Letter From the President
Dear Members, Chapter Sponsors, and Supporters,
We are a month into the new MPI Pittsburgh Board of Directors term and the excitement is contagious. We have events that will be coming soon to our website and social media! Starting with networking at a Yappy Hour to meet our incoming board members and enjoy the company of our furry friends. If you are new to Pittsburgh or MPI Pittsburgh Chapter, this is a great opportunity to meet other meeting and event professionals in the area.
We are planning on broadening our venue selection this year by not only visiting hotels, but also golf courses, ski resorts and more in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. If you want us to showcase your venue at a future event, please visit our Event Venue RFP under the Education & Events tab.
I look forward to meeting each of you and connecting to make Pittsburgh THE city to host meetings and events. With your support, we can create memorable educational programs and meaningful experiences. Thank you for everything you do and we hope to see you soon!
-Taylor Bombalski, MPI Pittsburgh President
Upcoming Events
Friday, August 19th
4:00-6:00pm
Come out & meet the new board members & enjoy the beautiful new Sly Fox @ the Highline. Also, don't forget to bring your pup too!
$10 Registration Fee Includes: 1 FREE DRINK TICKET $2 OFF ALL BEER; $2 OFF ALL SHARABLES
Summer Business Reception Recap
Our board members had a great time networking at Zone 28 for the Pittsburgh Business Exchange Summer Reception on July 20th! Where they meet some amazing people and looking forward to working with them in the future on some great events for our members.
Member of the Month
Meet Renee (Lutz) Shelly, the Director of Special Events at stage AE/AEG Presents with over 25 years of experience. Renee's love of events started before college. When Renee was in high school, she attended a wedding reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Coraopolis and immediately fell in love with the hotel. Therefore, when it was time for her to do an internship at the University of Pittsburgh, she contacted the hotel and asked if they would be open to her doing an internship with them. Peggy, their HR Director created a program just for Renee where she worked in every department of the hotel and at the end of her internship, they offered her a position. When Renee is not planning events, you can find her boating or dining with friends. Read on for some fun facts about Renee!
- ❤️ What do you love most about meetings & events? I love helping my clients pull off amazing events. It is one of the best feelings in the world to receive appreciation from happy clients and guests.
- 🤔What do you want to get out of MPI Pittsburgh? Relationships and collaboration. I enjoy sharing best practices and success stories with other like-minded people.
- 💡 What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? If someone asks you a question you don’t know, say you don’t know and get back to them with an answer.
- ⚡ If you had one superpower, what would it be? Human teleportation. I recently moved to Cape Coral, FL, and frequently travel back to Pittsburgh, PA for events and appointments. I would love to save time, money and skip the airports!
- ✈️ What is your dream vacation? I have many dream vacations on my bucket list, however, the next big trip will be chartering a catamaran to hop the Virgin Islands to celebrate my 50th birthday.
- 🍚What is your favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh? I enjoy Amels regularly, however, Alla Famiglia is my annual treat for my birthday.
- 🍿 What is your guilty pleasure? Binge-watching Netflix shows
- What is your most-used emoji? Smiley face 😊
Partner With Us!
MPI Pittsburgh is a strong and vibrant chapter, with a membership consisting of over 160 planners and suppliers. We are looking for the right brands to partner with -- that's where you come in. Click below to view our partnership packages and learn more about supporting MPI Pittsburgh.
To learn more, email Gina Litterini at: glitterini@sunrocevents.com
Showcase Your Venue
We all have a favorite venue space, why not showcase your favorite venue to our 85+ members? Because when we work together we can create great things.
CMP Academy
The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation is a must-have for event organizers, designers, and strategists who want to demonstrate their professionalism to employers, peers and clients. But the test is challenging, and meeting professionals who want to pass it must prepare in various ways—including self-study, skills gap, needs analysis, and prep courses.
Join industry icon and thought leader Joanne Dennison, CMP, MSEd, for this open-floor and interactive CMP Academy class that will help you feel confident going into the exam room with best practices as outlined in the CMP-International Standards (CMP-IS).
Learn proven study methods, test-taking tips, relaxation techniques and stories that make the concepts “sticky.” No matter where you are in the process (including recertification), this course will help prepare you for the exam and apply standard practices it on the job.
MPI is Where We Come To Gather
When we gather, we revive. We modernize. We solve. No one understands that better than event professionals. That’s why, through regional chapters, education and events, MPI brings together the people that bring people together. Let’s gather! Experience MPI today. #MPI50
Thanks for reading through our August newsletter! Have something you'd like to include in our September issue? Reach out to our Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Kristen Hammett, at kristenhammett123@gmail.com.
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