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The OnSite 2013 July/August Newsletter is published by MPI New Jersey a chapter of MPI International
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2 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
• 12,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space
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Hello MPI NJ Chapter mem-bers and non-members!
I am thrilled with anticipation as thenew fiscal year begins. I look for-ward to serving the New JerseyChapter and getting to know eachand every one of you in the monthsto come!
With a new Board and agreater number of activecommittee members in-volved in the Chapter, Iam confident that the NJChapter will continue toprosper. The EducationCommittee is working onproviding high level edu-cation programs to help you advancein your career and create innovateand fun networking events.
The Membership Committee is con-tinuing programs such as Member-ship Assistance, Scholarships,Awards and the all network Meet-
Ups. Membership will be schedulingfocus groups and table discussion tohear from our members directly onyour needs.
The Communications Committeewill continue to use our social media,LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter to
communicate more fre-quently with you. OnSiteand our website will be usedto deliver relevant, innovativeinformation and educationalarticles. The Board decided tomake our digital newsletter,OnSite, open to not just mem-bers, but also to non-mem-bers. The decision was basedon providing our advertisers,
partners and sponsors with a wideraudience and showcasing member-ship activities to further enhanceyour ROI.
The Finance Committee is enhancingthe Chapter’s strategic partnerships
(Continued on page 13)
www.mpinewjersey.org july/august 2013 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEIn this issueWhat’s New At MPI-NJ?Page 4
Are You Listening?Page 5
SPIN Your Way Into NetworkingPage 6
The Big Game ExperiencePage 8
Global Pharmaceutical MeetingsPage 9
CMM Toronto, November 2013Page 10
Member Spotlight Page 14
New, Affiliate and TransferMembersPage 15
Strategic PartnersPage 16
MPINJ AdministrationPage 18
Cover Photo courtesy of : John Bellenis
Back Cover Photo courtesy of : Nicolas Raymond
September 23, 2013 12:00 noon 2:00pmLegal Panel with Lisa SommerDevlin and Barbara DunnHilton Short HillsShort Hills, NJ
GNYMPIJuly 31, 20138:30am 8:00pmDestination Quebec Annual Golf OutingHarbor Links Golf CoursePort Washington, NY
August 20, 2013 2013 CMP Conclave 5:30pm 8:30pmHot Technologies in the MeetingsConcierge Conference CentersNew York, NY
OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTSJuly 20 23, 2013 World Educational ConferenceMandalay BayLas Vegas, NV
August 3 6, 2013 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting& Exposition Georgia World Congress CenterAtlanta, GA
August 13, 2013 6:00pm 9:00pmHSMAI Annual IndustrySummer Bash Pranna Restaurant/Bar/LoungeNew York, NY
Sept. 45, 2013HSMAI's MEET NationalWalter E. Washington ConventionCenterWashington, DC
Oct. 15 – 17, 2013IMEX AmericaSands ExpoLas Vegas, NV
2013 MPI-NJ Events
Other MPIChapter Events
4 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
Summertime—and the “livin’may be easy”—but things areheating up at MPI-NJ
Chapter! Summer heralds thebeginning of a new fiscal year, anew board, new VP’s andDirectors, new objectives, newcommittee chairs, and new ideasto keep the Chapter exciting foryou in 2013/2014. This “team” ofcommitted volunteers isamazing…but we still need YOU!This is a perfect time for you tomake a commitment to MPI-NJand join a committee. We alwaysneed new volunteers to step upand help keep the organizationgrowing! We welcome your voice,your enthusiasm and yourperspective.
Here are some of the goals andobjectives the new VP’s areworking on:
The new VP of Finance, ToddSteinberg, CMP, and Director ofFinance, Michael Brill, CMP havebeen working closely with theMPI-NJ Chapter office staff andDirector of Strategic Partners,John Pursel to put together newsponsor packages that will greatlyappeal to all our sponsors.
“Golf 2013,” chaired by ToddSteinberg, was amazing! The daywas beautiful and spirits werehigh. Everyone had only greatthings to say. The entire golfcommittee deserves big KUDOSfor a job well done. You can readmore about this and see photos inthe next issue of OnSite.
President-Elect, Pamela Wynne,CMP, CMM is already off andrunning, bringing new, cuttingedge ideas to the chapter andworking closely with all the VP’sand Committee Chairs! We areextremely lucky to have talent likePam on the Board!
Kellie Cahill, CMP, has steppedinto the role as VP of Education.She and Director of Education,Nancy Sutta Berns are working tobring you top speakers at everyeducational program. For thisupcoming year, we will be holdingeducational programs at differentlocations once again. Stay tunedfor more information to be postedshortly.
Chet Jasinski, CMP, will now fillthe position of VP of Membership.Chet brings knowledge,enthusiasm, and commitment toMPI-NJ Chapter. He is veryconnected and plans to workdiligently to grow the chapter andbring you more value during theupcoming fiscal year.
Mary Lou Pollack has graciouslyaccepted the position of VP ofCommunications. She has alreadyimplemented some newprocedures with regard to emailsgoing out to members. You shouldbe seeing some new materials inthe near future. She assigned LisaDrake to handle all MPI-NJchapter social media marketing.To be up on the latest information,please join us on facebook, twitter,or linkedin.
Carol Malinky, CMP, Director ofInternal Communications, will beworking closely with Mary Lou onour bi-monthly digital newsletter,OnSite. Remember, we are alwayslooking for new articles or blurbsfor OnSite. It’s a great way to getyour name out there and you willget points towards your CMP re-certification.
Wishing everyone a safe andrelaxing summer! I look forwardto seeing you at our firstEducational Program onSeptember 23, 2013!
Ruth Marion, CMPMPI-NJ Chapter
Administrator
201875[email protected]
What’sNewAtMPI-NJ?
Congratulations to our winnersfrom the 2013 Chapter
Satisfaction Survey.
Mary Lou Pollack Director of Sales &Marketing, Ocean Place Resort and Spa
iPad Mini 16GB with WiFi (black)
Marla SeltzerClaudio Director,Operations, Maritz Travel
1Year MPI Membership Extension
Colene Smith Vice President Sales &Marketing , World Ground Inc.
1 Free Chapter Educational Program tillDecember 2013
Linda Taylor General Manager,Forest Lodge
1 Free Chapter Educational Programtill December 2013
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Growing up, I am sure allof us heard our parentsask “are you listening?”
As we enter the professionalworld, listening well is a greatasset for those that masterthe art of listening well.
There are no degrees,certificates or electives incollege on listening. It’s onlyafter we are in the
professional world and sign up for courses to stayrelevant that most of us look for courses on listening,public speaking, body language, etc.
So where do we learn to listen? Where do we study toimprove this necessary life skill? I believe we learn tolisten by watching our family listen to each other. Wegrasp that listening can be done while the television ison, or when one other person is in another room. Wewatch while teachers remind us to be quiet while theytalk, and then expect us to regurgitate what they havesaid without questioning or augmenting the informationin the lecture. Now we listen while we read e-mail, textmessages, and even talk on the phone!
Listening is the skill that no one is trained for. Listeningis an art that we avoid appreciating. Listening is themost valuable aspect of persuasion. Listening IS part ofpersuasion!
There are many reasons to listen fully to theconversations you are engaged in, and likely an equalnumber of reasons to be multi-tasking and not fullypresent to the voice talking to you. First, whether I’mspeaking to an audience or in a client session one-on-one, my expertise begins and ends with listening. Mytraining happened in the classroom, and also on the job.In fact, I learned so much more about listening bybringing my classroom training into my office.
We hear the voices around us, the noise around us, andthe various pockets of stimuli that flow through the airduring the day. You hear the complaints that aredelivered to your office in the voices of your employeesand colleagues. Some are easier to listen to; some arenoise in your ears!
Listening gives you the ability to expand your leadership,to persuade the talker of a solution that seems obvious toyou, and the power of understanding what is said, andwhat is unsaid. When we really listen, we go deeper thanthe words being tossed out — we have a greaterunderstanding of the person before us.
There are three levels of listening:
Level 1 — Listening is what we all do very well. I hearwhat you are saying while I’m figuring out what I’mgoing to say in reply. Sometimes I even step on yoursentence to put my comments into the conversation. InLevel 1 listening we find ourselves putting our opinionsinto the conversation, adding our “two cents,” makingstatements with judgment and filters from our ownexperiences. We operate in this level the majority of ourlives.
Level 2 — Listening goes deeper. Level 2 listening iswhere we remove the judgment, our life experiences, andthe desire to have a prepared statement before the otherperson completes their thoughts. When we are in Level2, we aren’t forming or comparing in our minds during aconversation. We are listening to the words of ourcolleague without any concern about what we will add tothe conversation. And, when we bring forth this level oflistening into our lives, we begin to have deeper andmore meaningful relationships.
Do you have a friend that you call when you are seekingadvice? Do you have a separate friend you call when youonly want to be heard, without someone telling you theiropinion? Most of us do, when we really think about it.The difference? Likely one friend is a better “listener” —or a Level 2 listener.
How does this apply in our workplace? When someonecomes into your office with a desire to talk, and you openyourself to Level 2 listening, there is an explosion ofinformation available to you — the words not being saidappear in your mind as you have the space for them toshow up. You’ll have more compassion in theconversation, and the ability to name what you aren’thearing, which will improve performance,communication, and your relationship.
For example, a client/manager/boss-type comes intoyour office in a flurry. He/she wants to know about thefinancial reports for the big meeting next week — Arethey done? What do they say? Why aren’t theydistributed? You know the questions that you gethammered with. He/she is pacing the floor, rubbing theirforehead. As he/she continues tossing them at you, yourmind is racing to have the exact “right” answer. In Level2 listening, and in a Level 2 response, you simply noticethe anxiety of this person. You’re listening to theirquestions with curiosity, wondering about all the thingsyou are seeing and hearing from them. When he/she isdone questioning, you might respond with a question:When would you like to have them? Is there somethingspecific that you are looking for? Then offer a generalcomment about the specific timing you will distribute
(Continued on page 13)
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6 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
SPIN YOUR WAY INTO NETWOR
I recently was sent an emailfrom colleague and MPI-NJmember, Saira Banu Kianes,
CMP who invited me to attend"SPINCAKE WARS: THESMACKDOWN!" I was totallyintrigued. As an Event Planner,I always look for unique, funideas to add into events anddecided to attend.
SPIN (Senior Planners IndustryNetwork) hosted Spincake Warsin 12 North American citiesthroughout April, in celebrationof National Meetings IndustryMonth. The events provided theopportunity to network withother Senior Event Planners priorto the Spincake War and thenhave some creative, fun timetogether as Planners.
Loosely based on theFood Network TV showcalled "Cupcake Wars",but with a "SPIN",Shawna Suckow, CMP,Founder and Presidentof SPIN, presented uswith a challenge todesign a cupcakerepresenting ourfavorite place in theworld using differentcolor icings, and many
decorative items.
As we all grabbed for coloredicing and toppings, we felt thecreativity in the room. Whilesome were very talented withtheir cupcake designs, a few of us,including me, had a great idea inmy head, but it wasn'ttransferring to my hands and thecupcake. But, it was all aboutfun, and we had enough time toredo and recreate our cupcakeuntil we were ready to presentthem to the judges.
The planners with the winningdesign from each of SPIN’sbranches across North Americawere entered into the finals onFacebook. The design thatgarnered the most ‘likes’ won theGrand Prize to attend SPINCON
2013 in Atlantic City. Our NJwinner was Saira Banu Kianes!The overall winner of the NorthAmerican competition wasRegina Portee from Atlanta, forher Disney design based on greenEarth Day concepts.
SPIN is a professional associationfor pre-screened, qualifiedsenior-level planners with at least10 years of full-time planningexperience.
I had the chance to interviewShawna Suckow, CMP, Founder& President of SPIN, who wasnamed to Successful MeetingsMagazine Top 25 MostInfluential people in the meetingsindustry.
CM: Shawna, I had such a greattime at SPINCAKE WARS. Howand when did you come up withthe concept for your association,SPIN?
SS: I created a simple LinkedIngroup for my peers back in 2008,and it grew so quickly that Irealized the industry neededsomething like this. Five yearslater, we’ve expanded waybeyond the LinkedIn group tooffer all kinds of ways for our
www.mpinewjersey.org july/august 2013 7
members to connect, exchangeideas & frustrations, and getsenior-level education.
CM: How many memberscurrently belong to SPIN and areyou global?
SS: We’re over 2,200 membersnow, primarily in North America– although we just welcomed ourfirst member from Nigeria, andour first member from Colombia!
Report on SPINCon 2103
I had the opportunity to attendSPINCon 2013 which was held atHarrah's in Atlantic City, NJ fromJune 5th - 7th.
The theme was the 4 C's:Community, Celebration,Challenges, and Contribution.There was a bonus "C" we allthought was appropriate -"Change" - providing positivechange in your life or anotherperson's life.
At SpinCon, expert speakersoffered us the opportunity tolearn new ideas to incorporateinto events: technology, apps,Meeting Architecture, attendee
experiences, digital storytelling,gamification and much more. And, there was a tradeshow, but itwas anything but typical.Suppliers went ‘boothless andpaperless’ and tracked visitors byscanning individual QR codes onour badges, which then depositedtheir information into our ‘virtualtote bags.’ Each supplier had theopportunity to take the CabaretStage, where they werechallenged to deliver their salesmessage in a unique way – someeven sang!
Giving back is something EventPlanners like to incorporate intotheir meetings and events whenpossible. SPINCon collectedclothing for Covenant House NewJersey and held a Silent Auctionto raise funds for The SEARCHFoundation.
I saved the best for last - the fun!As Event Planners, we don't havetime for fun at our events becausewe are the ones planning the fun.The SPINCon team sprinkled funthroughout the event with aMonopoly theme, chances to winplay money for prizes, thechallenge to decorate a hazmatsuit for one of the social events,and interactivity with the attendees.
Our first night social activity wasat ONE Atlantic which overlookedthe Atlantic Ocean and theAtlantic City coastline. We had afabulous view, great food,outstanding band, dancing,atmosphere, and networking withour peers. It was a memorable,and I will say it again, fabuloustime!
The final evening social event washeld at Harrah's pool which isenclosed with a huge glass domeand designed like a tropical oasiswhich included palm trees andcabanas. Music, caricaturists,food, and "Welcome SPIN"scrolling on the side of Harrah'sHotel provided for a great closingnight event.
For more information on SPIN,go to www.spinplanners.com.
Carol Malinky,CMPEvent DirectorC.A. [email protected]
RKING, EVENT IDEAS, AND FUN!
8 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
THE BIG GAME EXPERIENCE - 2014 SUPER BOWL
On May 22, 2013, MPI-NJ Chapter was aparticipating sponsor at The Big GameExperience, presented by Westfield Garden
State Plaza, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center,Secaucus, NJ.
Julia Ramos, CMP, President, Pam Wynne, CMP,CMM, President Elect, Merlene Wilder and KimStiefel, Active Committee Members represented theNJ Chapter at Booth 411. Attendees and colleaguesat the event stopped by our booth. It was a positiveexperience for the Chapter and us personally tocontinue promoting our wonderful Chapter.
The purpose of the exhibition and program sessionswas to give an overview and connect resources topotential clients, transportation overview andeverything else brought to you by experts in the field.
Industry professionals and NFL representatives wereon hand to provide an outline of plans for the SuperBowl XLVIII.
County Officials from nearby towns/counties were onhand to address their individual plans for The BigGame. They addressed the opportunities not-for-profits, civic organizations and communities have inhosting events related to The Big Game. Fromdowntown festivals, fundraisers and volunteerevents, attendees were given a summary of ideas forentertainment and hosting a wide variety of eventsand programs.
The 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl, February 2, 2014, isthe NFL’S first attempt to host a game at a cold-weather site, the NJ’s MetLife Stadium, EastRutherford, NJ. This is the first Super Bowl to takeplace in this region and hosted by NY/NJ. For furtherinformation visit the NJ NY Guide.
If you wish to make a difference, 15,000 volunteerswill be needed to meet and greet all visitors duringthe Super Bowl. Click on the following website andregister to be a volunteer.
Julia Ramos, CMPMPI-NJ Chapter President JR Global Events Associates, [email protected]
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Having worked at the Global Sales level for thepast 7 years with clients sourcing internationalmeetings, I have seen firsthand how challeng-
ing this can be when you take into consideration thetime difference, language barriers and cultural differ-ences. Add to this the extensive pharmaceutical guide-lines and then you make it really difficult.
There is a lot more for the hotel to think about and totake into consideration when working with an interna-tional pharmaceutical client verses booking a meetingfor a non-pharmaceutical client based in the homecountry with local attendees. Many times the hotel isnot aware of all the details upfront, such as where areall the attendees coming from, what are the sleepingroom and meal caps for all the different attendees, whodoes the client consider to be their competitors, is it anHCP attended meeting? If a booking has been made bya third party the hotel might not even realize that it isfor a pharmaceutical client. This in general will lead to alot of back and forth before a contract can even bedrafted.
When you finally come to an agreement on rates, dates,space and competitors the fun really begins when weadd the addendum to the mix! Over the years I have no-ticed that hotels are getting more and more familiarwith the different clauses in the addendums but thereare always at least a few points that still need to be ne-gotiated. A lot of times it is simply a language barrier,for example I frequently find hotels getting stuck on theindemnification clause just simply because they do notunderstand exactly what it means and that it in a lot ofcases means they are protected too. Another one wouldbe the attrition and the rebook clauses, I cannot tellyou how many times I have seen hotels cross out entireclauses when in reality it is only one number in thewhole section that need to be negotiated for it to beagreed upon. In order to save time we work closelywith our hotels and advise them about this in advancein order to make the whole process smoother.
I know in all cases it is not possible but my recommen-dation would be to provide the hotel with as much de-tails as possible up front so that they can send an offerthat will reflect what the client is looking for and alsonot risk out pricing themselves just because they didn’thave all the details. Also for the hotel to have an oppor-tunity to review and comment on the addendum up-front could save a lot of time during the contractprocess.
In the ever changing world of pharmaceutical meetingsand with the National Physician Payment TransparencyProgram taking effect it will be interesting to see howthings will continue to change. Already now most phar-maceutical clients try to stay away from anything per-ceived as luxury…5 star, resort, golf, spa…and the hotelsare also repositioning themselves, especially in thecountries where they self rate to become as compliantas possible.
At the global sales organization it is our role to educateour hotels about our client’s business and the uniqueneeds of pharmaceutical meetings and events. At theCarlson Rezidor Hotel Group we have a formal trainingdocument that we review with our hotels that give themthe tools and knowledge needed to compete and effec-tively deliver on all expectations, while making theprocess as easy as possible during the contractingphase.
By working through your GSO we are able to assist ourclients every step of the way from the sourcing of themeeting to the contract and addendum process. From aplanning and sourcing perspective I would recommendteaming up with you NSO or GSO, a fantastic resourcethat the truly global brands provide. We also have greatknowledge about our hotels and have an understandingof which ones are the most pharmaceutical compliant,and for the most part we have traveled to and con-ducted site inspections of most of our hotels, enablingus to speak effectively during the sourcing process.
Anna LinkDirector, Global SalesCarlson Rezidor Hotel [email protected]
GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL MEETINGS –YOUR GSO IS YOUR CONSULTANT
10 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
Certification Management Meeting (CMM)Toronto - November 2013
Step One: ApplyFirst there is an application to be completedin order to be accepted into the programalong with a fee.
Step Two: AttendAfter being approved to attend CMM, youmust meet on-site, in-person for intensiveone week training. Topics that are coveredover the week are: Strategic Business Planwriting; Leadership Development;Contingency Planning & Business Continuity;Elements of Strategic Value; StrategicFinancial Management; StrategicNegotiation; Measurement and Metrics; andIntegrated Marketing Communication.
The large group is divided into smallergroups where you will work as a team forgroup presentations and case study reviews.It is a great networking and learningexperience.
Step Three: ExamUpon completion of the week long program,an essay examination based on all the topicobjectives covered must be submitted withina two week period. It is highly suggested totake a minimum of eight hours to completethis exam. You must pass this exam to moveon to the next step in certification.
Step Four: StrategicBusiness PlanAfter passing the exam, you must write astrategic business plan to demonstrate theapplication of strategic knowledge gained asa result of attending the CMM program. Thetime period to submit the strategic businessplan is approximately two months frompassing the exam.
The Waiting – April 2013There is a two month waiting period to findout if you have passed the strategic businessplan. You are given an opportunity to reviseyour plan if you do not pass all therequirements needed. However, if you arenot successful on the submission of yourrevised plan, you will need to re-enroll inCMM and begin the program from start at alater date.
Unfortunately, I did not pass the StrategicBusiness Plan on the first try. I was set upwith a coach on a coaching call to go overwhich areas needed to be improved on.There is a two week period to get therevisions done and resubmit my plan. Thenthe waiting begins again.
I am happy to report that after revisions, Ihave passed and have been awarded theCertification in Meeting Management (CMM)designation. Overall, this 6 month processwas the best learning experience I have hadin the events and tradeshows industry!
Suzanne Axt, CMMChairperson AmbassadorCommitteeTradeshow Madness
The Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) designation involvesquite a few steps to acquire.
Congratulations to Suzanne Axt,CMM for achieving her
Certified Meeting Manager status
www.mpinewjersey.org july/august 2013 11
MEET AT MGM GRAND DETROITMake your meetings and events unforgettable occasions at MGM Grand Detroit. We are proudmultiple-year recipients of the prestigious PinnacleAward and Gold Key Award. We offer 30,000 sq. ft. of event space, 12 individual meeting spaces, 400 oversized guest rooms, five distinct lounges, three signature restaurants, state of the art audio visual technology and impeccable service. Let our event specialists help you plan and execute your event to perfection.
Contact:877.MGM.EVNT (646.3868)
Or send your RFP to:[email protected]
CONNECT INSPIRE EXCITE
www.mpinewjersey.org july/august 2013 13
opportunities and will be developing networking spe-cial events in the coming days. Dates, times and placewill be posted on the Website as soon as all details arecompleted. Besides enhancing sponsorship opportuni-ties, the Finance team is making sure our Chapter is fis-cally responsible and financially sound.
This year, one of my goals as President, is for additionalmembers to become active in the Chapter. Not all ofyou are as involved with our chapter as I would like.The benefits to volunteering are numerous! First, whenyou volunteer, you make valuable connections, whichhave an enormous impact to your career. Second, youget to make a difference in the chapter. Third, you re-ceive extra credit towards your CMP/CMM or credittowards your renewal and lastly, you give back to othermembers.
I think about how more incredible our chapter wouldbe if every one of our members volunteered for at leastone hour per week. My goal is to engage every singleone of you and match you up with the perfect Commit-tee that fits your schedule and matches your specific in-terests and talents.
All of the above programs and initiatives could not bepossible without a good foundation from past and pres-ent Board members and active committee members. Ithank all of you for sharing your time and talents withus! I pledge my commitment to be accessible and opento hearing your feedback and ideas in the comingmonths. Do not hesitate to reach out to me and my fel-low Board members if we can serve you in any way.
I Wish you a great summer with family and friends andlook forward to seeing many of you at our first fiscalyear Education Program in September.Saludos,
Julia Ramos, CMPMPI-NJ Chapter President JR Global Events Associates, [email protected]
them. (In Level 1 listening, you would likely chirp inwith the status, or reasons you aren’t done).
Level 3 — The third level of listening is the most remotefrom our current approach. In Level 3 listening, wenotice what external elements might be adding to thedynamics at hand. Level 3 listening might be the soundof a siren outside the window that comes in just as theclient is saying something. I hear the client, with theambulance siren in the background, and third levellistening tells me this is urgent, important, orsometimes even life-changing. Another example is whena plane is flying overhead. Again, listening to a client inthat moment, perhaps there is something more toexplore or the client may be jetting past somethingimportant.
There is no doubt that deeper listening will build betterrelationships. Getting to those second and third levels oflistening isn’t easy, and it isn’t hard either. Whensomeone enters your office with, “Can I talk with you?”turn off your computer monitor, your phones (yes, celland landline), and take a deep slow breath as youtransition to being fully present.
Listen without judgment, preconception, or outcome inmind. You’ll be surprised how much faster a problem isresolved, and how much easier it is for you as thesolution isn’t entirely yours to create. You’ll also findthat you are more persuasive, as you help others findtheir own solutions, simply by asking for cleardefinitions and directions in curious questions.
Happy Listening!
Judy Hissong, PrincipalNesso [email protected]
President’s Message (Continued from Page 3) Are You Listening (Continued from Page 7)
MPI-NJ Chapter congratulates Member, Merlene Wilder, on the birth of her grandson.
14 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
Bruce Boillotat Senior Sales Executive Royal Coachman Worldwide Service
Date You Joined MPI: Can’t count that far back – Originally joined MPI back in 1987MPI-Long Island as Zip Limousine
Do you (or have you) volunteered/served on any MPI-NJcommittees? Have you served on any other industry or non-industry boards? • I am currently Co-Chair to the MPI-NJ Member Care Committee• Former Chair of MPI-NYC Membership Committee 2000-2001• Morris County Chamber of Commerce• Member Business Development Committee• Member “Morris in the Evening” Committee• Member Ambassadors Committee• Seat on the Morris Chamber Member’s Council• GBTA-NJ – Global Business Travel Association• Membership Committee• ISES-Northern New Jersey (International Special Events Society)• Membership Committee
What prompted you to join MPI?Nikon! In about 1987… My client Roberta Adams from Nikon onLong Island had suggested that I join MPI-LI. Since 1985 when Igot started in this crazy limousine business I was fascinated bythe Meetings & Events side of travel (plus Private Aviation, butthat’s for another article). I have always been extremely detailoriented and forced myself to always think outside of the box,and with M&E there is always a “Grey Area” when it comes toground transportation.
Have you ever published an article in journals or otherpublications? If so, in which ones and on what topic(s) and areany of your the articles published online?Some years ago I was requested on a few occasions to be a guestspeaker at Kean to address the Hospitality Students regardingthe vast uncharted territory of M&E Ground Services &Logistics. I found talking with the students to be very rewarding.
Do you write a blog on the Internet (Name of Blog)?Blogging has always been an interest, but never pursued… Thereare so many great pieces done by my peers in the industry’strade publications. I have been interested in shepherding thosethird-party ramblings for our friends in the M&E business. I wasalways concerned that blogs would be perceived as self-aggrandizement or advertising in an editorial format that I havebeen reluctant to self-publish.
How has your MPI membership benefited you and/or yourcareer?Wow, we are talking 20 plus-plus years. What I did by the seatof my pants was honed by associating with and learning fromthe members of MPI Long Island, NYC, Westchester-Fairfield,Philadelphia & the New Jersey Chapters. MPI educates andsolidifies what you learn on the street and the knowledge yougain through local monthly meetings, committee interactionsand “the ultimate” - WEC. If you have the privilege to attendWEC go to every seminar – become a sponge… Age does notmatter
Personal hobbies or volunteer activities?I love gardening and fix’n stuff - I most look forward to gettingback into Hiking, Camping and Canoeing. Just being activeagain has been a quest and a reward – Take care of your health -I just lost 30 pounds with 20+ more to go… Don’t live a stagnantlife – take care of your health
What is a unique or fun fact about yourself that you would liketo share?I love hanging with my family – I am an old dad – at 53 I have a15 year old daughter and a loving, caring and massivelysupportive wife. I want to cherish every minute I have with mydaughter before she wanders off to college, and my wife & I lovespending time & traveling together.
Do you have a MPI moment or memory?MPI moment? - You will think this is strange – Taking JimSpello’s class - twice - on the intricacies of Microsoft Excel – Iguess down deep I’m a big geek, but Jim has a great teachingtechnique. I learned more in his classroom that helped me helpmy clients to communicate their needs. Through a simplespreadsheet I have clearly seen their changes and challenges toeach and every program we have done together.
If you could share one piece of advice with other meetingindustry colleagues what would that be?Never stop learning.
MPI-NJ MEMBER SPOTLIGHTBruce Boillotat
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New, Transfer & Affiliate Members
NEW MEMBERSPAIGE CARLINAssociate, Conferences &Professional DevelopmentFinancial Executives International1250 Headquarters Plaza,West TowerMorristown, NJ 07960
JOHN DECESAREPublisherNorthStar Travel Media100 Lighting WaySecaucus, NJ 07094
JACLYN DWYERSales AdministratorFerrero600 Cottontail LaneSomerset, NJ 08873
PAM FALCUCCINational Sales Manager-NortheastOmnia Housing Services208 Hogan CourtAsbury, NJ 08802
DEB FISHER-HORVATHNational Sales ProducerOmnia Housing Services200 Rt. 31 N, Suite 204Flemington, NJ 08822
ALANA ROSE GIORDANOSales and Marketing Associate& Planner3525 Quakerbridge RoadSuite 909Hamilton, NJ 08619
DAYLA SANTURRIMeeting planner505 Paradise RdSuite 307Swampscott, MA 01907
KATE SCOZZAROEvents SpecialistWyndham Hotel Group22 Sylvan WayParsippany, NJ 07054
TRANSFERSCRYSTAL CHISMNortheast Sales ManagerRosen Hotels and Resorts9939 Universal Blvd.Orlando, FL 32819
MATTHEW MARCIAL, CMPDirector of Meetings andEducationNAFA Fleet ManagementAssociation125 Village Blvd., Suite 200Princeton, NJ 08830
MICHELE PAYPAYNational Accounts ManagerTallen Technology Rentals33 Wood Avenue South7th FloorIselin, NJ 08830
AFFILIATE MEMBERANDREA FORTALEZAWaldorf Astoria Naples54 SW 9th AvenueBoca Raton, FL 33486
This listing contains all New Members, ChapterTransfer Members and Affiliate Members from
May 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013.If you shold not be listed please contact:
16 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
Gold
Wynn Las Vegas7027707000www.wynnlasvegas.com
Silver
Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center 7329329144 ruicc.rutgers.edu
Pocono Mountains5704215791or 1800POCONOS(18007626667www.PoconoMountains.com
College of St. Elizabeth9732974000www.cse.edu/rentyourspace
Skytop Lodge8553457759www.skytop.com
EMECVenues8004905976www.emcvenues.com
MPI-NJ CHAPTER would like to acknowledge and thank ourStrategic Partners for Their Support of the Chapter
18 july/august 2013 www.mpinewjersey.org
PresidentElectPam Wynne, CMM, CMPMerck, Co., Inc.908423[email protected]
VP AdministrationKaaren Hamilton, CMPCarlson Rezidor Hotel Group908448[email protected]
VP EducationKellie Ann Cahill, CMPNew York Hilton Midtown212261[email protected]
VP MembershipChet Jasinski, CMP908234[email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE BOARD
PresidentJulia Ramos, CMPJR Global Events Associates, LLC201333[email protected]
Past PresidentMichelle Wescott, CHSPSkytop Lodge570595[email protected]
VP CommunicationsMary Lou PollackOcean Place Resort and Spa732571[email protected]
VP FinanceTodd Steinberg, CMPSonesta Collection8622287079 [email protected]
Director of InternalCommunicationsCarol Malinky, CMPC.A.Malinky Communications201232[email protected]
Director of EducationNancy Sutta BernsNancy Sutta Berns, LLC.732886[email protected]
Director of FinanceMichael BrillMEDALS LLC (MedicalEducation Delivery, Advisoryand Logistics Support)732659[email protected]
Director of Strategic PartnershipsJohn PurselHyatt Regency Jersey City201469[email protected]
www.mpinewjersey.org july/august 2013 19
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Ambassador Committee
Suzanne Axt, CMM, ChairEvents Design andProduction973441[email protected]
Jennifer Sena, CoChairPuerto Rico Convention Bureau201766[email protected]
Awards & ScholarshipCommittee
Jamie Keith, CMP, ChairHilton Woodbridge732603[email protected]
Denise Curran, CMP, CoChairEast West Connection973978[email protected]
Education Committee
Lisa Kelly, ChairThe Charles Group, Inc.973575[email protected]
Rhonda Moritz, CoChairCadaret Grant and Company973770[email protected]
2014 Golf Committee
Nancy Miller, CMP, CoChairADP973974[email protected]
Internal CommunicationsCommittee
Ilyse Link, CMP, CoChairParexel International201883[email protected]
Patty Stern, CMP, CoChairGroup DMM973669[email protected]
Membercare Committee
Rebecca Wakefield, CMP, ChairKPMG LLP2013077259 [email protected]
Bruce Boillotat, CoChairRoyal Coachman9734003204 [email protected]
Special Events Committee
Jackie D’Imperio, ChairExcellence in Meetings201773[email protected]
Dagmaris Graziani, CMP, CoChair732403[email protected]
Strategic PartnersCommittee
Heather Boyle, CoChairDestination Hotels201284[email protected]
Ronnye Schreiber, CoChairPlanet Connect732403[email protected]
Student LeadershipCommittee
Melissa Winfield, ChairCarlson Rezidor Hotel Group973919[email protected]
Linda SantangeloMosley, CoChairSantangelo Consulting, LLC9736151398 [email protected]
Chapter Administrator
Ruth Marion, CMP201875[email protected]
