JULY
AUG
2023
VOL 45/NUM 4

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

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

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

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

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

2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukee WI • 800 247 6640 • theinglesidehotel.com
July/August 2023

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JULY/AUGUST 2023

MPI-WISCONSIN
2023-2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORSVOL 45 / NUM 4

Feature Articles

PRESIDENTREGGIE DRISCOLL, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin
rdriscoll@wisbar.org
PRESIDENT-ELECTLIZ UNRUH
Positively Pewaukee
liz@positivelypewaukee.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTREBECCA STAATS
Residence Inn & Fairfield by Marriott Eau Claire
rebecca.l.staats@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP
BETH SCHNABEL, CMPFilene Research Institutebeths@filene.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
SARA BEUTHIEN
WEDC
sara.beuthien@wedc.org

A Capitol Soiree		9Gala Event Preview

10Congratulations to Jessica Karow and her Family

12

September Event Preview

14

MPI-Wisconsin Hall of Fame

16

MPI-Wisconsin May Recap

18

WEC Recap

202022-2023 Award Nominees

22

GLES Preview

25

In Every Issue

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONSAMY QUALMANN
Wisconsin Association of School Boards
aqualmann@wasb.org

Editor’s Note		4

President’s Message

6

Food for Thought: Chef Edi Flores Sanchez

11

Food for Thought: Chef Matt Winter

15

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECTSELIZABETH POH
La Crosse Center
epoh@lacrossecenter.com

Anniversaries / New Members

25

Volunteer Spotlight: Sharon Beyer + Michael Ferguson

26

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTSED BUCHNER
Majic Productions
ebuchner@majicpro.com

Planner Profile: Nichole Augustynowic			

28

Who’s in the News					

29Board Member Profile: Greta McCue			

30

Save the Date: 2023 Chapter Events

32

VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIONOPEN

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORSHIPSKATIE RAGAN
Wisconsin Center Districtkragan@wcd.org
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER CAREJODY ROOS
Wisconsin Bankers Association
jroos@wisbank.com
DIRECTOR OF AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITMENT
KATHY READINGThe SCAN Group, Inc.
reading@scangroup.net
DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
KORTNEE CARROLL
Kalahari Resorts
kocarroll@kalahariresorts.com

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 COMMUNICATIONSGRETA MCCUE
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown
greta.mccue@aloftmilwaukeedowntown.com
DIRECTOR OF MONTHLY PROGRAMMING
LINDSEY HESS, CMPUW-Madisonlindsey_hess@outlook.com

4075 Vilas Road

fax: 608.204.9818

Cottage Grove, WI 53527

email: admin@mpiwi.org

tel: 608.204.9816

web: www.mpiweb.org/wisconsin

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Editor’s NoteA

Published bimonthly by
Meeting Professionals International –Wisconsin Chapters this MPI board year
comes to a finish I
want to thank all thathave served on theboard. It has been
an amazing yearwith lots of fun educational events.
We had to quickly pivot and cancel
our February event due to weather
and reschedule it for March. Lots ofbehind the scenes activities, and hard
work to make this happen.

EDITORSPam Lohnes
Metropolitan Builders Associationof Greater Milwaukee
pam@mbabuilds.org
Tyler Priefer
Generactyler.priefer@generac.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Liz Unruh
Kortnee Carroll
Reggie Driscoll, CMP
Greta McCue
Tom Graybill
Nichole Augustynowic

GRAPHIC DESIGNAnn Shultz, AJS Designs

PUBLICATION DEADLINES
September/October 2023
Deadline: July 15, 2023
November/December 2023
Deadline: September 15, 2023
January/February 2024
Deadline: November 15, 2023

A lot of board members are staying on which is awesome. It takes awhile tolearn your roll and the year seems to go so fast. It seems like once you haveyour roll figured out it time for a new year.
Congratulations to the incoming board members. It is going to be fun yearwith lots to learn. Thank you for being willing to dedicate time and yourexpertise to help our chapter succeed.
Thank you to everyone that volunteers throughout the year. This chapter
can only be as successful as we are with all your help. If anyone wants tovolunteer for anything please let someone on the board know. If you would
have asked me a few years ago if I would be on the Communications team I
would have laughed. Now I’m the VP of Communications. Volunteering is agreat way to try new things.
I want to extend a special thank you to the editors (Jen Mell, Pam Lohnes)that help make the Agenda amazing. There is a lot that goes into making
this happen and be on time.
Last, but not least I wanted to say thank you to my Communications teamJessica Karow, and Kortnee Carroll you ladies have been fabulous towork with. You helped me be comfortable with a role I never that I would be
comfortable doing. I can’t wait to see how you continue to succeed!

Liz Unruh

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

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

Let us orchestrate your incredible.
Connect with us at MononaTerrace.com© 2023 Monona Terrace

July/August 2023

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Madison, WIPresident’s Message

W

I have someoutstanding footsteps
to fill coming in after
Alison, Shannon, Becca
and a whole line ofother Presidents along
the way.

Directly after graduation, I started working with an environmental engineering
company. Then in 2007, I was hired as a meeting planner at the State Bar of
Wisconsin. It was so empowering to get that title on a business card and legitimize
all of the work that I had done up to that time. I’ve been here at the State Bar and amember of MPI since then. In 2012 I studied for and received my CMP Certification.
I had volunteered on many committees over the years and helped facilitate the
CMP Study Days, but I was not able to make the commitment to be on the board
until fairly recently. In 2019-2020 I became the VP of Membership and held that
position for two years. Joining the board was a great opportunity to give back to
an association that has given so much to me. The Membership position was great
for reaching out to new members, encouraging current members to renew andto see how to get non-members to join. The second year, 2020-2021 was moreof a regrouping and a definite inventory of the resources and people we had atthat time and how to keep everyone active and involved. 2021-2022 I was the VP
of Education working with the facilities where we contracted our events. Anotherawesome learning experience. Then 2022-2023 as President-Elect and now
President. This is a little daunting now. It always seemed so far in the future, buthere we are. We have such an incredible board again this year, and I know we will
all move forward together. I am excited to continue learning, and to take this next
step in my MPI Journey. I’m glad were in this together.
We have a lot coming up for the rest of 2023. Join us for an outstanding summer
social at the Barn on the Dyer Family Homestead on July 20, the Chapter Awards
Gala in Madison on August 10, the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel in
Oshkosh on September 14, the Inn at SentryWorld in Stevens Point on October 19,
and the Great Lakes Education Summit in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November
12-14. So much to do and so many ways to volunteer and get involved. I would
love to see you at any or all of these events.

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MPI-WI Chapter President
Reggie Driscoll, CMP

elcome everyone to the 2023-2024 MPI chapter year. I am morethan excited to work with all of you as your MPI Wisconsin Chapter
President. I have some outstanding footsteps to fill coming in after
Alison, Shannon, Becca and a whole line of other Presidents along
the way. My MPI journey started in 2002 while I was working with the Raab Group
here in Madison. At the time, the Raab group was the MPI Admin. I had beenworking in the hospitality industry for many years, managing hotels, bars andrestaurants. Honestly, I was getting quite burned out. I was looking for a different
industry, but with 16 years in hospitality, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get into. I
thought I would either go with accounting or nursing. With the encouragement of
my sister, Kathy, I started with her association management company. This was myfirst introduction to MPI. I soon learned about MPI’s role in starting the Meeting andEvent Management Degree Program at Madison College. This definitely piqued
my interest as a different direction that I could go in while using my 16 years in theindustry, rather than starting at square one in a new industry. With the support of
my friends, family, and fellow MPI members, I ended up with the first graduatingclass for this program in 2004. I was an MPI student-member during this time.

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MAJICPRO.COM July/August• 414.839.1760
2023 MPI Agenda|

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

Cocktails with colleagues

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

visitmadison.com/meetings

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Dinner on Capitol Square

Join fellow MPI-ers
for "A Capitol Soirée" to celebrate our membership,
chapter accomplishments, and more!
chapter accomplishments, and more!
WĂƐƚWƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚΖƐZĞĐĞƉƚŝŽŶ
5:00 - 6:00

6:00 - 7:00 REGISTRATION & RECEPTION / ONLINE AUCTION OPEN

ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶΘZĞĐĞƉƚŝŽŶ

7:00 - 9:30 DINNER & AWARDS GALAϲ͗ϬϬͲ ϳ͗ϬϬKŶůŝŶĞƵĐƚŝŽŶKƉĞŶThe program will begin with a delicious meal and awards in the elegant Hall of Wisconsin. Crystal chandeliers
and stylish décor will elevate the mood for this special evening where we honor our fellow members. Past
Presidents Susan Grigsby, CMP and Julie Peterman, CMP will
be our Gala emcees and we will welcome theŝŶŶĞƌΘǁĂƌĚƐ'ĂůĂ
7:00member- 9:30of the Hall of Fame!
newestIn addition,
the Gala will feature our silent auction! Click here toĨƚĞƌŐůŽǁ
learn how to donate a certificate or overnight/ŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞůǇ&ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ'ĂůĂ
stay to benefit MPI Wisconsin.

ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌŽŶůŝŶĞŶŽǁĂƚƚŚĞDW/ͲtŝƐĐŽŶƐŝŶtĞďƐŝƚĞ
ZŽŽŵƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ;Ăƚ Ă ĚŝƐĐŽƵŶƚĞĚ ƌĂƚĞ͍ͿThis is your opportunity to dress up and get fancy (if that’s your style!) and wow your fellow members!

MORE INFORMATION >July/August 2023

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FOLLOWING GALA IS THE AFTERGLOW PARTY
Following the awards ceremony, we will move to the Top of the Park for our chapter tradition - the Afterglow
Party! This striking event space is situated on the 8th floor of the hotel with windows displaying a 180-degreeview of downtown Madison including both lakes Monona and Mendota and the beautiful Capitol building - a
great photo opp!

Don’t miss MPI-WI’s Capital Soirée!
Join fellow MPIers for “ACapital Soirée” to celebrate
our membership, chapter
accomplishments, and more!
GALA EVENT
Thursday, August 10th
Best Western Premier Park Hotel
MadisonThe evening will begin with a delicious
meal from Chef Edi (see more in the
Chef Profile!) in the elegant Hall of
Wisconsin. Crystal chandeliers andstylish wall sconces will elevate themood for this special evening where wehonor our fellow members.
Following the awards ceremony, we
will move to the Top of the Park for ourchapter tradition - the Afterglow Party!
This striking event space is situatedon the 8th floor of the hotel withwindows displaying a 180-degreeview of downtown Madison including
both lakes Monona and Mendota andthe beautiful Capitol building - a great
photo opp!
This is your opportunity to dress up andget fancy (if that’s your style!) and wow
your fellow members! Stay tuned formore details, award nominations, andregistration coming soon!

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AT
L
GA VEN EW
E EVIPRJuly/August 2023

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10FOOD for thought:
chef edi flores sanchez

Meet our Chef:
Edi Flores Sanchez

Chef Edi’s Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

Chef Edi was born in Tlaxcala, Mexico
where he spent his childhood until moving
to Madison, WI with his family in 2007 at
the age of 14 years old. After graduatinghigh school, Edi completed the Culinary
Arts program at MATC Madison in 2012and began his career at Best Western
Premier Park Hotel as a Prep Cook. From2016 – September 2022, Edi worked as
one of the chefs at Graft Madison before
making his return back to the Best Western
Premier Park Hotel as Head Chef. In his freetime, Edi enjoys cooking and entertaining
his family and friends along with spendingtime outdoors. Some of Edi’s favorite

INGREDIENTS:

dishes to prepare are spinach artichoke dip,

8 oz. cream cheese, softeneda variety of meatballs, and ribeye steak.  

1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, minced (1 tsp)
2/3 cup (76g) finely shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (56g) finely shredded mozzarella cheese
Pepper, to taste
1 (14 oz) can quartered artichoke hearts, can liquid drained, squeeze artichokes to drain excess liquid, chopped
8 oz. frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain excess liquid

INSTRUCTIONS:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a small (1 quart) baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
In a mixing bowl stir together cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, parmesan, mozzarella, and pepper.
Stir in artichokes and spinach.
Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake in preheated oven until heated through and melty, about 20 minutes.
Served with warm tortilla chips, crackers, and toasted baguette slices

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•
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Congratulations toJessica Karow and her Family
Congratulations to Jessica Karow and her family on their new adventure. I’m very excited for you and jealous!
Thank you for taking our social media to a new level. You have helped make our team awesome, fun and very
successful. Looking forward to seeing your updates once you get settled.

Let’s meet in the Middle
Begin your day in the boardroom and end at anaward-winning German-style craft brewery. Meetingsin Middleton, Wis., are anything but ordinary. Choose
from one of nine hotel properties, including the area’s
largest convention hotel, and enjoy one of our 70
restaurants and cafés, two shopping districts, andbeautiful scenic spaces. Come discover why it’s the
middle things that can make your meeting memorable.

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meetinmiddleton.com

WMPI_halfpg ad_July 2023.indd 1

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5/31/2023 12:00:07 PM

WO R L D
2023

MILWAUKEE
Building More in 2024 for the perfect
day of networking and refreshing.

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Meet in Milwaukee where our expanded
convention center will offer 1.3 million
gross square feet of space to help
make your experience best in class.
Plan now at visitmilwaukee.org/meet.

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T T
P
SE EN EW
EV EVI
PR

Come up early and join us Wednesday evening for fun industry
networking at The Howard! Discover Oshkosh will be our hosts
for an evening of fun interaction and elegant bowling. That’s
right, elegant bowling! The Howard is an historic landmark venue
which started in 1927 as an Eagles Club. Fully restored andreopened in 2018, the building features a boutique bowling alley,
and an opulent ballroom and great hall that often feature live
entertainment and specialty dining. The Howard is also available as
an upscale private and corporate event venue.
On Thursday, Detective Kevin Coffey will deliver his presentation Managing Risk at
your Event: A Guide for Meeting Planners and Suppliers. Planners want to integrate risk
management into their meetings, but many times do not know where to start. That’s where
this presentation comes into play, by showing meeting planners, as well as supplier partners
how to anticipate meeting risk issues – before they occur, which also shows their clientsthat they are proactive in this very important area. This interactive presentation is designed
for meeting and event planning professionals to help them better understand duty of careconsiderations, as well as the importance of having a crisis management plan in place, prior
to a meeting and event.
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THE HOWARD

Join us along the river at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel
Oshkosh to hear from travel security and meeting risk expert Kevin Coffey!

FOOD for thought: CHEF Matt winter
WISCONSIN CREAMYCHEESECAKEINGREDIENTS• Cheese cream loaf 3.00 lb• Butter solid salted USDA AA 10.00 oz.
• Sugar granulated extra-fine cane 1.00 lb• Egg in-shell extra-large grade AA USDA white 7.00••

Native of Salt Lake City Metro area
Classically trained in Culinary and Pastry during
8-year apprenticeship under Executive Chef Glenn
Sandburg, CEC.
Graduated Utah Valley University, Hotel & RestaurantManagement
Certificate of Confectionary, Culinary Institute ofAmerica, Hyde Park, NY.
Have worked fine dining, Country Clubs & primarily
full service multi outlet hotels & catering in Utah, Iowa,
Illinois and Wisconsin.
Multiple Culinary Competition Victories, Utah State Vica
gold Medal, Illinois State Pork Producers Bronze medal,
5-time NE Wisconsin Chef Showdown Champion (BigBrother’s Big Sisters Green Bay)
Active member of American Culinary Federation (ACF).
Past President and current Vice President of Fox Valley
Chapter ACF
ACF Certified Executive Chef2012 ACF Fox Valley Chef of the Year•••

7 Fabulous kids
2 Awesome grand kids
1 Wonderful wife

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July/August 2023

units
Extract vanilla imitation 1.5 T.
Juice lemon plastic bottle ready-to-use 1.5 T.
Cream sour all natural grade A 2.5 T.
Cream heavy whipping 36% extended shelf life ¼ cup.

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix butter and cheese with a paddle on medium until
lump free and smooth.

2. On low speed add sugar. Mix until incorporated.
3. On low speed add eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, sour4.

cream and heavy cream. Add slowly and mix until
incorporated.
Bake in water bath. 225* Convection. Low fan. Threehours, 15 min. Cool to room temp, then freeze.

Chef’s notes:
Use a 10” spring form pan. This recipe will yield enoughbatter to fill it to the top. Cake will puff and may overflow
a little during the cooking. The top will be a medium lightbrown when done.
Freezing the cheesecake after cooling to room temp allows
easy removal from the spring form without damaging thecake. The cake will cut cleaner if it is partially frozen.

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•
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•
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•

This year, we are excited to welcome Tamara P.
Jesswein, CMP, to the MPI Wisconsin Hall of Fame!
Tamara has been an active MPI member since 2005. Sincejoining our Wisconsin chapter, Tamara has served on multiple
MPI-WI committees and as an MPI-WI Chapter Director
from 2010-2012 and 2016-2017. In 2017, she served on
our executive team, as President-Elect, 2018-2019 Chapter
President, and 2019-2020 Immediate Past President.
Following her presidency, she further lived her commitment
by stepping up to take on a three-year term as the MPI-WI
Co-Chair for GLES. She was awarded the Planner of theYear for 2020-2021. As HID Global’s international senior
corporate event manager, Tamara P. Jesswein, CMP createsvibrant events that unite diverse leaders for networking andgame-changing ideas. Over the last few years, she hasplanned and produced these successful events in the UAE,
Spain, Malta, Cambodia, Panama, Morocco, Thailand, andmore. Industry advocacy is important to Tamara. She earned
and has retained her CMP designation since 2009. She
consistently participates in World Education Congress, IMEX,
and many Local and Global Forums. She fully supports her
favored quote, “If volunteering is beneath you then leadershipis beyond you.”

Choose Green Bay

the perfect place for your next
event.

Superior event spaces
Exceptional hospitality & amenities

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One of a kind experiences

July/August 2023

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Host Your Next
Event in Brookfield

Fast Facts:• Convenient location off I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison, andjust a short drive from Green Bay, Wausau and the Fox Valley. Fromsmall gatherings to large galas, Brookfield is the perfect location foryour event.
• 11 branded hotels, 1,842 hotel rooms, and 150,000+ sq. ft. of meeting
space within a 2 mile radius.
• Best shopping, dining and entertainment in SE Wisconsin
Featuring the Brookfield Conference Center- Voted 2023’s Best
Conference Center by Smart Meetings Magazine• Total of 40,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space in the Connect
and Collaborate Ballrooms, Celebration Atrium and outdoor
Celebration Plaza• On-site catering & beverage service• Attached Hilton Garden Inn
Our meeting locations offer all the amenities necessary to make yourguests happy and your job stress-free. We can help with RFPs, site
tours and guest welcome opportunities- all free of charge. Book yourupcoming event in Brookfield and let us exceed your expectations.
Brookfieldvisitbrookfield.com
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Back to table of contents• Complimentary surface parking

MPI-WISCONSIN MAY RECAP

How do you
deal with thechaos that isevent planning?
With laughter!
That was the prescription for MPI-Wisconsin’s May
Educational Event “Chaotic Goodness: Your Untapped
Capacity for Embracing, Owning, and Celebrating the
Unknown” held at the Hotel Retlaw in Fond du Lac.
Doctor of giggles Pat Dwyer, a seasoned veteran of
comedy institutions like Second City, IO Theater, andComedySportz, led a multi-phased assault of improv
games, jokes, and group activities to help attendees gain
perspective and resiliency in dealing with the curveballs(and sometimes screwballs) inherent in live meetings.
MPI members engaged in giant games of rock, paper,
scissors and other interactive components (someinvolving screaming heard across the ballroom) that
prompted cooperation, communication, and the ability
to adapt to changing situations and accept the gifts thatcome through interaction.

Pat’s presentation hit a nerve (and the funny bone) withmany. Sara Beuthien, Events Manager for the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation, shared “Pat wasvery motivating and engaging. He was talking a lot about
gifts and how we have to take this gift and keep it in our
toolbox, because if a meeting or event goes horribly wehave to think quickly of something that we need to do.”July/August 2023

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Pat shared his G.I.F.T. philosophy based on improv
techniques of Give Generously, Initiate “Yes.. And”
communication, Forgo “Mistakes,” and to Totally Go For it”
as a method for overcoming the unpredictability of things
we can’t control.

MPI-WISCONSIN MAY RECAP

Lindsey Hess, who just started a new position at
COWS at UW-Madison (how very Wisconsin!), enjoyed
the energy of the event. “I loved the getting up andplaying the games. It made you laugh and connect withyour peers, and yet you are still learning how to go
about the crazy chaos in your life.”
Alison Hutchinson, Senior Group Sales Manager for
the Fox Cities Convention & Visitor Bureau, added, “Hebrought so much laughter to his presentation, and hetalks about when you laugh, you learn more like children.
And I think that’s probably why I really enjoyed it.”New member Mandy Bublitz, Director of Sales with
Aperture Hotels, was impressed with Pat and her firstexperience at an MPI-WI event, “It was definitely moreinteractive that what I was expecting, with much useful
information that I will be able to take back and use forinteracting with clients and team members.”
As for Mandy’s first impressions of MPI-WI? “Thegroup has been super welcoming. You’re meeting new
people and that’s kind of intimidating, so having thatwelcoming experience right from the go definitely tore
down those barriers and made me feel comfortable
going into the day.”Speaker Pat Dwyer (who also goes by Todd at times– you had to be there) was also impressed by MPIWisconsin. “I came into this and people said MPIWisconsin is one of the more active chapters. They’revery exciting. And I usually say ‘They ain’t seen nothingyet.’ But man, this group is fantastic. I really loved
that everyone was in for each other and really playing
together and having a really, really good time. That waspretty, pretty cool.”
Other attractions in May included installation of the new
MPI-WI board and a Chairman’s Challenge courtesyof incoming President Reggie Driscoll of the StateBar of Wisconsin. Reggie’s “table of gifts” put the“fun” in fundraiser, as a $10 dollar donation to the MPIFoundation bought a mystery envelope leading to oneof the many great gifts. Reggie raised $380. Bravo!

July/August 2023

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Kudos were also shared for the venue, Hotel Retlaw.
The art deco décor left Allison “breathless,” while,
Lindsey remarked how the landmark kept its legacy
look while being transformed into a beautiful andwelcoming space.

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MPI WEC RECAPWEC Recap

A

By: Liz Unruh

ttending the World Educational Conference(WEC), I was fortunate to be able to get ascholarship from the MPI Foundation. This is agreat reason why when we do the Chairman’s
Challenge we donate to the foundation. You neverknow who it will help. WEC was amazing. It had great
networking opportunities, lots of learning, and staying upto-date with the latest trends.
One of the highlights of the conference was theopportunity to connect with fellow professionals fromdifferent corners of the globe. The networking events andsocial gatherings foster a sense of community, allowing
attendees to build relationships, share experiences,and exchange ideas. These connections often lead tovaluable collaborations and partnerships that can shape
the future of one’s professional journey.
The Market Place was great. There were tons of
exhibitors and lots of sponsors at WEC. I got a chance
to meet several new vendors. We even gained a newsponsor of attending WEC.

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Attending WEC provided valuable professional
development but also offered a chance to embrace thecultural. The conference serves as a platform to expand
knowledge, gain fresh perspectives, and connect withlike-minded professionals who share a passion for
creating impactful and memorable meetings and events.

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MPI WEC RECAP

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As the conference drew to a close, participants leave with a sense ofrenewed inspiration, armed with new skills, ideas, and connections. The
knowledge gained and the experiences shared during the WEC in Mexico
serve as a foundation for further growth and success in the ever-evolving
world of meeting and event planning.

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2022 - 2023
AWARD NOMINEESTEAM OF THE YEAR
Steve Lorenz, CMP, Takeda
Greta McCue, Midas Hospitality, Aloft Milwaukee
Keola Shimooka, Destination Madison
Wanda Gilles, Baker Tilly US
Ed Buchner, Magic Productions
Shannon Timmerman, CMP, Wilderness Resort
Reggie Driscoll, CMP, State Bar of WI
Rebecca Staats, CTA, Residence Inn Eau Claire andFairfield Eau Claire Chippewa Falls
Elizabeth Poh, La Crosse Center
Going way out on a limb, the Spring Spectacular Teamput on the chapter’s first-ever Drag Queen Bingo. Not
only promoting LGBTQ+ awareness, but it was also ahuge hit and raised an incredible amount of money!

• Spring Education Day
Elizabeth Poh, La Crosse Center
Beth Schnabel, CMP, Community Financial
Jacob Adamski, Stevens Point Convention & Visitors
BureauCarrie Berger, National Fluid Power Association
Danielle Kaczoroski, Generac Power Systems, Inc
Tyler Pfiefer, Generac
Michael Ferguson, Madison Concourse Hotel
Ed Buchner, Majic Productions
Farrah Slinger, Event Essentials
Jessica Rieflin, WI Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
Kortnee Carroll, Kalahari Resorts
Lindsey Hess, CMP, COWS
Rebecca Staats, CTA, Residence Inn Eau Claire andFairfield Eau Claire Chippewa Falls
Reggie Driscoll, CMP, State Bar of Wisconsin
Shannon Timmerman, CMP, Wilderness Hotel & Golf
Resorts
Sherry Wolf, Kohler Hospitality
This team took a new idea and made an incredibly
successful event with it. This event drove attendancefor our Spring Education Day up to a high level that wehaven’t seen for a while. Everyone had a great time.

July/August 2023

• Agenda Team
Kortnee Carroll, Kalahari Resorts
Jennifer Mell, CMP, Travel Leaders Corporate
Pam Lohnes, Metropolitan Builders Association
The Agenda is a lot of work and this years team reallyknocked it out of the park! It is a great tool to help
showcase members of MPI, share tips and tricks, and getmembers excited for upcoming events.

• March Education
Lindsey Hess, CMP, COWS
Lisa Koenecke, M.S., LGBTBE, IICDP, Inclusion Ally, LLC.
Ann Marie Hess, Visit Brookfield
Laura MacIssac, CMP, Monona Terrace
Traci Gaydos
Rebecca Staats, CTA, Residence Inn Eau Claire andFairfield Eau Claire Chippewa Falls
Reggie Driscoll, CMP, State Bar of Wisconsin
Elizabeth Poh, La Crosse Center
Heather Harmeyer, Embassy Suites Brookfield
Tyler Priefer, Generac
What started as our February team, had to take a quick
and last minute change in direction when Mother Nature
did not cooperate to hold this event. Which led the teamto make last minute changes, and reschedule for March.
This ended up being our largest attended event since thePandemic, and the addition of a Wine Pull made it a very
successful one!

RISING STAR
• Jacob Adamski
Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors
BureauJacob has been an incredible volunteer for the chapter.
He has stepped up in many committees.

• Carrie Berger
National Fluid Power Association
Carrie has attended many MPI events as well as volunteer
to help with the education events.

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Back to table of contents• Spring Spectacular

RISING STAR (CONT.)

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

• Tyler Priefer
Generac• Michael Ferguson
Madison Concourse Hotel

Tyler has helped out on multiple education committees
and is now our newest editor for the Agenda! Tyler isvery organized and has been amazing at helping out withwhatever is needed. Tyler is definitely a Rising Star at MPI!

Michael, after 15 plus years, has become a staple in the
downtown Madison hotel scene. He is well known for his
witty sense of humor, his amazing ability to go aboveand beyond with his decorating skills and he is always
the king of customer service and has a willingness to
get to “yes” if called upon by colleagues and/or peers.
He is an asset to the industry and bring his many yearsof customer service to the forefront. He is a joy and adeserving candidate for this prestigious award.

• Amanda Wilkins, CMP
Monona Terrace
As a newer member to MPI, Amanda has jumped right inas a volunteer with the Education/Speaker team. During
the pandemic she completed the self study and passed
her CMP exam and she continues to be a rock start at
her full time job. Amanda will continue to shine in her
volunteerism with MPI.

PLANNER OF THE YEAR

• Ann Marie Hess
Visit Brookfield
Although I don’t know if she was a team lead, Ann
Marie was instrumental on a number of committees andreally pressed the local CVBs for raffle prizes. She is anamazing volunteer.

• Darcie Holte
Destination Lake Winnebago Region

Carrie is a great planner and excellent at her craft. I haveworked with her for years and enjoyed each transaction.
She is fair but firm. She goes above and beyond forher attendees and she is excellent at bringing her WI
Association business to supplier properties all overthe state providing ample opportunities for her guests
to experience the various parts of our state. She isprofessional and detail oriented and is very deserving of
this prestigious award.

Darcie has been great to work with for both chapter
events and events from my job. She is wonderful withincluding the entire area in making sure that an event iswell planned, well maintained, and extremely successful.
She has respect from everyone she encounters andmakes everyone feel like they are the only one thatmatters at the time.

• Danniel Kaczoroski
Generac Power Systems, Inc

Keola was a great volunteer for our Spring Spectacularand is a 2023 Strategic Partner.

Danniel has been very active in our chapter, has served
on many committees and has been helpful when others
have asked for advice• Shannon Timmerman, CMP
Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort• Steven Lorenz, CMP
TakedaSteve stepped up in a big way for the Spring Spectacular.
He was the driving force behind MPI Wisconsin’s first
Drag Queen Bingo. This event raised a record amount forthe chapter!

• Keola Shimooka
Destination Madison

Shannon has always been an advocate for MPI, Supplies
and Meeting planners! She is always willing to help, guideand offer assistance where ever she is able! She hasa wealth of knowledge about the industry, and always
willing to share what she knows. She also helps to mentor
and meet new individuals within our association and ask
how she can help.

• Amy Qualmann, CMP
Wisconsin Association of School Boards
Amy brings a party wherever she goes and you can tellthat her planning abilities have to go hand-in-hand. Whata positive light she is in the crazy world!
July/August 2023

IN D U S TR Y A D V OC ATEMPI Agenda|

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Back to table of contents• Carrie Jensen, CMP
League of WI Municipalities

INDUSTRY ADVOCATE• Ed BuchnerMajic Productions, Inc.

• Lori Johnson
Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Ed is a wonderful ambassador for MPI Wisconsin at
every turn. He volunteers on the Board and invites
guests and potential new members to meetings anddemonstrated the value of meeting in person. In addition
to that, he has brought fresh & fun fundraising efforts tochapter events and continues to make a positive impact
in all things he does for our chapter.

As part of the team at the Janesville Area Convention &Visitors Bureau, Lori has gotten her organization to getbehind being a Platinum Strategic Partner and the title
sponsor for the Spring Spectacular.

Reggie is on top of his game and deserves to receive thisrecognition!

• Ann Marie Hess
Visit Brookfield
Ann Marie has been super active in our chapter and has
done wonderful things with hosting an education event.
She is well respected and well-liked among her local
and state-wide peers. Ann Marie works incredibly wellwith both planners and suppliers and is wonderful withbringing both together.

Naomi is very active in our Chapter, not only in her
attendance, as a Past President, but she has recently
stepped up to assist with our CMP 101 program. In
addition to her career at M&I, she has started her own
coaching business for event professionals. She started it
to “coach other event professionals to plan with ease, sothat they can reap the positive benefits of this amazing
industry.”

This.

That.

LITTLE BIT OF

LITTLE BIT OF

DUBUQUE

More than the meeting.
MEETDUBUQUE.COM

July/August 2023

MPI Agenda|

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Back to table of contents• Reggie Driscoll, CMP
State Bar of Wisconsin• Naomi Tucker, CMP
Planners on Purpose

SAVE THE DATEEVENT: MPI GREAT LAKES EDUCATION SUMMIT

Don’t miss your chance to get top notch education,
networking, and idea sharing with our tri-statecolleagues at MPI Great Lakes Education Summit!
Registration coming soon!

DATE: NOVEMBER 12-14, 2023
LOCATION: SHERATON GRAND RAPIDS (MICHIGAN)
WHO: MPI CHAPTERS - MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, INDIANA

Sponsorship opportunities please contact tamara.jesswein@hidglobal.com

MPI WISCONSINNEW MEMBERS

ANNIVERSARIESCongratulations to those members celebrating amilestone anniversary in July & August!

WELCOME NEW MEMBER!

Congratulations!

HOLLY WILLIAMS, CMP

10 YEAR
MICHELLE TYO-JOHNSONBack to table of contents

5 YEARTERRI BAIN, CMPCAITLIN PERICKSARAY LEMMERS

July/August 2023

MPI Agenda|

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MICHAEL FERGUSONHaving Sharon’s energy andenthusiasm as a member of the
Speaker Team has been such an asset
to our chapter. Along with the othermembers of the Speaker Team, Sharon
volunteers her time to ensure ourchapter events continue to provide highquality speakers who both educate andentertain, which isn’t always easy to do.
Thank you, Sharon, for the gift of yourtime and talent!

For all of his hard work and dedication
to making the Spring Education Daya success! Making sure everything
ran smoothly, his communication, anddecorating the space! It was a beautiful
setting for a day filled with educationand fun!

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

July/August 2023

MPI Agenda|

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Sharon Beyer + Michael Ferguson

Volunteer Spotlight:

SHARON BEYER

WISCONSIN DELLS, WI

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

› 212,000 square feet of flexible event space› Two hours or less from major cities› Diverse team-building options available on-site› Eight food & beverage options› 794 guest rooms & suites| ©2022 Kalahari Management Co. LLC
Back to table of contents

KalahariMeetings.com | Call 855-411-4605 to learn more | Follow Us:

July/August 2023

MPI Agenda|

27

NICHOLE AUGUSTYNOWIC (A-Z for short)
Sr. Global Training Support Specialist
Promega Corporation
Tell us about your company and/or position: Promega Corporation is a biotech company
headquartered in Madison, WI USA and has 17 global branches worldwide. Promega
develops, manufactures and sells high-quality tools life scientists use to seek answers.

Our products are used in the following areas:• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries - Discovering new drugs to fight disease• Clinical and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories -Detecting disease and determining
therapies• Forensics and Paternity Laboratories - Making human identifications in current andcold criminal cases, disasters, and other challenging identity cases• Government and Academic Research Laboratories - Working at the forefront ofscientific discovery to understand life and disease• Applied Testing - Ensuring environmental food, water and plant safety and quality
My position: I am part of the Global Scientific and Sales Development Training Team
within the Global Services and Support Division. I am the Sr Global Training Support
Specialist for the team. We provide internal training for our scientific sales and technicalsupport staff.
My work includes a combination of support for Instructional designers, project management
and logistics for training events and administrative work. I also support this work at ourbranch training centers in France, Singapore and Germany. I have been with Promega for
6 years. I also did a 15-month internship in this department in 2012/2013. I left to finish my
degree and was invited to apply for this full-time position in 2017.
How long have you been in the meetings industry?: I have been involved in meetingsand event planning in various industries over the past 17 years. I have done a lot of thiswork with small businesses and now enjoy working in the corporate environment.
What drew you to become a planner?: I love organizing, planning and logistics. These
are skills that come naturally to me and have led me to larger meeting and event planningroles over the years.
What do you like most about being a member of MPI? I love the access to educational
content for personal and professional growth and making connections with other folks in theevents industry.
What was your favorite team or project you have worked on for MPI? I have been amember of MPI since 2020 and recently joined the Madison, WI chapter. I look forward toopportunities for involvement in the future.
Tell us about your family: I have been married for 24 years (Alan). We have four children,
ages 23 (Carly), 22 (Ethan), 20 (Devin) and 14 (Morgan). We have three dogs, a Great
Dane (Aspen), a Lab (Halo) and a Dorkie (Lucy) and a rescue cat (Baloo). We are a tightknit family that enjoys getting together frequently and traveling.
July/August 2023

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Planner Profile:

Nichole Augustynowic

This includes:• Reagent “Tool Kits” - Specific combinations of chemistries that allow customers tocarry out laboratory tests in the fields of cell biology; DNA, RNA and protein analysis;
drug development; human identification; and molecular diagnostics.
• Integrated Systems - Instruments, chemistries and personalized support that simplify
the process of automating research in the lab.

What are your hobbies and interests? I enjoy
spending time with the animals, especially since
the older kids have moved out. I love travelingto new places and learning about other cultures.
Nowadays you can find me at the lake on a paddle
board with my little dog, Lucy in the summer and in
the fall/winter I spend a lot of time watching movies
with the family in anticipation of the Oscars.

Compiled by Kortnee Carroll

1

SARA DYER- Promoted to SeniorDirector Meetings and Digital Events
at CUES (Credit Union Executives
Society)2

On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, The Wisconsin Center District(WCD) installed the final piece of structural steel to complete
the frame of the $456 million Baird Center expansion andcelebrated with a formal ceremony. Located in downtown
Milwaukee, the expansion will bring the expo hall to 300,000
contiguous square feet, add 24 new meeting rooms for a totalof 52, add six new loading docks for a total of 22, include
400+ indoor parking spaces, and feature a spectacular rooftop
ballroom with sweeping city views from the outdoor terrace. You
can follow progress and see renderings at buildingmore.com
or reach out to KATIE RAGAN at kragan@wcd.org. Mark yourcalendars for the grand opening on May 20, 2024!

We own an America Four Square house thatwas built in 1910 and have spent significant time
restoring and remodeling it. My husband is inconstruction, so together we enjoy home design
and making our designs come to life.
Favorite song//band/artist/movie/book:
I enjoy all genres of music, I’m a kind of all over theplace with music, so it’s hard to pick one. Some of
my favorites include The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli,Taylor Swift, and Al Green.
My favorite artist is Edgar Degas, a French
Impressionist. My all-time favorite art piece is
his sculpture titled “The Little Fourteen-Year-Old
Dancer” I first saw it at The Metropolitan Museumof Art in Paris and fell in love.
I love reading books about harrowing life stories
and different cultures. I particularly love The
Glass Castle by Jennette Walls. I am currently
reading Light at the Edge of the World, ajourney through the realm of vanishing cultures
by Wade Davis.
Tell us about the person you admire mostand why: I deeply admire Mother Teresa,
because of her undying kindness and devotion to
helping those most in need. My favorite quote ofhers is “I can do things you cannot, you can dothings I cannot; together we can do great things.”

Tell us the words you live by or share afavorite quote: “Stand up for what it right, even
if you are standing alone.” ― Suzy Kassem. Thisis a hard thing to do, especially in today’s world,
but is needed now more than ever. I continue
to learn more about DEI, ESI and CQ efforts to
help support this belief and continue to grow in it.
July/August 2023

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

MPI Agenda|

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What is something that is still on yourbucket list? I really want to travel to Italy, thatis definitely on my travel bucket list. This year
at MPI’s WEC conference in Cancun, Mexico I
checked a bucket list item and swam with twodolphins!

Greta McCue

Tell us about the company you work for and/or yourposition: My hotel is the most fun property I’ve ever
had the chance to represent – Aloft is a trendy brandthat offers bright and inviting public spaces, comfortablemodern rooms, a focus on local art and music and avibrant social scene. Not to mention that my particular
hotel is located right in the heart of Milwaukee’s “DeerDistrict,” along the river – so we’re in the center of all theaction! I love having a property to sell that I truly love!
How long have you been in the meetings industry?:
Very quickly approaching 20 years working in hospitality!
Not all specifically in meetings, though… I’ve been airline
ground crew, flight attendant, hotel operations and CVB
roles before winding up in hotel sales!
Tell us a few things about your role on our Chapter
Board: I’m excited to take our social media to a newlevel – I love having an opportunity to be creative and am
excited to help expand the social media impressions that
MPI Wisconsin makes daily!
What drew you to serve on our Chapter Board? A chance to get more involved and build closer
relationships with other MPI members.
What do you enjoy about your board service, and what are you learning? I love feeling likeI’m helping contribute to our chapter’s continued improvement! I’ll be trying to learn more of the
intricacies of different social media sites – and maybe even diving into learning how to make a
TikTok account for us… stay tuned!
What are your hobbies and interests? Traveling as much as possible (recently getting back into
cruising), always working on a new home project with continued updates on our 1939 Colonial home,cooking, spending summer weekends going to Brewers games or the Farmer’s Market!
Tell us about your family: Coming up on my 5-year anniversary with my husband, Shane (who isan engineer at Milwaukee Tool) – it’s just the two of us and Maggie, our 8-ish year-old Terrier mix
rescue!
Favorite song/band/artist/movie/book: Back to the Future – specifically #2, but I love all three ofthem!
Person you admire and why: My parents, for always setting a great example and pushing mybrother and I to work hard to achieve our dreams.
What is something that is still on your bucket list? This is always a vacation question for me!
Eastern Europe, New Zealand / Tahiti / Australia, and a Mediterranean cruise.
Tell us your words to live by or share a favorite quote: “Success usually comes to those who
are too busy to be looking for it.”July/August 2023

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Board Member Profile:
Greta McCue

MPI-WI Board: Director of Digital
Communications
Director of Sales & Marketing
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown

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northcoastmediagroup.com • 211 N. Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54302
July/August 2023

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Event Coverage • Corporate Identity & Branding Videos • Voice-Overs • Radio & Television
Commercials • Graphics & Animation • On-Location Audio & Video Services for Seminars, Special
Events, & Performances • Custom Music Tracks • Live Audio PA • Content Creation • Marketing
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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.
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SAVE THE DATE
2023 CHAPTER EVENTSJULY 20
SUMMER SOCIALMDS Association Management’s ban
AUGUST 10
AWARDS GALABest Western Premier Park Hotel, Madison
SEPTEMBER 14
SEPTEMBER EDUCATIONBest Western Premier Waterfront Hotel, Oshkosh

NOVEMBER 12
GLES
Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel, Michigan

July/August 2023

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OCTOBER 19
OCTOBER EDUCATION
Sentry World, Stevens Point