Saluting our Members of the Month 2012-2013

April 2013 - Cathy Bellatin

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business? 

15+ years in events, promotions and hospitality

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience? 
Meeting and working with amazing people

Why did you first join MPI?
The opportunity to network with individuals in my industry, meeting great people with similar goals, education, and creating lasting relationships.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership? 
Strategic Alliance Committee, Carson Kressley Event Chair, MPI volunteer with Bowling with the kids at Splitsville.

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership? 
Building lasting relationships with amazing individuals 

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.). 
As soon as I graduated from college my dream to work for Club Med came true and I was off to work for them and live in the Bahamas doing special events at two of their clubs- Eleuthera Bahamas and then Paradise Island Bahamas. One of the best experiences of my life. 

March 2013 - Heather Stewart

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business? 
I've been in the event industry for five years!

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience? 
I really loved working as an event planner but since I’ve made the transition from planner to supplier I’m really enjoying this side of events!  I have the opportunity to really get to know other vendors and work with them in a different capacity.  Also my previous experience as a planner makes it easier to understand and relate to my clients which they can appreciate.

Why did you first join MPI?
To meet and connect with other meeting and event professionals in the Bay area.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership? 
The Strategic Alliance committee has been my first involvement with MPI.  I’m excited to see what direction I will go next!

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership? 
The connections I’ve made are definitely valued.  I also think the learning process of putting on such a large event for Carson Kressley with my committee has been very educational and very inspiring.  It’s amazing to see everyone come together for an event in terms of all the in kind donations we receive…. It’s great to be involved in an organization where everyone wants to participate!

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.). 
I enjoy offshore fishing with my fiancé and his family.  Dolphin fishing has been my favorite so far and I would LOVE to catch a billfish one day!

February 2013 - Michelle Taunton

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
Going on 25 years.

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
A 700-person conference in New Orleans in 2007 – just 18 months after Hurricane Katrina – that had a lot of challenges, including the fact that half our attendees were deaf or hard of hearing. The conference itself ended up running as close to flawless as you can get, and the attendees and my client were all extremely happy with the outcome. It was very rewarding to see it all come together so well despite the challenges leading up to it.

Why did you first join MPI?
I originally joined for the educational component. Like many meeting planners, I’d “fallen” into meeting planning and had no formal education in the area, so I looked to MPI’s educational content.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership?
I’ve been handling the marketing for the Education Committee since the summer.

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
By far, it’s been the wonderful connections I’ve made with other meeting professionals. The education is great, too.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).
I have my pilot’s license AND I’ve skydived out of a perfectly good airplane.

January 2013 - Gennie Chamberlain

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
I have been planning meetings and events as a Project Manager at an advertising agency for over 10 years, but left two years ago to focus solely on conference planning.

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
I love to learn, so I have enjoyed meeting all my conference session speakers and learning so many new things about different industries from them.

Why did you first join MPI?
For networking and getting more industry knowledge.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership?
So far, only the communications comittee where I’ve handle some of the social media responsibilities. Right now, I am concentrating on Facebook for our chapter.

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
Being able to attend the WEC when it was in Orlando.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).
I am a serial volunteerer! My free time is spent volunteering at my son’s school, for the local YMCA and just got involved with a group that is trying to get homeless youth off the streets.

December 2012 - Bailey Shields, CMP

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business? 
I have been in the hospitality industry since 1983 so I’m coming up on 30 years! 

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience? 
My best experience?  Hard to say.  Perhaps the time when, as a bartender at the Portland Marriott, I was tipped $100.00 for serving two bloodies?  Or the time as a Front Office Manager in DC that I helped turn a furious, exhausted traveler whose plane was late and luggage was lost and was now being walked to another hotel(and he was from NY no less) back into a human being?  Or the first time as a Sales Manager that I was able to move a large booking from a competitor to my hotel?  – there have been so many great experiences that’s why I love this business.  By the way, being chosen as MPI’s Member of the Month ranks right up there!

Why did you first join MPI?  
I joined MPI to take advantage of professional networking opportunities.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership? 
I serve on the Education and Membership Committees

What's the most important/valued thingyou’ve gained from your membership? 
I love the new friendships I have begun, I love the quality of the luncheon speakers at the monthly meetings, and I love the free Toffee to Go!

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).  
My true love is my Golden Retriever, Jack, and my sustaining fantasy for my retirement is to write a biographical novel about Alexander Hamilton. 

November 2012 - Amy Azzarelli

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
Including my internship at Tampa Bay & Company I have been in the industry for 8 years.

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
My best experience was being involved in the Republican National Convention. From when Tampa bid on it to planning many events at my venues.

Why did you first join MPI? 
I joined MPI because Jason Carroll forced me to. JK! I joined to create relationships and generate business with people that are in the same industry as me.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership?
I’ve been involved in education, membership and strategic alliance. I’ve also been an ambassador and on the gala committee a couple times.

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
The most valuable thing that I have gained from being a member of MPI by far is the friendships that I have made.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.). 
An interesting fact about me is that I also design hair pieces for weddings and various occasions. I actually just started making baby hair pieces too!

October 2012 - Jennifer Johnson

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
I have been in the meetings and events industry for 10 years. I started planning events while in college and transitioned to wedding planning after graduation.  Soon after that I began working with event technology for AVI-SPL.

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
My best experience has been working with so many creative industry people over the years and gaining a better understanding of all of the different parts that it takes to pull a conference together.

Why did you first join MPI? 
As a supplier, I first joined MPI to meet new experts in our industry.  I was also interested in attaining my CMP certification.  Luckily our chapter has a great study group and I was able to reach that goal.  Plus Jim Engelmann made me join.  

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership?
Currently I am on Communications and Strategic Alliance committees.  I plan the After 5 Networking events and pull together the Connections newsletter.  I have also taken on our Toys for Tots campaign and co-chairing the 2013 Gala.  

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
I have met some exceptional people, built business relationships and most importantly lots friendships. Working with a few committees has helped me appreciate what our chapter does to keep our members informed of the latest trends.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).
While being a paratrooper sounds fun, I spend most of my free time practicing my negotiation skills with my three year old daughter.  She has recently started swimming lessons, so I spent lots of time at the pool hoping to raise the next Michelle Phelps.  My husband is also in the AV industry so we spend date nights discussing event lighting and stage designs.  I’m definitely the planner of our group, so I am quick to make a list and assign tasks for even the simplest get together.  I really enjoy what I do and am very lucky to be a part of such an inspirational MPI chapter!        

September 2012- It's a Tie!
Dan Doidge & Kory Lake Butler

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
After graduating from USF, I started my first career position as an AV Director in 1992.  In 1998, I launched Banzai Audio Visual Productions.

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
It is hard to say what defined my best experience.  I am very fortunate to be in an industry where I get to work with a wide range of clients from professional services, manufacturing, politics and even professional sports.  A very memorable moment was when I was involved in the 2009 Super Bowl.  It was impressive to be a part of such a gigantic event.

Why did you first join MPI?
Of course as any supplier, I joined to expand my professional network.  However, the educational impact is even greater than I imagined.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership?
I have been a member of the Educational Committee since I became a member 2.5 years ago.  I have helped produce the last two Meetings Academies and I am a new inductee into the Logistics Committee.

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
I will definitely say that I have gained a better understanding of the Meetings Industry.  Getting to know the individual planners has been great and it has helped me become a better service provider.  I love to hear the challenges that the planners are facing and think of creative solutions to help them be more successful.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).
I enjoy distance running and after several years, I have finally logged 1,000 miles running with the Nike+ App.

Kory Lake Butler

Kory Lake Butler, Manager Global Accounts at HelmsBriscoe

Kory enjoys building great business-to-business relationships with her customers, HelmsBriscoe and the hospitality arena worldwide. She brings over 18 years of experience in the meetings industry and has served a multitude of positions with the Tampa Bay Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, serving as the chapter president in 2002 and the marketing chair for the 2006 and 2010 Southeast Educational Conference presented by the Florida Chapters for MPI. Kory is a past recipient of TBMPI Supplier-of-the-Year Award in 2005 and the Torchlight through Leadership Award in 2001. She has been affiliated with the Junior League of Tampa Bay since 2004 and serves the local community through various charitable organizations. Kory and her husband Jamie are amateur Triathletes enjoying the great outdoors and friendly competition on the weekends. MPI has given her a great sense of community and professional education through the years.

August 2012- Stacy DeMarse

How many years have you been in the Meetings/Event business?
17 years

During that time, what would you say has been your best experience?
Starting my own company would definitely be my best experience.  I was able to take the knowledge and skills I learned from working in the industry along with my passion for the business and drive to excel to build a successful business.  I enjoy the aspect of wearing many different hats throughout the day and the challenges it brings.

Why did you first join MPI?  
Originally back in 2001.  I decided to let my membership go since I was traveling so much and unable to make any meetings.  I rejoined in 2011 after attending the WEC and realizing the value of the networking and education I was missing out on.

What committees/volunteer opportunities have you been involved in during your membership? 
2012 SEC Auction Co-Chair

What's the most important/valued thing you’ve gained from your membership?
Relationships!   I have a great network of planners and suppliers that I now call my friends.  Not only do we potentially do business together but we share best practices which is big for a small company like mine.

Please tell us any interesting fact about you that you’d like us to know (ie, you’re a paratrooper on the weekends, you belly dance for fun, etc.).
I just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary on July 25.  I married the man of my dreams at 20 years old and today we have a beautiful family that includes my son Ashton age 10, my daughter Ryleigh age 8, my lovable dog Bailey and two fish!

July 2012 - Katie Olender