inclusive Leaders with Melissa Majors. February
followed with goal setting and partnering with the MPI Indiana chapter. Both virtual eventswere featured on the Remo platform. Attendees had a great time networking at their“tables.” The Tech Avengers were at it again!
We were in-person again in April. At Trivia Night, the Kahoot app allowed the competition to*literally* buzz with excitement. Our Spring Education Day was filled with great speakers.
Looking ahead, I know I am leaving you in good hands with Shannon Timmerman, CMP
as your next President. Shannon has previously been on the board. Upon her return,
she has jumped in, feet first, with eagerness. Shannon has been one of my biggest
supports in the past year, and I am thankful for her. In addition, I want to thank those pastpresidents who have given me guidance and an empathetic ear. Lastly, I would like tothank Christopher and Heather, recipients of the MPI-WI Glue Award! As our chapter
administrators, they have helped keep this chapter moving forward.
In my first President’s column, I shared some personal experiences of my early years with
MPI. This chapter offers so many opportunities for developing great relationships both
personally and professionally. My time on the Board of Directors has taught me a lot andexpanded my skillset (and maybe my liver too). But seriously, if you are ever asked tovolunteer on a committee or join the board of directors, I highly recommend it. It’s been avaluable experience serving you as your President. Thank you.

May/June 2021

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6

FROM START TO FINISH:
PREPARING FOR THE
CMP EXAMCMP Application Sections
In the last issue of the AGENDA Magazine, I reviewed the application
process that one must go through to apply to take the CMP exam. This
article focuses on the three major areas of the application.
Jodi Goldbeck, CMP

As stated in the CMP Certification Handbook, there are three “E’s” to earning
the CMP designation:• Professional Experience• Continuing Education• ExamThe CMP application requires applicants to document experience andeducation.
The EXPERIENCE SECTION gives applicants the option of choosing one of three options.
Option 1: 36 Months of Professional Experience• Currently or recently (within the past 12 months) employed in the industry• Have 36 total months of full-time work experience in the industry (these do not need to beconsecutive but must be within the past 5 years)• Provide a resume with application
Option 2: 24 Months of Experience and Industry-Related Degree• Industry-related Bachelor’s degree• Currently or recently (within the past 12 months) employed in the industry• Provide a resume with application
Option 3: 36 Months as an Educational Instructor• Full-time instructor in an industry-related field• Have 36 months of full-time experience in academia

The CONTINUING EDUCATION SECTION of the application gives applicants the opportunity tochoose one of two options.
Option 1: 25 Clock Hours of Continuing Education Activities• Documented 25 clock hours of educational activities within the past 5 years• These activities may be face-to-face conferences, webinars, classes and individual sessions• Subject matter for activities must relate to one of the 9 domains in the CMP International
Standards.
• Session titles, related domain name, program sponsors, location, dates and clock hours are
required
Option 2: Industry Internship• Must have taken place within the past five years• Minimum of 200 hours of work experience through an accredited educational institution

Look for the third installment of this series, which will describe ways to study for the CMP Exam, in your next issue of the
AGENDA Magazine.
Jodi Goldbeck, CMP, is the Program Director for the Event Management Program at Madison Area Technical College. If you
would like more information on the CMP, please contact her at jgoldbeck@madisoncollege.edu.

May/June 2021

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7

GIVINGBACK TOFRONTLINE
WORKERS +CELEBRATING NURSES WEEK
By Maria Peot, CMP

A

pril was an exciting month for MPI-WI, as wewere finally able to meet in person again.
This meant we were also able to complete
a community outreach activity together as agroup for the first time in...well, a very long time.
Our project this month was to put together selfcare
goodie bags for local frontline workers. Many thanks tomember Jessica Reiflin, Senior Sales Manager with the
Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau for the great
idea and her efforts in making this activity go off without ahitch! Although Jessica was unable to attend the event inperson, her organization provided the bags that were filledwith all sorts of goodies provided by our kind + generous
members (both those who attended and those who could
not make it to the event).
Thank you to everyone who brought or sent in items tofill the bags or contributed a monetary donation for items
to be purchased. I got to go shopping at the Dollar Treewith the cash donations, and it was a lot of fun to spend
your money!

May/June 2021

In addition to filling over 75 selfcare bags, we asked
attendees to write out thank you cards to be included ineach bag as well. The bags were assembled during one ofour breaks, and contained items chosen by our members- everything from dental items to chapstick, toiletries,
fuzzy socks, snacks, chocolate (my fav!), coffee, tea, andbottled water.
Safety was of course important, so we asked all attendees
to wear a glove, keep their mask on, and social distancethemselves when possible during bag assembly.
Jessica and her team dropped of the completed selfcarebags at SSM Health following our event, and theorganization was extremely grateful for them! They will be
distributing them during Nurses Week from May 6 - 12.
Watch for photos to be posted to SSM Health’s Facebook
page during that time to see our work in action.
Thank you to everyone for participating. I am looking
forward to more community outreach activities, now that
we are back to meeting in person!

MPI Agenda|

8414.839.1760 • sales@majicpro.com
www.majicpro.com

May/June 2021

content.
videography.
creation.
streaming.
recording.
sales pitch.
board meeting.
webinar.
events.
virtual solutions.
MPI Agenda|

9

...AND THE WINNERS ARE…
By Wanda Gilles

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE
TRIVIA QUESTIONS?
Didi’s Supper Club is located in the Ingleside
Hotel – How did Didi’s get its name?

• Owner’s Childhood Nanny• Owner’s Dog• Owner’s Grandmother• Owner’s Favorite BabysitterThat was just a sampling of the questions we had to try to answer
on Trivia Night 2021! Thirty-seven people gathered to enjoy the
fun at our first 2021 in-person event! Our incredible supporters
donated 31 silent auction items, which generated more than
$3,400 for our chapter.
We had a fantastic night at Trivia Night 2021.If you weren’t with us
this year, do not miss next year’s event!

How many “Old Fashioned” cocktails did
Ishnala Supper Club sell during their 2019season?

This year, we used the Kahoot app to run everything smoothly
during the competition. Participants liked seeing their points
compared to all the other teams.
Special thanks to Sherry Benzmiller, Carrie Wunderlich, andMelissa Falendysz, CMP for their help gathering trivia questions
and throughout the entire planning and execution of our 2021
Trivia Night.

• 68,432• 52,388• 65,391• 59,124
What is the name of the New Exposition
Center in Green Bay?

• Rusch Expo
• Resch Center• Resch Expo
• Rusch Center

We had two paths to win for the evening:••

Knowledge based: Total points based on questions correctly
answered via the Kahoot App
Top Score: purchasing additional points added to the Kahoot
App total

We had many teams of four and even some two-person teams thatheld their own – Meliz – you know who you are.

May/June 2021

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10TRIVIA CONTEST KNOWLEDGE BASED TEAM LEADERS:
1ST PLACE WITH 22,225 POINTSTEAM CLUELESS: Christopher Dyer, Heather Dyer,
Wanda Gilles, and Alison Hutchinson
PRIZE: One free monthly education registration for eachplayer.
SPECIAL SHOUTOUT to this team who paid it forward
by gifting their certificates to MPI-WI members who are
self-funding their memberships and MPI-WI events.

2ND PLACE WITH 21,331 POINTSTEAM NOT SO SWEET: Ruby Dow, Tom Graybill, Jody
Roos, and Josh Wimmer

3RD PLACE WITH 21,117 POINTS:
TEAM MAJIC 8 BALLZ: Ed Buchner, JoEllen Graber,
Kyra Popp, and Farrah Slinger

Our popular MPI-WI Silent Auction ran
throughout the evening and into our
Education Day.
It is always inspiring to see so many
fabulous donations to our fundraising
event. We truly appreciate all of theTrivia Team members’ hard work,
supporting our goals and engaging withsponsors.

FINAL 2021 MPI-WI TRIVIA CONTEST
TOP SCORE:

TOP SCORE

TEAM POWERLEMURS60: Michelle Tyo Johnson, BethSchnabel, Shannon Timmerman, and Sherry Wolff.
PRIZE: One stylish umbrella to prepare for the rainy WIspring for each player. Bonus (and most important) prize:
bragging rights until the next Trivia Night!

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

Everyone knows that we could not pull off our
MPI-WI events without our wondrous sponsors.

MAJIC PRODUCTIONS: Quiz Master Sponsor

TABLE SPONSORS: Made Ya Look, Lake Winnebago Region

May/June 2021

MPI Agenda

QUESTION SPONSOR: VISIT Milwaukee|

11

MPI WISCONSIN
ANNIVERSARIESNEW MEMBERS

20 YEAR
Congratulations to these members
who will be celebrating a very
special milestone anniversary in
June. Your commitment to ourorganization is admirable!

SARAH BOWNDS

Sentry Insurance - Planner

CARMEN BUTSCHLICK

Lodge Kohler - SupplierDr. Comfort - DJO Global Corporation Planner

CHRISTINE NACHREINER

Wisconsin State Telecommunications
Association

KORTNEE CARROLL

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. - Supplier

DAVID HELGESONBest Western Premier Waterfront Hoteland Convention Center

STEPHANIE KARL

Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation - Planner

SARA DYER

Credit Union Executives Society Planner

JEFF OVERGAARDREBECCA ROGERS

Sentry Insurance - Planner

ANNIE SPECKETER

Sentry Insurance - Planner

BRENDA TAYLORAIA Colorado - Planner

AMANDA WILKINSJUAN ENCARNACIONGreat Wolf Resorts, Inc. - Supplier

BRITTNEE GEENEN

Monona Terrace Convention Center Supplier

Sentry Insurance - Planner• All facilities following
health and hygiene
protocols• Multiple venues withaffordable rates

Refer a friend to MPI.

• Easy drive for mostof Wisconsin

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

WELCOME BACKTO THE FOX CITIES.
May/June 2021

MPI Agenda

Contact Amy Rivera
at arivera@foxcities.org
to plan your upcoming event.
FoxCities.org|

12Volunteer
Spotlight:

CarrieWunderlich
Nominated by board members Reggie Driscoll, CMP and Wanda Gilles

C

arrie was a volunteer on the Trivia Team for
the April 2021 event. She took on the project ofcontacting our Strategic Partners to see if theymight want to do a table sponsorship or any otherkind of sponsorship that we were looking for. She also took
on the task of contacting our Strategic Partners and getting
a trivia question from them. This was not an easy task!
Many people loved the fact that we wanted a trivia question
regarding their business, but when they had to think about it,
they couldn’t think of anything! Carrie made sure to follow up
with our Strategic Partners until she was able to get the trivia
questions secured. She was very diligent in making sure we
had what we needed from our Strategic Partners.

money for the chapter. With Carrie’s pleas for donations,
we had a great response with over $6,000 in value of silent
auction donations.
Without Carrie on our Trivia Team, we wouldn’t have beenas successful in being able to have our first in-person eventfor 2021. Thank you, Carrie for your time, talents, and effort
on behalf of our chapter!

Carrie also helped the team with the silent auction donation
requests by contacting many different businesses to ask fora donation for our event, which in turn helped us to raise

If you’d like to nominate someone for the Volunteer Spotlight feature in the AGENDA Magazine, please send the volunteer’sname and why you think they should be featured to Maria Peot, CMP at maria.peot@gmail.com. THIS COULD BE YOU! If you
are looking for ways to get more involved with our chapter, consider becoming a volunteer. Opportunities of all shapes, sizes
and time commitments are available. Contact Reggie Driscoll, CMP at rdriscoll@wisbar.org to learn more, or reach out to any
current board member to start volunteering immediately!

May/June 2021

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13

BoardMemberProfile:Melissa
Falendysz,
CMP
Position on MPI-WI Board: Director of Strategic Partners &Sponsorships
Place of Employment: National Association of Tax
Professionals (NATP) - Appleton, WI
Job Title: Meeting & Event PlannerTell us about your company and/or position: NATP
offers educational events to keep our members informedof up-to-date tax law changes and assistance withpreparing tax returns. I usually plan and execute all 130 live
educational events that we provide our members from Julythrough December each year.
Our 2020 and the start of 2021 have been crazy busy withall the COVID tax law changes and numerous virtual events
that we continue to create for our members. (If you get
audited, your tax preparer wasn’t educated by us !).
How long in the meetings industry: 10 years
Teams or projects that you have worked on for MPI:
Bidding for Good, Trivia Night, two terms on the BOD
Finance team.
What drew you to serve on our chapter board?
I wanted a role on our board to be able to contribute to thesuccesses that make our chapter one of the top-performing
chapters of MPI globally. It’s a great group to be a part

May/June 2021

of and learn more about everyone on a personal level. I
am very grateful for all the friendships that I have gained
through the chapter.
Other than board service, what do you like doing:
Painting, kickboxing, photography, scrolling Pinterest for mynext DIY project (or to add to my husband’s honey-do list).
Care to tell us anything about your family? My husband
John and I have been married for 13 years and reside inAppleton. Our kids include 5-year-old son, Nolan, and our
19-year-old Jack Russell Terrier.
Favorite music/band/artist/movie or book:
Autobiographies are my favorites. I like to learn what
experiences formed the individual into the person that they
currently are (or were). It’s always so intriguing.
Person(s) you admire and why: My grandparents. Theyemmigrated from the Philippines and built their life in San
Diego. They were the hardest working people that I’ve
known. My grandma worked and raised seven children while
my grandpa worked and served in the U.S. Navy.
Still on my bucket list: I’ve done New Year’s Eve inTimes Square, and I’m dying to go back for the Macy’s Day
Parade! Although the augmented reality that NBC provided
this year was neat to experience…it didn’t count.
Words to live by: Every little thing gonna be alright

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14

By JoEllen Graber

Does anyone else find themselves asking this question? As the pandemic has wreaked
havoc on our industry, some of my treasured contacts that I have spent a career
cultivating are no longer in critical positions.

I

understand that this past year has been daunting foralmost everyone in our industry. Many AV and techprofessionals saw their demands rapidly increased asmeetings and events flipped to virtual. Many venues,
lodging, and CVBs were suddenly sitting idle as events werepaused or canceled, with the future uncertain.
As we’re finding our way back to our new normal, I havebeen reaching out to contacts and receiving many “Outof Office” replies with unfortunate news. In one instance,
an auto-message instructed me to re-send my RFP to themarketing director--someone I had never met. Without
knowing anything about this person, I wasn’t confident intheir knowledge or skills. As you can imagine, that is as far

May/June 2021

as my RFP went. Please don’t underestimate the power of
networking and the loyalty of meeting planners.
I do not have the answers; none of us do. I do understandthat these unprecedented times forced tough strategic andstaffing decisions. I would caution that meeting planners arealso making strategic decisions about where to place loyalty
and business.
As I have written this story in the first person, I would liketo mention that this topic did come up at a recent board
meeting, and many people had similar experiences. Our MPI
community provides outstanding education and support,
putting all of us in the best position to move forward.

MPI Agenda|

15

Join Us In Person(Again!)What: May Chapter Education + Volunteer Reception
When: Thursday, May 13, 11:15 am - 5:00 pm

W

Where: Renaissance Milwaukee West in Wauwatosa

By M
a

ria P
eot, CMP

Register: https://mpiwi.wildapricot.org/event-4255366

e’ve gotten through 2020 – now what? As things
start opening up again, are we planning virtual,
hybrid, or in-person meetings? How can we
effectively plan while protocols are constantly
changing, scheduled openings vary from state tostate, and many properties aren’t fully re-staffed?
We’re used to planning 12-24 months out. Current
norms call for only 4-6 months for planning. How do
we make that work?
This interactive session with Carolyn Browning,
CMP, CMM, HMCC of MEETing Needs, LLC will
include a panel discussion with MPI-WI Chapter
planners & suppliers. Our experts will talk about how
they are designing flexible options to accommodate
different needs and preferences.
Volunteer Reception and Kick-Off!
Immediately following the program, stick aroundas we share our appreciation for our wonderfulvolunteers and look at opportunities that lie ahead!

May/June 2021

MPI Agenda|

16One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time! As welook ahead to our 2021-2022 MPI year, we are searching for
Volunteers to join us as we make great strides in rebuilding
our industry and our MPI Chapter. Whether you can volunteer
10 minutes of your time, or take the lead on a program,
your help is welcomed! Learn about the different volunteer
opportunities, meet your Board members, and find yourperfect fit to get involved.

ABOUT PRESENTER
Carolyn Browning, CMP, CMM, HMCC
Carolyn Browning is the Owner & Chief
Solution Strategist of MEETing Needs,
LLC. She began her career in the meetingsindustry on the corporate side handlingcustomer events and sales meetings at bothSprint and GE Capital and then went out on
her own and never looked back!
Passionate about meetings and education,
Carolyn seeks to share her knowledge andexperience with others - leading CMP prepclasses, speaking to groups about how toplan better meetings to engage and inspireaudiences, facilitating meetings and retreats,and helping clients design and execute
impactful meetings.
Carolyn is a two-term past president of
the MPI-WestField Chapter. She is also a
devoted Disney fan (some say fanatic!), trivia
lover, and is the proud mom of two recent
college graduates.

May/June 2021

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17

FOOD for thought: May event
Flavorful, Approachable Modern Twist on Scandinavian Food
By Jean-Gabriel Fernandez

An Interview with Chef Gary Baca of Eldr+Rime
Wauwatosa, WI
Wauwatosa is welcoming a new culinary addition to its existing offerings, as the Scandinavianinspired restaurant Eldr+Rime opened at 2300 N. Mayfair Road in August 2020. Chef Gary
Baca, who hails from Chicago, answered a few questions about this new restaurant.
*Note: This story was originally published in The Shepherd Express in July of 2020.
May/June 2021

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18

Eldr+Rime

Can you talk about your experience as a chef?
I’ve been doing this a little while—over 30 years. I have a
lot of experience in wood fire cooking and wood ovens. I
did a lot of Italian early on in my career; then, for 20 years,
I was a chef and partner of a high-end steak and seafood
restaurant in Chicago called Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steakand Stone Crab.

What is Eldr+Rime?
The name is a loose translation of Old Norse for fire andice. The restaurant is a modern American restaurant with
Scandinavian influence. The Scandinavian influence willshow in the design—it’s a very sleek and cozy, beautiful
design—and in the menu and the food. It takes inspirationand flavor techniques and even some fun twists on someclassic Scandinavian dishes. The styles of cooking we haveare like the name; fire and ice. We have a wood-burningoven that we’ll used on many items including flatbreads,
along with a beautiful wood-burning grill. Both pieces arereally the central show pieces of our open kitchen, where
people will be able to view the cooking. Also front and center
will be our raw bar, that will serve things like oysters on thehalf-shell. We will have a beautiful bar with great cocktails
that match and support some of the food and concepts.
We have outdoor dining space and private dining rooms in
the restaurant. We also have a gorgeous, beautiful event
space upstairs that will be able to see up to 300 to 350
people with gorgeous, really beautifully designed 20-foot,floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a really spectacular event
space, so we foresee a great location for weddings, as well
as all sorts of business and social meetings. We happen

to have a beautiful hotel attached to us as well, which is a
196-room Renaissance hotel, which is part of the Marriott
portfolio, which we felt was a great fit for the concept tosupport the restaurant.
The project was initially developed by HKS Holdings, a
Milwaukee-based development company. It was designedwith a consulting group out of Chicago, the Fifty/50
Restaurant Group, and Concord Hospitality. The Fifty/50
Group brought me in because they were familiar with mybackground in steaks, especially seafood and the woodfire aspect. In our years of experience and expertisewith premium seafood, we have established a great
relationship with purveyors of vendors and suppliers like
Alaskan King Crab.

Can you give us a better idea of the dishes you’ll
be offering?
A lot of the items we will serve will be seafood, such as
cooked, chilled shrimp instead of regular shrimp cocktail.
We’ll serve cooked and chilled King Crab legs, with tableside presentation where we’ll cut, break down and open thelegs so they’re super easy to eat. There will be different
seasonal items in the summertime, like Pacific stone crab.
We will feature a number of fresh fish, and some dishes
are still being developed, but I will do something witheither a Norwegian salmon or Faroe Islands salmon.
We’ll also have a selection of steaks, for example a Filet
Oscar classic, which is actually of Swedish origin: grilled filet
served with asparagus and typically béarnaise—we’re doinga fun twist on the béarnaise. Another that we’re thinking ofContinued on page 20

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19

Roasted Carrot Puree

Continued from page 19

Ingredients

is a big Tomahawk ribeye grilled on the wood
grill, which is going to be a shared item. We’ve
developed a really fantastic rye flatbread that’ll
be served with a local honey. We will haveanother number of other fun items to support themenu, like a great half chicken with Icelandic
sea salt infused with wild Arctic thyme, which I
get shipped directly from Iceland, and seasonal
vegetable, farmers’ market vegetables. A typicalappetizer in Sweden and Norway is a potato
dumpling that can be breaded and sautéed
and is typically filled with a savory filling, likemushrooms. Honoring being in Milwaukee, ourstuffing will be cheese curds and served withchives and crême fraiche made in house.

24 oz
1T
½t
½t
¼t
4 oz
½ lemon
2t
1/8 t
1/8 t
2T

With the grill and the oven, the flavor profile isunique. While we’re taking inspiration and cues
from favorites and Scandinavian traditions andflavors, we’re twisting them up. Part of the goalis that the food is unique and flavorful but also
approachable. I think that’s really important.
We really want this restaurant to be a gathering
place for the community.

2. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Cover with

Carrots, scrubbed or peeled, cut in even pieces
Vegetable oil
Salt + pepper
Coriander
Ground cumin
Cottage cheese
Lemon zest
Lemon juice
Ground cardamom
Ground black pepper
Chopped fresh dill

Method + Technique
1. Cut carrots into evenly sized pieces. Toss in oil and season
with salt + pepper and other spices.

foil and roast 10-15 minutes more, or until cooked through.

3. Allow to cool to room temperature.
4. Puree until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except dill andblend until smooth.

5. Add dill and pulse a few times until combined.
6. Mold in 4” deep 1/3 pan lined with plastic wrap. Refrigerate fora minimum of 4 hours before serving.

7. To serve cut into 3/8” thick slices.

Yields 2½ cups

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20

3.5 oz1.75 oz

2t
1t
½t
2 oz
5.5 ozMethod + Technique

Rye flour
1. Preheat oven to 350° F (180 C).
Spelt flour
2. Add dry ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
Flaxseed				3. Add water and oil, and mix until combined. Form into a ball with
Sesame seeds			
your hands.
Pumpkin seeds
4. Divide dough into two, and place each piece between two sheets
Cracked fennel seedsof parchment paper.
Cumin seeds		
5. Carefully roll out into a rectangle, as thin as possible with out
Kosher salt
tearing, about 1/8” thick.
Blend oil
6. Place on a sheet pan and carefully remove top piece of parchment
Hot water
paper.
7. Score dough in long rectangle pieces, about 2 ½” x 5”. This will
make it easier to break or cut after cooking.
8. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn trays and bake another 10 - 15 minutes
until golden and crispy.
9. Cool on cart. Break into pieces and store in fish box lined withparchment, and between layers.
			

Recipe yields 2 half sheets.

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21+ Seeded Crispbread Recipes

IngredientsCompiled by Kathy Reading & Maria Peot, CMP

1SARA BEUTHIEN, Senior Event Coordinator at Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation, was recently featured in In Business Magazine’s On the Rise column.
We’re proud to call you one of our members, Sara!

2

ED BUCHNER is showing his MPI-WI spirit by enthusiastically sharing news,
professional opportunities and more. In just one month, Ed shared more than 20
professional position openings to his LinkedIn network of more than 500 people.
(Yes, we counted.) This is a powerful action to support each other! Be like Ed!

3

KRISTY CARLSON, CMP is the Conference Coordinator at University of WisconsinMadison since late last summer. We love the multiple unique spaces within the
Memorial Union and Union South. Kristy’s team can help with planning, management,
and more. Keep shining the light on our capital treasures, Kristy!

4

JUAN ENCARNACION joined Great Wolf Lodge as the Director of Sales& Catering. He brings his experience at active venues across the country.
Welcome to Wisconsin, Juan!

5

MELISSA FALENDYZ, CMP has returned to UWGB studies after 17 years. She’senrolled in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion course. Melissa, you’re living thechallenge to “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

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22

6

DAVID HELGESON, CMP is our chapter’s
resident maple syrup maker. If you see this syrup
at a future MPI-WI auction, do not hold back! Our
Director of Publications & Social Responsibility
has tested the product, to be sure it is bakingfriendly. (It is.) Granola!

7

ALISON HUBER, CMP recently hosted 250
attendees from across the US for a sales
incentive trip to Hawaii. The event included anawards reception with plated dinner, a private luau
buyout. All attendees tested negative for COVID
prior to entry to HI. Along with her masked self,
she was happy to share this other photo which
will look familiar to all MPI members. Thanks forsharing the joy, Alison!
Late-breaking update: Alison Huber, CMP has started a new position as of May 3 as Manager, Travel andEvents for Baker Tilly. Alison never rests!

8

TAMARA JESSWEIN, CMP, VEMM recently
hosted her first hybrid work meeting since hercompany paused travel, sending her home from an
event in Portugal in March 2020! We all share inyour excitement, Tamara! hoot9

GRETA MCCUE has joined Midas Hospitality as Direct of Sales. She’s
representing ALoft Milwaukee, a bold hotel in the heart of Downtown Milwaukeewith five meeting spaces up to 2200 square feet. Keep soaring, Greta!

CLARE MULCAHY is happy to announce that the season’s first private Lake

10 Geneva Cruise Line charters are running. We’re all looking forward to celebrating
everything. Bon Voyage, Clare!

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23

GREEN BAY’S AUSTIN STRAUBEL AIRPORT is the first Wisconsin airport to receive

11 GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation, the gold standard for facilities. The accreditation
validates that GRB has implemented and follows the most stringent protocols forcleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. Thanks for the extra effort tokeep us moving ever onward, GRB!

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS opened the first c location

12 and their 30th avid hotel in mid-March, making it the

6th avid to open in 2021. Although opening during apandemic meant big changes for the ribbon cuttingcelebration, everyone involved felt appreciated andloved. We are also excited for a successful summer at
the avid hotel in Milwaukee West Waukesha!

SEVERAL MPI-WI MEMBER VENUES lead the list of U.S. News & World Report’s best hotels in Wisconsin.

10 We love supporting these leading, MPI-WI members!
(#1) The American Club(#2) The Pfister Hotel(#3) Grand Geneva Resort & Spa(#4) The Osthoff Resort

THE MADISON CONCOURSE HOTEL AND GOVERNOR’S CLUB is StayClean

11 Accredited and compliant with StaySafe Hospitality International Infection Control,
Prevention, and Hygiene Standards. Way to step up to new standards!

THE BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER held their first event for donors and

12 first concert open to the public in April. Contact member Amanda Ridout,

Director of Sales, if you’re interested in booking a tour of the space. We areecstatic to be holding the MPI-WI Chapter Awards Gala at this gorgeous
new venue on Thursday, August 12th - mark your calendars to join us forthis annual celebration event!

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24

Why Should We Meet Face-to-Face?
By Maria Peot, CMP

B

ecause we miss each other. Because Zoom/Teams/FaceTime/etc. cannot replace actual,physical human interaction. Because when we meet in person, we revive our industry.
Because it’s our nature, it’s in our DNA.

I could name many more reasons why meeting face-to-face is important, but I’ll share one
anecdote from our April event instead. I was irrationally excited to attend this event face-to-face.
After a heck of a year, beyond the craziness of COVID (ask me more IN PERSON if you’d likethe whole story), I was more than ready to see my MPI-WI family again. Trivia night was a blast.
The education was excellent. The venue decor was spot on, and the F&B was outstanding. Oursponsors had beautiful display tables (special shout out to Michael Ferguson with the Madison
Concourse hotel!) + I could not have been happier to network with everyone again!

I hope my little story is the inspiration you need to sign up to attend our May event at theRenaissance in Milwaukee on May 13. Make sure to say “Hi” to me, and, if you want, ask me more about my new beginning...
With excitement to see you all in person soon,Mariaa taiinl vne...
,
n
i
c
l
i
o
s
h
n
s, camLoey otor stn
Pictured: Rotary Botanical Gardens

When you’re ready to plan your next meeting we want you to know that we’ve
got options to help you meet in the safest way possible.
Conveniently located directly off of I39/90 and less than 90 minutes
from Madison and Milwaukee. Call today to learn more about ourcomplimentary services!
janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 · 
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25

SAM GLENN

The closing show with Sam Glenn was truly the icing on the cake (and if you know me at all,you know I love cake + will always take the piece with the most frosting). When Sam started his
session, he described a daisy painting he held up and the meaning behind daisies. I was halflistening (it had been a long couple of days back at the whole socializing thing for me!), but thepainting’s colors drew me in. When Sam asked who wanted the piece, I shot my hand up in theair, along with just about everyone else in the room. Maybe I was just lucky, or perhaps it was
karma/fate/whatever you believe in, but Sam picked me to receive the painting. Afterward, I
googled “daisy meaning” and learned that daisies are a symbol of new beginnings. The painting
means even more to me because NOW truly is my new beginning.

NOMINATION TIME:

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

Each year our chapter takes the time to recognize the accomplishments of our volunteers at theAnnual Chapter Awards Gala. These individuals are nominated by peers for their efforts throughout
the year. After nominations are submitted, the Awards committee communicates with nominees andforwards a questionnaire that details his/her membership, the involvement in the Chapter, as well asother activities outside of MPI. After nomination forms are returned, these forms are posted on themembership website so members can view and vote in each of the below categories. Voting remains
open for about 10 days, and then a committee from another chapter meets to review the nominee
forms. Award winners are confidential until the night of the Awards Gala.

The awards open for nominations are:
RISING STAR

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

Criteria:

Criteria:

●

●
●

●

●

Member for a minimum of six months at thetime of nomination
Member in good standing for a maximum of two
years at the time of nomination
Individual has demonstrated an immediate
interest in MPI-WI by volunteering individually,
on a team, working on a specialty project, or
leading a committee●●●

Member who is involved on teams and has
been a team lead
This person is very active in the chapter
Cannot be a current board member (at thetime of voting)
Nominees must be a current member of MPIWisconsin for at least three years
Past recipients are not eligible

INDUSTRY ADVOCATEPLANNER OF THE YEAR

Criteria:

Criteria:●●

Current member whose actions consistently
promote the meetings industry in Wisconsin
Individual who encourages the growth andimage of our industry through education,
promotion, or lobbying

May/June 2021●●

Member who is involved on teams and has
been a team lead
This person is very active in the chapter
Cannot be a current board member (at thetime of voting)
Nominees must be a current member of MPIWisconsin for at least three years
Past recipients are not eligible

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26

●
●
●

MPI Agenda

TEAM OF THE YEAR (TOTY)
Criteria:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●

TOTY can be a chapter special project,fundraising, or monthly meeting team
A successful TOTY is a team that shares in
the work together
The team has aligned and accomplished thegoals set by the chapter
The team also must have completed the work
between August and June of each year to beconsidered
TOTY must be made up of volunteers
TOTY cannot be a board team
Past Hall of Fame winners would be eligible
to win as part of a TOTYTOTY may be nominated by a team lead or
the membership at large

ANNUAL CHAPTER AWARDS GALATHURSDAY, AUGUST 12
BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTERMILWAUKEE, WI
The full list of details and criteria for each award, as
well as the list of previous winners, can be found on
our chapter website under the Member Benefits tab
in Member Recognition.
Mark your calendars for the Annual Chapter Awards
Gala on Thursday, August 12 at the Bradley
Symphony Center in Milwaukee.
Please submit your nominations by May 28, 2021 toReggie Driscoll, CMP at rdriscoll@wisbar.org.

We’re looking forward
to dusting off the suits
LOOK US UP
CHICAGONORTHWEST.COM

May/June 2021

MPI Agenda|

27

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

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

Upcoming Dates
MAY 28 | JUNE 25 | JULY 30
Register on our chapter website or bit.ly/whineandcheese.
(Your member email will give you access.) Zoom link will be
provided in your confirmation.

MAY
Join your MPI Wisconsin friends and bring the week to a
happy close with some wine and whine. The struggle is realand it’s always good to see friendly faces that understand.

2021
13

JUNE

Friday Whine & Cheese
Zoom gatherings will continue!

15-17

WORLD EDUCATIONCONGRESS
Caesars Forum
Las Vegas, NV

12

CHAPTER AWARDS
GALA
Bradley SymphonyCenter
Milwaukee, WI

AUGUST

BY POPULAR DEMAND

CHAPTER EDUCATION
EVENT
Milwaukee Renaissance