Top Performing Chapter Award

 

 

Committees

Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Volunteering can be a valuable way to enhance your current skills, learn new ones and make new professional connections. Interested in volunteering? 

 

To get involved, see below for complete descriptions of our chapter committees and their responsibilities. You can volunteer on one of the committees by contacting the committee chair, board liaison or by submitting a Volunteer Interest Form.


Volunteer Opportunities

We need you!

Help make a difference in your chapter and shape its future. Volunteering on a committee is a great way to elevate your membership, engage with fellow planners and suppliers, develop your leadership skills, and learn new professional skills.

You can also find more information on our committees in the 2022 - 2023 Leadership Manual or by contacting VP of Member Engagement, Rachel Whitten.


Membership in MPI Carolinas Chapter is mandatory to serve as a committee volunteer.

If you are not a member, please contact the MPI-CC office at (704) 377-5648 for information on how to join MPI-CC.

 

 


Committee Responsibilities

The Advocacy Committee promotes the value of meetings through local grassroots efforts that are consistent with MPI meetings matter messaging. The committee gathers information supporting the value, importance and positive economic impact of the meetings & events industry. They create and apply context and significance to this data and disseminate the narrative to chapter members, non-members and the greater business community. The committee’s goals are to create increased engagement within the community, create increased awareness of important industry issues requiring attention or action, provides a reputable and authorized voice that informs news media and the business community with integrity and honesty. The committee will also facilitate and plan an advocacy education event in conjunction with the Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) each year. 

 

Immediate Past President

Brandon Crumpton

 

Committee Chair

 

 

Committee Members

 

Committee responsibilities and goals:

The Awards Committee is charged with managing and facilitating appreciation for and recognition of the outstanding achievements of individual chapter members, and rewarding volunteer involvement on committees. Towards this end duties include spotlighting committee activity with member names in newsletter/website bi-monthly, developing a recognition tool for outstanding committees at each meeting on the Board’s recommendation. The Director is responsible for awarding the "Volunteer of the Quarter" Award to a non-board member for outstanding volunteer service quarterly. 

Another primary committee responsibility is furthering the visibility and value of meeting professionals within our chapter. Annual awards are given to members in recognition for outstanding service to the chapter in the following categories: Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Hall of Fame, and Tomorrow’s Leader.

The Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Hall of Fame, and Tomorrow's Leader Awards are given at MPI-CC's annual Awards and Installation Gala. Nomination forms are sent out to the membership in late March/early April with a deadline of mid-April for nominations. After a member has been nominated, it is the responsibility of the Awards Chair to send them a questionnaire to fill out and return; the Awards Committee grades the applications according to an established point system. The awards are based on MPI-CC service including International and Chapter participation; industry contributions and community service including membership/involvement in other organizations, articles written in the hospitality press, speaking engagements, and awards/professional recognition; professional/career advancement including professional designations; biographical information. Upon receiving either one of these awards, recipients are not eligible for consideration again for a five-year period.

 

Immediate Past President
Brandon Crumpton

 

Committee Chair

 

 

Committee Members

 

Committee responsibilities and goals:

The Education Committee is responsible for planning, scheduling and implementing the education sessions for each meeting. The Education Committee selects the topics and speakers for the main education sessions. The goals of the Education Committee include increasing attendance at each meeting and ensuring the speakers meet the members’ needs as measured by the post-meeting survey scores.

What will I gain from joining this committee?

  • Speaker selection
  • Content development 
  • Theming education content and program

 Professional Certification Committee 

The Professional Certification Committee presents targeted educational programs aimed at CMP topics during CMP Retention and Informational Sessions. The committee’s goal is to increase the number of chapter members studying for and attaining the CMP, CMM, or CHME certifications. We form study groups and post information about the certification opportunities. Click here.

VP of Program Development

Nicole Filippo (Interim)

 

CMP Study Group
Tarshi McCoy

Tessa Barrier

 

Education Committee Chair

Kristin Walker

 

Education Committee Members

Allison Harding
Tammy Jeffries
Maureen Donovan
Lynne Krekelberg
Sarah Meister
Jason Arnold
Kevin Holland

 

Committee Responsibilities

The Exhibits Committee's responsibility is to develop strategies to increase revenue and in-kind support for the chapter. We develop, implement and manage chapter fundraising efforts and events, as well as ensure promotion of our fundraising efforts. Our main fundraising event is the Carolinas' Business Exchange in September.

What will I gain from joining this committee?

  • Creating a tradeshow from start to finish 
  • Project management skills
  • Dual sided member interaction
  • Meet decision makers in marketplace 

 

VP of Finance
Karen Wall

 

Business Exchange Chair

Christian Schroeder

 

Committee Members

Ariana Pearsall

 

 

The Leadership & Volunteer Development Committee identifies, encourages and develops leaders within the chapter. The committee matches volunteers with chapter committees, manages the chapter’s volunteer roster, checks in with volunteers on their experiences, and plans and implements volunteer appreciation events.

 

Director of Professional Development

 

 

Committee Chair

Chair Needed

Committee responsibilities and goals:

The Marketing Committee’s primary responsibility is to generate information and gather updates from other committees for the purpose of keeping the MPI-CC website full of fresh information. This committee will be in constant contact with other committees as well as the management office to bring the latest information to the chapter’s newsletter editor. In addition to the website, this committee is striving to promote MPI-CC’s achievements, both individual and chapter-wide, and bi-monthly meetings to the outside hospitality industry.

What will you gain from joining this committee?

  • Project management skills
  • Leadership and training skills
  • Learn and implement social media engagement
  • Learn the art of communicating to a team, committee and membership

 

VP of Marketing and Communications
Melanie Mason, CMP

 

Committee Members
Sam Green

Mica Parekh

Committee responsibilities and goals

The Member Engagement Committee develops and coordinates member engagement efforts by assisting with volunteer opportunities, member care, hospitality and recruitment and retention membership events. Committee members are responsible for recruitment programs targeting members, developing and managing an on-boarding volunteer process, and support in identifying methods of retaining existing members via new or improved activities, communications, programs, and benefits.

 

VP of Member Engagement

Rachel Whitten, CMP


Chair

Olivia Terrell

 

Committee Members

Ashley Pittman
Alison Harding
Cathy Carpenter

 

 

Chapter Ambassadors 

Patricia Byrd, CMP

Barb Dragan
Lynn Skinner
Olivia Terrell
Mica Parekh

 

 

 

The Immediate Past President shall chair the Nominating Committee. The remaining members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the chairman and approved by the Executive Committee. There shall be no less than four (4) members including the chairman

Nominations - Petition Process. Once the Nominating Committee has developed a slate of nominees for election from all the Candidate Interest Forms submitted, the slate is to be mailed to the membership with instructions that additional nominations from the membership shall be permitted, provided a nomination is submitted in writing to the Nominating Committee Chair and is supported by a minimum of five percent (5%) of the official MPI-CC membership. The nominee must identify the specific person he/she is running against in the general election and must have already submitted a Candidate Data and Interest form to be eligible for petition. If no additional nominations are received, the ballot submitted by the Nominating Committee will be deemed elected by acclamation and will be installed at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting. If additional nominations are received, a ballot will be sent to all MPI-CC members for those positions having two or more candidates in contention. Deadlines for Candidate Submission Forms, mailing(s) to the membership and additional nominations will be established by the Nominating Committee. Chapter Board nominations and elections must be completed and submitted to MPI Global by March 1st each year.

 

Chair - Immediate Past President
Brandon Crumpton

Committee Members

Committee Responsibilities

The Publications Committee is responsible for producing The Carolina Blitz, the official news publication of MPI-Carolinas Chapter. The Carolina Blitz is published electronically six times a year and is sent to all MPI-CC members. It contains information about upcoming chapter meetings, educational presentations at meetings, news about MPI-CC members and their organizations, along with articles featuring a wide variety of topics of interest to Carolinas Chapter planners and suppliers.

Melanie Mason serves as the temporary Editor in Chief of The Carolina Blitz. Any chapter member may submit an article by contacting Melanie, and all MPI-CC committees are encouraged to appoint a liaison to the Blitz to report on committee projects and news.

Submission deadlines for 2024:

    • June 28, 2024 (Summer Issue)

     

    VP of Marketing and Communications

    Melanie Mason, CMP

     

    Committee Chair

     

    Committee Members

    Committee Responsibilities

    The Silent Auction Committee is responsible for: securing items for the silent auction that takes place during the annual chapter meeting, establishing minimum bids on all items, advertising prior to meeting, setting up auction tables, and ensuring payment from item winners.

    What will I gain from joining this committee?

    • Interaction with individual members
    • Budget management skills
    • Event promotion

     

    VP of Finance

    Karen Wall

     

    Committee Chair

    Nicole Keshler

     

    Committee Members

    Kathryn Short

    Jenna Light

    Alex Morales

    Alexa Rode

    Committee Responsibilities and Goals

    The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee creates networking and educational opportunities that further the mission of creating a diverse and equitable environment of inclusion in our chapter, community, and respective industries, through education and communication.

    Committee members are responsible for ideation, creation, collaboration and coordination of educational content, events, and activities that celebrate our members' diversity, ensure equity for all, and engage membership inclusion through education and deep conversation.

       

      VP of DEI

      Kathryn Short

       

      Committee Chair

      Star Robertson

       

      Committee Members

      Malinda Harrell, CMP, CASE

      Erin White
      Mitch Savoie Hill

      Renita Williams

      Shannon Groff

      Kesha Moore

      Kevin Holland

      Tarshi McCoy


       Testimonials

      "The MPI Carolinas Chapter has been the number one source of education and networking for me. As a meeting planner, I am always looking for new ideas and better ways to do things. With the friends I’ve made over the years through MPI-CC, I can easily shoot an email to someone or pick up the phone to bounce around an idea. I’ve also used MPI-CC as a source for finding speakers and for session topics. Probably what stands out the most are the conversations I have with our members--planners and suppliers. We take time during the receptions and breakfasts to catch up not only on how work is going, but also on how WE are—how’s the family, how are the pets, how is our health (mental & physical!). It’s these conversations that make being a member of MPI-CC feel like being part of a family. When I miss a meeting, it feels like I’ve missed out on a reunion. The education and training are icing on the cake!"  

      Ginny Fountain, CMP, CMM | North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives

       

      “Serving on a committee for the MPI-Carolinas Chapter adds tremendous value to my membership as I am able to connect much deeper with my fellow members than simply seeing them at the meetings. When we collaborate as a team on various projects, it allows us to share knowledge while building trust and friendship. The saying, ‘you get what you give’ proves so true. If you put forth efforts volunteering for the greater good of the chapter, you’ll be amazed at what you get back.”

      Mallory Middleton, CMP | cheersyears.com

       

      "What I find the value of volunteering for MPI-CC is that I am able to make a difference in the growth of the chapter by helping to grow our presence in social media and using that to inform and educate. We have such a diverse association and they need to get new information about the industry in various ways. It is an exciting time for the association and volunteering helps to attract other members like me that can see the value in the group and in turn want to volunteer to help continue the growth of the chapter."

      Mica Parekh, CMP | IWP Photography & Video

       

      "I am extremely excited to serve with the MPI-Carolinas Chapter. There are many benefits to volunteering, but a few stick out to me the most. Being able to serve in the community through the MPI-Carolina's Chapter affords me the great opportunity to give back and help bring joy to others. Creating joy for others exceed sharing with those who are in need, but for people in general. Personally, giving back in this manner will allow me to gain greater sense of accomplishment, enable me to develop new experiences, and a deeper insight on a world outside of my own. I look forward to volunteering alongside my fellow MPI members who share the same passion, to building new friendships, stronger business partnerships, and much more.

      In my opinion, service isn't something that gets tacked onto my schedule if there is time, but in my heart."

      Jemeria Lawson | The Durham Hotel

       

      "MPI has always been so important to me. I transferred to the Carolinas Chapter in 1996 from Philadelphia Chapter. I went for my first meeting knowing not one person and had no job. I joined a committee the first meeting and I have been fortunate to have served on several. Whether I was on a committee, Board of Directors, Chapter President, or serving on an International Committee, MPI has given me so much more than I have given to MPI.

      MPI is Your MPI, get involved, and make the most of your membership. I believe in Buy MPI and I contact other MPI Chapters for resources when planning a meeting in other cities.

      I value the knowledge, relationships, and growth that MPI has provided me.

      Make the most of your MPI experience!"

      Linda Ilsley, CMP | LPI Events

       


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