A Note From Our President, Becky Faris
Each year, I come off of Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) with a fresh excitement about our industry and the importance of live events. What we do is truly special – how many other industries can say that they play a vital role in facilitating connections every single day? A big thank you to everyone who joined us to champion live meetings and events. What an incredible day it was!
With spring now in full swing (the birds chirping has been music to my ears!), we are gearing up for our biggest fundraiser of the year, May Celebration. We’re looking forward to celebrating at Hotel Monaco on Tuesday, May 14th from 4:30 to 7:00pm and hope you’ll join us for an evening full of fun and many chances to win amazing silent auction and chance raffle prizes.
New this year, we’ll be opening the silent auction online prior to the event, which means you can start bidding on packages before the event even begins! And for those attending in person, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase chance tickets for our GRAND PRIZE —a trip to Las Vegas, complete with a two-night hotel stay and round-trip flights! You’ll find a link to register for May Celebration below and I encourage you to register yourself, colleagues, friends, spouses… the more the merrier! Your support will make a huge difference for our chapter and help us keep doing great things together.
In addition to prepping for May Celebration, the chapter will be reviewing applications for our 2025 Board of Directors term and is celebrating a HUGE announcement related to the RISE Awards. Read all about both below!
Becky Faris, Chapter President
Upcoming Events
Surviving to Thriving: Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Tuesday, June 18th, 9:00-11:00am
Nova Place
100 South Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Because no one should ever burn out of a Life they Love! Today's professionals face increasing demands that often surpass their capacity to cope. This won’t change anytime soon, so we must develop stress management strategies and establish good boundaries to safeguard their well-being as the pressure continues. Rachelle Stone will be joining us for the morning, as she guides us to find the right balance between work and play. Combining her Leadership Consulting, Executive Coaching, and Mental Fitness training, she has created the perfect trifecta for achieving real change and growth in one’s life
Stellar Connections: Networking Among the Cosmos
Tuesday, July 16th, 3:00-5:00pm
Space Bar
22 Market Square, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Embark on a journey beyond the ordinary and into the vast reaches of space at our exclusive networking event at Space Bar Market Square. Discover new connections, exchange ideas, and cultivate partnerships that will propel your professional trajectory to new heights. Break the ice with interactive Mingle Bingo designed to spark meaningful conversations and indulge in celestial-inspired refreshments as you mingle amidst a captivating atmosphere of stars and galaxies.
Registration opening soon.
Director of Marketing Role OPEN!
Interested in graphic design, copywriting, public relations, and/or social media? You just may be the perfect candidate to fill a newly open role on the Board of Directors - the Director of Marketing! This role would commence immediately and resume until the end of the 2024 term (December 31st, 2024). Interested members should reach out to Chapter President, Becky Faris (becky.faris@concordhotels.com) to apply.
Member Spotlight
Adeline will graduate from the Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management Program this May.
💖What did you love most about your experience as a student MPI member?
My favorite aspect of being an MPI student member was the opportunity to connect with industry professionals at various events.
🤩What was one of your favorite events you’ve attended?
Among these experiences, the FAM trip stood out as particularly memorable. Witnessing the diverse sectors within the hospitality industry during that trip was very informative. Another event that I thoroughly enjoyed was GMID 2023. As students, we had the chance to witness firsthand the careful planning involved in such an event. It was a privilege for me to participate on a panel alongside Emma, our student chapter president, as the moderators, where we had the opportunity to pose insightful questions to industry professionals.
💭What advice would you give to freshmen students who are interested in studying meetings and events in college?
If I were to offer guidance to incoming freshmen interested in studying meetings and events in college, I'd advise them to engage with clubs right away. Joining clubs presents an excellent opportunity to build friendships and establish connections with professionals in the industry.
🎓What are your plans for after graduation?
Following graduation, I intend to relocate to Pittsburgh and pursue a career in the events industry.
✨Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your experience?
Being a part of MPI has truly helped me recognize my passion for pursuing a career in organizing special events. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a fantastic club. While I will miss being a student member, I aspire to transition into a professional member of MPI in the future.
New & Renewing Members
🙋♀️Welcome to our NEW members and a huge shout out to RENEWING members!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Thanks for reading through our May newsletter! Have something you'd like to include in our June issue?
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