Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program

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Emeritus CMPs

UNTITLED
(Essay for Emeritus Status)
By Shirley A. Mertz, CMP
Columbus, OH
Originally Certified: 1995

The Convention Liaison Council on January 19, 1995, issued my Certified Meeting Professional designation to me. I sat for my CMP Exam in December 1994 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can tell you it was one of the most exciting days of my life.

After 45 years of service I retired from Nationwide Insurance Company in Columbus, Ohio on February 1, 2003, a celebration of both my birthday and my retirement.

During my tenure at Nationwide, I held many positions, but the most wonderful memory was a Manager of the Centralized Meeting Services Department. It was not long after passing my CMP exam that I was put in charge of a task force to establish a centralized meeting’s department. I was the first person at Nationwide to achieve the CMP designation.

Some of the many accomplishments I attained during my career were certainly attributed to my CMP designation. I joined the Insurance Conference Planner’s Association (ICPA) in 1990. I was elected to the Board of Directors in 1998 and became the President in 2000. I was also very active in the local “International Special Event’s Society” and became the Program Chairman for two years. One of the most rewarding accomplishments was my tenure on the CLC Board. I represented the ICPA Organization.

I was asked to write many articles for ICP Magazine during my Presidency and was always asked to talk about the importance of attaining the CMP designation. During my Professional life, the CMP designation was always an asset to my career.

Since my retirement I have stayed very active in the ICPA organization. I continue to attend their Annual Meetings as an Honorary Member. I have helped with their recruiting and mentoring programs.

I have proctored several CMP Exams in Columbus, Ohio and one as recently as January 2005. I take great enjoyment in meeting the new CMPs.

This year in June 2005, I took part in a “Midwest CMP Boot Camp”. It was sponsored by the Dublin, Ohio Convention Bureau. I administered a mock CMP exam to the class. Many of the people who attended the Boot Camp sat for the exam in January 2005. It is an honor to be asked to proctor these exams, and I hope I will be able to continue this in the future.

I am still asked to sit on many hotel panels from the local hotels, which I still have a wonderful relationship with to discuss insurance trends and my experience with the various hotels.
The ICP magazine also just recently interviewed me. They are doing an article on retired board members, and what it meant to be part of that organization.

Studying for and attaining my CMP designation was one of my most challenging and rewarding experiences. During my tenure on the CLC Board, there were many discussions on retirees maintaining their CMP designation. I am so happy that the Convention Industry Council finally adopted this policy. All of us have worked very hard and are so proud to hold the designation and see those initials behind our name. We are diplomats for your organization and continue to spread the word on how important the CMP designation will be to an individual’s career.

(Back to all Emeritus CMPs)

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©2004 Convention Industry Council
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Emeritus CMPs

UNTITLED
(Essay for Emeritus Status)
By Shirley A. Mertz, CMP
Columbus, OH
Originally Certified: 1995

The Convention Liaison Council on January 19, 1995, issued my Certified Meeting Professional designation to me. I sat for my CMP Exam in December 1994 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I can tell you it was one of the most exciting days of my life.

After 45 years of service I retired from Nationwide Insurance Company in Columbus, Ohio on February 1, 2003, a celebration of both my birthday and my retirement.

During my tenure at Nationwide, I held many positions, but the most wonderful memory was a Manager of the Centralized Meeting Services Department. It was not long after passing my CMP exam that I was put in charge of a task force to establish a centralized meeting’s department. I was the first person at Nationwide to achieve the CMP designation.

Some of the many accomplishments I attained during my career were certainly attributed to my CMP designation. I joined the Insurance Conference Planner’s Association (ICPA) in 1990. I was elected to the Board of Directors in 1998 and became the President in 2000. I was also very active in the local “International Special Event’s Society” and became the Program Chairman for two years. One of the most rewarding accomplishments was my tenure on the CLC Board. I represented the ICPA Organization.

I was asked to write many articles for ICP Magazine during my Presidency and was always asked to talk about the importance of attaining the CMP designation. During my Professional life, the CMP designation was always an asset to my career.

Since my retirement I have stayed very active in the ICPA organization. I continue to attend their Annual Meetings as an Honorary Member. I have helped with their recruiting and mentoring programs.

I have proctored several CMP Exams in Columbus, Ohio and one as recently as January 2005. I take great enjoyment in meeting the new CMPs.

This year in June 2005, I took part in a “Midwest CMP Boot Camp”. It was sponsored by the Dublin, Ohio Convention Bureau. I administered a mock CMP exam to the class. Many of the people who attended the Boot Camp sat for the exam in January 2005. It is an honor to be asked to proctor these exams, and I hope I will be able to continue this in the future.

I am still asked to sit on many hotel panels from the local hotels, which I still have a wonderful relationship with to discuss insurance trends and my experience with the various hotels.
The ICP magazine also just recently interviewed me. They are doing an article on retired board members, and what it meant to be part of that organization.

Studying for and attaining my CMP designation was one of my most challenging and rewarding experiences. During my tenure on the CLC Board, there were many discussions on retirees maintaining their CMP designation. I am so happy that the Convention Industry Council finally adopted this policy. All of us have worked very hard and are so proud to hold the designation and see those initials behind our name. We are diplomats for your organization and continue to spread the word on how important the CMP designation will be to an individual’s career.

(Back to all Emeritus CMPs)