Looking Forward...2018-2019 and Beyond

Now is the time to be involved with MPISCC as we wrap up the current year and honor the past 40! I’ve had the opportunity to look back through 4 decades of successful leadership and incredible accomplishments. This is truly an exceptional chapter and we have much to look forward to. There is a packed calendar of events to share with you & dates already confirmed through 2019.

We’re proud to announce the Southern California Chapter Strategic Plan. This living document was created mid-year in collaboration with past presidents and the current board. Careful consideration was given to each area of our chapter. This long-term strategy will guide us for three to five years through succession planning and board transitions. Improvements will continue to be made in the number of networking opportunities we provide, the communications we send to you and the value of engaging with our chapter leadership by volunteering.

None of this would be possible without an amazing group of meeting & event professionals on the incoming board of directors. We have studied our chapter’s unique DNA and developed a board from corporate planners to third party management, DMCs and DMOs, hotel sales, special event venues and entertainment professionals. I’m proud to be leading these trailblazers into the future of our chapter’s growth and development. I encourage you to meet these individuals at our networking event in July on board a Hornblower yacht in Marina del Rey.

The incoming 2018-2019 board of directors recently finished our annual retreat. Each one of our departments has doubled down on their commitments to our members. This year’s business plan is full of initiatives that are designed with each one of you in mind. We’re striving to engage and inspire as an inclusive community. The success of our chapter depends on all of us coming together, finding that moment to be extraordinary and seizing the day.

A healthy community is important to all of us. This is measured by our annual membership survey in February and we’re focused on implementing your feedback. Please help us deliver the education & networking value that keeps our members satisfied and returning to our events each month. We want to hear from you, whether you’re just beginning your membership or you’ve been a member for more than 15 years. There is so much for us to learn from the entire meetings & events community in Southern California.

There is no better way to make new friends and provide professional development than volunteering. We are updating our website this year to include numerous opportunities to get involved. Join a committee or chair one of our dozens of events. You won’t find a safer place to be creative, experiment or try something new. We’re celebrating our volunteers more often with more opportunities to be recognized. Don’t forget about our scholarships and chapter awards either. Be sure to check out the new website later this fall.

Thank you to all of our members for allowing me to have an opportunity to serve this chapter. This is going to be a great adventure and the beginning of another 40 years of history in the making!

Bryan Quinan, CMP
Chapter President, 2018-2019