Emeritus CMPs

CMP: The Greatest Enhancement to My Career in the Meetings Industry
Cynthia Winter, CMP
Minneapolis, MN

My career in the meetings industry began - as did careers of many my age - through assimilation in on-the-job training. Meeting tasks were dropped into our laps, and we had to develop the skills and a system to carry out the job. I think of meeting planning as putting together a giant puzzle. It is gratifying to see all the pieces come together to form a well-run conference. In my work I developed forms and techniques to ensure conferences run smoothly. In 1989, Leonard Wymore, one of the Religious Conference Management Association founders, encouraged me to join RCMA. This was the beginning of my journey to the CMP credential. Dewayne Woodring encouraged RCMA members to secure the CMP designation, and I felt compelled to do this to be a more effective planner.

After qualifying to sit for the exam, the CIC office told me about a study group in Minneapolis. This was a great experience as we, a group of meeting planners planning diverse types of conferences, studied together. We learned from each other’s experiences, and discovered that studying for the exam was good discipline. One of the most exciting days of my life was in 1991 when Dewayne Woodring told me at the RCMA conference that I had passed the exam. I was officially a CMP!

After receiving my CMP, suddenly people in the industry looked at me and my work with more credibility. There is a high recognition of professionalism when you have the letters CMP behind your name. Because one of the conventions I plan is religious, the CMP designation has given me credibility outside of the faith-based world. In the past some religious associations received a bad image when planned by well-meaning amateurs. With the CMP designation, I was recognized as a competent professional.

In late 1993, Sage Publications, one of the Exhibitors at the NCFR Conference, asked me to write a book for them on Conference Planning. In August 1994 “Planning a Successful Conference” was published. I believe that I was asked to write the book because of being a certified professional.

As with any CMP, I am constantly in the “learning mode” to keep on the cutting edge in the industry. It has been good discipline to prepare for recertification every 5 years. CMPs have raised the industry standards and have increased the respect and prestige of the meeting profession. It is exciting to look back and see the changes in the industry over the years, particularly in technology that has dramatically changed the way we conduct our business. Being a CMP helps to keep abreast of the latest technological improvements and hospitality trends.

Networking through the CIC has been invaluable – we learn from each other. Professional conventions have been great learning experiences to gain new ideas.

After retirement I will volunteer my services and still plan some conferences. Keeping my CMP designation will help me continue to “grow” and keep up with the latest developments in the field. I love to discover new techniques and don’t ever want to stop learning. There are so many church and civic organizations that can use my skills. It will be gratifying to have the time to help them. The Lord has given me these abilities, and He expects me to continue to use them for His work.