Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program

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Emeritus CMPs

UNTITLED
(Essay for Emeritus Status)
By Phyllis A. Brashears, CMP
Williamsburg, VA
Originally Certified: 1995

The CMP Certification has been especially rewarding for me since I came into meeting management late in life with life experience rather than on the job training. I am a teacher by degree but didn’t teach while my children were growing up. I am a military wife and moved frequently with my husband and family and became involved in volunteer activities with various degrees of responsibility. When we moved to Virginia, I went back to work as an administrative assistant at the American Association of Blood Banks. I thought I didn’t want many responsibilities!! But I soon realized that I needed more. When the job of assistant director of meetings services became available, I applied and was hired because of the confidence of my supervisors and the experiences I had over the years. But here is where the CMP became invaluable to me.

Yes, life experience is good, but there are so many skills to the job that are not apparent at first. For example, for negotiation and contracts you really need skills that are only available from learning from other people and study. How to set a room, the audio-visual needs, and catering options are just a few examples of what must be learned. So as soon as I was eligible I enjoyed studying for the CMP and learned so much to help me in my job. Interacting with so many great people was a bonus of earning the CMP. Because of my age, people would expect me to know more than a beginner. The CMP designation was a great way for me to progress quickly in learning all the facets of meeting planning. It gave me credibility and much needed knowledge to do well in my job and to be promoted to director. When you have CMP beside your name, people in the industry trust that you are a good planner with good skills.

I have always been proud of being a Certified Meeting Professional and although I don’t plan to work any more, I am back in the volunteer world, using those same skills I learned. I love having those initials beside my name to remind me of all I learned and the wonderful people I met while earning that designation.

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©2004 Convention Industry Council
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Emeritus CMPs

UNTITLED
(Essay for Emeritus Status)
By Phyllis A. Brashears, CMP
Williamsburg, VA
Originally Certified: 1995

The CMP Certification has been especially rewarding for me since I came into meeting management late in life with life experience rather than on the job training. I am a teacher by degree but didn’t teach while my children were growing up. I am a military wife and moved frequently with my husband and family and became involved in volunteer activities with various degrees of responsibility. When we moved to Virginia, I went back to work as an administrative assistant at the American Association of Blood Banks. I thought I didn’t want many responsibilities!! But I soon realized that I needed more. When the job of assistant director of meetings services became available, I applied and was hired because of the confidence of my supervisors and the experiences I had over the years. But here is where the CMP became invaluable to me.

Yes, life experience is good, but there are so many skills to the job that are not apparent at first. For example, for negotiation and contracts you really need skills that are only available from learning from other people and study. How to set a room, the audio-visual needs, and catering options are just a few examples of what must be learned. So as soon as I was eligible I enjoyed studying for the CMP and learned so much to help me in my job. Interacting with so many great people was a bonus of earning the CMP. Because of my age, people would expect me to know more than a beginner. The CMP designation was a great way for me to progress quickly in learning all the facets of meeting planning. It gave me credibility and much needed knowledge to do well in my job and to be promoted to director. When you have CMP beside your name, people in the industry trust that you are a good planner with good skills.

I have always been proud of being a Certified Meeting Professional and although I don’t plan to work any more, I am back in the volunteer world, using those same skills I learned. I love having those initials beside my name to remind me of all I learned and the wonderful people I met while earning that designation.

(Back to all Emeritus CMPs)