MPI Renews CMM Program Agreement with UVA, Darden Executive Education

Joins Partner GBTA in Recognizing Recipients from Last Class of 2015

DALLAS, TX and ALEXANDRIA, VA – April 19, 2016 – Meeting Professionals International (MPI)has renewed an education agreement with the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation for the Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) Program. Faculty from the Darden Executive Education team will continue to provide instruction for the program, which is delivered in partnership by MPI and the GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) Foundation, through this year.

In addition, MPI and GBTA recently presented the CMM to 39 more meeting and travel professionals from the class held November 12 – 15, 2015, in Anaheim, Calif. This brings the total number of holders to 1,128 worldwide.

“When we updated the CMM Program in 2014, our goal was to elevate the educational quality of the program to align with the standard of well-regarded executive education programs offered in the U.S. and Europe. Today we can say with confidence that we have taken the program to the next level thanks to our collaboration with the University of Virginia Darden School,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “CMM class participants continue to provide glowing reviews of the Darden School faculty, as well as the overall program, so we look forward to working with them further on upcoming programs.”

The CMM Program is an intensive participatory training program covering topics critical for meeting and event industry and business travel managers to master, including risk mitigation, business analytics and compliance, and strategic negotiation. CMM classes scheduled for 2016 include Las Vegas (May 6 – 9), Norfolk, Virginia (August 25 – 28), and Reno, Nevada (November TBD). For more information on the CMM Program, please visit www.mpiweb.org/CMM.

“Congratulations to the new group of CMM recipients. MPI and GBTA commend you on your achievement,” added Van Deventer.

The following 39 professionals from the Anaheim class have achieved the distinguished CMM designation.

Rick Bissonett |Horizon Meetings |Georgetown, TX
Jody Brandes |Genentech |South San Francisco, CA
Macarena Carballo, CMP, CMM |Evans Hotels| San Diego, CA
Liz Cherson, CMP| Greylock Partners| Menlo Park, CA
Sandra DiDomizio, MBA |Green Fox Events & Guest Services, LLC |Mammoth Lakes, CA
Clarissa Emrich-Mosbey |Creative Meetings & Events, Inc. |Spring, TX
Tracy A. Feinsilver| Euromoney Trading, LTD.| Brooklyn, NY
April Ferguson, CMP| BCD M&E |Raleigh, NC
Kim Fields| Barkley Kalpak Agency |White Plains, NY
Eric James Gaffney| Loews Hollywood Hotel |Hollywood, CA
Colleen Gernhart, CMM, CMP CTE |Stoel Rives LLP |Portland, OR
Alison Harding, CMP, GTP| Global Knowledge |Cary, NC
Crista Hassett| National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies| Indianapolis, IN
Shana Hoy, CMP| Husch Blackwell |Kansas City, MO
Rebecca Murtland |Kelly Crowley Maritime Corporation| Jacksonville, FL
Sandra Lady, CMP| Los Angeles Convention Center/AEG Facilities |Los Angeles, CA
Edeline Larkins |Wells Fargo| Charlotte, NC
Jackie Larson| Ashley Furniture Industries| Arcadia, WI
Megan Masters | KPMG LLP | San Francisco, CA
Torrye Metoyer | P2 Energy Solutions |Manvel, TX
Donna Mizell | Mantech International | Fairfax, VA
Gary Murakami| MGM Resorts International| San Francisco, CA
Carla M. Pacheco| Lockheed Martin |Littleton, CO
Joyce Paschall| American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine| Elk Grove Village, IL
Beth Quinn| FLIR Systems, Inc.| Newberg, OR
Andrea Ramirez | Affinity Development Group, Inc.|San Diego, CA
Jessica Rienecker |Visit Anaheim |Anaheim, CA
Jenna Riggio |Anaplan | San Francisco, CA
Victoria Salcido, CMP| Asilomar Conference Grounds |Pacific Grove, CA
Jean Sanford| TeamHealth |Knoxville, TN
Susanna Schultze |WWF International| Switzerland
Brittney B. Shaw |AAA| Orlando, FL
Tom Smith | Baxalta Corporation |Westlake Village, CA
Kamala Srikar |AFSCME |Washington, DC
Suzanne Swanson, CMP | AVID Center |San Diego, CA
Megan Tate |Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. |San Diego, CA
Ms. Mike Thomas |Mentor Graphics Corporation |Wilsonville, OR
Kate Van Graafeiland, CMP, CMM | National Board of Medical Examiners |Philadelphia, PA
Christina M. Zara |Roswell, GA

About UVA Darden School Foundation
The Darden School Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the Darden School by promoting philanthropic support from alumni, friends and corporations; managing endowment funds for the School’s exclusive benefit; and operating Darden’s top-ranked Executive Education program, the Inn at Darden and Abbott Center hospitality. Darden’s elected board of trustees oversees the Foundation’s strategies and gives time and advice, providing an important link between the academic and business communities.

About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest and most vibrant global meeting and event industry association. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry. MPI membership includes approximately 18,500 members belonging to more than 80 chapters and clubs in 22 countries. For additional information or to join, visit www.mpiweb.org.

About the GBTA Foundation
Collectively, GBTA’s 7,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA provides its growing network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts with world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media. The Foundation was established in 1997 to support GBTA’s members and the industry as a whole. As the leading education and research foundation in the business travel industry, the GBTA Foundation seeks to fund initiatives to advance the business travel profession. The GBTA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, see www.gbta.org and www.gbta.org/foundation.