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ORacle 

SUMMER 2012 

The Mill casino hotel & RV park 

MEETING PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL OREGON CHAPTER

MPI-OC Association 

President’s Message 

Still Excited! 

By Midge Dobbs 

SUMMER 2012 

PO Box 4346 

Portland, OR 97208-4346 

503-626-8197 

www.mpioc.org 

Association Manager 

Stephanie Kennedy 

info@mpioc.org 

On the Cover: 

The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park 

As it became evident that the MPI year 

was coming to an end, I began getting 

that question again: “Are you excited”? 

Even though the question was the same, 

the meaning was different. People were 

asking if I was excited that my term as President was 

almost over. My answer remained the same as the 

beginning of the beginning of the year, “Absolutely!” 

Absolutely—because we had an amazing year. 

Absolutely—because we accomplished a ton. 

Absolutely—because as a leadership team our 

year is complete with victory. Absolutely— 

because the 2012/2013 leadership team is 

going to rock! 

Every good team sets goals; this 

year we had team goals and I had 

personal goals that I wanted to 

accomplish. In addition to the 125 

strategies that supported our 27 

goals for the year, I am excited to 

highlight the following: 

The ORacle is published four 

times four times a year a by year the by Oregon the 

Chapter, Oregon Chapter—Meeting 

Professionals 

International Professionals International 

and is distributed 

as and a is member distributed benefit. as a The member 

ORacle benefit. is The designed ORacle to is inform designed 

members to inform about members MPI-OC about 

activities MPI-OC activities and current and events. current 

Reproduction events. Reproduction of any material of any 

that material appears that in appears this publication in this 

without publication permission without is permission 

is prohibited. 

For advertising rates or to 

reserve to reserve space, space, contact contact Bettina 

Chuck Paul Vollmer at bettina@llm.com at paul@llm.com or or 

800-647-1511 x2233. x2222. 

© 2011, 2012, LLM Publications, Inc. 

99Our satisfaction at monthly 

education programs increased 

from 3.76 in 2010/2011 to 4.14 

in 2011/2012 

99Our overall membership 

satisfaction rating went from 8.26 

in 2011 to 8.47 in 2012, with an 

overall regional ranking of #6 and 

a global ranking of #9! Yes, you are 

reading that right! 

99We had 84 volunteers filling 105 positions 

throughout the year, that’s 63% of our 

chapter holding a volunteer role! 

99Thanks to our current Past President, Cindy Wallace, 

CMP, CMM, our Past President’s Council was formed. 

Throughout the year this council gave advice and a valuable 

historical perspective for the current Leadership Team. 

99We formed a Student Club at Mt. Hood Community College with 

10 active MPI Student Members. We have plans to expand our 

Student Club program to Lane Community College next year and 

will assist both clubs with monthly educational programs at their 

schools as well as encouragement and guidance on their careers 

in this great hospitality industry we all love! 

2 | The ORacle MPI Oregon Chapter

President’s Message 

99We engaged a cloud based 

membership database 

service, allowing our chapter 

administrator, to manage 

our members many needs 

and run reports for our 

committees. 

99We came in second place 

for Meeting Madness at 

the International Level, 

sending our November 

speaker, Greg Duff, to the 

World Education Congress 

in St. Louis and winning our 

chapter $500 to spend on 

education next year! 

MPI came out with a new 

campaign this year called “I am 

MPI,” and the premise was: I am 

MPI. I love what we do. It might 

sound a bit sappy…but I have 

to say; this is my MPI and I love 

what we do. 

All of this doesn’t come with a 

bit of sadness. As I move into 

my role of Past President, I 

find myself in a position that 

is held by 28 others that have 

come before me. I hope to be 

able to stand by these amazing 

28 and join their group with 

pride. I also hope to add value 

to their Council and give back 

to a chapter that has truly given 

me so much! Thank you for 

the privilege of serving you. I 

cannot tell you how proud I am 

to say that my MPI is the Oregon 

Chapter! 

Defining the Power of Meetings ® SUMMER 2012 | 3

Mpi-oc board 

2012–2013 

MPI-OC Officers 

Executive Committee 

President 

Anne Hallinan, CMP 

541-896-3088 

anne@marronehallinan.com 

President-Elect 

Jennifer Cox 

503-684-3322 

jenniferc@mtrwestern.com 

Immediate Past President 

Midge Dobbs, CMP 

360-635-2629 

midge.dobbs@cohores.com 

VP Communications 

Dawn Rasmussen, CARW, CMP, CTP 

503-539-3954 

dawn@pathfindercareers.com 

VP Education 

Janis Ross, MBA 

541-484-5307 

janis@travellanecounty.org 

VP Finance 

Melodie King, CMP 

503-726-5227 

mking@ohca.org 

VP Membership 

Kim Herrmann, CMP 

503-335-2852 

kherrmann@pollinhotels.com 

Volunteer Appreciation 

Board of Directors 

Director, Strategic Alliances 

Tara Thomas, CMP, DMCP 

503-225-0143 

tarat@thedussingroup.com 

Director, Fundraising 

Tim Neill 

503-546-6415 

tim@avrentalservices.com 

Director, Special Education 

Cathy Mason, CMP 

503-297-6013 

cathy.m.mason@live.com 

Director, Monthly Programs 

Darcie LaMotte-Waage 

503-241-2102 

dwaage@bensonhotel.com 

Director, Member Recruitment 

Cyndi Holloway, CMP 

503-978-4553 

cyndi.holloway@redlionontheriver.com 

Director, Member Retention 

Amber Cagle, CMP 

503-725-2607 

4 acagie@pdx.edu 

| The ORacle 

On Tuesday, July 19th 

the outgoing board and 

committee chairs celebrated 

at Trader Vic’s Portland with 

Mai Tai’s in hand. We held our 

final board meeting, installed 

the 2012–2013 Board of 

Directors and then celebrated 

in style. Thanks to Karah at 

Trader Vic’s for hosting our 

group and taking care of our 

hardworking volunteers! 

MPI Oregon Chapter

Volunteers 

Thank You to our Volunteers! 

As a chapter with 220+ we have one staff person who works part time for us. The rest is done by a team 

of volunteers...many volunteers. This year we had 84 volunteers filling 105 positions that served countless 

hours to make MPI Oregon run. 

Thank you for what you do! We cannot do it without you! 

Leadership Team 

President 


CoHo•Res (Connect Hotel Reservations) 

Immediate Past President 

Cindy Wallace, CMP, CMM 

Opus Solutions 

President-Elect 


Marrone-Hallinan Event Management 

VP Finance 

Jennifer Cox 

MTR Western 

VP Education 

Melodie King, CMP 

Oregon Healthcare Association 

VP Communications 

Alex Doyle, CMP 

21st Century Group 

VP Membership 

Jennifer Walsdorf, CMP, CMM, CTE 

Tzell Travel Group Northwest 

Director Strategic Alliance 


Oregon Health Care Association 

Director Fundraising 

Cyndi Holloway, CMP 

Red Lion Hotel on the River–Jantzen Beach 

Director Monthly Education 

Michele Starry 

Independent 

Director Special Educational Projects 

Tim Neill 

AV Rental Services 

Director Marketing 

Merrissa Burleigh 

Salem Conference Center 

Director Member Recruitment 

Sarah Taillon 

The Kog Company 

Director Member Retention 


Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel 

Association Manager 

Stephanie Kennedy 

MPI Oregon Chapter 

Awards Gala Team 

Co-Chair Awards 




Royce Mason, CMP 

Royce’s Prop Shop 

Shalia Clock 

The Benson Hotel 

Christina Devlin, CMP, CMM 

Associated General Contractors 

OR Columbia Chapter 

Connie Thorpe 

DoubleTree by Hilton Portland 



Kristina Griffith 

Team Casino & Parties 

Susan Renner, CMP 

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower 



Rosario Jukkala 

Marriott North Harbour 

Membership Team 

Chair Member Recruitment 

Janet Kearney, CMP 

Red Lion Convention Center 

Kimera Coady 

Oregon Refuse & Recycling Association ORRA 

Julia Leonard 

The Riverhouse Hotel & Conference Center 

Becky Torres 

Clackamas Community College 

Angie Blackwell 

Spirit Mountain Casino 

Kathleen O’Connor-McNew, CMP 

Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn 

Marie Gladney 

Marriott Hotel Portland City Center 

Chair Member Retention 

Kelly Hagerman 

Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center 

Carole Astley, CMP 

Travel Oregon 

Tara Blair 

Jake’s Catering 

Lora Valdez 


Andrea Buck 

CRG Events 

Chair Community Outreach 

Lisa Chan, CMP 

Oregon Convention Center 

Carolyn Wence, CMP 

Plans & Actions 

Janet Pendergrass 

Your Northwest 

Dawn Rasmussen, CMP, CTP 

Pathfinder Career 

Alex Doyle, CMP 

21st Century Group 


Marrone-Hallinan Event Management 

Jackie Harper, CMP 

Travel Portland 

Brad Kendrick 

Printing Discounters 


The Mason Group 

Lori Louis 

The Allison Inn & Spa 

Birgitte Simmons 

Washington County Visitors Association 

Nichole Cooper 

Embassy Suites Portland Downtown 

6 | The ORacle MPI Oregon Chapter

Danielle Vaccaro 

Lewis & Clark College 

Kim Sparks 




Chair Scholarship 

Karen Waggoner, CMP, CMM 

Northwest Food Processors Assn. 






Rosario Jukkala 

Marriott North Harbour Collection 



Kim Hermann, CMP 


Finance Team 

Chair Strategic Alliance 

Tara Thomas, CMP, DCMP 

The Dussin Group 

Cari Stear 

Crowne Plaza Lake Oswego 

Susan Bailey 

Hallmark Inns and Resorts 

Chair Fundraising 




Tara Thomas, CMP, DMCP 

The Dussin Group 





Wendy Puller 

Mount Bachelor Village Resort 

Kelly Gulliksen 

Hilton Vancouver 



Kim Sparks 


Communications Team 

Chair PR/Directory 

Donna Meyers 

Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort 

Chair Online Magazine & Print Media 

Connie Thorpe 

DoubleTree Hotel Portland 

Randi Fitzgerald 

Best Western Oceanview 

Debbie McCune 

Travel Salem 

Luc Fortier 

Pacific Marketing 

Chair Technology & Social Media 

Jina Ellison 

Embassy Suites Washington Square 

Education Team 

Co-Chair Monthly Education 



Co-Chair Monthly Education 

Christie Blake, CMP 

Northwest GEM 

Marti Castillo, CMP 

Meeting & Event Solutions 

Shalia Clock 


Jina Ellison 

Embassy Suites Portland—Washington Square 

Orran Greiner, CMP 

Spida Software 


Team Casino 

Lindsey Grinage 

Sunriver Resort 



Tammy Lindsley 

Independent Planner 

Shelley Lomax 

phresh organic catering 

Birgitte Simmons 

Washington County Visitors Association 

Sarah Taillon 

The Kong Company 

Chair Cascadia 

Barbara Mulligan 

HelmsBriscoe 

Vice Chair Cascadia 

Eric Kingstad 

The Event Guys 

Julia Leonard 

The Riverhouse Hotel & Conference Center 

Chanel LaChappa 

Travel Portland 

Kate Henry 

BRAVO Publications 

Christina Devlin CMP, CMM 





Elizabeth Goodrich 

Helms Briscoe 

Kristina Shipley 

Holiday Inn Wilsonville 

Chair Professional Development 

Kathleen O’Connor-McNew, CMP 

Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn 

Chair Satellite Program 

Janis Ross 

Travel Lane County 

Wendy Puller 

Mt. Bachelor Village Resort 

Chair Planner Think Tank 

Corrin Escobar, CMP 

Henry V Events 

Past President’s Council 

Chair Past President’s Council 



Amy Spatrisano, CMP 

MeetGreen 

Carolyn Wence, CMP 

Plans & Action 

Eric Kingstad 

The Event Guys 

Maili Morrison 

The Heathman Lodge 



Holly Duckworth, CMP, CAE 

Leadership Solutions International 

Janet Kearney, CMP 

Red Lion Portland Convention Center 


EDUCATIONAL committee 

2011–2012 Monthly Education Committee Highlights 

A Banner Year with Success Trying New Things! 

Below are the key highlights, interesting statistics and achievements for the Monthly 

Education Committee for 2011–2012: 

• All topics for the year were specifically chosen from requested topics of member comments from 

2010–2011 evaluations. The committee voted on the top eight topics. This was a careful and 

methodical process paying special attention to our members’ needs. 

• The April Monthly Meeting Speaker/Topic was determined by member votes. Three (3) topics/speakers 

were offered for the April Meeting as possibilities for vote by the entire membership in January. The 

winner was: “Exceeding Customer Expectations”—Brad Worthley Presenter (also 2nd highest rated 

meeting of the year!) 

• This year, the “Brainiac Question” was introduced at the Monthly Meetings to promote a participatory 

function to the meeting, and this also encouraged the audience to listen carefully to the presentation. 

A “quiz” question pertaining to the information shared by the speaker was asked following the 

presentation, and the winner (first person to answer with the correct answer) received a prize. 

• In direct response to survey comments that our members wanted more networking opportunities, 

we debuted this year at three monthly meetings a networking exercise/game during the registration 

period. This promoted more interaction amongst members and increased attendee engagement. 

• Of special note, the December, 2012 speaker, Greg Duff, won the recent Session Face-Off for a 

presentation at WEC in St. Louis, July 26–30, 2012. This not only provides recognition for our chapter 

and Greg, but also brings with it a cash prize to the chapter to be used toward our future education 

expenses. 

• Our speakers this year provided over $11,000 of in-kind services to us (by greatly reducing or omitting 

their usual fees). This generosity gave us top level speakers at over a 50% savings. This amazing effort 

shows that our chapter leadership understands the value of our available funds and the importance 

of stretching these funds as far as possible. These savings also result in additional rebates from MPI 

International that can be used toward future education expenses. 

Start the 2012–2013 MPI 

Year off Right! 

The Fundraising Committee is 

looking for donations for the 

first 50/50 Raffle of the year. 

Please let us know if you are 

interested in donating a prize 

to be raffled off at the August 

2012 Networking Social. It is a 

great marketing opportunity 

to get both planners and 

suppliers familiar with your 

product and/or service. Please 

let Nichole Cooper know if you 

are interested at 503-796-5926 

or nichole.cooper@hilton.com. 

Goals/Benchmarks for the Year 

99Satisfaction rating on program content—Goal for 

year was: 4.20/Final Average: 4.14—So close, and 

a superb year. 

99Three (3) Highest Attended Chapter Meetings: 

• Ron Black—Sales Techniques—February 

2012 (114), Jim Spellos/Technology 

Trends—May, 2012 (111), Brad Worthley/ 

Exceeding Customer Expectations— 

April, 2012 (96) 

99Three (3) Highest Rated Chapter Meetings: 

• Jim Spellos/Technology Trends—May, 

2012, (4.76), Brad Worthley/Exceeding 

Customer Expectations—April, 2012, 

(4.65), Greg Duff/Contract Trends—(4.58) 

8 | The ORacle 

MPI Oregon Chapter

mEMBER SPOTLIGHT 

San Diego 

The Power of Positivity 

What does this upbeat, can-do attitude have to do with your next meeting? Everything. 

Positivity. It’s what leads to mega-productivity, 

limitless creativity, and lasting partnerships, and 

in San Diego, it is never in short supply. With a 

recent revitalization and impressive upgrades 

on the horizon, the destination is guaranteed to 

make you shine. 

Over the last decade, with the addition of PETCO 

Park, new cultural facilities, new hotel product, 

and freeway improvements, the destination has 

transformed into an even more ideal site to inspire 

your group. Today, the destination continues to 

evolve into the ultimate meeting location with 

a series of user-friendly additions and upgrades. 


From the San Diego International Airport’s largest 

expansion to the North Embarcadero improvement 

project that will transform downtown’s waterfront, 

both expected to be complete in 2013, the 

destination is making it easy to wow your 

attendees. 

San Diego is also home to a wide variety of unique 

regions, each with their own personality and 

allure. Experience the laid-back luxury and worldclass 

resorts of North County and the convenience 

of Mission Valley, or let loose in the refreshed 

and lively Gaslamp Quarter. No matter what your 

MPI Oregon Chapter

group’s needs, San Diego is full of amazing hotels 

to fit any meeting’s purpose or goal. 

When you combine all of this with the destination’s 

uplifting natural surroundings, positive vibe, and 

passionate people, you’ve got yourself the perfect 

recipe for an inspiring meeting. 

All The Right Vibes 

When it comes to positivity, nowhere delivers like 

San Diego. The combination of sunny weather, 

seaside location, and friendly locals makes it a 

destination that attendees can’t wait to visit, 

which is probably why meetings here tend to have 

record-breaking attendance and are brimming 

with enthusiastic attitudes. In San Diego it’s 

impossible to feel anything but upbeat. 

No Walls, No Problem 

With spectacular sights and a year-round supply 

of endorphin-boosting weather, San Diego’s 

natural beauty makes a desirable backdrop for 

any successful meeting. Whether it’s a rooftop 

bar, a pool deck overlooking the bay, a park along 

the waterfront, or a quaint garden, it’s easy to 

take advantage of the inspiring setting by simply 

stepping outside. 

continues 


mEMBER SPOTLIGHT, cont. 

Passionate People 

As a result of San Diego’s unbeatable location 

and upbeat culture, the destination continues to 

draw the best and the brightest in the hospitality 

industry, and they all share a passion for making 

you shine. In fact, hospitality is San Diego’s thirdlargest 

industry, and many of the hotels and 

resorts in the area proudly boast seasoned staff 

members who have been creating outstanding 

meetings and providing excellent service for 

decades. No matter where you choose to hold 

your meeting, you can relax and trust that you’re 

working with the absolute best in the business. 

Citywide Synergy 

Home to a community of collaborative 

stakeholders, the people of San Diego are 

dedicated to making successful meetings a breeze. 

From the experienced National Sales Directors of 

the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau to the 

individual hotel properties, everyone is focused on 

finding creative and innovative solutions as well 

as providing state-of-the-art tools that are sure to 

make planning a meeting in San Diego as inspiring 

as attending one. 

A Positive Partnership 

San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau is 

the best first point of contact for planning a 

meeting in San Diego. Our sales team is uniquely 

qualified to provide unbiased local expertise and 

a comprehensive view of the destination. Let us 

show you how to leverage San Diego’s upbeat vibe 

to inspire can-do attitudes in your attendees. Take 

advantage of all the ways we can give you positive 

results. 

Access the most qualified partners through our 

extensive in-market relationships to address your 

meeting needs. As your personal advocate, our site 

inspection specialists provide a carefully planned 

and customized site itinerary based on your specific 

needs, so you can make the most of your visit. Our 

proprietary iLead program matches your meeting’s 

needs against 135 hotels throughout San Diego 

County. An automated email alerts you when 

proposals are ready for your review. • 

To plan your next event in San Diego, contact Jenna Bisesi, National Sales 

Director, at jbisesi@sdcvb.org or 619-557-2869. 


MPI Oregon Chapter

2012–13 MPI-OC Board 

2012–13 MPI-OC Board Off to a Great Start 

The incoming Board of Directors convened May 20–22 in Coos Bay, 

to make plans for the next chapter year. And what a productive two 

days it was! 

Member property The Mill Casino Hotel rolled out the red carpet 

and welcomed our board by hosting the retreat and taking 

extremely good care of them while they were there. 

Over the two days of meetings, the board outlined their plans for 

the coming year. They reviewed surveys, evaluations and comments 

collected throughout the year to help determine what is important 

to the members. They looked at what was accomplished last year, 

what work was in progress and what to achieve next year. 

As a group, they determined next year’s chapter goals, which 

include maintaining the number of members that we currently 

have, exceeding member satisfaction (based on scores from member 

surveys), increasing member engagement and participation and 

working within a balanced budget. 

Each team—Finance, Education, Communications and Membership— 

developed objectives and strategies to help reach the established 

chapter goals. After developing the objectives and strategies they 

then worked to produce a balanced budget. 

You can view the fruits of their labor and see what is planned 

to keep the chapter moving forward and your MPI membership 

valuable and beneficial. See the Chapter Business Plan on the MPI- 

OC website: mpioc.org/membership-and-chapters. 

It wasn’t meetings all day, every day. To kick things off Sunday 

afternoon, President Anne Hallinan and Katherine Hoppe of the Coos 

Bay—North Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau, planned a team 

building event to allow new board members to get used to working 

together. The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute assisted by opening their 

teaching kitchen, pairing our teams with a student chef and having the 

board compete in an Iron Chef type competition. Everyone had a good 

time and the judges were very impressed with the creativity and quality 

of the meals that were produced. 

So you can see, it was indeed a productive two days. The result of 

which is a new team of leaders with an aggressive, yet achievable set 

of goals for the coming year. • 

We encourage you to think of your fellow 

members when planning your next meeting! 

The Power of Membership 


RECAP 

Annual Awards Gala 2012 

Award Winners: 

Silver Platter Award 

Hilton Vancouver Washington 

Rising Star Award 

Kelly Hagerman, Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center 

Torchlight Award 

Barbara Mulligan, HelmsBriscoe 

Supplier of the Year 

Kim Herrmann, CMP, Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel 

Planner of the Year 

Melodie King, CMP, Oregon Health Care Association 

Mentor of the Year 

Stephanie Kennedy, Total Event Connection 

Dian J. Lindsay Presidential Award 

All Past Presidents 

1983–1984 Bill Boyer 

1997–1998 Amy Spatrisano, CMP 

1984–1985 Mike Fisher, CAE 

1985–1986 Max Mehlhaff 

1986–1986 Trish Kobos 

1986–1988 Dian Hilliard 

1988–1989 Randy Shipley 

1989–1990 Judy Erdman 

1990–1991 Larry Scruggs 

1991–1992 Bev Eddy 

1992–1993 Donna Lowe 

1993–1994 Nancy Zavada, CMP 

1994–1995 Pat Fuller 

1995–1996 Bob Zavada 

1996–1997 Carolyn Wence, CMP 

1998–1999 Adrienne Hartmeier 

1999–2000 Ken Hennrich, CMP, CMM 

2000–2001 Tammy Dennee, CMP, CAE 

2001–2002 Joyce Beach, CMP 

2002–2003 Eric Kingstad 

2003–2004 Ron Botts 

2004–2005 Lisa Chan, CMP 

2005–2006 Carole Garner 

2006–2007 Holly Duckworth, CMP, CAE 

2008–2007 Belinda Rasmussen, CMM 

2009–2008 Janet Kearney, CMP 

2009–2010 Maili Morrison 

2010–2011 Cindy Wallace, CMP, CMM 


MPI Oregon Chapter

Awards Gala Committee 





Royce Mason, CMP 

Royce’s Prop Shop 

Shalia Clock 



Associated General Contractors OR 

Columbia Chapter 




Team Casino & Parties 

Susan Renner, CMP 

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower 


COHO Res 

The Wine Wall and Auction raised $10,900 – a record high for our chapter. 


Certified Meeting professional 

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Designation 

Worth the Time & Effort! 

By Melodie King, CMP, Director of Education, Oregon Health Care Association, MPI-OC VP of Finance 

When I first learned about the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam and designation, 

I was a bit intimidated by the thought. The idea of an intense application process and a 

165-question test multiple choice covering a comprehensive amount of subject matter was 

overwhelming! As I considered the opportunity, a thousand questions popped into my 

head. Many of these questions I hear from other MPI-OC members who are considering 

taking the exam: 

Do I have the experience needed to sit for 

the exam? 

In order take for the CMP exam, you must meet 

requirements in two categories: 1. Professional 

experience in the meeting, event, exhibition and 

hospitality/tourism industry; and 2. Internships 

or continuing education. The application walks 

you through what experience and education is 

accepted towards these categories. I recommend 

doing a preliminary application form, filling out all 

of your experience and education. Based upon this 

preliminary application, you can easily determine 

where to focus your time to earn the experience or 

education you need to qualify for the exam. 

Is the test going to cover the practical 

knowledge that I’ve learned from being in 

the field, or is it going to be all theory and 

new information that I have to memorize? 

The CMP exam does a good job of melding 

the two together. I found that my practical 

knowledge helped me to commit to memory and 

learn the information listed in the study texts, 

because I could tie my existing field knowledge to 

the theory. 

Do I have the time to dedicate to this? 

We all struggle with not having enough time 

each day. Between work commitments, volunteer 

commitments and commitments in our personal 

lives, finding time to balance it all can be a 

challenge! I discovered that if I committed myself 

to studying for the CMP exam 30–60 minutes per 

day, I accomplished much more than if I spent an 

entire weekend studying. By making a realistic 

time expectations, setting up a structure of how to 


accomplish all the reading, and taking advantage 

of the CMP study group organized through MPI, I 

was able to utilize my limited time to study in the 

most effective manner. 

There is so much information. 

How can I possibly learn it all? 

At first glance, the volume of study materials for 

this exam can be overwhelming. The Convention 

Industry Council (CIC), who administers the exam, 

has published the CIC CMP International Standards 

(CMP-IS) (www.conventionindustry.org/Libraries/ 

CMP_IS/CIC_CMP_International_Starndards-Final- 

Web_2.sflb.ashx, page 52–55) which outlines the 

body of knowledge for the CMP program and 

exam. This document also outlines the number of 

questions on the exam that corresponds to each 

learning domain. From there you can decide your 

best course of action and determine which areas 

you will spend most of your time studying. By 

breaking the information into digestible pieces and 

utilizing your study group partners, the amount of 

information is learnable. 

This is a big financial commitment. Do I have 

the finances available to make this happen? 

There is a financial commitment involved with 

the CMP program. The total cost is a little over 

$935 (Application fee: $225, Examination fee: 

$450; Study Materials about $260). Luckily, now 

that the CMP program has transitioned into 

computer based testing (the Prometric testing 

centers have locations in Portland, Eugene and 

Bend), travel costs can be kept to a minimum. 

The good news is that there are opportunities 

within MPI to assist you with these fees. MPI-OC 

Scholarship Committee gives out scholarships 

for the CMP program each year. Contact the 

MPI Oregon Chapter

MPI Scholarship Chair, Karen 

Waggoner, CMP, CMM at 

kwaggoner@nwfpa.org to learn 

more about the scholarships 

available. 

Will it really be worth it? 

I found the answer to be 

a resounding YES! I set a 

professional goal for myself, 

put in the necessary work and 

achieved my CMP certification. 

Achieving this goal for me was 

a personal and professional 

success. I proved to myself 

that I have the ability to learn 

and achieve and I showed my 

dedication to the meetings and 

events profession. 

Everyone is busy balancing 

their work commitments with 

their personal lives. There 

are always more things to 

accomplish than time in the 

day. However, the CMP is an 

attainable goal. As meeting 

professionals, we are organizers 

and goal setters. If you set your 

mind to it, put in the effort, 

the CMP designation will be an 

attainable accomplishment. By 

setting your goals high, making 

a plan, applying yourself and 

challenging yourself, you will 

find that those three letters 

after your name, CMP, is 

something to be proud of. 

For more information about 

the CMP program and 

exam, visit the Convention 

Industry Council website: 

www.conventionindustry.org • 

“Twenty years from 

now you will be more 

disappointed by the 

things that you didn’t 

do than by the ones you 

did do.” —Mark Twain 

CMP Exam Deadlines 

and Dates Submit today! 

The Certified Meeting Profession (CMP) exam is transitioning 

into a computer based model, making the testing process more 

efficient and more convenient for test takers. There are two exam 

periods in 2012: July and November. Please use the table below for 

information about your exam period. To download the 2012 CMP 

handbook, which includes further details about the CMP Program, 

please visit: www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/CMPCandidates/ 

CMPApplication.aspx 

Application Submission 

Period 

4th Quarter 2012 1st Quarter 2013 

April 2–Aug. 7 Aug. 15–Oct. 10, 2012 

CIC Exam Registration* Aug. 21–Sept. 13 Oct. 25–Nov. 14, 2012 

Exam Appointment 

Scheduling** 

Sept. 24–Oct. 31 Nov. 21, 2012– 

Jan. 23, 2013 

Exam Period*** Nov. 1–10 Jan. 24–Feb. 2, 2013 

For more information, please visit www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/CMPCandidates 

*Once your CMP Application has been accepted by CIC, you have 1 year to take and pass the exam 

**Once you have completed your exam registration, you will receive instructions via email on 

how to schedule your exam appointment with Prometric, the testing centers administering 

the exam. Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend 

scheduling your appointment as soon as you receive your exam acceptance. You can make your 

appointment online at www.prometric.com/CIC 

***Appointments for the CMP exam are available within a 10 day window. CMP Candidates can 

schedule a time and location which works best for their schedules at www.prometric.com/CIC. 

Prometric has testing centers in Portland, Eugene and Bend. 

Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM) 

November Dates FULL 

The Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) program is the 

most prestigious certification and designation in the meetings 

industry which showcases a meeting professional’s ability to 

show strategic decision making ability, leadership and delivery of 

exceptional meetings and events. This intensive program consists 

of and application process, and on-site, 5½ day program, successful 

passage of an online essay examination and the creation of and 

passing core on a business plan created by the candidate. The CMM 

November 3–8, 2012 program in Toronto, Canada is FULL. Program 

dates for 2013 have not yet been announced. We encourage you to 

visit www.mpiweb.org/Education/CMM for more information. 


join mpi 

Top 10 Reasons to Get Involved in 

MPI-OC & Join a Committee 

10 You know you want another ribbon on your name badge. 

9 You learn skills outside your job, thus, expand your knowledge 

base (and boost your resume). 

8 You will increase your network, which will increase your 

business opportunities, which will increase your ROI on your 

membership. 

7 You will gain a better understanding of how our chapter works. 

6 You get to really know and connect with other members. 

5 It helps you develop your leadership skills. You have it in you, MPI-OC helps bring it out. 

4 Volunteering is good for you. 

3 The only way to affect change is from within. Have an idea for the chapter? Join a committee; 

be the change you want to see in our chapter. 

2 It’s FUN! 

And the #1 reason to get involved and join a committee: We are MPI and we love what we do! 


MPI Oregon Chapter

feature 

Contact: 

Tara Thomas, Strategic Alliance Director 

tarat@thedussingroup.com 

503.225.0433 

or 

Kelly Hagerman, Strategic Alliance Chair 

kelly.hagerman@cymportland.com 

503.575.4044 


MPI Annual Survey Results 

Oregon Chapter Obtains Global Excellence 

The results are in from our annual Meeting Professional International member survey and 

we are proud and excited to announce that our own Oregon Chapter ranked #6 in our 

region and #9 globally in overall member satisfaction! In addition, we averaged within the 

top third in each of the nine categories. 

We want to thank our members that participated in the survey. Your ideas, thoughts 

and suggestions are always welcome as the MPI-OC board continuously looks for ways to 

enhance the MPI experience. • 

Oregon Chapter 

Respondents 

Number of respondents: 62 

Response rate: 27% 

% planners: 37% 

Chapter Involvement 

n=59 

Rank in 

Region 

Global 

Rank 

Average number of events attended 6.6 5 6 

% attending at least one event: 90% 4 6 

% suppliers: 60% 

Average years with MPI: 6 

Satisfaction 

Top Third 

Middle Third 

Bottom Third 

High 

8-10 

Medium 

5-7 

Low 

1-4 

2012 

Average 

2011 

Average 

Rank in 

Region 

Global 

Rank 

Overall Satisfaction 82% 16% 2% 8.47 8.26 6 9 

Networking Opportunities: 81% 16% 3% 8.45 8.44 6 8 

Education Opportunities: 81% 16% 3% 8.27 8.24 7 8 

Education Content: 75% 21% 3% 8.11 7.98 8 10 

Marketplace Opportunities: 66% 31% 3% 7.62 7.87 7 8 

Chapter Communications: 82% 15% 3% 8.56 8.43 5 5 

Chapter Leadership: 92% 6% 2% 8.74 8.62 5 5 

Volunteer Opportunities: 85% 10% 5% 8.61 8.29 7 7 

Scheduled Program Times: 89% 5% 6% 8.40 8.25 8 8 

Scheduled Program Locations: 89% 6% 5% 8.42 8.68 5 5 

Copyright © 2012 Rockport Analytics, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 


MPI Oregon Chapter


MPI Summer Social 

University Place Hotel 

@ 

Portland State University 

We are having a Summer Pool 

Party! Come and relax 

by Portland's only Downtown 

outdoor pool, while you 

enjoy cocktails, 

appetizers and fun games! 

There are prizes to be won! 

Date: Tuesday, August 21 

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Community outreach 

HIP, HIP, Hooray for Community Service! 

It was the hippest year to date for MPI-OC giving. The Community Outreach 

team organized six different outreach opportunities, including: Dress 

for Success, Doggie Dash, Candlelighters for Children with 

Cancer, Mission of Mercy, and Race for the Cure in Portland 

and Eugene. Our members donated time and resources for 

these worthy organizations raising monetary funds and 

donation items. 

The Community Outreach Committee is already planning 

for next season. If there is an organization or activity that 

you would like to involve MPI Oregon Chapter members, 

please let us know. Contact Lisa Chan, CMP, 

at lisachan@oregoncc.org or 503-235-7572. 


member news 

Welcome New Members! 

Jarrad Bacon, Mt Hood Community College 

jarrad.bacon@hotmail.com 

Emily Boyd 

Oregon Medical Association & Alliance 

emily@theoma.org 

Nancy Clayton, Shore Lodge 

208-630-0291 

nclayton@shorelodgemccall.com 

Rose Marie Davis 

Mt Hood Community College 

rosemarie.davis@hotmail.com 

Jenna Decker 


503 491-7486 

Kaytie Fiedler, KT Events Solutions 

503 309-4217 

kaytieatktevents@gmail.com 

Sarah Gibson 


503 491-7486 

sarah.jane_2010@yahoo.com 

Laura Grout 

Mt. Hood Community College 

Jeff Hartup, ARC Oregon 

503 548-9652 

Jamie Herrera 


Marisol Jenkins, Lewis & Clark College 

jenkins.marisol@gmail.com 

Douglas Kacena 

Wildhorse Casino Resort 

541 966-1550 

doug.kacena@wildhorseresort.com 

Linnea Kaping 


Kara Krueger, CMP, Cvent 

kkrueger@cvent.com 

Liz Maitral 

503- 305-6590 • liz@global-dlna.org 

Katni Morris 


503 491-7486 

Kara Owen, Skamania Lodge 

503 771-9774 

kowen@destinationhotels.com 

Shawna Pauison 


Beth Price, Hotel Fifty 

503 484-1429 • beth.price@hotelfifty.com 

Alison Sadowski, Hotel Fifty 

503 484-1403 

alison.sadowski@hotelfifty.com 

Cris Schulz, Portland Events & Logistics 

cris@pdxel.com 

Joyce Willson 


Nancy Jo Yarborough 


503 491-7486 • njyarb@gmail.com 

Milene Young 

Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau 

951 252-2139 • milene@temeculacvb.com 

Members on the Move 


OHCA 

503-726-5226 

www.ohca.com 

darciel@ohca.com 


Courtyard by Marriott Portland City 

Center—A Boutique Hotel 

503-575-4044 

kelly.hagerman@cymportland.com 

Camille Greenslade 

The Resort at The Mountain 

503-622-2224 

camille.greenslade@theresort.com 

Cari Stear, CGMP 

Crowne Plaza Lake Oswego 

503-624-8400 

cari.stear@cplakeoswego.com 

Heidi Albertson 

Hilton Eugene & Conference Center 

541-342-6651 ext 6023 

halbertson@hiltoneugene.com 

Priscilla Watrous 

Watrous Industries 

pnjwatrous@yahoo.com 



971-223-1144 

cwallace@opus-solutions.com 

Jennifer Cox 

Mtr Western 

Portland—Eugene—Spokane 

206-438-8341 

jenniferc@mtrwestern.com 

Marti Castillo, CMP 

Meeting and Event Solutions 

206-818-8907 

marti_castillo@yahoo.com 

Member 

Anniversaries 

SUMMER 2012 

15 YEARS 

Gretchen Darnell 

Seaside Civic & Convention Center 

10 YEARS 

Timothy Neill 

AV Rental Services 

5 YEARS 

Janet Tipton, CMP 

Johnstone Supply, Inc. 

1 YEAR 

Tara Haley 

Florence Events Center 

Emma Lietz, ASML 

Zulay Teran 

Danielle Vaccaro, CMP 

Lewis & Clark College 

Jenna Zak 

The Riverhouse Hotel and 

Convention Center 


MPI Oregon Chapter

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