June 2012

Volume 97 - June 2012
A Publication Produced By Jerry Cowart Designers, Inc.
MPISCC Installation and Awards Gala
June 28, 2012
O
n June 28, 2012, at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena, we will
come together as a chapter to celebrate the success of the
2011/2012 year, recognize and award our top industry
professionals, install our incoming leaders, and connect with
fellow MPI members.
Celebrate the night away as we award our chapter Planner
and Supplier of the Year, as well as find out who receives the
coveted Chapter Leader of the Year Award. Expect some great
surprises and a little bit of flare!
A LOOK INSIDE
JUNE 2012
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10-11
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President’s Message
You Don’t Need a Title...
MPISCC Partner Spotlight
Dream On
Blankets For PATH
April Meeting Recap
EdCon Recap
MPISCC Shining Stars
Community Outreach
In Memoriam
Frank Baptista
Coffee With MPISCC
I Am MPI
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New Member Spotlight
Future Leaders Forum
Relationship Economics
MPISCC Advertising Deal
New Members
I N T E R C O M
Join us on what is to be
an enjoyable summer
evening and reunite with
your industry Connections
and possibly create new
Connections, in historic
Pasadena.
Event Details:
The Westin Pasadena
191 N. Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626.792.272
Thursday, June 28, 2012
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM
Past President's
Reception (by invitation)
6:00 PM - 6:45 PM
Strategic Partners
Reception (by invitation)
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Connections Welcome
Reception
7:15 PM- 8:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Connections Summer
Evening Garden Party &
Dinner Stations
Westin Pasadena Hotel
The Westin Pasadena, in the heart of downtown Pasadena, is
offering a special room rate of $119/night, plus taxes. (Must
book by Thursday, June 14 by calling 866.837.4181 and ask for
the “MPISCC” rate). After a night of celebrating, stay and relax
in contemporary comfort with easy access to historic old town,
museums, and restaurants.
Registration fees:
$65 member
$85 non-member
$95 at the door
Recommended Attire: Cocktail Attire
Parking: Self - $5.00 (after 5:00 pm) / Valet $16.00 (all day)
Westin Pasadena Hotel Website: westinpasadena.com
Looking to create a special VIP environment for some key
clients or guests? Connect with Beverly Laing, CMP, JNR
Incorporated at blaing@jnrcorp.com or at 213.399.4817 to find
out about our fun “Connections Corner” VIP areas during
dinner. Opportunities are limited.
Interested in being a sponsor? Please connect with Beverly
Laing, CMP, JNR Inc. at blaing@jnrcorp.com or at 213.399.4817
for sponsorship opportunities.
Register at mpiscc.org
JUNE 2012
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2011-2012 MPISCC
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
President
Judi Froehlich, CMM
Tel: 424-247-9974
BCD Meetings & Incentives
President Elect
Larissa Schultz, CMP
Tel: 310-519-0795
LJS Meeting Strategies
Immediate Past President
Audra Narikawa, CMP
Tel: 213-486-9038 x99038
The Capital Group Companies, Inc
Vice President of Communications
Christine Hartman
Tel: 310-601-0695
Ice Hat Creative
Vice President of Education/Programs
Kay Boles, CMM, CMP, CHE
Tel: 310-206-9270
UCLA Conference Services
Vice President of Finance
David Anderson, CMP
Tel: 562-538-4834
Eventive Group
Vice President of Leadership Development
Steve McCleave, DMCP
Tel: 562-427-0414 x123
ACCESS Destination Services
Vice President of Membership
Mariles Krok, CMP
Tel: 424-731-7781
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Directors
Laura Bergersen, CMP
Tel: 562-234-8819
Laura B Events
Marc Berkowitz, CMP
Tel: 213-739-8222
CA Association of Realtors
Elizabeth Brazil, CMP
Tel: 310-308-9400
Gerbera Daisy Events
Paulette Fontanez, CMP
Tel: 310-416-1210 ext. 811
PIHRA
Elizabeth Glau, CMP, CHSP
Tel: 614-286-4685
Building Blocks Social Media
Robert Hatfield
Tel: 702-969-6651
Hotel ZOSO
Joe Marcy
Tel: 310-981 8013
Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles
Westside
Nicole Newman
Tel: 951-640-3745
SearchWide
Keri Shaffer, CMP
Tel: 215-796-1519
KS Events
DeShawn Wynn, CMP, CMMM
Tel: 323-691-2005
Wynning Touch Event Design
Executive Director
Debbie Hawkins, CAE, CMP
Tel: 805-449-9111
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Judi Froehlich, CMM
BCD Meetings & Incentives
Dear fellow MPISCC Members,
It seems like yesterday I was just writing my first quarterly report as the President of MPISCC for
the 2011 / 2012 board year and sharing our ambitious vision for the year ahead. It is bittersweet to
craft my final message as, although I look forward to stepping into the Past President
role alongside esteemed colleagues who have served as president, I will not have the pleasure of
working alongside this year’s talented board on a daily basis.
The great news for our members is that the incoming board assuming their roles on July 1 bring
with them amazing energy, talent and dedication to building upon the great foundation and
success we have accomplished this year.
At the local level, our 2011-2012 MPISCC Board of Directors entered the year with a clean slate,
open minds, innovative ideas, and with a strong foundation upon which to build. We all embraced
the challenge to look at things differently!
We designed a few simple objectives for the year (outlined below) that we felt would have
significant impact. We accomplished this through several events and activities:
• NEW Website Launch: We redesigned an entirely new website that provides a more intuitive
user experience as well as many opportunities to enjoy online content and modules.
MPISCC
• Facebook: MPISCC Facebook membership continues to expand and engagement grows daily.
• EdCon ROC: Our Annual Tradeshow & Educational Program (held in March) was revamped
to further address the needs of our members and provide a cutting edge agenda, hard hitting
speakers and unique networking and business opportunities.
• Partnerships: Our strategic team entered into several new industry partnerships.
We collaborated with SITE SoCal, MPIOC, MPISD, BizBash and other associations throughout
the year.
• Coffee with MPISCC: The Coffee with MPISCC program is more popular than ever, and we
expanded the satellite location offerings as a result.
• Satellite Locations: The State of the Industry program in February provided a link to a satellite
location at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, in order to allow members outside the area a
chance to participate in a remote location.
• Meeting Planning Basics and Beyond: We revamped our Hyatt Basics program to include a more
in-depth agenda geared toward both novice and seasoned professionals. The three programs
were offered in the first quarter of 2012 and all were very well attended and received very
positive survey results.
• Higher-level content and speakers: Our commitment to higher-level content and speakers has
been apparent to our members and non-members who attended the WES (Weekend Educational
Summit), and our monthly programs throughout the year. Some highlights included programs
on SMMP, leadership, and social media and speakers such as Betsy Bondurant, Michael
Dominquez, and Ryan Estis.
• Community Outreach: Our community outreach efforts were significant and allowed members
several opportunities to contribute both time and resources to our charities.
Stay tuned for more great member benefits and offerings into the new year!
We set out to connect, collaborate and commit to bringing new and exciting things to our
membership…and I believe we were successful. It has been a privilege to serve as your president
during the 2011-12 term and I look forward to continuing to connect with you all into the future.
Wishing you all ongoing success!
Judi Froehlich, CMM
BCD Meetings & Incentives
2011/2012 MPISCC President
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Save The Dates
MPISCC Monthly Meetings And Events
June 28, 2012 - MPISCC Installation and Awards Gala at The Westin Pasadena (See cover story)
July 10, 2012 - Breakfast Meeting, Topic: Social Media, Location: Milken Institute
July’s Monthly Meeting Goes Into the Community
One of the goals of this year’s board was to hold at least one monthly meeting at a community agency. This is MPISCC’s turn to go inside
a non-profit agency and see how they impact our world. Our
July 10th monthly meeting will be held at the Milken Institute. They
are a nonprofit, non-partisan think tank. Their mission is to improve
life around the world by advancing innovative economic and policy
solutions that create jobs, widen access to capital and enhance health.
The Milken Institute does research by assembling a team of economists, industry experts and scholars to analyze the issues and choices
facing policymakers. They host several meetings and a Global
conference each year, convening experts from multiple sectors,
geographies and viewpoints for highly focused interactions.
September 7-9, 2012 - WES Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel
"We are excited to announce the 2012 Weekend Education Summit to take place at the Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel
You Don’t Need a Title (or Permission)
By Ryan Estis, Ryan Estis & Associates
Y
ou don’t need a title to lead. Titles don’t earn followers.
You earn followership based on your own ability to
contribute value to the process, people and performance. You
don’t need permission to influence. You impact others and
initiate change through action. We all have the power to make
a difference, especially among the people that matter the
most to us. We all have the power to create change. One conversation. One connection. One meaningful moment that
inspires action.
Leadership isn’t about you. It is about them. A leader exists to
help, guide, develop, teach, counsel, coach, correct and consistently elevate potential and performance. Your success
is achieved through others, through change, through making
a difference.
Not everyone cares about making a difference. Not everyone
is meant to lead.
When others entrust you to guide and develop their talent
and career path, it is an awesome responsibility. Stepping up
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to that responsibility is incumbent upon
today’s effective leader, especially during
a time of such extraordinary challenge
and change.
Effective leaders embrace change.
Challenge the status quo. Commit.
Cultivate confidence in the future.
Connect people to each other and to a
common purpose. Effective leaders care. They go all in to make
a difference. They inspire by living the change they want to see
in others. It is a time where true, authentic leadership is
required. What an extraordinary opportunity to have an
impact, to make a difference.
Ryan Estis is a professional speaker and Business Performance
Expert who was the keynote speaker at the 21012 MPISCC
EdCon. He shares his thoughts on business performance on his
blog passiononpurposeblog.com and you can follow his daily
musings on Twitter @ryanestis.
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MPISCC’s Partner Spotlight - Bacara Resort & Spa
By Lisa Griffin, Jennifer Guess Public Relations
N
estled along California’s most
spectacular stretch of Pacific paradise, between the ocean and the Santa
Ynez Mountains and adjacent to the
resort community of Santa Barbara, lies
the luxurious Bacara Resort & Spa.
With 78 acres of ocean front property,
Bacara offers an expansive sun-drenched
setting with endless vistas of sea and sky,
while the resort’s innovative and artful
design is in keeping with the intimacy
and aesthetics of a Mediterranean village, complete with flower-filled courtyards, restful fountains and red-tiled roofs.
Bacara pool
Bacara offers 360 lavish guestrooms, specialty suites and
luxury retreats, each with a private patio or balcony, and all with
ocean, garden or mountain views. All accommodations reflect
the serenity of Bacara’s classic coastal setting, using the colors of
sea, sand and sky, along with natural materials, elegant Spanish
tile, overstuffed furnishings, and Frette linens and robes.
Bacara guests can dine in a range of ambiences at the resort’s
four dining venues. Treat yourself to an evening at the resort’s
signature restaurant, Miró. Named after Spanish artist Joan
Miró, Bacara’s Miró offers award-winning New BasqueCatalonian cuisine and an interior inspired by the vibrant colors
and forms in the artist’s work. Miró’s Wine Cellar houses an
extensive collection of wines, upwards of 12,000 bottles featuring 1,200 labels spanning 13 countries and 75 international
appellations. The wine list has expanded over the years and
now proudly represents the greatest wines produced in the
world, as well as local California wineries.
The Bistro at Bacara, with its broad stone terrace and sweeping ocean views, offers a relaxed setting that is perfect for
the whole family. The Bistro features California-Mediterranean
cuisine made from the best local ingredients and is open
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Bacara Bar is located off the resort’s sweeping lobby.
Guests can choose from a selection of wines, cordials and spirits, including signature elixirs such as a “One Spicy Margarita”
or “Lychee Martini” prepared by Bacara’s expert mixologists.
Savory cuisine, including a selection of delectable
hors d’oeuvre, fresh seafood and “easy to share” dishes compliment creative cocktails and a lively atmosphere.
For those seeking a lighter option, Bacara’s Spa Café consistently provides some of the healthiest meals in all of Santa
Barbara. The Spa Café features both indoor and outdoor
dining, with a spot-on view of the Spa pool from the patio, and
is also a great option for those looking to grab a snack on the go.
treatments and spa services offered by
world-class massage therapists and
aestheticians. The 36 treatment rooms in
the 42,000 square foot facility offer
supreme privacy and quiet calm for spa
guests. The Spa’s extensive spa menu
includes a wide range of facials, body
treatments, massages, and salon services.
All visitors to this Santa Barbara luxury spa
can round out their relaxation experience
with a dip in the whirlpool, a eucalyptus
steam and a visit to the sauna.
Continue your mind-body renewal at
Bacara with fitness activities designed to help you achieve your
goals. The fitness facilities at Bacara include a 3,500 square foot
cardiovascular and strength training center, yoga and Pilates
studios, and four Har-Tru surface tennis courts. Complimentary
fitness classes and walks are available to those wishing to add
an active element to their relaxing get-away. Those looking to
use their Bacara visit to jump-start a healthy lifestyle can
take advantage of the Destination Transformation program,
which provides expert guidance from Bacara’s Wellness
Choreographers.
At Bacara, a fun-in-the-sun lifestyle is an everyday way of life.
Bacara boasts three zero-edge, heated saline swimming pools,
as well as twenty-five private cabanas complete with Wi-Fi
access, phone outlets and dedicated waiter service. In addition,
the resort’s 78 oceanfront acres and surrounding areas offer
plenty of opportunities for surfing, body boarding, ocean
kayaking, sailing, hiking, horseback riding, cycling and
mountain biking.
With its breathtaking ocean views and spectacular interior
and exterior event spaces, Bacara offers a variety of ceremony
and reception sites, ideal for every style of wedding – from an
intimate garden setting or sparkling seaside ceremony, to a
grand ballroom reception. The resort’s wedding professionals
and acclaimed culinary team make it easy and enjoyable to create a classic celebration for your special day. The resort’s 25,500square feet of multi-purpose space, including a dedicated,
high-tech Executive Conference Center and 211-seat Screening
Room are ideal for business meetings, conferences and special
events. Designed to cater to the business and social needs of the
most discriminating and demanding clientele, Bacara’s meeting
and event spaces are no-nonsense, versatile and technologically-advanced.
Bacara embodies the leisurely pace and warm embrace of the
California lifestyle. visit www.bacararesort.com.
We enjoy our relationship with MPISCC and are proud to have
hosted the MPISCC mid year Board retreat.
What luxury getaway would be complete without a little
pampering? The Spa at Bacara offers a range of rejuvenating
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
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DREAM ON
Monterey County
By John Ehlenfeldt, CMP, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Monterey County: A Perfect Place
to Meet
Picture this: diverse hotel properties with 99 miles of breathtaking coastline, innovative
menus and wine from local
growers, and world-famous
entertainment choices. Whether
it’s meetings in Monterey, conferences in Carmel, or board
retreats in Pebble Beach, Monterey
offers you endless options to build a
successful program. You might even
extend your site inspection trip just a
bit longer!
Attendee Appeal
Wine tasting throughout Monterey
County, a hike through Big Sur’s
towering redwoods, a round of golf
at Pebble Beach, fine dining in
Carmel-by-Sea? It’s all here — in one
of the most robust natural landscapes in the world. Athletically
inclined delegates have their choice
of kayaking, cycling, surfing, diving and plenty of
opportunities to explore the history and culture of this
amazing destination. Miles of organic farms and
terraced vineyards cover the county; delegates can relax
while enjoying the fruits of the sea and fields at local
restaurants, or go right to the source for tours and
tastings. The Monterey County Convention & Visitors
Bureau can help you create an itinerary that best suits
your group’s needs.
Ultimate Accessibility
Perched atop one of the most scenic coastlines in the
world, the county is just two hours by car from San
Francisco and four hours from Los Angeles. For those
arriving from farther away, flying is easy because
Monterey Regional Airport offers more than 17 daily
direct flights from seven destinations and is located
minutes from downtown Monterey. San Francisco
International Airport and San Jose International Airport
are less than two hours away. And once delegates are
here, hopping from one region to another is just as simple. Most of the major meeting destinations, including
Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach are
within a 10-minute drive.
Complete CVB Services
The MCCVB provides resources to help you every step of
the way. For example, their destination specialists have
I N T E R C O M
deep knowledge about the area
and can advise you on anything
from leisure activities to accommodations. Another service that
makes the MCCVB stand out is
their free customized RFP distribution and collection — we
field responses from only venues that fit your specifications.
And they are happy to coordinate and do site inspections for
you. Need marketing brochures
and videos to kick-start registration? They have you covered. Tap
into other services, such as
our in market delegate discount
programs and support and staffing
at offsite events and activities. The
MCCVB can also help you lessen
your environmental impact by
producing a low-waste event.
The Most Versatile Venues
The Monterey Conference Center
and adjacent hotel properties
combine 61,000 square feet of meeting space with 700
hotel rooms and a 500-seat amphitheater. But in fact,
inspired meeting spaces can be found in every corner of
the county, from a roaring bonfire at the Del Monte
Beach House to the acoustically flawless Sunset Center
in Carmel by-the-Sea. Whether you’re planning an
intimate corporate dinner in a winery courtyard,
getting down to business in a private board room at the
world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, sending
an incentive group to the flawless resorts at Pebble
Beach or orchestrating a self-contained conference
in Monterey, our facilities deliver elegant and impeccable service.
A Leader in Substantiability
Want to green up your event? Monterey is teeming
with eco-friendly products and services for meeting
planners, with facilities that are LEED certified and
event venues that do everything, from helping you
lessen your meeting’s carbon footprint to serving your
group sustainable cuisine. Monterey County is home to
a huge density of agricultural regions, producing
organic lettuce, berries and award-winning wines. The
Monterey Bay Aquarium is setting the world standard
for what it means to eat sustainable seafood; all
that in a setting that can only be described as naturally
magnificent.Contact John Ehlenfeldt, CMP at
Johne@mccvb.org for more information.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
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Blankets For The Residents In PATH’s
Transitional Housing Program
By Christina N. LeRubio, CMP, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
MPISCC
has once again partnered with
PATH (People Assisting the
Homeless), whose Transitional
Housing program has been providing homeless men, women
and families with a safe place to
temporarily call home.
To continue MPISCC’s effort to
find new ways to reach out to
our community, the Community
Volunteers assembling blankets at EdCon
Outreach team offered a handson opportunity at the 31st
Annual Education Conference. Approximately 30 meeting
planners and suppliers came together on March 26th to assemble blankets during the Community Service Project event on
I N T E R C O M
the evening before EdCon, at
the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel &
Conference Center. The simple
project only required some snips
and ties yet proved to be a huge
success! Participants bonded
and networked, while producing over a dozen fleece blankets
that will bring comfort and care
to homeless men, women and
families in Southern California.
Thank you to everyone who
participated in doing something
amazing for our community!
JUNE 2012
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MPISCC April 2012 “Understanding Meetings
Costs in the New Reality” Luncheon
Jillian Corbets, The Beverly Hilton
luncheon took
MPISCC’s April
place at the wonderful
Beverly Garland hotel in North Hollywood. The
gorgeous and sunny day made the courtyard a
perfect place for networking and idea sharing
among MPISCC members. Reluctant to leave
the sunshine, but pleased to find a beautifully
renovated ballroom, attendees enjoyed a great
lunch inside.
stimulate our economy and provide more jobs.
The future is unknown, but despite struggles,
there is great hope that we will continue to
see positive movement out of the recession.
After addressing the state of the economy,
Mr. Dominguez shared a bit of insider information on hotels’ revenues and expenses.
As meeting professionals, it is important to
know the costs and expenses of hotels. Hotels
MPISCC President Judi
overall revenues are made up of three compoWonderfully educational, Michael Dominguez,
Froehlich, CMM introduces
nents including 43.4% from guestroom
VP Global Sales for Loews Hotels and MPI
April meeting speaker
revenue, 41.2% from food and beverage
International’s Chairman Elect, provided great
Michael Dominguez
revenue and 15.3% in other revenue. Of this
information on current economic conditions and
revenue, departmental costs and expenses are
the costs of producing meetings for hotels.
24% for rooms, 65% for food and beverage and 79% for other
The economy has been tumultuous to say the least in the
operating departments, which takes up 47% of all revenues.
past several years. Following the recession in 2007, the US
Without even including administrative costs, marketing costs,
experienced the greatest job loss and decrease in GDP than any
operating and maintenance expenses, management fees,
recession in modern history. Hotels were no exception to this
property taxes and insurance, hotels are already using nearly
recession. Hotels’ RevPAR index decreased a total of 18.8% in
half of their revenues! Once all of these additional costs are
2008 and 2009 from previous years. Profits saw a loss of $22
included, hotel profitability is around 22%.
billion from their peak before the recession. Fortunately, things
How can this knowledge help you as a meeting professional?
are starting to turn around as we pull ourselves out of this recession. The main component bringing greater profitability back to Now that you know where the greatest revenue sources for
hotels is that rates are finally going back up a bit. Hotels are hotels, rooms, and the greatest costs for hotels, food and beverseeing the demand they saw prior to the recession. Groups are age and other operating departments, you can understand the
spending money again and investing in meetings. Upscale, hotel’s perspective when negotiating. It’s valuable to know that
upper upscale and luxury hotels are running at about 70% most hotels evaluate business based on the revenue per occuoccupancy. This level of use is leading hotels to be able to pied group room. You can calculate this by taking your food and
beverage spend and dividing it by your total room night count.
increase their rates—the demand is back!
If your group’s revenue per occupied group room is high, around
Despite some positive growth for hotels, there are still
$200.00 for example, you have a lot of leverage when asking for
challenges ahead for the meetings industry. Fuel costs are rapconcessions; if it’s on the lower side, $100.00, you don’t have
idly rising, yielding increased travel costs. Airlines are paying
much room for negotiating. If you’re looking for ways to save,
three times as much for fuel now than they were in 2005.
it’s easy to save on food and beverage costs by telling chefs
Factors abroad are affecting us as well. The sovereign debt
about your budgets up front; they can customize menus for you
issues in Europe are disrupting our tourism profits from Europe.
that can meet your budget needs. You can also ask about value
Additionally, growth in China is slowing down, so prices on
menus or menus of the day; some hotels have these options and
exports are increasing as they are paying higher wages to keep
they are less expensive. Serving family style is another great way
workers happy and away from uprising. Furthermore, we are
to save as chefs can control the portions here. You can also be
still facing high unemployment in our own country; many of
creative with food and use it as décor. Understanding the costs
those who have found work again are at jobs below their capaassociated with meetings at hotels allows you to get on the same
bilities just to be able to support themselves and their families.
page with your hotel partner for more efficient negotiations.
The good news is that there is 1.8 trillion dollars in corporate
When we all work together as meeting professionals—as
America just “sitting by the sidelines” waiting to be spent.
These funds are being encouraged to be spent in order to help suppliers and buyers, we can form true partnerships to create
win-win situations for everyone.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
9
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JUNE 2012
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I N T E R C O M
2012 ROC your ROI with EdCon
By Elaine Bartolome, Temecula Creek Inn
M
eeting professionals from all over Southern California presentation, my ROC (Return on Connection) was the way he
gathered on March 27, 2012 to experience the cutting confirmed and encouraged attendees about the importance of
edge agenda that was created in response to changes in the shifting your approach in communication. LISTENING is the key
way planners prefer to interact with
to meaningful relationships and
suppliers. “Making a change with the
receiving core value information.
times,” MPISCC President Judi
With studies from the Mayo-Clinic
Froehlich’s welcome stated that the
and Zappos, two companies he
re-naming of the MPISCC Educational
has helped achieve increased levels
Conference and Marketplace, to 2012
of breakthrough performance,
ROC your ROI with EdCon, was sure
Ryan showed us how to Connect,
to prove to be an innovative format,
Collaborate and Commit!
“providing all a creative avenue to
Passion: Improving communication,
network with key planners, industry
competency and culture to elevate
suppliers and professionals and glean
employee and customer engageamazing knowledge from our heavy
ment and enhance business
hitting speakers and education
performance.
Thanks EdCon team
program.” Elizabeth Glau, MPISCC
Purpose: Making a difference in the
(not all team members in photo)
Director of Special Events recruited a
lives of others.
talented team of leaders and volunteers. Elizabeth had the Premise: Put people first...profits follow.
vision, knowledge, connections and organization skills to keep Promise: Delivering experiences that people never forget.
our team of leaders and volunteers updated of all key decisions Performance: Putting individual contributors, leaders and
and information throughout the planning process. Elizabeth organizations in a position to achieve extraordinary results.
was an accessible, consistent and focused leader proving why
Following the keynote speaker, attendees checked the
the 2012 ROC your ROI with EdCon was informative, innovative
mobile
conference navigation guide, sponsored by meetsmart
and a true success!
mobile, to determine which room they would head to next to
Attendees were surprised by the ease at which they were able experience the new Supplier Showcase Sessions. A total of 16
to arrive in Pomona at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & suppliers each provided ten minute presentation updates and
Conference Center. Colorful banners sponsored by Freeman information on their unique venues, locations and services.
greeted attendees at the entrance to the brand new confer- Some of the suppliers got creative with an interactive BINGO
ence center. Once inside, our student volunteers helped presentation and give-aways like bottles of wine and overnight
attendees retrieve their name badges with efficiency at the stays. Each Supplier Showcase room was hosted by a MPISCC
registration counters, also sponsored by Freeman. The student board member or committee lead who provided information
volunteers were not only employed as registration staff, but on the latest information on what’s happening with the
they also helped scan badges of attendees for each session so Southern California Chapter of MPI. They shared information
that MPISCC can provide reports to help track CEU’s such as membership benefits, choices that the EdCon commit(Continuing Education Units).
tee made to make the event more sustainable, and details
The full day of amazing education was kicked off with a about how a grant from MPI has allowed our chapter to share
dynamic keynote speaker sponsored by IMEX America. Ryan great content through our new website.
Estis is a professional speaker and business performance expert
Lunch time was an impressive serving of freshly grown and
helping managers, leaders and sellers more effectively connect local ingredients from Executive Chef David C. Teig from the
to their two most important audiences: employees and Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center. The gardenesque
customers. His message carried through the day inspiring centerpiece by LAPD – Los Angeles Party Design, highlighted
breakthrough thinking and getting connected in “The People the entrées being served with live rosemary and herb plants
Economy.” Ryan offered compelling insights on corporate and a vibrant spring sunflower. The high energy zone in the
culture, communication, collaboration, brand ambassadorship, California Ballroom continued with the sounds from DJ K
change and preparing to thrive in the ultra competitive, super Smith. The lighting, A/V and staging by ProAV was a high tech
complex, hyper-connected business environment we now know showcase that gave the MPISCC board member announcements
as normal. His high energy presence, approach and movie clips a lively background! Networking filled the air as planners were
supported his guiding principles and kept the audience able to spend an hour with the suppliers who were hosting
active, engaged and inspired. After listening to Ryan Estis’ them for the entire program.
Continued on page 11
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
11
2012 ROC your ROI with EdCon
Continued from page 10
Newly added to the conference was the Technology Lounge.
In the Tech Lounge, hosted by industry leaders, you could ask
the experts your most burning questions to the ever-changing
technologies that affect our industry and lives, which can seem
a bit daunting at times. John Chen; Laura Gallagher, CMP; Jon
Trask, CMP, and Paulette Fontanez, CMP were the experts of
the day discussing social media, podcasts, gamification and
virtual events. The lounge was designed to be an informal
learning environment where attendees were able to freely ask
questions and gain insights on some of the latest trends in
event technologies.
Most of these sessions were recorded and you should go the
MPISCC chapter website to see the PowerPoint and listen to the
audio of the sessions you want to see again or the ones you
missed because you were in another great session! Networking
was plentiful between the education sessions because the
pre-function area was lit with natural light and connected the
ballroom, concurrent sessions, tech lounge, and appointment
rooms, all located off the central foyer. The layout was an ideal
setting to connect with the tabletop exhibitors, collaborate
with colleagues and commit to the appointments you created
using the JOT appointment system!
Connections, Collaborations and Commitment were plentiful
with the concurrent education sessions. The topics for discussion throughout the day were:
Perfect Partners: Capitalizing on the Power of Volunteer
Labor, David Anderson, CMP
Understanding Meetings Cost in the New Reality
Michael Dominguez, CHSE
Mobile Applications for Meetings and Tradeshows
Corbin Bell, CMP
Alphabet Soup: Attaining Any Designation One Letter at a
time, Holly Duckworth, CMP, CAE
Time Management Made Simple, Bridget DiCello
Legal Learning, Lisa Sommer Devlin, JD
Getting Started with APEX/ASTM Standards
Katherine Manfredi, CMM
Generation Now: Seven Strategies to Build Future Leaders,
Staff & Meeting Professionals, Holly Duckworth, CMP, CAE
HOW not IF to Navigate Difficult Conversations,
Bridget DiCello
Procurement/Panel: Michael Dominguez, CHSE;
Charles Massey, CMP; Audra Narikawa, CMP; and
Shelby Greene, CMP, CMM
Finally, the end of conference concluded with the VIP
Reception. Open to all planners, suppliers who hosted tables at
lunch and suppliers who hosted VIP lounges during the reception, attendees experienced a hospitality suite environment
while continuing to network with peers. Discussions continued
about what attendees learned and how their experience will
connect them at work and in life. The VIP Lounge sponsored by
the Monterey Convention & Visitors Bureau provided a beautiful display of artisanal cheese and fruit to complement the
selection of wines from Monterey County. The VIP Lounge
sponsored by IML, Plan-It Interactive, Champagne Creative,
EventWorks, Reserve Events and Eberle Winery provided the
latest trends in special events.
I N T E R C O M
At the 2012 ROC your ROI with EdCon, we left feeling
empowered, engaged and ready to influence and change
the world! I believe that the ROC your ROI EdCon buzz will
continue beyond the day’s events and the Returns on
Connections, Collaborations and Commitments will go on
to prove to be a forum where attendees were re-energized,
captivated and motivated! EdCon ROC’d my ROI!
A special thank you to the Educational
Conference Team and volunteers.
JUNE 2012
12
I N T E R C O M
Meet the 2011-2012 Shining Stars
2nd Quarter (April-June 2011)
Shelley Grey, CMP
Vice President, Meetings & Events,
Trust Company of the West
Kay Boles, CMP, CMM, CHE
Conference Sales Manager
UCLA Conference Services
August 2011
July 2011
Diana Diller
Assistant Vice President
Program & Event Planner
Trust Company of the West
Deborah Shepard, CMP, CHSP
Director of Sales and Marketing
Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and
Marina Hotel
Trish McAulay
Director, West Coast Group
Sales California Satellite Office
The Peninsula Chicago
September 2011
Laura Bergersen, CMP
Laura B Events
Susan Jamerson
Chair, Community Outreach
2011-2012 MPISCC
October 2011
Kristin Pagdilao
Senior Sales Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton
Monrovia Pasadena Area
Amy Zelinksy, CMP
Meeting Manager
A to Z Special Events
Karen Yi
Student, The Collins College of
Hospitality Management
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Jason Soporito
Regional Manager –
Los Angeles
Plan-It Interactive
November 2011
Morgen Hoffman
President/Executive
Producer
Morgen Hoffman Events
Katie Rogers
Director of Sales
EventWorks, Inc.
Patrice Bradshaw, CMP
Customer Relations
Specialist
The Boeing Company
Marisa DiDomenico
Director of Group Sales
Kyoto Grand Hotel
and Gardens
November 2011
Christina N. LeRubio, CMP
Regional Events Manager, Community
Outreach Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network
December 2011
Linda Stone
Student
Haley Powers, CMP
Principal
InSiteful Meetings
January 2012
Jillian Corbets
Senior Sales Manager
The Beverly Hilton
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
Michelle Windhausen
Director of Business
Development
SEACruises
Libby Zarrahy, CMP
Director of Sales
Marriott Los Angeles
Downtown
February 2012
Diane Williams, CMP
Independent Planner
Francesca Ranieri
Meeting and Event Planner
SYNAXIS Meetings & Events, Inc.
WWW.MPISCC.org
13
Ronald McDonald House Walk For Kids
Marc Berkowitz, CMP, California Association of Realtors®
O
n April 1 the MPISCC Mighty Walkers once again took
part in the Ronald McDonald House Los Angeles Walk
for Kids. It was a 5k walk on a beautiful Sunday morning.
The following people were our proud team members: Marc
Berkowitz, Joe Marcy, John Ehlenfeldt, Michelle Windhausen,
Mariles Krok, Kayley Krok, Emma Cotaya, and Adriana Cotaya.
We raised almost $3,000.00 for this worthwhile cause.
This represents nearly four months’ worth of nights for
families staying at the house. Thank you team members and
donors for making this another good year on the walk!
MPISCC Has a Very Good Friday
By Shelley Grey, CMP, Trust Company of the West
S
ßeven members of MPISCC along with more than 400
other volunteers worked at the Los Angeles Mission's
annual Easter Dinner event, held Good Friday afternoon on
Fifth Street outside the mission
on downtown's Skid Row.
About 3,000 meals were served
while live music provided a
festive mood. At one tent, a sixfoot-tall bunny helped distribute
candy and toy filled Easter
baskets to children. At another,
2,000 pairs of adult sports shoes
and socks were handed out.
With this economy, the mission
is seeing more families and kids,
and people who may have a
bit of security in housing, but
still don't have the economics to
eat enough every day. One
woman stated, "I come down
here because they're always
nice and they treat you like
human beings."
A d e l e S a n t o s - Ye e f r o m
The Hotel Hanford said, “This
I N T E R C O M
particular cause gives me a sense of humility. It gives me a
totally different perspective of homeless people - generally
harmless that just happen to be down in their luck or afflicted
with illness. This is definitely a
very rewarding experience and
I hope to do this every year.”
The Los Angeles Mission offers
more than meals to the thousands who come for healing
and hope. It provides longterm rehabilitation, education,
job training and more to those
who need assistance.
MPISCC Members: (back row) Tara Gadsby, Adele
Santos-Yee, Emma Coyata,
(front row) Shelley Grey and Winnie Tayzon.
(still in the kitchen: Lucy Roberts and
Anisa Marino).
The Community Outreach
committee of MPISCC was
more than encouraged to be a
part of this experience. If you
have an interest in joining
other MPISCC members at one
of our community outreach
events throughout the year,
check out the calendar section
of MPISCC.org. It’s a great way
to network too!
JUNE 2012
14
I N T E R C O M
IN MEMORIAM FRANK BAPTISTA
By Donna Garrett, Corporate Planner - Retired, Lifetime MPI Member
We were saddened to learn recently of the passing of Frank Baptista, our friend and
long- time member of MPISCC. Frank served on numerous committees, held several positions
on the Board, and served as President in 1985-86, and was honored by the Chapter as Supplier
of the Year in the same year. Frank was employed in the hospitality/meetings industry for
many years, which included owning his own firm, working with many hotels in the Southern
California area, and teaching in various colleges. He leaves his wife, Brigid Brecht and five
daughters, in addition to many close family members. He was highly regarded by his family,
friends and colleagues,and will long be remembered by all those who knew him.
“When I moved to Los Angeles in 1985, the only person I knew here was the person I was replacing. So, I went
to MPI and said: “I’ve been a member of MPI for six years in Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Give me
the job that nobody else wants.” The person I said that to was the Chapter President, Frank Baptista. Frank and I
went on to become very good friends, sharing a passion for MPI Education and the Weekend Retreat (now known
as the WES). When I learned of his passing, I was saddened because just a few months before, Frank and I had
reconnected after many years. I feel for Frank’s wife Brigid Brecht and his children. But I believe that Frank is
watching over them and occasionally sending a message to a few of us who he touched. We miss you, Frank. Until
we are together again.”
Tony DiRaimondo
Partner, Hospitality Taskforce
“I knew Frank Baptista for 30 plus years. My first experience with him was when we hired him at the L.A. Biltmore
as a group sales manager. He handled the California market and created consistent multi-year contracts with The
State Association Market. He was a constant perfectionist who always achieved his goals. He was very
well liked by the hotel staff as well as all of his clients.
We promoted him to director of sales at our
Newporter Resort, which our owners bought and
wanted to renovate. Frank was responsible for all
aspects of sales and marketing. He built a team of
sales and service personnel who achieved outstanding
results. Later we worked with Frank as a client. He was
always a joy to be around and had an extremely
outgoing personality, and a wonderful sense of
humor. He will be missed by everyone who had the
good fortune of knowing him.”
Don Foreman
Regional Director of Sales & Marketing
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
"Join the Conversation!"
Are you a part of our vibrant online
community? Join your colleagues on the
MPISCC Facebook page (search: MPISCC).
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
15
I N T E R C O M
JUNE 2012
16
I N T E R C O M
Coffee With MPI
I Am MPI…
At a Coffee House Near You
By Nicole Newman, SearchWide
Come join your MPISCC friends for an
informal open conversation right in
your neighborhood.
Evening Coffee with MPI
Wednesday, May 23, 5:15 p.m. - 7:00
p.m.
Topic: Entertainment - Planners, is it back in the
budget for your company? Suppliers, are you
getting more requests? What kind is trending - photo-booths;
casino; live bands; interactive games?
Morning Coffee with MPI
Wednesday, June 20, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Topic: Rentals - What are the trends? Where are the dollars
going? Suppliers, what are the 'must haves' or most called for?
Planners, how important is the look of your meeting to
the budget?
Evening Coffee with MPI
Wednesday, July 18, 5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Topic: Preparing for the worst: are you ready for a double
dip recession?
Morning Coffee with MPI
Wednesday, August 15, 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m
Topic: Meeting and Event trends: What aspects of your meetings are tired and dated that you'd like to see disappear?
What's new and inspiring?
A
re you MPI? Do you love what we do? Do you have
a story to tell about how MPI has impacted your life,
personally and/or professionally? If so, MPI wants to hear
from you! In August during WEC, MPI launched its newest
branding campaign, “I am MPI. I Love What We Do.” This
campaign is designed for members, like you, to tell your
MPI story. In your own words, MPI wants you to highlight
the personal experiences that have made a difference in
your life. Give MPI “all of the heartfelt details, interesting
anecdotes and crazy tales of your experience as a member
of the MPI Community.”
The stories collected through the “I am MPI. I Love What
We Do” campaign can be found on the newly created
“I am MPI. I Love What We Do” website at
http://www.mpiweb.org/Membership/Stories/Home. These
stories are the background to help you, our MPISCC chapter members, explain the value of MPI and encourage others to join.
When our chapter achieves three successfully submitted
stories, we will qualify to have a customized “I Am MPI.
I Love What We Do” print ad and poster created that
features one of our own MPISCC Chapter members and
their MPI story.
Log onto the MPI website and share your story today!
Evening Coffee with MPI
Wednesday, September 19, 5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Topic: Resources: Everyone at the table brag about someone
else's business and why you like working with them.
Cost: Your coffee!!!
Locations
Please see the email invitation for exact locations. We are
looking for individuals to lead these coffee programs in all
regions of Los Angeles, Long Beach, the Valley, Inland Empire
and Las Vegas. If you are interested in leading a coffee
program in your neighborhood please contact Trish HopkinsMcAulay, TrishMcAulay@peninsula.com for more information.
Watch for a detailed email with more information on
locations and how to RSVP.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
Calling All Writers!
Are you interested in reporting and writing on the
chapter’s events? If so, the MPISCC Communications
Team would greatly appreciate your contributions to
our monthly Intercom newsletter, monthly STATS
eblast, and MPISCC.org website. Please contact
Christine Hartman, VP of Communications at
christine@icehatcreative.com for more information.
WWW.MPISCC.org
17
New Member Spotlight
By Elizabeth Brazil, CMP, Gerbera Daisy Events
Stephanie Luros-Gilbert
Vin Dame Tours & Events
Stephanie Luros-Gilbert is president at
Vin Dame, LLC, a destination management
resource focused on the California
Wine Country.
What prompted you to join MPI?
I was prompted to join MPI as a result of my desire to meet
other professionals in the meeting/incentives arena, in addition to those I had met in my previous career in marketing
within the non-commercial food service Industry. This association could not have been a better fit relative to my desire
to promote Vin Dame and in turn, California's wine country
as an exceptional, affordable and attractive meeting and
events venue.
What do you hope to gain from being a member of MPI?
I hope to give as much as I gain relative to connecting with
others who are passionate, knowledgeable and exceptional in
their respective crafts. I look forward to meeting as many MPI
members as possible and discovering how we can best promote
and support each other in becoming as successful and visible as
possible. There is an absolute need for the services we provide
and I look forward to assisting MPI in becoming an even
stronger advocate and positive representation of and for
our field.
How long have you been involved in the meeting industry
and what lead you to your chosen profession?
Professionally, I've been in the meeting and event production
field for over a decade. However, I've had events and parties
“on the brain”, creating full-scale production shows and turning our dining room, backyard, or various venues accessible to
a child into themed restaurants, carnivals and imaginary worlds
pretty much as long as I can remember! Prior to my undergraduate work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' College
of Hotel Administration, I spent summers working tradeshow
booths, organizing customer appreciation dinners and incentive trips for our family's food service technology company. I
couldn't imagine being in any other field and Vin Dame has
been the quintessential blend of my professional experience,
entrepreneurial pursuits and passion for all things culinary and
wine related.
What are some of your interests, hobbies, or favorite ways to
spend your free time?
Having created a business that focuses on delivering entirely
custom, exclusive and uniquely crafted wine country experiences to corporate and luxury leisure guests, my personal and
professional life are quite indivisible from one another at the
moment. I spend a tremendous amount of time traveling
through California's vast and varying wine country venues,
I N T E R C O M
researching and establishing relationships and friendships
with the amazing people that deliver unparalleled experiences and services within the viticultural, hospitality and
tourism sector. Aside from all things wine, my absolute
passion and pleasure in this world is to cook for those I love.
As for me, it's the ultimate expression of my love and who I
am as a person. I also love to hike, because all those calories
aren't going to burn themselves!
Reiley McClendon
Go West Creative, account executive
Reiley McClendon is an account
executive for Go West Creative Group,
a multi-disciplinary events and production company.
What prompted you to join MPI?
I was prompted to join MPI because in
my mind it is the number one organization for meeting
professionals. I love being in an organization that is at
the top of its game. And there is nothing better than
working with the best.
What do you hope to gain from being a member
of MPI?
By joining MPI I hope to gain a position on the bottom
floor of the next generation of event planners and to
build long relationships with people of like mind to do
great things.
How long have you been involved in the meeting
industry and what lead you to your chosen profession?
Like many of us in the event industry, my start in this
world was a bit serendipitous. I have known David
Fischettte for years and actually worked for Go West
Creative Group for a short while. Then life took me in
another direction for a few years, only to bump into
David again. He asked why I wasn't working for him and
I didn't have a satisfactory answer. Now I am blessed
and honored to work for such a great company as Go
West Creative Group with a great group of people
under the leadership of David Fischette.
What are some of your interests, hobbies, or favorite
ways to spend your free time?
Our industry can be so taxing on our time so when I do
have free time, I like to spend it relaxing with my wife
and our dog. If I'm up for it I love to road bicycle. I love
putting miles under the tires of my bike and be able to
focus on one singular action for a while. I also love
working with my hands whether that be wood working
or tinkering on my 1968 Ford Falcon.
JUNE 2012
18
I N T E R C O M
MPISCC’s 5th Annual Future Leaders Forum
By Carlos Murillo, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
MPISCC
and the Student
Outreach Committee just
celebrated it’s 5th Annual
Future Leaders Forum, hosted
at The Collins College of
Hospitality Management,
Cal Poly Pomona (CPP).
This event was sponsored by
MPISCC and the Association
of Student Event Planners
(ASEP) and took place on
Friday, April 27th from
10am – 1pm. As in previous
years, this event could not
have been possible if it were
not for the dedication and
time from our esteemed
expert of Panel Volunteers:
• Moderator: Robert Hatfield,
DOS Hotel Zoso
• Meeting Planner:
Ron Havens, CMP. Sony
Entertainment
• CVB: Ron Owens, CMP,
VP Sales & Marketing,
Temecula Wine Country CVB
• Graduate
Student/Testimonial:
Sacha Tani, UCLA
Conference Services
• Special Events Company:
David Anderson, CMP,
Eventive Group
• Hotel Operations:
Chris Cline, CHA, General
Manager for Lake Arrowhead
Resort & Spa.
As a result of the on-campus marketing by ASEP, we had 34
students attend the panel discussion with a few more, plus
faculty, attend the luncheon table workshops.
This year, the students were given a case study of an RFP from
XYZ company to follow along during the panel discussion.
“As I looked around the auditorium”, said Carlos Murillo,
chair of the Student Outreach Committee, “one would see
many heads looking down in their notebooks and taking
notes or preparing questions.” Each member of the panel
discussed their role during every facet of the RFP process
and beyond.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
It was evident that the
students took this information
to heart as the panel received
over a dozen questions during
the Q&A session.
Lunch anyone? After the
Q&A, we embarked on a culinary journey that took us to
a grass lawn for lunch. The
panelists split up at different
tables and then invited the
students to sit at a table of
their choosing to engage on a
more personal level. This was a
treat for the students, because
many had specific questions
for specific panelists.
As the event was coming to
a conclusion, many prizes were
raffled off, including MPISCC
monthly program passes, luggage, electric wine-coolers,
nightclub passes and more.
The air then flowed with gratitude blowing in abundance as
MPISCC and ASEP thanked
each other, panelists and
attendees for participating in
such a great partnership.
It says a lot about Future
Leaders Forum and MPISCC to
hear the following quotes:
“The best part of it all”,
according to Neusha Tabrizi,
President of the Association of
Student Event Planners for
CPP, “seemed as though the students came away with a much
better understanding of event planning and all that goes into
it. Trust me, I am a student and I sure did”. Another quote,
“Thank you for allowing me to make a difference” said one
of our panelists. Imagine! One of our panelists, thanking
MPISCC for putting together a forum that allows our future
leaders a better understanding of what is expected in the
industry and of them!
The Student Outreach Committee Chair, Carlos Murillo and
the incoming Chair Francesca Renieri say. “Thank you! MPISCC
for making a difference and supporting our Future Leaders!”
WWW.MPISCC.org
19
MPISCC welcomes new member
to the April monthly meeting
Elizabeth Brazil, CMP, (far left) welcomes new member
Elena Winkelmann, the Saguaro
Students attending the April monthly meeting
I N T E R C O M
JUNE 2012
20
I N T E R C O M
“Relationship Economics”- Return On
Involvement a Key To Success
By David Gabri, Associated Luxury Hotels International
“
W
hat is the real value of building business relationships?” That is the question that was posed by
highly acclaimed author and speaker David Nour at an ALHI’s
Industry Advisory Council conference at Chateau Élan Winery
& Resort in Georgia.
The result is that most of us don’t spend enough time
cultivating these strategic relationships. So Nour has assembled a truly helpful systematic approach to building, nurturing
and even quantifying business relationships in his compelling
new book called Relationship Economics.
According to Nour, presented by Leading Authorities, we all
tend to recognize that business relationships are beneficial –
especially in the meetings, incentive and hospitality marketplaces – but we may not realize how much our organization’s
and our own personal success depend on the quality and
diversity of our interpersonal relationships.
Particularly beneficial in our global society, but certainly
applicable to anyone who exclusively works within the U.S.,
Relationship Economics is a “how to” guide on strategically
investing in relationships to garner extraordinary returns.
Unlike the rest of the world, which builds relationships
first and then does business together, we in America tend
to focus first on the business and then consider developing
a relationship.
The “Art & Science of Relationships”
So what is “Relationship Economics”? As Nour describes it, it is
the “art and science of relationships.” While there is a recognized “art” in meeting people, working an event, etc., there is
also a “science” aspect to relationships concerning patterns in
human interaction, and why we choose to interact with some
people and not others.
Continued on page 21
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
21
Continued from page 20
By utilizing the techniques and insight provided by Nour, we
can learn how to better cultivate relationships so they become
strategic assets.
Topics addressed by Nour in his ALHI address and in his
book include:
• Why most networking doesn’t work
• The evolution of quantifiable relationships
• Strategic relationship planning
• Understanding the science of social network analysis
• Relationship centric goals for business development
• Pivotal contacts for leadership development
• Relationship currency for adaptive innovation
• Transforming Us & Them into We.
The underlying theme is: how do we leverage the soft
aspects of our organization, such as people and relationships?
Nour says that rather than exclusively seeing ROI as “return
on investment,” we also should see ROI as “return on involvement,” “return on influence,” “return on integration,”
“return on image,” and “return on impact.” These are ways to
identify quantifiable values of our soft assets.
I N T E R C O M
He also spoke about “The LinkedIn Effect,” who addressed
the growing value of social networking sites like LinkedIn and
Jigsaw, and how this technology is changing the way businessto-business interactions take place. Learning how to better
utilize online tools can prove beneficial in developing strategic
relationships.
Exercise Your Relationship Bank
Lastly, he emphasized that rather than focusing on establishing new relationships, we need to take a step back to analyze
our “relationship bank” to see what we are doing to cultivate
current relationships. While you want to identify “pivotal contacts,” which are individuals who can accelerate your ability to
get things done, you also want to make sure you are “giving”
and “exchanging” in the relationships. Or, in other words,
reciprocity is the key to garnering greater return.
So take a step back, and look at where you and your organization are in developing and nurturing your strategic business
relationships. The effort could produce extraordinary returns.
David Gabri is president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels
International (ALHI) and can be reached at “ALHI Group Desk”
toll-free at 866-303-2544, or visit www.alhi.com.
JUNE 2012
22
I N T E R C O M
EXCLUSIVE ADVERTISING
OPPORTUNITIES
To celebrate our new website, which now
sports a colossal 960 pixel homepage scrolling
banner, we are offering some fabulous
advertising incentives for insertion
orders signed by June 30, 2012!
(Ads do not have to run by June 30.)
YOU CAN: Get 10% off of any advertising order
OR
The first three advertisers with multi-quarter
listings receive a one-week homepage scrolling
banner (timing at the discretion of MPISCC)
OR
Sign up for one year of advertising and receive
a one-week homepage scrolling banner** the
week prior to a monthly program (timing at the
discretion of MPISCC)
** The MPISCC.org Scrolling Banner is not
available for purchase! This opportunity goes
away after June 30, 2012.
Visit mpiscc.org/marketplace/advertising-kit
to download the kit and call the MPISCC office at
805-449-9111.
Carpool For A Chance To Refuel
Your Body
By Nicole Newman, SearchWide
W
hen’s the last time you’ve enjoyed the ride to an MPISCC event with a colleague or friend? MPISCC’s new
carpool program gives you the opportunity to be rewarded for doing just that. Not to mention helping the
environment by reducing your carbon footprint, saving money, time and gas. Thanks to our gracious sponsor, Ice Hat
Creative, one lucky carpooler will be chosen each month to receive a $20 Starbucks Gift Card. To qualify for the
monthly drawing, all you have to do is rideshare with one or more colleagues and/or friends to the monthly MPISCC
meeting. Look for more details on the next Cvent event registration. If you’d like to be a part of the newly designed
carpool program, or if you have ideas or suggestions for the program, please contact me at 951-640-3745 or via email
at newman@searchwide.com. Happy carpooling and good luck!
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org
23
MPISCC Welcomes New Members
Annie Aft
310 567.9587
Daniel Danna
Jacob Ahrens
Travel Group Ventures
805.243 3983
Jennifer Diehl
Wood Ranch Golf Club/American
Golf Corp
805.527.9663 EXT. 207
Kristina Amad
Mastro's Steakhouse
310.888.8782
David Diomedes
Caesars Entertainment
702.694.1896
Ashley Amato
American Funds
Distributors, Inc.
213.615.0452
Marla Hernandez Solis
PROjection Presentation
Technology
562.719.7083
Amanda Ayres
310.489-3357
JoDee Leung
Boston Scientific Neuromodulation
Annette Barrera
State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Co.
805.379.-8320
Tomika Macwilliams
Kaiser Permanente
626.3816763
Caroline Bowman
1.424. 218.2993
Maureen Buckley
Eventful Marketing
Michelle Bucks
Sportsmen's Lodge Event Center
818.755.5000
Donelle Dadigan
The Hollywood Museum
323.464.7776
I N T E R C O M
Sarah Spjut
360.773.6562
Sharon Spotten
310.475.3636
Bennie Thomas
KDB - Long Beach
568.308.7530
Mabel To
Sheraton Gateway Hotel
Los Angeles
310.642.4865
Lisa Todd
Kaiser Permanente
626.3816763
Lauren Mangigian
Kayci Marie Mitchell
Megan Tucker
Soleil Management
702.933.5998
Anna Pascual
714.704.2352
Jocelyn Polite
Lynn Racusin
The Beverly Hills Hotel and The
Hotel Bel-Air
310.281.2929
YOU TO THE
Bianca Sanderson
San Ysidro Ranch
805.565.1700
Joseph Santo
562.366.1922
Meghan Mainwaring
310.3051000 EXT.103
THANK
Lisa Rivas
310.200.6350
Curtis Webb
State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Co.
305.379.8364
Monique Williams
Julia Wong
310.576.3179
Kenny Wong
Autumn Wright
Soleil Management
702.933.5973
Dave Zweifel
Riviera Hotel and Casino
702.794.9303
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F
Editor-in-Chief
Jerry Cowart
Jerry Cowart Designers, Inc.
818-718-5981
Graphic Design & Production
Jerry Cowart, Hilary Cowart
Jerry Cowart Designers, Inc.
818-718-5981
Contributing Editor
Christine Hartman
MPISCC S T R AT E G I C P A R T N E R S
JUNE 2012
I N T E R C O M
MPISCC
CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
May 2012
July 2012
September 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Evening Coffee - 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Topic: Entertainment
Various Locations
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Breakfast Meeting
Topic: Social Media
Location: Milken Institute
Weekend Education Summit
Location: Fairmont Newport
Beach Hotel
June 2012
Wednesday, June 20
Morning Coffee - 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Topic: Rentals
Various Locations
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Evening Coffee - 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Topic: Rentals - Preparing for the worst
Various Locations
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Evening Coffee - 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Topic: Resources
Various Locations
September 7-9, 2012
August 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Installation and Awards Gala
Location: The Westin Pasadena
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Morning Coffee - 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Topic: Meeting and Event trends
Register online at: www.mpiscc.org
275 E. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 215
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
MPISCC Mission Statement
MPISCC will be recognized as the leading
local membership community that is committed
to shaping and defining the meetings and event
industry in Southern California.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: We care about our MPISCC members! MPISCC members with a
demonstrated financial hardship (unemployment, family trauma, etc.) may request a complimentary registration for up to three
monthly programs per year. Please email the MPISCC office at info@mpiscc.org to explain your situation. You will need to apply
for this registration prior to the Early Bird deadline.
INTERCOM is published by Meeting Professionals International, Southern California Chapter, a nonprofit, professional association of
meeting planners and suppliers. Suggestions and contributions of articles and services are welcome. All copy should be sent to
Jerry Cowart, Editor, INTERCOM, c/o Jerry Cowart Designers, Inc., 22301 Acorn St., Chatsworth, CA 91311 • E-Mail: JCDeziner@aol.com
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
WWW.MPISCC.org