Meeting Professionals International - Minnesota Chapter
February 2005

In This Issue:
Presidents Message: Implement Your Improvements
Editors' Note: Continuous Improvement: How High is Your Bar?
Feature of the Month: Take Time in Your Meeting
CMM Chapter Champ Chat: New CMM’s and a New Way of Thinking
A Little Nature & Nurture (& Learning!) at Institutes 2004
Tips of the Trade: Improve Your Meetings!: Housing & Accommodations
Committee Update: Special Projects
Up Close - Supplier: TROY ALEXANDER, Brave New Workshop Theater
International News
Join the Board of Directors
CMP Questions of the Month
New and Renewing Members and Members on the Move
2004 - 2005 Chapter Officers and Meeting of the Minds Staff
MPI National Awards

Ad Alert:

Please note: the advertisements in this issue are live links to the advertisers’ Web sites or e-mail addresses.

President’s Message
Implement Your Improvements
by Dianna Fuller, CMP, Audio Visual & Film Group, Inc.

Are you still working on your New Year’s resolution? Or did you give up? This time of year stirs something inside of us to want to improve – at work, at home, in our community.

Your Board of Directors and Committee Chairs started out the New Year working on improving our chapter. We met for our mid-year retreat which was sponsored by the Hyatt Regency and implemented our chapter business plan, reviewed the SWaN report from Elizabeth Henderson, Chapter Regional Manager, and analyzed our budget. Each team gave a 25-minute oral presentation of their status on their goals as they relate to the strategic plan. This was a great team effort, with all teams offering advice to help collaborate and execute to achieve our goals for the year.

This board has been, and continues to be, focused on our chapter’s strategic plan as it mirrors Pathways to Excellence. You can view our chapter plan and minutes of the board meetings and committee meetings on our website, at www.mnmpi.org

Approximately 10% of our chapter members attended PEC in San Diego, looking for ways to improve their personal and professional development. This month you can learn “180 Ways to Improve Your Meeting” from our speaker, Sue Tinnish, at our monthly program. We will begin thirty minutes earlier than usual (at 11:30AM) to allow enough time to learn some new methods and tips of our trade.

Elections for new chapter leaders are also coming up, and this is your opportunity to vote for someone who you believe will help to improve our chapter. Improvements are everywhere. It’s up to us to implement them!

Editors' Note
Continuous Improvement: How High is Your Bar?
by Terrie Maley, MN Room Conference Center@ Mall of America
Nate Maddux, GL Berg Entertainment

As you read this month’s issue of Meeting of the Minds, no doubt you hold a belief that you contribute to truly great meetings and events. And your Editors be damned if we can find one of you who isn’t gifted in doing exactly that. Complacency, however, can be a dangerous thing. After we attain certain levels of expertise and comfort in our personal and professional roles, the trick is finding ways to keep getting better!

In the planning industry, members of our MPI chapter shine as we continue to raise the bar in improving how we plan and execute our events. There is no shortage of examples of how our members continue to creatively pursue total quality in effective planning through personal training, mentorship, networking, knowledge sharing, and certification.

February’s MOTM is jam packed with themes about ways to improve our meetings. In this month’s Feature Article, our program speaker Sue Tinnish educates us about leveraging the “vital few” to affect the “trivial many” in improving our meetings, and holds us accountable for our time management practices on the job. In Tips of the Trade we hear from Barbara Louis about the best ways to arrange overnight housing and accommodations for meeting attendees. Daphne Meyers raves about our two newest CMMs and discusses improvement strategy at the tactical level in this month’s CMM Champ Chat, and finally we talk work/life balance with Brave New Workshop’s Director of Corporate Services, Troy Alexander, in our Up Close profile.

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Feature of the Month
Take Time in Your Meeting
by Sue Tinnish, Seal Inc.

Time is an elusive resource. Time cannot be recaptured or stored to use later. You have only one chance at every hour, every day. Just as time management as a life skill, meetings can benefit from the ideas and principles of time management.
The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is one of the most useful concepts of time management. Vilfredo Pareto wrote of his observations that people seem to divide naturally into what he called the “vital few,” the top 20 percent, and the “trivial many” the bottom 80 percent.

His observation generally holds true whether you are talking about customers, activities or revenue. In general,

• 20 percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results
• 20 percent of your customers will account for 80 percent of your sales
• 20 percent of your products or services will account for 80 percent of your profits
• 20 percent of your tasks will account for 80 percent of the most important value of what you do

The Meeting Challenge
Using Pareto’s Principle for meetings implies that you must determine what “vital few” agenda items will create the most value towards reaching your goals. If there are 10 agenda items, two will turn out to be worth as much, or more than the other eight items put together.

Building upon Pareto’s Principle, consider these Time Management skills and their links to meetings:

1. Deciding Priorities
Time management experts urge us to plan our day to be sure to take care of the most important tasks and not waste time on the insignificant or unnecessary.

Further, they argue that it is imperative to focus on the important projects and tasks, and arrange your time so that there are few interruptions while working.

The spin for meetings is to place items on the agenda which add the greatest value. Don’t clutter a meeting with filler activities or non-value driven items. Tell people what are the most important priorities of the meeting. Minimize distractions (meals, clearing/serving food, cell phones, etc.) during meetings.

2. Maintenance and Progress
In order to make the most of your time, you will need to be able to get the right balance between maintenance tasks and progress tasks.

A maintenance task is one which, once completed, will leave you in the same position as you were before, even if it is something you need to do to stay alive, like eating a meal.

A progress task is one which you believe will help you reach a position which is fundamentally better than the one you are in now.

If you get bogged down with the maintenance tasks, you won’t find time for the progress tasks. If you know what your priorities are, this will help you to get the balance right.

Insure your meetings contain elements that help maintain and advance your organization. Meetings represent a gathering of the human capitol of your organization. Use that talent wisely to focus on the future while preserving the status quo.

3. Scheduling Skills
People often become frustrated with schedules that are overly ambitious or unrealistic.

The same is true for meeting schedules. Be realistic. Don’t set up a schedule that is too rigid and unrealistic. As you set up a meeting, keep in mind the goals and priorities of the meeting as well as the goals and priorities of your participants. Your participants need to be motivated to follow the schedule.

4. Balance
The most common time management mistake that people make is not allowing for a balanced life-style. Remember that one’s overall health and wellness require attention to six important life areas.
• Physical (exercise, nutrition, sleep)
• Intellectual (cultural, aesthetic)
• Social (intimate and social relationships)
• Career (goal directed work)
• Emotional (expression of feelings, desires)
• Spiritual (quest for meaning)

Meetings should provide a bit of each element to achieve a balance that is fulfilling and enriching to the overall meeting experience.

5. Don’t Exhaust your or their Attention Span
Attention spans vary considerably, and our ability to concentrate on one task can range from an hour and a half down to twenty minutes.

Plan your meeting to account for people’s varying attention spans. Don’t expect to garner people’s full attention for 2 hours straight. Schedule breaks and rewards into your meetings. Promote interaction and movement to re-energize people and get them refreshed and refocused..

In addition to the above five suggestions, here are other lessons from Time Management that have productivity and quality implications for meetings. Here are a few more tidbits to consider: :

Not Dwelling on the Past
You can only control and manage what is happening now. While it is important to learn from the past and celebrate accomplishments, don’t allocate too much agenda time to the past. Meetings should contain a call to action that is relevant for the here and now.

Taking Time to Lead and Teach
Sometimes it seems so much easier to complete a task yourself rather than explain and delegate the same task to someone else. This is a short-sighted view of time management that we can all fall into.

Meetings are the perfect opportunity to “teach a man to fish” rather than just give him a fish. Building an organization means marshalling your team to own the firm’s success. More than delegating, this is an opportunity to create additional resources that will carry out the mission.

Making it Personal
You can manage the agenda of the meeting. It is also useful to ask the participants to practice good time management skills at the meeting.

Challenge your participants to create a plan to make the most of their time at a meeting before they attend the meeting. Who do they want to meet? What colleagues or associates do they want to spend time with? What is the #1 thing they will do with the knowledge or information gleaned from the meeting when they return?

Motivation
A look at your To Do List may leave you less than motivated. How is it that sometimes you just don’t feel motivated to do the expected tasks? It might help to realize that for many people motivation isn’t a prerequisite to action - it is a result of it!

As you consider your meeting agenda, don’t expect people to be already motivated. Understand that the motivation may follow the action. If a meeting doesn’t create progress or momentum, people may well feel de-motivated by the experience.

Concentrating on Your Strengths
The best time management strategies recognize your inherent talents and weaknesses. While a large meeting cannot take into account everyone’s personal biorhythms and preferences, you can consider the organization’s culture and the overall strengths and weaknesses. Lead from your strengths. Work to minimize the importance of your weaknesses -- work around them rather than always seek to eliminate them.

For smaller meetings, you can check with people about their preferred style of working and time management to capitalize on the strengths of the group.

This article was extracted from one of Sue Tinnish’s newsletters, Tips for Innovative Meetings and Events. Sue is offering this newsletter on a complimentary basis to any member of the MPI-Minnesota Chapter. Email Sue at stinnish@ameritech.net to subscribe. To hear Sue in person join us as she presents 180+ Ways to Transform your Meetings at our chapter event on February 16.

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CMM Chapter Champ Chat
New CMM’s and a New Way of Thinking
By Daphne Meyers, CMM

Congratulations to our newest chapter CMM’s! Linda Hammer and Peg Tschida!! This is a huge accomplishment after lots of hard work. The newest class of CMM’s was honored at MPI-PEC last month in San Diego. It was fun to have a whole new batch of fresh faces at the CMM luncheon (one of many perks)!

In light of this month’s Meeting of the Minds theme, 180 Ways to Improve a Meeting, here is my answer – become a CMM. Thanks for reading this column, see you next month (time for a nap).

Now that I have my shameless plug out of the way I can continue with thoughts on meeting improvement. I believe the key to being successful personally and professionally is to consciously change your thinking to always have a strategic goal.

I know you’re thinking, “How do I think strategically about a BEO or a rooming list?” What we do on a day to day basis (or what is done by someone we supervise) is integral to the strategic success of our meetings. To further explain, let’s spend a day with Joe Attendee. Mr. Attendee arrives in Sunny City, USA for a three day conference for the widget sales force. When he arrives at the convention center he finds registration after two wrong turns due to a lack of signs to direct him. At registration, he stands in line for 20 minutes waiting to register. Later, he looks for something to drink and none of the staff knows where he can find a soda machine, and later he stumps them with a “where’s the bathroom” question. Finally, Joe arrives at the opening general session and can’t find a seat due to lack of chairs. The conference theme is “Success Together” and the general session’s main message: “Widget’s USA cares about the satisfaction and success of its sales force”. As expected, Mr. Attendee finds these messages Dilbert-esque since no one even took the time to put out enough chairs for everyone.

We are all pros and we know tactical mistakes have been made here. However, I think fewer people recognize the strategic damage that has been done or the impact success would have had. To get to the strategic level, ask some questions:

• How does Joe feel when he arrives at registration? How would you feel? How about when the general session starts?
• How does your friendly staff feel when they can’t answer simple questions? How do they feel looking out at the unhappy faces in the registration line? How might they begin to behave in the days that follow?
• THIS IS THE KEY: What are the goals/objectives for this event? Have we penetrated and demonstrated those goals through the whole event? Have our actions demonstrated our commitment to our goals?

I think we would all say “no”, that the goals of this organization have not been accomplished due to Joe’s negative experience in Sunny City. He sure doesn’t feel like USA Widget cares.

Many of the mistakes in the scenario, by themselves, can be viewed as tactical. Signage, registration staffing, staff training, seating – however, bundled as a total package they result in an experience, and that experience has expected outcomes. When you are able to evaluate these tactical to strategic opportunities, maximize their impact, and articulate that outcome to your management -- you are adding value to your organization.

I think the first step to accomplishing better results should be looking at situations differently. It also means changing how you think about what you do. The next time someone asks you what you do, how about answering, “I provide optimal learning environments.” instead of “I’m in Convention Services.” (Warning: here comes another plug.) I personally learned and honed these skills in my CMM coursework. I literally “thought differently” when I finished the program. (Example: I don’t write an article for this newsletter; I influence others on the CMM brand.)

Are you ready to take the next step in your professional and personal growth? Investigate the CMM Program. Remember – you can complete the application now and it remains active for two years. The next class is set for this October 2005 in North America in conjunction with the MPI Institutes. Exact dates and locations will be announced soon. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Further resources:
www.mpiweb.org/education/cmm/default.asp
dmeyers@redbarngroup.com

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A Little Nature & Nurture (& Learning!) at Institutes 2004
Diane Pearson, U.S. Bank

Even though there were alligators, snakes and sharks I made the best of it. Why didn’t anyone tell me what I was in for when I accepted a scholarship to Institutes? Let me tell you a story…

I flew to Tampa, Florida in October to attend a five-day “educational” conference. Imagine my shock when the Saddlebrook Resort staff began the meeting by warning us of alligators sunning themselves on the golf course and in a moat around the open-air banquet hall! The hall where breakfast and lunch were to be served! The resort created each tasty meal with an extravagant and fun theme. They attempted to distract us but I didn’t forget what was just outside the door!

That night, all 180 attendees were sent to Busch Gardens… when the park was closed! The staff smiled and greeted us. This was a ruse as in their hands they held snakes and giant birds of prey…well ok, parrots. They put us on a Skyride where we hung precariously over lions and tigers and bears! Oh my. We were dropped off and shuffled into a strange car seat. Much to my surprise a bar came over my head and I was locked in! The car chugged up to the clouds and plunged down only to be turned upside down and around and around! Finally the “ride” ended and the smiling (conniving no doubt) staff escorted the group to a large building…where they had refreshing “beverages” awaiting us! Like I’d make myself that vulnerable considering what they had already put us through. This was just the first day!

I don’t know if this treatment is normal for MPI programs. I’m lucky I was totally engaged in learning. Our session topics varied and the extended time allowed for in depth discussion. Experts spoke and everyone shared ideas and best practices, whether they were in Institutes I, II or III. I left with a greater conviction to our industry and my personal success.

Don’t even ask me about the time they took us to a place filled with sharks, giant fish and sea urchins, gave us liquor and sent us out on the ocean in a yacht!

Oh! While I have your attention, please mark your calendar to “mingle” Thursday, February 24, 5:00 p.m. at BayView Event Center. Details to follow on NewsNotes...

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Tips of the Trade
Improve Your Meetings!: Housing & Accommodations
By Barbara Louis, CMP, Best Meetings, Inc.

Often left up to attendees themselves to handle, overnight accommodations can be an important aspect in determining the success of a meeting or convention; but as a meeting planner, what are the advantages realized when you make all your organization's housing reservations?

• Access to a developed and maintained housing list
• Roommate assignments
• Coordination of all reservations with the property
• Arrangement of VIP special services
• Coordination of special transportation services
• A way to monitor your room block numbers, working with the property to make adjustments as needed

Utilizing on-line registration programs allows you instant updates on your housing numbers from wherever you are located, 24/7. On-line registration lets you identify potential concerns and deal with them in a timely manner. For example, if your room block fills you can work with the property to replace cancelled reservations with new reservations.

Your meeting is our business! Best Meetings Inc. provides a variety of services that can be customized to help you accomplish your goals. We can assist you in determining your needs and give you the freedom to decide what responsibilities you would like us to manage. You retain as much control as you like and we can manage the rest. For more information visit www.bestmeetings.com.

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Committee Update
Special Projects
Kathleen Gierach, Boston Scientific

The third annual Wine & Chocolate charity event to benefit Person's to Person's will take place on Thursday, April 21 at the Gale Mansion in Minneapolis, MN. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door, and will be available for purchase at the March MPI meeting or through Ticket Works (please spread the word). As a chapter we hope to help make this successful event via silent auction donations, decor donations, valet services, and more. Additional details will follow regarding specific needs.

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Up Close - Supplier
TROY ALEXANDER, Brave New Workshop Theater

Troy Alexander Brave New Workshop Theater

1. How did you get to your current position? I have known John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl since they bought the Brave New Workshop from Dudley Riggs in 1997. I worked at Hey City Theater in various roles in their sales department and met John and Jenni because most of our actors at Hey City came from the BNW. John and I became friends over the years and I even did some consulting work for him by helping him establish his Group Sales department. He made me several permanent job offers up until February 2003 when I finally accepted. 2. What is your current job description? Director of Corporate Services at the Brave New Workshop. I am primarily responsible for selling our Training, Keynote Presentations, and Customized Corporate Entertainment. I also develop and cultivate relationships with our corporate client base (mostly Fortune 500 companies) as well as continually develop and refine our products. I work very closely with John Sweeney on the planning and delivery of our services to our clients, as well as the development of our publishing company, Aerialist Press. It is a very unpredictable, entrepreneurial environment that thankfully has many more highs than lows. Our corporate business is growing faster than we projected and it is a very exciting time for us. 3. What has been your greatest professional challenge? Finding a work/life balance is my greatest challenge. I have two daughters under the age of two and my wife is a stay at home mom. I work long and irregular hours and getting home in time to eat dinner as a family, let alone put the girls to bed, is not always easy. I am very passionate about my work and proud of the growth we are experiencing, but my family always needs to come first. I tend to be a workaholic, but I also think I am a pretty good husband and father. 4. In your past job history, has anything happened that was unexpected? I was very surprised at how much the World Trade Center attacks affected our business while I was at Hey City Theater. At the time, we had a production of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and/or other shows running in every time zone in the U.S. Hey City had become a small theater empire and it literally collapsed as our corporate and individual ticket base declined in all markets, including our home theater in Minneapolis. 2002 was obviously a very difficult year for our country’s economy and certainly for Hey City Theater. 5. How long have you been in MPI and what have you learned since becoming a member? I have been an MPI member since joining the Brave New Workshop in early 2003. I initially was frustrated in that I thought that many of my contacts within MPI had a preconceived notion of what the Brave New Workshop had to offer through our Corporate Services division. Having a 46-year-old legacy for producing world class comedy has been a blessing and a curse. More local MPI members are realizing that we have much more to offer than just an improv troupe as after dinner entertainment. About 60% (roughly $600,000) of our Corporate Services business in 2005 will take place with corporations outside of Minnesota, most of whom will be utilizing our training and keynote services. I am working hard to network with MPI members to share our story so that this ratio is much more even in the years ahead. 6. What is something you would like to share with us about your personal life? As mentioned earlier, I am married and my wife Gina and I have two little girls, Kathryn (March ’03) and Vivian (April ’04). Life is REALLY busy around our house and we are blessed to have two very happy little girls. Having the girls so close in age is almost like having twins and my wife has a tough job as a stay at home mom. Gina is very supportive of the crazy life I lead at the BNW and I try to return the favor as best I can. There is nothing better than coming home from work and being greeted by my three girls!

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International News

1) Future Watch 2005
You gave us your perspective, now see the results: FutureWatch 2005, one of the industry's most profound research reports, and the only annual side-by-side view of meeting planners and suppliers from the United States, Canada and Europe, will provide business projections and key trends affecting our industry in 2005. Share this report with your boss, your co-workers - anyone who is involved with the meetings industry and the business of meetings. These trends will help you and your organization understand where our industry is going, what the current trends are, how our industry has changed year-to-year, and of course it supports MPI's strategic plan strategy number two which calls for influencing executives about the value of meetings in achieving organizational goals.

2) Global Corporate Circle of Excellence Position Paper on Procurement: Hot off the press! This report from MPI's Global Corporate Circle of Excellence sets the scene for the changing business environment and meetings industry, revealing how planners and suppliers can benefit from proactively forming relationships with procurement departments. It also provides career-positioning strategies that can be implemented immediately. Plus, a new toolkit developed to supplement the paper offers sample business plans, budget templates and much more to enhance your strategic value.

This paper and the work of MPI's Global Corporate Circle of Excellence are both part of MPI's overall strategic plan designed to make meetings - and those who produce them - a critical part of every organization's success. Procurement officers represent just one of many senior stakeholders that meeting professionals must convince of the value of meetings. MPI's work in this area will continue to educate the industry on the latest trends, and empower you with data and tools to influence procurement and all executives about the value of meetings. Download the paper, and view the contents of the toolkit.

MPI Membership Retention

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Join the Board of Directors

If you've ever thought about running for the MPI Minnesota Board of Directors, or if it's crossing your mind for the first time, now is your opportunity. Maybe you know of another member you would like to nominate. Download PDF's of the Nomination Form and Candidate Questionnaire.

Positions open, beginning with the 2005-2006 year, are: President-Elect and Directors of Communications, Education, Finance, Membership and Community Outreach & Government. If you have questions about any of the positions or the election process, please feel free to contact Nominations Committee Chair Mary Medcraft by email or phone
(952) 888-5110.

Note: The deadline for submitting nominations has been extended to February 4th.

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CMP Questions of the Month
February CMP Questions

1. When placing the American and state flags on a stage during your group’s opening continental breakfast, on which side should the state flag be placed?

2. A general rule of thumb is to provide a ten-minute break for every __ minutes of instruction:

Answers

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New Members and Members on the Move

New Members
Please welcome the new and renewing members of the MPI Minnesota Chapter. The following people have joined or renewed during January 2005. Check the online directory for full contact information.

Patricia Burley
Communications Manager
Great Clips, Inc
Phone: (952) 746-6454
pat.burley@greatclips.com

Maureen K. French
General Manger
Hilton Garden Inn St Paul Oakdale
Phone: (952) 893-9300
mo_french@hilton.com

Vickie Juntti, CMP
Trade Show and Event Manager
Phone: (952) 656-2955
vjuntti@sagebrushcorp.com

Sandra Montesano
Director of Sales and Marketing
Hotel Group Marketing
Phone: (612) 929-0676
smontesano@hotelgroupmarketing.com

Maggie Hertling
Sales Manager
Doubletree Minneapolis Park Place
Phone: (952) 582-5307
maggieh@uslink.net

Judy Sunvold, CPP
Business Development Manager
Continuing Education and Conference Center
Phone: (612) 625-3775
jsunvold@cce.umn.edu

Renee Pearson
Director Program Management Conference Services
metroConnections
Phone: (612) 767-1556
rpearson@metroconnections.com

Leslie Berry
Roseville Visitors Association
Phone: (651) 633-3002

Mark Stowman
President
WNAV
Phone: (651) 688-7374
mark@wnav-video.com

Suzanne Johnson
Group Sales Director
Mall of America-Napa Valley Grille & California Café
Phone: (952) 858-8046
mallofamericaevents@tavistockrestaurants.com

Stacy Springer
Corporate Event Manager
Lominger Limited
Phone: (952) 345-3654
stacys@lominger.com

Dianna Anderson
Executive Assistant
Great Clips, Inc.
Phone: (952) 746-6402
dianna.anderson@greatclips.com

Chris Giaimo
Courtyard by Marriott at the Depot
Phone: (612) 758-7812
cgiaimo@csmcorp.net

Susan Milteer
Director of Sales
Corporate Car and Coach
Phone: (651) 696-9029
smilteer@corpcarandcoach.com

Martha Krueger
SS&C Technologies Inc
Phone: (612) 798-7545
mkrueger@sscinc.com

Debbie Finch
Director of National Accounts
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Phone: (305) 230-1032
dfinch@loewshotels.com

Amy Asbury
Business Development Manager
StoneArch Creative
Phone: (612) 379-1368
aasbury@stonearchcreative.com

Renewing Members

Louise S. Dillon
President
Dillon Designs Gifts & Apparel
Phone: (952) 937-1564
ldillon@dillondesigns.net

Karen DiNella
Meetings Director
Independent Community Bankers of MN
Phone: (651) 687-9080
kdinella@communitybanks.org

Tim Samuelson
President
Promotion Select, Inc.
Phone: (952) 470-6166
tim@promotionselect.com

Frank Steck
President
Spotlight Corporate Entertainment, Inc
Phone: (612) 373-9838
fsteck@spotlightinc.com

Barbara J. Madigan
Asst Director of Sales
St Paul Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: (651) 265-4919
bmadigan@stpaulcvb.org

Michael W. Vinup
VP
Machine Dreams & Int'l Meetings
Phone: (612) 371-4428
Mike@Machine-Dreams.com

Judy Sunvold, CPP
Business Development Manager
Continuing Education and Conference Center
Phone: (612) 625-3775
jsunvold@cce.umn.edu

Diane S. Dukes

Sarah M. Hill
Assoc. Director of Sales
Sofitel
Phone: (952) 656-5926
hill_sarah@accor-hotels.com

Jon Young, FAHP
Music Director & Manager
Temporary Heroes LLC
Phone: (612) 333-4445
jon@temporaryheroes.com

Stacy Hagemeyer
Corporate Event Manager
Lominger Limited, Inc
Phone: (952) 345-3654
stacyh@lominger.com

On the Move
The following MPI Minnesota Chapter members have experienced changes to their contact information or designations during January 2005.

Sinda L. Schirra
Park 'N Fly
3075 American Blvd., E.
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: (952) 883-3606
sschirra@pnf.com

Tracey Smith
Manager, Events Programming
Thomson RIA
10850 Andes Circle
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Phone: (651) 994-2025
TABSmith@gmail.com

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Board of Directors 2004-2005

Executive Committee

President
Dianna Fuller, CMP
Audio Visual & Film Group, Inc.

President Elect
Lora Gray, CMP
Target

Immediate Past President
Mary Medcraft
HelmsBriscoe

Vice President of Communications
Lynnette Offen
TQ3NAVIGANT

Vice President of Education
Laura Gieseking, CMP
RBC Dain Rauscher

Vice President of Finance
Michael Bergman
Hilton Minneapolis

Vice President of Membership
Hanna Werner
MN Continuing Legal Education

Board Members

Director of Communications
Dave Herman
Big Event Productions

Director of Community Outreach & Government Advocacy
Devie Hagen
Oak Ridge, A Dolce Conference Destination

Director of Education
Jessica Hughes
Northwestern College

Director of Finance
Jaimie Mattes
Grand Rios Hotel

Director of Membership
Jan Tolle MacDonald
Bloomington MN CVB

Director of Strategic Alliances
Diane Pearson
US Bank

Association Manager
Maria Huntley
Nonprofit Solutions, Inc.

Meeting of the Minds Chapter Newsletter Awards

2002-2003 Best Overall Online Newsletter - More than 250 Members

2001-2002 Honorable Mention

2000- 2001 Best Design – More than 250 Members

Meeting of the Minds Staff

Editors
Nate Maddux
GL Berg Entertainment
325 33rd Ave N, Ste 106
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Phone: (888) 654-6901
Facsimile: (320) 654-8141
E-mail: nate@glberg.com

Terrie Maley
MN Room Conference Center@ Mall of America
410 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: (952) 883-8809
Facsimile: (952) 883-8908
E-mail: TeMaley@Simon.com

Contributors
Dianna Fuller
Audio Visual & Film Group, Inc.

Kathleen Gierach
Boston Scientific

Barbara Louis, CMP
Best Meetings, Inc.

Daphne Meyers, CMM

Diane Pearson
U.S. Bank

Sue Tinnish
Seal Inc.

Production
MPI Office

Meeting of the Minds is the official publication of the MPI Minnesota Chapter and is published eleven times yearly. Statements of fact and opinion within this newsletter are the responsibility of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of MPI. Articles submitted are subject to editorial revisions. In order for articles to be printed, all contributions are due to the editor by the first day of each month prior to that issue.

Meeting Professionals International is the world’s largest association of meeting professionals with nearly 20,000 members in 64 countries. Founded in 1972, MPI has grown to become the meeting industry’s resource for networking, professional development, content, and research in North and South America, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. MPI leads the meeting industry by serving the diverse needs of members and nonmembers alike through its commitment to quality education, continuous improvement, and excellence in meetings, while upholding high ethical standards.

Minnesota Office
Meeting Professionals International
1821 University Avenue West, Suite S256
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104-2897
Phone: (651) 917-6243
Fax: (651) 917-1835
office@mnmpi.org
www.mnmpi.org

International Headquarters
3030 LBJ Freeway, Ste 1700
Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. 75234-2759
Phone: 1-972-702-3000
Fax: 1-972-702-3000
www.mpiweb.org

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