Saint Paul, MN (May 21, 2010) – Meeting Professionals International Minnesota Chapter (MPI MN) will be recognized July 24, 2010 at Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC) held in Vancouver, Canada as the recipient of the RISE – Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence – Award for Community Achievement and Knowledge and Ideas.

The Award acknowledged MPI MN’s “Mentoring: Power of 2” program, which was implemented in 2008 to connect members at any stage of their career to promote career development, expand skill set and advance professional goals. The program teams up pairs who meet two to four times per month for a three-month period to learn from each other and expand professional goals of the mentee. The MPI MN website lists mentor and mentee guidelines, resources, available mentors and current pairings.

“The program provided a valuable way to connect with another event planner in a friendly atmosphere. I enjoyed exchanging experiences and sharing ideas of ways to accomplish similar tasks. It really is a win-win for both parties,” says Joette Zembal, CMP, Senior Event Planner, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The RISE Awards include three categories, presented annually to recipients exemplifying individual achievement, community achievement and organizational achievement. Innovation, global transferability, impact and influence are characteristics recognized for winning recipients. 2010 marks the first time that all three categories will be awarded.

The presentation of RISE Award recipients will be 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., July 24, 2010 at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Vancouver. More information about the WEC can be found on the MPI website.

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