Emeritus CMPs

Delia Chang, CMP, CMM
Honolulu, HI

I have been functioning as a meetings manager for six years at the University of Hawai’i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, and enjoying coordinating CME for six hospitals, as well as up to six major meetings with physicians from around the world continuing their medical learning in Hawai’i. Yet, despite the excellent results of the evaluations of these meetings, I was isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I went to the Mainland for Continuing Education in Meetings Management, not sure whether I was on the right road, or whether I was going in the right direction. I thought I was, but decided to prove it to myself.

I had read in trade publications about the new certification, the CMP, being created by some of the giants in our industry. After the first test, I called a friend who had taken it, and asked her how it was. She said, “Not awful, but bad. I should have studied more.” Since the next test was to be given in Hawai’i in December 1985, I decided to study and take it, which I did. MPI had put together a set of two three-ring binders, each one 3” thick, with articles and other little known facts about lesser known information. I poured over that for weeks in preparation. Then that fateful day in December arrived and, along with a dozen other people who were attending the PCMA meeting here, I opened the test booklet. I answered the first question, then struggled over the second, and by the third question, I knew I was in trouble. Miracles happen! Early in 1986 I found out I had passed and I became one of the first 88 CMPs in the United States

We moved in June 1986 to New Jersey and, after founding my company, ProMeet, Inc., I soon became active in the MPI-New Jersey Chapter. Some members were considering taking the CMP test, so I started my first study group. Three took it; three passed. Soon I was facilitating CMP Study Groups for MPI NJ, MPI New York, MPI Greater Philadelphia and MPI Pittsburgh. Then, some hotel chains asked me to conduct study groups for a weekend review for their employees who worked around the world, and I did that. The weekend groups were fun, so I started my own, “Pass Your CMP Guaranteed!* (*If you don’t pass the next CMP test, you get your registration money back.)” I also facilitated study groups for NCBMP and MPI’s national meetings. Over the years, not only on the East Coast, but back home in Hawai’I, over 1,800 people have studied with me and became CMPs. I attended every CMP Conclave, except for one, over 12 years and taught sessions during several of them. I stood in their CMP booth at many trade show meetings and enjoyed encouraging others to attain their CMP. It was a privilege, not a duty, nor a way to accumulate points toward my recertification.

Since my retirement in 2004, I have continued to attend MPI Aloha Chapter meetings, and have continued to encourage others to pursue their CMP. I remember one National MPI Breakfast for CMPs in the late 1980s. The speaker was Darryl Hartley-Leonard, then President of Hyatt Hotels. After his talk, he asked for questions. One CMP raised her hand and asked, “When a CMP goes into a negotiating session with a Hyatt Hotel Sales Representative, can we start the negotiations with 30% off the rack rate and go from there?” Everyone laughed, but with the full knowledge that a CMP understands the industry. We know the terminology, we know legal issues, we know a bargain from a red herring, we know how to anticipate disaster and have three plans or more to handle anything from a heart attack to picketing to the sprinkler system going off when sparklers are lit during a formal dinner. We know how to communicate the needs of our attendees and sponsors to the hotel in clear, straight-forward ways, at least 30 days prior to the event. We can look at bottom lines with some acuity.

Basically, there is no one more capable of managing a meeting than a CMP, either on the planner or supplier side of the industry, and I am honored to be included in this group. I hope that the CMP Board will honor me by granting me CMP Emeritus status.

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