Awards

Director

Danny Treece
American Meetings & Events, Inc.
5200 Wilkinson Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: 704-399-8000
dtame-cltnc@att.net

Chair - Awards

Debbie Furr
Hilton Charlotte University Place
Phone: 704-651-0175
debbie.furr@hilton.com

Committee Members

Barbara Berman, CMP
AICPA
bberman@aicpa.org

Andrea Giorno
Holiday Inn Charlotte Center City
giornoa@gfhotels.com

Susan Hornsby
AFR Event Furnishings
shornsby@rentfurniture.com

Jerry Lotich
The Blake Hotel
jlotich@BlakeHotelNC.com

Dixie Smith
Duke Energy
drsmith@duke-energy.com

Committee responsibilities and goals:

The Awards Committee is charged with managing and facilitating appreciation for and recognition of the outstanding achievements of individual chapter members, and rewarding volunteer involvement on committees. Towards this end duties include spotlighting committee activity with member names in newsletter/website bi-monthly, developing a recognition tool for outstanding committees at each meeting on the Board’s recommendation. The committee is responsible for awarding the "Pat on the Back" Award to a non-board member for outstanding volunteer service bi-monthly.

Another primary committee responsibility is furthering the visibility and value of meeting professionals within our chapter. Annual awards are given to members in recognition for outstanding service to the chapter in the following categories: Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Legacy, and Tomorrow’s Leader.

The Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Legacy, and Tomorrow's Leader Awards are given at MPI-CC's annual Awards and Installation Gala. Nomination forms are sent out to the membership in late March/early April with a deadline of mid-April for nominations. After a member has been nominated, it is the responsibility of the Awards Chair to send them a questionnaire to fill out and return; the Awards Committee grades the applications according to an established point system. The awards are based on MPI-CC service including International and Chapter participation; industry contributions and community service including membership/involvement in other organizations, articles written in the hospitality press, speaking engagements, and awards/professional recognition; professional/career advancement including professional designations; biographical information; job description; and current letters of commendation. Upon receiving either one of these awards, recipients are not eligible for consideration again for a five-year period.

The Nancy B. Holder Scholarships were established to provide education opportunities to our members, encourage professionalism, return benefits to our members, and encourage involvement in Meeting Professionals International. The number of scholarships is determined by the Board of Directors annually. Also, the dollar amount for the scholarships is determined annually by the Board of Directors. Currently there are six (6) $1600.00 scholarships. The Board is required to keep $25,000 in the scholarship fund at all times. Upon receiving a chapter scholarship award, recipients are not eligible to receive same scholarship for a three-year period. Criteria for selection are based on the following:

a) Length of time in the meetings industry b) Participation in previous national or regional MPI conferences c) Participation in MPI-Carolinas Chapter d) Other professional organization affiliations e) Professional achievements f) Professional goals and how MPI alliance and this scholarship factors in these goals g) Employer authorization