Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program

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Emeritus CMPs

Barbara Davis, CMP
Sacramento, CA

“What is a CMP and why do I need it” I said to my planner friend who had just taken her exam and became certified. This was in 1987 and I was talking to Kaye Griggs, a fellow planner and very close friend in Sacramento, California. She wanted me to take the exam as well. Ultimately, I did take it in the fall of 1987 and we became the first and second Certified Meeting Professionals in Northern California.

How did having the CMP affect my professional life? In all honesty, I can’t say that it made a major difference financially, but it provided me with a personal confidence and a professional status that allowed me to move forward in the meetings arena with my own company specializing in conference and seminar planning and management. The company has continued successfully for 21 years.

At the time of my certification, very few individuals were even aware of the CMP, especially on the West Coast; so determining the value of such certification fell to an issue of educating not only the meetings industry but also the general public as well. This was a slow process but extremely important to establish the position of “planner” as a viable and cost effective one within associations and corporations and remove “planner and events activities” from the “add-on responsibility” falling on the shoulders of the secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper, etc.

The CMP designation within the meetings and conventions industry is extremely important. It provides a professional guideline as to qualification and knowledge of those within the industry. To have achieved this designation reflects a dedication of the planner to his/her profession. It verifies dedication to quality performance and a desire to be the best. It indicates a leader in this profession.

Over the years, I have proctored exams, participated in writing exam questions, taught exam preparatory classes, encouraged planners to become certified and done whatever I could do to strengthen the value and importance of the CMP designation to the meeting industry. I also strongly feel and have been quite gratified at a number of meetings industry personnel, other than planners, who have gone forth with the certification program and earned their designations as well. Equally so, I feel it is very important for planners to take advantage of the Hotel Management Training programs which have been offered through the American Society of Association Executives. I have done this twice and it was invaluable each time.

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©2004 Convention Industry Council
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Emeritus CMPs

Barbara Davis, CMP
Sacramento, CA

“What is a CMP and why do I need it” I said to my planner friend who had just taken her exam and became certified. This was in 1987 and I was talking to Kaye Griggs, a fellow planner and very close friend in Sacramento, California. She wanted me to take the exam as well. Ultimately, I did take it in the fall of 1987 and we became the first and second Certified Meeting Professionals in Northern California.

How did having the CMP affect my professional life? In all honesty, I can’t say that it made a major difference financially, but it provided me with a personal confidence and a professional status that allowed me to move forward in the meetings arena with my own company specializing in conference and seminar planning and management. The company has continued successfully for 21 years.

At the time of my certification, very few individuals were even aware of the CMP, especially on the West Coast; so determining the value of such certification fell to an issue of educating not only the meetings industry but also the general public as well. This was a slow process but extremely important to establish the position of “planner” as a viable and cost effective one within associations and corporations and remove “planner and events activities” from the “add-on responsibility” falling on the shoulders of the secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper, etc.

The CMP designation within the meetings and conventions industry is extremely important. It provides a professional guideline as to qualification and knowledge of those within the industry. To have achieved this designation reflects a dedication of the planner to his/her profession. It verifies dedication to quality performance and a desire to be the best. It indicates a leader in this profession.

Over the years, I have proctored exams, participated in writing exam questions, taught exam preparatory classes, encouraged planners to become certified and done whatever I could do to strengthen the value and importance of the CMP designation to the meeting industry. I also strongly feel and have been quite gratified at a number of meetings industry personnel, other than planners, who have gone forth with the certification program and earned their designations as well. Equally so, I feel it is very important for planners to take advantage of the Hotel Management Training programs which have been offered through the American Society of Association Executives. I have done this twice and it was invaluable each time.

(Back to all Emeritus CMPs)