JULY
AUG
2022
VOL 44/NUM 4

C H A P T E R“A light we’ll never forget”
PAGE 22“MPI-WI Chapter is the bridge to knowledge, compelling ideas, andrelationships to create a voice in the meetings and events industry.”A W A R D

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

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

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

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

2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukee WI • 800 247 6640 • theinglesidehotel.com

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JULY/AUGUST 2022

MPI-WISCONSIN
2022-2023
BOARD OF DIRECTORSVOL 44 / NUM 4

PRESIDENTREBECCA STAATS
Residence Inn & Fairfield by Marriott Eau Claire
rebecca.l.staats@gmail.com

Feature Articles

PRESIDENT-ELECTREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin
rdriscoll@wisbar.org
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTSHANNON TIMMERMAN, CMP
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort
stimmerman@wildernessresort.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIPSARA BEUTHIEN
WEDC
sara.beuthien@wedc.org

2022/2023 Board of Directors

8

MPI-WI Chapter Golden Gala & 50th Anniversary

102021 - 2022 Award Nominees

12

WEC 2022 Recap

16

September Event Preview

20

A Special Tribute to Amanda Ridout

22

May Recap

25

In Every Issue

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
WANDA GILLES
veda
wanda.gilles@yahoo.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONSLIZ UNRUH
Positively Pewaukee
liz@positivelypewaukee.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONBETH SCHNABEL, CMPFilene Research Institutebeths@filene.org
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECTSELIZABETH POH
La Crosse Center
epoh@lacrossecenter.com

Editor’s Note

4

President’s Message

7

Anniversaries / New Members

29

Board Member Profile: Elizabeth Poh		31

Supplier Profile: Greta McCue

33

Who’s in the News

34

Planner Profile: Melissa Falendysz

36

Save the Date: 2022 Chapter Events

38

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTSED BUCHNER
Majic Productions
ebuchner@majicpro.com
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSSHERRY WOLFF
American Club Resort Hotelsherry.wolff@kohler.com
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER CAREJODY ROOS
Wisconsin Bankers Association
roos@wisbank.com
DIRECTOR OF AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENTFARRAH SLINGER
Event Essentials
farrah@eventessentials.com
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
KORTNEE CARROLL
Kalahari Resorts
kocarroll@kalahariresorts.com
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONSJESSICA RIEFLIN
Wisconsin Dells VCB
jessica@wisdells.com
DIRECTOR OF MONTHLY PROGRAMMING
LINDSEY HESS, CMP
Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association
lhess@wischeesemakers.org

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 																	

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

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

Happy
New (MPI) Yearto all!

EDITOR
Jennifer Mell, CMP
Travel Leaders Corporate
jmell@tlcorporate.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs

PUBLICATION DEADLINES
September/October 2022
Deadline: August 15, 2022
November/December 2022
Deadline: October 15, 2022
January/February 2023
Deadline: December 15, 2022

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

There is no more fun and festive way to celebrate our chapter andvolunteers than our annual Awards Gala. This year’s “Golden
Gala” will be on Thursday, August 11th, at the Hilton Paper Valley Hotelin Appleton. Join us to honor the volunteers and members that makeour chapter great... which is all of you, not just the award honorees.
Be sure to check out the profiles for all the nominees in the pages that
follow. And while it feels odd, it would be odder not to mention that I’m
the lucky soul inducted into our chapter’s Hall of Fame this year. I’d love
for all of you to be there to celebrate our chapter and all our members!
For those who didn’t attend MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC)
July 21-23 in San Francisco, we captured special moments andrecaps from member attendees. If you’ve never been to WEC, I highly
encourage you to find a way to attend in the future. It’s like a chapter
event on mega-steroids! WEC is where (1) I learned that there isbusiness value to attending “parties,” (2) where I took my first photo ofa room set (yep, I’m a dork), and (3) where I’ve accrued many uniquelyentertaining stories for MPI members. There are also loads of education
sessions for planners, suppliers, newbies, veterans, and more!
Here’s where it gets REALLY exciting ...WEC 2023 is going to be in
the Mexican Riviera Maya! This will be the first time the event will takeplace outside of the US or Canada, so mark your calendars NOW for
June 12-15, 2023.

Continued on page 5

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jennifer Mell, CMP
Rebecca Staats
Kathy Reading
Maria Peot, CMP
Elizabeth PohGreta McCue
Kortnee Carroll
Melissa Falendysz, CMP
Sara Beuthien
Jody Roos

The first day of July marks thefirst day of our new MPI year.
This brings a new Board of
Directors and volunteers, whilesome volunteers are leaving their posts. To all our volunteers -- new,continuing, and moving on -- thank you for your service to our chapter.
Because of your hard work, our chapter is respected throughout the
global MPI community and used as an example for other chapters tofollow.

Editor’s Note
Continued from page 4

EVERY STEP HAS A STORY
On a more personal note, I ask each of you to pay special
attention to the story accompanying Amanda’s article. My
friend Maria Peot, CMP, has decided to participate in theSusan G. Komen 3 Day Walk.

At the end of May, our chapter lost a beloved member,Amanda Ridout, after a two-year battle with triplenegative breast cancer. Amanda was an exceptional
person, a spectacular event professional, and loved byso many in our MPI chapter and community. A beautifully
written article on page 22 shares her story. Amanda wasdetermined to remain as positive as possible during her
cancer journey, including friend-sourcing her “Juicy Jams”
musical playlists for treatment days. So, when you’re done
reading this issue of the Agenda, I challenge you to pickyour favorite upbeat song and play it at full blast and enjoy
your own “Juicy Jam” in her honor!

Twenty miles walking
for three consecutive days
= 60 miles total
is quite a feat!
(When I participated in 2007, it was undoubtedly the most
exhausting experience I’ve ever had between the miles ofwalking, a middle-of-the-night evacuation, and sweltering
heat that led to heat stroke. But it was also one of the mostinspiring weekends of my life. And I knew the challenges I
went through were nothing compared to what my cancerfighting Aunt had gone through the year before.)

If you seek education and networking, thenprioritize attending every MPI-WI event.
If you’re looking to gain new skills, thenvolunteer in an area completely different
from your day job (MPI is a great place to
try new things!)
If you’re barely hanging on as a member
because of budget constraints, shortstaffing, or work overload, then email themembership team or me, and we’ll see how
we can help!

•••

Cheers to a new year MPI Wisconsin!

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Along with her substantial physical commitment, Mariais boosting fundraising to find a cure that is within ourreach. While she’s reached her initial goal, breast cancer
research needs more funding, especially for challenging
strains like Amanda’s triple-negative cancer. If you feel soinclined, please donate to Maria’s walk, offer encouraging
words or tips for marathon walks, suggest a walking
partner, or gather a few together September 16-18 at a
Cheering Station and shout out encouragement to all thosetrekking through the streets. I’m crossing my fingers forbeautiful weather and strong legs for our Maria and can’t
wait to hear her story of this incredible experience.

In closing, as we start a new year within MPI, consider
what you’d like to get out of your membership this year.

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5Imagine your meeting in the wide-open
spaces of our Exhibition Hall and its adjacent
Lakeside Commons — with immersive, engaging
presentations experienced in-person or
remotely. Yes, times have changed. But they’ve

Achieving the global gold
standard for prevention is
one of the many ways we’rekeeping you safe.

only fortified our attention to ever y last detail.
So go ahead, keep dreaming big.

GBAC accredited
cleaning protocol

Open spaces
for distancing

Upgraded air
filtration system

Let us orchestrate your incredible.

Madison, WI© 2022 Monona Terrace

25452-MT-MPI WI_Meetings_Ad_8.5x11.indd 1

12/29/21 11:51 AM

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Connect with us at MononaTerrace.com

President’s Message
Hello MPI Wisconsin Members,
I hope everyone’s summer is off to a great start and the rest of 2022 is looking
bright. I am very excited to be taking on the role of your Chapter President andam happy for what the 2022-2023 year holds ahead of us.
First and foremost, I would like to take a moment to thank out-going Immediate
Past President, Alison Hutchinson and our new Immediate Past President
Shannon Timmerman for being great leaders of our Chapter and mentors to
me. They have led our Chapter through extremely difficult times with grace andpoise. I’d also like to thank past and current Board Members for their dedication& service; volunteering alongside each and every one of you is a pleasure.
Leadership is a privilege and I am honored to have been elected into this role
and am filled with gratitude.

In the upcoming year, I want to help MPI Wisconsin Recover & Grow. It isparticularly important to me to grow our membership and attendance at chapter
events, which is down approximately 35% from pre-pandemic levels.
MPI Wisconsin has helped lead, and will continue to lead the charge back to inperson meetings led by the philosophy that we will continue to offer top-notcheducation and networking opportunities at our events.
Behind the scenes our teams are working diligently to secure locations for allof our events for 2023, along with a great lineup of interesting and informative
speakers. Our members are telling us that they crave more time to network& socialize with one another—especially after lock-downs and long stretchesof isolation. Let’s all remember that meeting face-to-face holds so much
importance, more now than ever. And as MPI Global would say, when we meet,
we change the world!
I am here to serve you, our members; so if there is anything I can ever do,
please do not hesitate to reach out to me. My personal cell # is (612) 327-1293
and the email I use for all things MPI related is rebecca.l.staats@gmail.com.
I look forward to seeing you at the Golden Gala in August where we willcelebrate 50 years of MPI along with the volunteer efforts of our chapter
members this past year. Let’s make it a Great Year!

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MPI-WI Chapter President
Rebecca Staats

From the moment I attended my first MPI Wisconsin event, I knew this chapter
was something special. And from the moment I joined the Board of Directors, I
was interested in growing & developing my leadership skill set and it has beena dream of mine to become President of this wonderful chapter. In my current
role as Director of Sales for two select service hotel properties in a small
market, I am a department of one person. Volunteering with MPI Wisconsin
helps me expand on leadership skills that I don't get to develop in my day job
and allows me to be part of something bigger.

Please join us in welcoming our2022-2023
Board of Directors!

IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENTSHANNON TIMMERMAN, CMPPRESIDENT-ELECTREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP

Residence Inn & Fairfield Inn
Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls

Wilderness Territory

State Bar of Wisconsin

VP COMMUNICATIONSLIZ UNRUH

VP EDUCATIONBETH SCHNABEL, CMP

VP FINANCE
WANDA GILLES

Positively Pewaukee

Filene Research InstituteJuly/August 2022

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PRESIDENTREBECCA STAATSWI Economic Development
Corporation

DIRECTOR AWARDS,SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENTFARAH SLINGER

DIRECTOR MEMBER CAREJODY ROOS

Event Essentials

Wisconsin Bankers Association

DIRECTOR MONTHLY
PROGRAMMING
LINDSEY HESS, CMP

DIRECTOR PUBLICATIONS &COMMUNITY OUTREACH
KORTNEE CARROLL

DIRECTOR SPECIALEDUCATION PROJECTSELIZABETH POH

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Assoc

Kalahari Resorts

La Crosse Center

DIRECTOR SPECIAL EVENTSED BUCHNER

DIRECTOR STRATEGICPARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSSHERRY WOLFF

DIRECTOR DIGITALCOMMUNICATIONSJESSICA RIEFLIN

Majic Productions

Wisconsin Dells VCB

American Club Resort Hotel
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VP MEMBERSHIPSARA BEUTHIENContinued on page 11

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DATE: August 11, 2022
TIME: 5pm - Midnight
LOCATION: Hilton Appleton Paper Valley Hotel
333 W College Avenue, Appleton
ROOM BLOCK RATE: $99 (book by July 28, 2022)
RESERVATIONS: 920.733.8000

Golden Gala inNortheast Wisconsin
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Mark MPI’s 50th Anniversary by celebrating all day!
Start the day by touring the new Round Lake Farms
and Stone Prairie in Brillion at 1:00 pm and enjoy acomplimentary light lunch, hosted by AriensCo Hospitality.
Before you head to Appleton, let Katie and her team willshow you the venues available for your next event.

Next, the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau is

excited to partner with the newly renovated and re-branded

Get out your evening wear and golden accents for ourtheme this year is the Golden Gala. Celebrate andrecognize MPI Wisconsin members, volunteers and chapter
accomplishments. Enjoy live music and sample fabulous
cuisine all while bidding on our silent auction. We’ll closeout the evening with an afterglow party in Blaze.
Register today!

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Hilton Appleton Paper Valley hotel to be the MPI Wisconsin

Gala hosts and showcase our flexible and professional onsite
conference center in the heart of vibrant downtown Appleton.

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AWARD NOMINEES
By: MPI-WI Membership Team
It’s that time of year where we acknowledge and honor our volunteer members! Join us in congratulating the nominees for thisyear’s chapter Awards. Below is a list of the nominees along with an excerpt from their nomination. Good luck to all, our chapter
is really the winner to have all of you working so hard to do great things for MPI!

NOMINATIONS FOR RISING STARKORTNEE CARROLL
KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS

Kortnee is new to our MPI-WI chapter but she dove in headfirst to help out and be a volunteer.
I have seen her in action at the meetings and know that she has stepped up whenever asked
to be on a team. She was a key member to our 2022 April Trivia Night to that we could havea successful auction. Kortnee always has a smile on her face to greet you and she has evenrecently joined the MPI-WI Board. It that doesn’t tell you how well she is doing and moving up in
our chapter. She definitely deserves the Rising Star award.

KATIE MULHANEY
ARIENSCO HOSPITALITY

Katie is on the committee for the Gala and is working hard on showcasing her place. This little
boost might make her volunteer for more!

Elizabeth took the initiative to be an active volunteer right from the start and graciously gave
her time, energy, and talent to the chapter as a volunteer on both the Spring Education Day
Team and Trivia Team. She took on added responsibilities on the teams without hesitation toensure the event was successful, while also doing the heavy lifting of execution as the event
host property. Elizabeth will be joining the WI Chapter Board of Directors starting July 1 asthe Director of Special Education Projects where she will be lifting our chapter up even further
through the gift of her time and talent. Elizabeth is the very definition of a Rising Star and lookforward to seeing where she takes our chapter to next.

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ELIZABETH POH
LA CROSSE CENTERNOMINATIONS FOR PLANNER OF THE YEARMELISSA FALENDYSZ, CMP
BCD MEETINGS & EVENTSMelissa has been a great resource for the chapter and other planners. She has been
involved in the chapter and it is great to see her grow in her own job.

LINDSEY HESS, CMP
WISCONSIN CHEESE MAKERS ASSOCIATION

She is dedicated to the chapter, she does an amazing job planning and executing in her
daily job as well as within different volunteer teams in our chapter and will begin serving on
our Board of Directors in July.

DANIELLE ZIEGLER, CMP, CVT, CNAP
RED DOG RESOURCES, LLC

Danielle has done a wonderful job as the lead of our Speaker team. She is very organizedwith her committee meetings and thorough with all her communication for team. Danielle has
been a huge asset to the Education team. Our survey scores reflect on the great job Danielle
has done.

NOMINATIONS FOR SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
DENISE HUMPHREYDISCOVER GREEN BAY

Denise has always been a great asset to other planners and suppliers. She is great to workwith and is always willing to help out.

Marin has been a long-time Supplier chapter member and consistently year after year
regularly attends events and volunteers for the chapter. She is currently serving on the RFPteam helping MPI-WI secure host venues for 2023. Marin has been a great member of MPIWI. Every year, she is on some type of committee. Marin has a lot of industry experience thatshe shares with our newer members. Her feedback is always welcomed, and she contributes
great ideas.
Supplier of the Year

Continued on page 14
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MARIN MEDEMATHE OSTHOFF RESORTNOMINATIONS FOR SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (CONT.)
KATHY READINGTHE SCAN GROUP, INC.

Kathy is a master Supplier! Printing needs, mass mailings,
registration tools and more. More importantly, she is the
supplier of all things MPI, volunteering continuously after
her time on the BOD, championing fellow MPI memberswith best wishes, and dedicated to all things that help thechapter. She is the epitome of an excellent supplier ofgoodness to everyone in her presence.

Sherry has eagerly volunteered on several committees
this past year. She always has great ideas to contribute to
the teams. Sherry is very detailed and organized!

NOMINATIONS FOR INDUSTRY ADVOCATEDAVID HELGESON, CMP
BEST WESTERN PREMIER WATERFRONT HOTELAND CONVENTION CENTER

David not only does a lot for MPI as a Strategic Partner,
volunteer, and regular attendee, he also has a strong
industry presence. When you think of Oshkosh, you thinkof David first and foremost. He is always eager to host MPI
events and is involved in other industry organizations.

ANN MARIE HESSVISIT BROOKFIELD

She has been a great asset to the Gala team and has
always been an advocate for Brookfield and the industry as
a whole.

Industry Advocate

Continued on page 15

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C E L E B R AT E T H I SY EA R’S H A L L O F
FA M E I N D U C T E E
JENNIFER MELL, CMP will
be honored as the 2022 Hallof Fame Recipient at thisyear’s MPI-WI Awards Gala.
In Jen’s 12+ years as an MPI
Wisconsin member, she hasgrown professionally and madecontributions to our chapter allalong the way. She’s worked in
hotels, as a corporate meeting
planner, for an event production
company, and as a ThirdParty Planner. This makes
her enviably well-rounded inher knowledge of the events
industry. She makes use of her
years of experience by serving
on MATC’s Advisory Committee
for their Event Management
program, as well as in her
volunteer work for MPI. Jen
is currently co-editor for the
AGENDA Magazine and has
served in many roles for MPIWI, including Chapter President
in 2016-2017, and she used her
extra time at home during the
pandemic, by serving a year on
a MPI International Committee.
Please join us on August 11th
and help us thank Jennifer
Mell, CMP for her consistentleadership and congratulate her
on her Hall of Fame induction!

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SHERRY WOLFF
KOHLER HOSPITALITYNOMINATIONS FOR INDUSTRY ADVOCATE (CONT.)TAMARA P. JESSWEIN, CMP, VEMMHID GLOBAL

Tamara is a former MPI-WI president and remains a very active volunteer and member inour chapter. She took on the very challenging role of leading efforts for GLES and continues
to attend events and support the success of our chapter. On a more personal level, she is amentor, guiding newer members of our chapter and industry in ways that only someone withher experience and passion for the meetings industry can.

MARIN MEDEMATHE OSTHOFF RESORTMarin has been a long-time Supplier chapter member and consistently year after year regularly attends
events and volunteers for the chapter. She is currently serving on the RFP team helping MPI-WI secure
host venues for 2023. Marin has been a great member of MPI WI. Every year, she is on some typeof committee. Marin has a lot of industry experience that she shares with our newer members. Her
feedback is always welcomed, and she contributes great ideas.

KEOLA SHIMOOKADESTINATION MADISON

Keola has been wonderful throughout the years as a team player, a resource for other Planners
and Suppliers and always a willing volunteer.

NOMINATIONS FOR TEAM OF THE YEARAGENDA TEAMThe Agenda Newsletter team worked together to create a digital newsletter through the pandemic, and faced many struggles
of getting content, and getting it in a timely manner. They have brought some great ideas for future Agendas to the Board, andconsistently produce a quality piece. We have received a great deal of feedback on how great our Agenda is with every issue.

GALA TEAMSEPTEMBER TEAM

The event in Green Bay was unique, everyone loved the headshots and speaker.

SPEAKER TEAM

The entire Speaker Team has been crucial to our chapter’s regrowth & success in hosting in person events this past year andhas helped MPI-WI secure quality education speakers. They have also helped the chapter maintain a very high education
satisfaction score, not including May this was 4.84 on a 5.00 scale!
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The Gala Team did an amazing job at getting our Gala off the ground and making it a successful event. Jody Simon led thisteam and had never even been to one of our MPI-WI Galas in the past! She still made it a great success with the team she
had, working to get silent auction items in and working with our dear friend Amanda Ridout to showcase the new locationthat Amanda represented. Jennifer Mell, CMP was also an essential part of the Gala Team as she worked on the production
part of the event and also helped us with the social media. She brought in her MadeYaLook team on-site so we had amazing
photos taken at the event and made everything perfect for the evening.

WEC 2022 RECAP
By: Kathy Reading

Nearly 2,000 in-person and 300 online attendees gathered
at WEC 2022 in San Francisco. Participants appreciatedthe new three-day format, with expanded networking
opportunities. In addition, San Francisco’s ideal weather,
inspiring keynotes, and offsite events were a delight.
Wisconsin attendees included:• Sara Beuthien, Wisconsin Economic Development
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Corporation
Tracey Bockhop, CMP, Meet Meetings
Ed Buchner, Majic Productions
Mikayla Dhein, CPCE, CWP, Milwaukee Bucks, Inc.
Reggie Driscoll, CMP, State Bar of WI
Nicole Ellickson, CMP, Credit Union National
Association
Tamara Jesswein, CMP, VEMM, HID Global
Cheryl Oswald, MBA, CMP, CMM, Kohl’s
Department Stores
Kathy Reading, The Scan Group, Inc.
Keola Shimooka, Destination Madison
Rebecca Staats, Director of Sales at Residence Inn
by Marriott Eau Claire and Fairfield by Marriott Eau
Claire Chippewa Falls
Shannon Timmerman, CMP, Wilderness Resort
Wisconsin Dells
Sherry Wolff, Kohler Co.

Participants in the WEC HOSTED BUYER
PROGRAM reported positive impressions of theconnections, networking, and overall experience. Cheryl
Oswald liked the enhanced networking and thought her
thirteen matching appointments were vastly good. Keola
Shimooka was a first-time participant as a Supplier inthe Hosted Buyer program. Keola felt it was a worthwhile
investment in time and budget, “My appointments
presented solid opportunities for Destination Madison.
I also liked the networking, which allowed us to meetor reconnect with more people outside our matchedappointments.” On the flip side, some participants
mentioned communication hiccups, and not everyone felt
as happy with their matched appointments. There’s always
room for improvement, and we trust our members to reporttheir concerns and issues to the WEC team.
Board members enjoyed the CHAPTER LEADERSHIPTRAINING offered in conjunction with WEC 2022. Sherry
Wolff welcomed the opportunity to share ideas withother chapter leaders. “I’ve got a new perspective on

For FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES, WEC 2022 delivered
valuable experiences and connections. As always, ourchapter members provided a Wisconsin welcome to all“newbies,” with camaraderie and suggestions when asked.
Sara Beuthein appreciated the friendliness and networking
amongst members. Ed Buchner said he was “impressedwith how much of a family this is, and how willing people
are to talk to each other and share ideas.” This community
wants everyone to succeed!
Continued on page 17
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We’ve spoken to some of these Wisconsin attendees tohear feedback from their unique perspectives.

partnerships, including working with other chapters andmembers.” We’ll all benefit, as Sherry has stepped up as
our chapter’s Director Strategic Partners & Sponsorships.
Sara, (VP of Membership), Ed, (Director of Special Events),
and our entire office of the president: Shannon Timmerman,(Immediate Past President), Rebecca Staats (President),
and Reggie Driscoll, (President-Elect), all reported being
further inspired and energized by the chapter networking
and Chapter Leadership Training.

Continued on page 18
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SUPPLIER ATTENDEES universally appreciated the
additional networking options. From this writer’s supplierperspective, my company’s offering (displays, print,
kitting, and custom development) isn’t something that
Planners seek at WEC, but they all need. WEC allows us to
support the MPI community and build honest, professional
relationships. Our other Suppliers also appreciatednetworking and offsite events, which allowed for morein-depth discussions. Members value mutually beneficial
connections from committed industry professionals.

RETURNING ATTENDEES enjoyed theenergy and value of reconnecting at thispremier industry event. As stated by Tamara
Jesswein, “Most of my events are outsideof the US, so at IMEX, I’m focused on
global venues and connections. At WEC, I
concentrate more on speaker content andthe experience. Uniting with other planners
and trusted suppliers at WEC is always
re-energizing.” Other returning attendees
shared Tamara’s joy in gathering with otherprofessionals. However, we did hear some
disappointment in breaking up lodging acrossseveral locations, which can limit organic
conversations and introductions. Our MPI
members love every chance to meet!

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We’re already looking forward to WEC 2023
at Riviera Maya, México!

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Land at MSN
Hit the hotel
Conference check in
7:15 pm

Cocktails with colleagues

Dinner on Capitol Square

visitmadison.com/meetings

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Plan your next event in the city with top-tier conference centers, hotels,
and restaurants - all with easy access for your guests. Meet it Madison.

September Event Preview
BE A COMMUNICATION ROCKSTAR!
oin us September 22 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee with Mimi Brown.
Mimi is from Michigan and presented two sessions at the 2018 GLES. She
will be providing one of her most popular sessions, which is highly interactive
discussing different personality types and trainings. She will relate the session
to leadership, teams, customer service and sales so everyone will be able tohave some takeaways no matter your profession.

September MPI WI
Chapter Event
Thursday, September 22
Ingleside Hotel

Motivational Keynote Speaker, Mimi Brown works with individuals andorganizations to amplify their communication, connection and confidence sothey can make an influential impact on the world.

Pewaukee

She mentors with passion, guiding her clients to effectively strengthen andelevate their leadership vision to new heights.

Motivational Keynote Speaker, Mimi Brown

With over ten years of corporate training experience, a knack for making
meaningful connections with audiences and an insatiable appetite for helping
others maximize their potential, Mimi knows how to rock a platform, connect
with a crowd and provide training so that others can effectively do the same.
Mimi's down-to-earth humor compels audiences to laugh while they learn.
She engages groups from the moment she steps in front of them and leaves
them with empowering tools and focused mindsets that they will use longafter the lights have gone out on the event. Mimi is passionate about people,
leadership and successful businesses. She is especially inspired to help
people take their careers – and themselves – to unprecedented levels.
Mimi’s honors include being recognized as one of Michigan Oakland County
Executive's Elite 40 Under 40, Ms. Michigan Plus America 2015 and a proud
contestant on NBC’s The Biggest Loser.
When not speaking or training, Mimi can be found creating delicious meals
with chef and hubby Mr. Brown and bribing her snobby cat Kitty Brown withtreats in exchange for snuggles.

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It’s Good to Do Business at Your place on the lake!
Voted 2022 Best Lakeshore Resort by Wisconsin Meetings magazine,
The Osthoff Resort offers 38,000 square feet of elegant, state-of-the-art function space.
With spacious accommodations, recreational lakefront, Aspira Spa, cooking school,
nearby golf and many other premier amenities, including team building activities,
The Osthoff Resort is one of the Midwest’s premier meeting destinations.
For more information on The Osthoff Resort, visit osthoffmeetings.com or call 888.748.1136.

Elkhart Lake, WI

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TM

A SPECIAL
Tribute toamanda ridout
By: Maria Peot, CMP and Kathy Reading

The MPI-WI family is heartbroken by losing one of our
sweetest and brightest members, Amanda Ridout. Most
recently, the Director of Sales for Resonance Food Co.
at the Bradley Symphony Center, Amanda lost her battlewith stage four triple-negative breast cancer on April 30th.
While her pain is over, we will never forget our Angel
Amanda.
It is difficult to find the “right” way to honor Amanda, as
she was such a light, shining happiness and positivity
on everything and everyone she encountered. Even if
you were not close with Amanda, nearly everyone in MPI
knew her because she was so friendly and welcoming.
She spent her time on the Board of Directors in theMembership Department, implementing programs like the
Red Carpet Welcome and MPI 101 for new members.

Rebecca Staats’ boss!), who got to know both Amanda
and her husband Brad personally. Chuck admired Amanda
most for her strength and the ability to persevere throughlife’s challenges. She was such a positive person andalways saw the good in people in any situation, dating all
the way back to her days in Rice Lake.
For those of you who attended Amanda’s celebration of lifein Hillsdale, you heard the story of how she helped owner
Lorin Humphrey open the Enchanted Barn. The venue helda special place in Amanda’s heart, which is why she choseto have her celebration there. The beautiful setting was
precisely the right place to celebrate Amanda and sharelove with her family and friends. The gathering seemed
perfect, with drinks to share, delicious pizza made on-site,
and karaoke – one of Amanda’s favorite pastimes!

Throughout Amanda’s career, she held various roles in
hospitality, meetings, and events, beginning near her
hometown in Rice Lake at the Microtel. At the time, she
worked for Chuck Langland (now our very own President“Amanda loved the hospitality industry! Working withpeople, taking care of people, and making people
happy is what Amanda enjoyed, and that’s what madeAmanda so successful in sales and meeting planning.
Her attention to detail and understanding of people’svision came naturally to her. Amanda was on the opening
sales team at HotelRED in Madison. She helped develop
the culture and the foundation of a successful boutique
hotel. Her smile and positive attitude at work and beyond
brightened people’s day! Her success at HotelRED took
her to a General Manager position at the Plaza Hotelin Milwaukee, where she loved working with the team.
Continued on page 23

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After moving to Madison, Amanda followed with anothervenue opening, working at HotelRED as it opened in 2011.
Former MPI-WI member and colleague of Amanda’s atHotelRED Heather Stetzer had this to share about her:(and dance!) whenever given the opportunity, desire to
make every event better than the last, welcoming attitude,
and sincere encouragement of others.
Amanda’s loss is difficult, especially for those of us who
were close with her. Here are a few lessons that we can all
take from this beautiful light:

•

•

•

Amanda and her husband ended up in the Milwaukee area,
where they bought a house and made their home. She
started working for Levy at the Harley Davidson Museum.
She was the most welcoming event host, including MPI’s
Spring Education. Amanda eventually moved to her dream
job at the Bradley Symphony Center, where she recently
hosted the 2021 Awards Gala. When she first heardof the project to renovate the historic theater, Amanda
immediately asked for the role, as she had a long history
in theater, drama, and the arts. (She remained close toa group of women she grew up performing with in shows
including “Escanaba in Love,” “Anything Goes,” and many,
many more!). She was awarded this dream job becauseof her passion for theater, professional drive, and past
success. We are all so grateful that Amanda was able
to host our 2021 Awards Gala and showcase this venue
as one of her final contributions to the industry and ourchapter. Amanda’s colleague, Annie Champeau, Directorof Sales at Levy has this to share:•

When we previously profiled Amanda in the AGENDA
Magazine years ago, she shared this as her “words to live by”:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people
will forget what you did, but people will never forget how
you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
These words are so fitting, and none of us will forget how
Amanda made us feel. We know she is still smiling andsharing our joys from above.

“Amanda was a bright shining light in my workday. We sat
at arms-length with each other, and every day Amanda
showed real heart-felt compassion for the people we wereserving (event clients), me (the team leader) and the restof our team (operations and culinary). People always camefirst for Amanda, and this endeared her to many. I missAmanda, and the compassion she possessed every day.”
Other Amanda qualities we cherish are her infectious
smile, cup-stacking skills, inclination to break out into song

July/August 2022

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She then worked for IDM Hospitality Management inregional sales for all their properties. Amanda was always
everyone’s cheerleader and a hard worker. Those who had
the opportunity to work alongside and with her are very
fortunate to have known Amanda.”

Be kind. The world is filled with so much negativity
these days. Amanda was the kindest of people. Be
inspired by Amanda’s positive outlook when faced withthe tough stuff.
Remind yourself that everyone has “something.”
We don’t always know the battles others are facing.
Losing Amanda was a shock to many of us because
she never let her “something” -- cancer -- stop herfrom spreading joy, being strong, smiling, and lighting
up the people around her.
Take care of yourself and take nothing for granted.
Amanda did everything she could to fight the disease
that took over her body. Feed and move your bodyand brain. Sleep. Be present. Find opportunities forjoy. Enjoy nature. Life is short!
Love each other. Losing Amanda is so painful,senseless, and heartbreaking. During times of loss,
we must show each other kindness and love morethan ever.

A SUPER TANGIBLE, POWERFUL WAY
TO HONOR AMANDA!
By: Kathy Reading
Our own Maria Peot has decided to honor Amanda’s
memory and fight by taking on a meaningful challenge
for good. She has committed to The Susan G. Komen
3-Day: 60-mile walk over three days.
Many of you may have heard of this walk. What you
may not know is that Maria herself was given a second
chance at life in December of 2020. Since then, she’s
wanted to do something to make an impact. While
grieving our Angel Amanda, Maria has jumped on thisopportunity to help prevent future losses of other angels.
The only way to beat breast cancer for goodis with a cure.
Cures happen through research.
Research happens through funding.
Let’s fund this cure!

tinyurl.com/60miles4amanda

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Susan G Komen’s mission is to save lives bymeeting the most critical needs in our communities
and investing in breakthrough research to preventand cure breast cancer.

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MAY RECAP
By: Jody Roos

Photos by: Tom Graybill

n May 12, the Hyatt Regency
Green Bay hosted the education
event. Our hosts from the Hyattwere Tracy Hillsesheim, Leslie
Rotter, and Pamela Draves. Also
welcoming the group from Discover
Green Bay were Brad Toll, Denise
Humphrey, and Patti Drabes.
As the 60+ attendees arrived to register,
there was lots of smiling faces of peers being
able to once again network in person, nothing beats
being able to meet face-to-face.
Tours were given of the Hyatt and the KI Center toshowcase their beautiful venue.

Shannon Timmerman, CMP welcomed the group withannouncements to kick off our luncheon, thanking ourgenerous sponsors. She welcomed Tracy Hillsesheim,from the Hyatt and Brad Toll, from Discover Green Bay
Continued on page 26

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Northcoast Media Group had a video crew on-siteshooting “man on the street” type video asking attendees
about the importance of being an MPI member and what
it means to them.

to the podium to say a few words. They certainly madeus all feel welcome to the Green Bay area.
We then enjoyed a wonderful networking lunch. The
lunch buffet offered so many wonderful culinary choices,it was delicious.
After lunch, we moved into the ballroom for theeducation portion of the event. Our President-Elect,
Rebecca Staats welcomed us, and thanked thegenerous partners and sponsors. We had three newmembers and 11 guests in attendance at today’s
meeting.
We all shared a moment of silence for a beloved longtime active member of our chapter, Amanda Ridout.
We will all miss her dearly.
Alison Hutchinson introduced our speaker Bonnie
Carlson, CDME. Bonnie is highly accredited withholding the position of President and CEO of
Bloomington, Minnesota Convention and Visitors
Bureau for the last 35 years. Her career covers 45
years in the travel industry. Her topic was Trends andPredictions in the Meetings & Events Industry.
She shared survey results pre-pandemic, pandemic,
post-pandemic, future forecasts, and occupancy trends.
In Person attendance is growing however virtual options
are still expected by some attendees. “It is not thestrongest of the species that survives, not the mostintelligent, it is the most adaptable to change.”
Pat Cavanaugh introduced our next speaker of the
day Jeff Hahn, Real World Strategies. He spoke
Collaborating in Our Communities: A Strategic Approach
to Building Connections and Relationships.
Continued on page 27

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With 30+ years of Fortune 500 financial services andmembership/volunteer-based organizational executive
leadership experience, Jeff Hahn thrives on helping
people and organizations take that next step forward
toward their larger potential.
It’s all about engagement, leadership, strategic planning/
thinking, and relationship connections. He talked about
the importance of volunteering. More Wisconsin residents
volunteer than residents in 46 other states.
The ABCD model of trust:
Able
Believable
Connected
Dependable

Dessert/afternoon break was a Salty Sweet theme withwarm soft Bavarian Pretzels with of course beer cheesedip, sea sale house-made chips/dip, and chocolate chipcookies. It was a real treat!
Immediately following the program, Hyatt Green Bay’s
Executive Chef, Jennifer Jones showcased her culinary
talents by offering customer hors d’oeuvres stations. It
included a wine and cheese pairing, featuring Canvas
wines which were developed exclusively for Hyatt by
Michael Mondavi Family. Charcuterie boards, truffle
from Seroogeys’, along with an assortment of otherchoices.
We had the Chairman’s Challenge and volunteer
signup.
The group enjoyed The Dinner Detective murder
mystery event! It was fun solving clues together andfound out who did it!

A model for building relationships:
Trusted
Liked
Known

And that’s a wrap for the May education event, a goodtime was had by all!

He recommended The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R.
Covey.

Continued on page 28“Greatness is not a matter of circumstances. Greatness
it turns out, is largely a matter of consciousness choice,and discipline” by James C. Collins

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July/August 2022

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MPI WISCONSIN
ANNIVERSARIESCongratulations to those members celebrating a milestone anniversary
in July & August!

Congratulations!
10 YEAR
ALISON HUTCHINSON

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to our new members!
BRANDIN HELMERS

MATTHEW BOSEN

Visit Beloit

Sentry Insurance

MICHELLE DOWLJESSICA JACOBS

Ashworth College

SARAH MAHONEY

VERONICA GOODSTEIN

Loughrin

Sentry World Sports Center

TAYLOR GREENHECKEMILY RAUBER

Brewhouse Inn & Suites
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Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Expect more in Milwaukee.
Following a surge in investments, Milwaukee

EXPANSION BY THE NUMBERS

ushers in a modern era of expansion andinnovation. Marty Brooks, president and CEOof Wisconsin Center District, shares an insider
perspective on the abundance that Milwaukee
offers business professionals.

A CITY WHERE UNIQUE UNITES“As a transplant to Milwaukee, I can confirm that there’s something
special about the city. It’s a people-powered center with vibrantenergy,” Brooks said.

1.3 MILLION SQ. FT.
OF TOTAL SPACE

300,000 SQ. FT.
EXPOSITION HALL

52 TOTAL
BREAKOUT ROOMS

400 INDOORPARKING SPOTS

22 TOTALLOADING DOCKS

1 ROOFTOP BALLROOM &OUTDOOR TERRACEMILWAUKEE BY THE NUMBERS

With over 191 distinctly diverse neighborhoods, MKE is a communitythat simultaneously cherishes its roots and actively works tocultivate innovation.
“The Wisconsin Center expansion is just the tip of the iceberg whenit comes to all the things Milwaukee has to offer,” Brooks said.
This dynamic city invites visitors to linger longer and explore milesof trails, hundreds of world-renowned restaurants, and only-inMilwaukee attractions.

BUILDING MORE IN 2024
With accolades like “The 22 Best Places to Go in 2022 – Conde Nast
Traveler” and “52 Places for a Changed World – New York Times”
Milwaukee continues to keep the pace as the “Midwest’s Coolest City.”

1,400 ACRESOF BEACHES

170 LOCALLYOWNED DOWNTOWNRESTAURANTS

17 JAMES BEARDRECOGNIZEDCHEFS

15+ DOWNTOWNMUSEUMS191 DISTINCTNEIGHBORHOODS

130+ MILES OFTRAILS AND
RIVERWALK

150+ STATEAND COUNTYPARKSHOME OF THE
2021 NBA
CHAMPIONS“It’s no secret that Milwaukee is known for its world-class facilities
and venues,” Brooks said. “But in 2024, the Brew City will raise the bar
even higher.”
The Wisconsin Center—a perennial favorite among meeting
planners—will unveil its newly expanded and renovatedcampus in 2024.

For more information and to start planning your meeting in Milwaukee, check out

visitmilwaukee.org/meet

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Back to table of contents“The expanded center will offer more space,
greater accessibility, unmatched functionality,
and style,” Brooks said. “By doubling in size,
new additions will include gender-neutral
bathrooms, a solar roof, and a renewed focus onsustainability.”Elizabeth PohSpecial Education Projects Director

I joined MPI in: September 2019			

I consider these people to be my family/I love(including pets): Husband-William, DaughterEvelyn, Baby Girl-Due July 2022
My hometown is: La Crosse, WI
Food that I can NOT live without: Mexican or
pizza
Drink that I can NOT live without: Iced coffee andwater
Favorite candy/chocolate/snack: Peanut butter M&M’s or Reese’s
My favorite song/band is: Anything country
When I was 5, I wanted to grow up to be a: Professional waterskier or doctor
Hobby / Favorite pastime: Waterskiing and spending time on the river/lake
Pet Peeve(s): People who drive slow in the left lane!!!!
					

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Board Member Profile:
Elizabeth Poh

My birthdate is: December 30th

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Trim: 7.5" W x 9.5" H • Bleed: None • Live: .125"

WISCONSIN DELLS, WI

UNPARALLELED MEETINGS WITHUNIQUE OPTIONS FOR ALL› 212,000 square feet of flexible event space› Two hours or less from major cities› Diverse team-building options available on-site› Eight food & beverage options› 794 guest rooms & suites

KalahariMeetings.com | Call 855-411-4605 to learn more | Follow Us:| ©2022 Kalahari Management Co. LLC

17748_Kalahari_WI_Corporate_MPIWI_7.5x9.5.indd 1

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

Director of Sales
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown

How many years have you been in the industry? 16
What is your favorite thing about being an MPI-WI
member? Having the opportunity to go beyond typical
networking - developing great relationships and friendships
with an incredible group of industry colleagues!
What is your favorite team or project you’ve worked onas an MPI-WI member? I was very involved in the planningfor 2020’s Spring Education Day and Trivia Night – and we
all know what happened that year. I’m so excited to get backinvolved in the planning for these events as we look ahead
to next year!
3-7 Things Unique to Your Company: Aloft is a genuinely fun, unique and eclectic brand!
It breaks the mold of a typical hotel with its contemporary design and vibrant colors. We
have a huge focus on featuring all types of art – including Live @ Aloft (where we invite an
up-and-coming musician to perform in our lobby at least once a month) and displaying local
art throughout our common spaces. Staff is encouraged to be more casual and unscripted,
and to let their personalities shine! My property is also incredibly special due to it’s amazing
proximity to the Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee Riverwalk, and historic Old World Third Street!
Tell us about your family: I moved to Milwaukee about six years ago with my husband,
Shane, after we met in my home town of Rockford, IL, about 10 years ago. We have a 5(ish)year old Cairn Terrier rescue named Maggie – she is our world, and we are definitely hers.
We enjoy taking long trips a few times a year to his family’s cabin near Ely, Minnesota, where
we get to spend quality time with our niece (Becca) and nephew (Jack). My parents are
retired and still live in Illinois, so we get to visit them often. My brother (Ben) is an incredible
artist and is in the process of moving to Los Angeles, so we’re definitely looking forward toplanning a trip to visit him there soon!
What are your hobbies and interests? I am a HGTV and Food Network addict – so I lovegetting ambitious and adventurous with my cooking. Shane and I purchased our home in late2019, and a lot of our free time revolves around doing projects around the house - keep us
in your thoughts, as we are replacing all of our own windows this summer! I love working in
the yard, though I haven’t quite developed my mom’s green thumb. If I’m not working on thehouse, on summer weekends I love to wander through the West Allis Farmer’s Market or go
to a Milwaukee Brewer’s game!
Tell us about who you admire most and why: My mom – she’s so kind, patient, andbeautiful – she’s a wonderful mom, wife, and daughter to her own mother (whom she helps
ensure gets the best care possible while she battles dementia). I’m lucky to have her as amom, and as a friend.
Favorite song/band/artist/movie/book: Back to the Future – the whole series – but if I had
to choose my favorite, I’d say #2!
What is something that is still on your bucket list? A European adventure – I’m hoping
for a Mediterranean cruise in the next few years!
Tell us your words to live by or a favorite quote: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stopand look around once in a while, you could miss it.
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Supplier Profile: Greta McCue

GRETA MCCUECompiled by Kortnee Carroll & Jennifer Mell, CMP

JENNIFER MELL, CMP is on the move! Not only
has she returned to Travel Leaders Corporate asa Project Manager for meetings & events, she andfellow member DAVID HELGESON, CMP just purchased
their first house together.

1

4

SHANNON
TIMMERMAN wasfeatured in the Hotels& Resorts Who’s Who segmentin the 50th Anniversary Editionof The Meeting Professionalmagazine.
Way to represent, Shannon!

Congrats to Jen and David!

2

KYRA POPP sold her house “Emma” and bought

her Grandparents home “Century Oaks.”

5

JESSICA RIEFLIN had
a beach wedding andwas a gorgeous bride!

Emma

Congratulations, Jessica!

We are excited to watch your wildlife videos and see
what projects you do at your new home!

MARIA PEOT, CMP is taking on a challenge byparticipating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walkin September in honor of fellow MPI-WI member,Amanda Ridout. Read more about this adventure on page 24.

6

PAT CAVANAUGH

was on the 920 Show
Podcast for Discover
Green Bay. He talked with
Nick Meisner about education,
events at Lambeau,leadership, and even Kringles!

One step at a time Maria,
we know you’ll have a great experience!
Continued on page 35

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Back to table of contents3Compiled by Kortnee Carroll & Jennifer Mell, CMP

CHULA VISTA RESORT opened their new
water slide, Rainbow Rapids! The slide takes
you through a thrilling journey through akaleidoscope of colors, with surprises around every drop,
twist, and turn.

7

NOTE: if you have any news to share inthis column, please contact Kortnee Carroll,
Director - Publications & Community Outreach,kocarroll@kalahariresorts.com.

Let’s Meet in the Middle
Starting your day with an early tee time and wrapping it up with another roundat the local brewery. These are the middle things. Plan your meeting in Middleton,
and nine hotels, as well as restaurants, shopping, recreational activities, and afree trolley to take them around.
meetinmiddleton.com

66,000 sq. ft. of Conference Space | 1,150 Hotel Rooms | Indoor & Outdoor Activities

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Wisconsin, where guests can enjoy our 66,000 square feet of convention spaceTell us about your company and/or position: I joined
BCD Meetings & Events in April as a Program Manager.
BCD M&E is a global meeting and event management
agency that does anything from operating a single
meeting to designing full SMMPs for various clients. In
my role, I work one-on-one with the meeting owner fromthe early planning stages all the way through onsite
execution. I enjoy being a part of a great team andcreating a vast array of events every day.
How long have you been in the meetings industry?:
11 years
What drew you to become a planner?: Organizationand color coordination makes me giddy. On a serious
note, I’ve always wanted to create, and be a part of,memorable experiences for people. It’s very gratifying to
get positive feedback from something you created andknow that the group had an amazing time.
What do you like most about being a member of MPI? I’m very grateful for all of
the friendships that I have gained through the chapter. It’s nice to be surrounded bylike-minded people that can help you through problems and be your cheerleaders forachievements.
What was your favorite team or project you have worked on for MPI? I served on the
MPI-WI BOD for 2 terms as the Director of Strategic Partners & Sponsorships. It was a fungroup to be a part of!
Tell us about your family: My husband John and I have been married for 14 years andwe have a 6 year old son, Nolan.
What are your hobbies and interests? Anything outdoors: hiking, boating, 4 wheeling,
camping.
Favorite song//band/artist/movie/book: I listen to everything from 80’s rock, 90’s rap,
country to pop.
Tell us about the person you admire most and why: My husband, John. He’s the mostlaid back, logical person that I know and definitely keeps me sane when life is chaotic. He’sa great husband and awesome role model for our son. He’s always willing to lend a helping
hand. There’s honestly nothing he can’t do.
What is something that is still on your bucket list? Learn how to paint with watercolors,
go to a rodeo, vacation in Tahiti, meet Usher...etc.
Tell us the words you live by or share a favorite quote: “Event Planner”: Someone
who does precision guesswork, based on unreliable data by those who can’t make up theirmind. (See also wizard, magician)July/August 2022

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Planner Profile: Melissa Falendysz

MELISSA FALENDYSZ, CMP
BCD Meetings & Events (BCD M&E)
Program Manager

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,

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

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16 hotels and more than 2,500 sleeping
rooms available,Enhance your meeting planning career with the

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

CERTIFICATE COURSES: https://www.mpi.org/education

SAVE THE DATE
2022 CHAPTER EVENTSTime to get excited for 2022 and all of our MPI-WI Chapter events!
2022 is in full swing! This year’s in-person events are bound to be great experiences.

AUGUST 11
AWARDS GALA — Hilton Appleton Paper Valley
SEPTEMBER 22
EDUCATION EVENT — The Ingleside Hotel, Waukesha

NOVEMBER 13 – 15
GREAT LAKES EDUCATION SUMMIT — Grand Geneva Resort & Spa

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OCTOBER 20
BREAKFAST EVENT — DoubleTree by Hilton Milwaukee-Brookfield