MPISCC 2011/2012 Membership Team

Vice President, Membership
Mariles Krok
Marriott International, Los Angeles – South
(310) 956-6073
mariles.krok@marriott.com

Director, Member Care
Elizabeth Brazil, CMP
Gerbera Daisy Events
(310) 308-9400
ebrazil@saber.net

Director, Awards and Recognition
Keri Shaffer, CMP
KS Events
(215) 796-1519
kerishaffer@yahoo.com

Director, Member Recruitment
Nicole Newman
SearchWide | Los Angeles, CA
(951) 640-3745
newman@searchwide.com



Important Message from the President
Dear valued members and colleagues,

It has come to our attention that some of you may have received notification from an outside organization suggesting that MPISCC is taking a position in a labor/collective bargaining dispute in the hospitality industry. We wanted to set the record straight that MPISCC is not taking a position and remains committed rather to our core objectives as a non-profit member-centric organization, delivering quality content and education.

We do not consider a labor dispute an MPISCC issue and will allow our members to make their own decisions regarding these issues.

We are pleased to continue to offer many professional development opportunities, speakers and content throughout 2012 at a variety of unique locations and look forward to engaging with you very soon!

Kind Regards,

Judi Froehlich, CMM
President, MPISCC 2011/2012

UP FOR RENEWAL
Our chapter is not only strengthened through new memberships, we stay effective when existing members renew. Jobs change, budgets decrease and economic recovery might seem slow, but your membership is valuable now more than ever. The MPI Member Care team stands ready to confidentially assist you with creative ways to keep you as an active member of the MPI family through payment plans, unemployment assistance, etc. Contact MPI Member Care at 972-702-3053.

Join MPISCC Online Registration
The objectives of MPI Southern California Chapter (MPISCC) are to promote opportunities for professional education and skills enhancement; to promote meeting planning and meeting management as a profession; and to provide a forum for the exchange of information among those involved in the meeting industry. JOIN TODAY via our secure on-line registration.

Membership Committees
Awards and Recognition
Pat Moore (Mattel)
Andrea Green (Wynn Las Vegas)

Recruitment
Hot Leads Committee:
CHAIR - Shelley Grey (Trust Company of the West)
Amy Zelinsky (A to Z Special Events)
Murielle Ferdinand (Sofitel Hotels)
Marc Berkowitz (CA Association of Realtors)
Gaetan Mousseau (Terranea Resort)

Win Back Committee:
CHAIR – TBD
Stacy Huszczo (Club Nokia)
Adele Santos-Yee (e-dmc)

New Markets Committee:
CHAIR – Ron Willison (UC Riverside, Palm Desert)
Monique Michaels-Kuhl (South Point Hotel)

Membership Drive Committee:
CHAIR – Vera Keep (HelmsBriscoe)
Danny Benaderet (The Standard downtown)

Care
Shahab Abbas (Noble House Hotels & Resorts)
Holly Davis (Cort Event Furnishings)
Kathi Ono (Red Lion Hotel Anaheim)
Jill Przelenski (Live Nation)
Jason Soporito (Plan-It Interactive
Ron Willison (UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center)
Connie Williams (Conference Direct)

Student
CHAIR - Carlos Murillo, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa
Ron Havens – Sony Picture
Elicia Magana – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Beatriz Garcia – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Christopher Chen – Cal Poly Collins College of Hospitality Management, recent Graduate
Sacha Tani – L.A. Inc
Francesca Ranieri – Synaxis Meetings
Trish McAulay – The Peninsula Hotel Chicago
Karen Yi – Cal Poly Collins College of Hospitality Management

Subscriber Membership
Click here to download the MPISCC Subscriber Membership Form.

MPISCC Connections Program
MPISCC’s Connections program is an opportunity for our members to tap into the vast collective knowledge of our chapter, and to share that knowledge on an individual level. The Connections Program allows you to meet with your peers on a one-on-one basis to accomplish a particular goal you’re striving to achieve.

Make a Connection to learn more about our chapter, or if you feel shy about networking; make a Connection to boost your knowledge of technology or emerging media; make a Connection to look for new ways to market your business or inquire about a new niche in the industry.

If you have a unique skill or area of expertise, or are a long-time member of our chapter looking to share your years of experience, be a Connector! Fill out the Connections Profile to support the growth of our industry at the individual level.

Whether you are looking to Get Connected, be a Connector, or even better – both, fill out the Connections Profile to be matched with a counterpart based on corresponding needs and skills provided. MPISCC will get you Connected!

MPISCC Registration Assistance Available
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: We care about our MPISCC members! MPISCC members with a demonstrated financial hardship (unemployment, family trauma, etc.) may request a complimentary registration for up to three monthly programs per year. Please email the MPISCC office at info@mpiscc.org to explain your situation. You will need to apply for this registration prior to the Early Bird deadline.

MPISCC Welcomes New Members at the August Monthly Meeting

Elizabeth Brazil, CMP, Gerbera Daisy Events welcomes new MPISCC member Kris Batra, Freedom Travel and Tours, Inc.

New Member Spotlight
Michael Pasternak- “The World’s Funniest Meeting Crasher”

Talk about a unique career…for more than 20 years Michael Pasternak has been ‘crashing” association and corporate meetings and banquets, wandering in completely unannounced! Posing as either the hotel“maintenance worker”, (turns out he’s got the wrong room on his work order), OR as the iconic “COLUMBO” looking for jumper cables, what follows (at a pre-arranged moment) is a hilarious, personalized program featuring fun comedic bits about key people and the organization he’s “crashing.”

What prompted you to become a member of MPI?

Having been invited over the years to “crash” many MPI functions around the country, it certainly made sense to become one of its vendors.

What do you hope to gain from becoming a member of MPI?

Although I have never had a problem picking up the phone and introducing my company to a speaker bureau or meeting planner, there’s something wonderful about meeting people face-to-face at an MPI event. Since all of my programs are “personalized,” this becomes a more “personalized” way of saying hello. I’ve already discovered that planners who belong to MPI are very open to hearing from service companies which are also MPI members.

How long have you been involved in the meeting industry and what lead you to your chosen profession?

Having a background as a writer and comedian, Scott Paper Towels hired me to get across their “technical” points to their sales force, but in a fun and memorable way. This became the template for my appearances at trade shows. I then adapted the program, this time personalizing it more around the key people that were actually attending the banquet. The “inside” humor proved to be a wonderful vehicle to bring everyone together as a team, and create a buzz long after the event was over.

What are some of your interests, hobbies, or favorite ways to spend your free time?

My wife and I have two young sons. Whether it’s baseball, basketball, soccer or flag football, what a thrill it is to see them playing organized sports, and to also have the opportunity to either manage or help out as a coach!

Lupe Tarin
Project Manager, LT Events

How long have you been involved in the meeting industry and what lead you to your chosen profession?

By chance ten years ago, while working for a manufacturing company, I was asked to fill in and support the corporate event staff and from that moment on, I was hooked. I say that it was what I always wanted to be when I grew up it but took me thirty years and some luck to figure it out. It must have been my initial desire to become an interior designer and create unique spaces that was a first clue to this career choice. The demands of planning multiple meetings and events at different stages at the same time were what satisfied my love for chaos and immediate gratification. Some people never get the chance to do what they love, I am grateful that I had that opportunity.

What prompted you to join MPI?

In preparing for the CMP exam, I lacked some of the required continuing education units and this was the best way for me to earn those credits. Joining MPI was initially, a means to the CEUs issued from many of the free webinars online. As a monthly visitor to the MPI website before becoming a member, I can say that the difference membership brings has been phenomenal. From the very first webinar, I notonly gained insight on how to better an upcoming meeting, but how to better my business planning as well. I only wish I had joined years ago.

What do you hope to gain from being a member of MPI?

I didn’t realize how hard I was working to keep up with industry trends until I joined MPI. Meeting planning is an ever-evolving industry that is affected by many factors, and in order to do my job at the standard that I expect from myself, I need MPI to continue to do that as efficiently as possible. From networking with others in the industry to the information available to planners, it’s vital if I expect to be successful.

What are some of your interests, hobbies, or favorite ways to spend your free time?

If you don’t find me in the bookstore reading every home interior magazine, business planning or self-help book on the shelves, I am at home master planning my next craft project. Anyone who knows me knows that trying to satisfy my disfunction for chaos is a constant work in progress.

David MacCormick CMP
Exposhows Inc., VP Sales
Pyrotechnic Event Management - Outdoor/Theatrical/SFX
Fireworks Displays/Special Events

What prompted you to join MPI?

MPI has been my key to understanding that a successful event hinges upon the interdependency of each individual meeting component. Interacting with leaders who live and practice our principles has been invaluable for insight and solutions on how to address and manage unfamiliar areas in meeting management.

What do you hope to gain from being a member of MPI?

I want to connect with forward-thinking MPI members who share a passion for creating guest perfect experiences, aware that the return client is a valuable, revenue-boosting commodity. Identifying aspects of fabulous events that can be reproduced and then performing those actions whenever necessary remains a personal focus. Contributions, ideas and recommendations we make now, will shape the path of those who follow, which is why it’s important to connect at MPI.

How long have you been involved in the meeting industry and what led you to the profession?

I’ve spent fifteen years in the meetings industry from full-blown pharma conferences to small local events. What I learned about treating guests well, especially from my parents who are dinner party experts, is what spurred me into this career path.

We can teach the smallest details of service but the concept of hospitality extends beyond mastering professional skills. There is nothing like bringing strangers into a space, making them feel they want to return again and ensuring we have done everything in our control to make them happy.

Interests/Hobbies/Favorite way to spend free time

I like the kitchen, exploring ethnic fusion and traditional cooking. Mandarin Chinese, kite surfing, rugby, golf and travel remain my most prevalent hobbies.


Can your clients find you?
They can if you're listed in the MPISCC Membership Directory. The Directory makes it easy for potential clients to find you by publishing your contact information. But wait - how can you be sure that the information MPISCC publishes in the Directory is accurate? You'll need to visit the MPI International website by at www.mpiweb.org to change your information with MPI International. Although the MPISCC Directory is published once a year (in October) MPISCC members can find you if your information has changed by keeping your contact information up-to-date on the MPI website at www.mpiweb.org. You'll need to know your membership number to change your profile as it is your password and your last name is your user name.

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