Emeritus CMPs

Hayword Cox, CMP
Barnesville, GA

First of all, with the CMP I did not have to prove my credibility too anyone employing my services. It affirmed to the convention/meeting industry that I was professional and therefore we could proceed with the job at hand without further to do.

Secondly, CMP made me an advocate – I spent time and effort spreading the word of the value of CMP. Serving 3 years on the CMP Board and working with my local MPI chapter as a teacher and constant promoter.

As a college teacher I affirmed constantly to my students the importance of the need for them to achieve the CMP as soon as practical.

I taught meeting management in 3 hotel schools in Europe and I know for a fact that I would never have been hired had I not had my CMP, the same could have been said of my 14 years teaching at Georgia State University. The CMP, coupled with CHE, gave me creditability to teach “Meeting Management” all those years.

After I stopped doing meetings and only did consulting work – the CMP, plus my long year sin the industry kept me in business. I was busy as I cared to be.

I wrote an essay one time on “The badge of Professionalism”. When we seek medical care we look for a MD; when we need our teeth looked after we want a DDS to do the job; when we have an accounting problem – a CPA and so on – so why not a CMP to bring professionalism to our meeting and convention problems and solutions. It makes perfect sense to me. With the money and time spent in and for meetings – why would not a responsible corporation or association turn to the best pro they could find. What better place to look than to a CMP.

The recertification program is similar to the examing boards that states have to relicense the various professionals practicing in their states. We in the industry want only those who are practicing and contributing to the industry to be active. It makes the CMP designation alive and active, not like an award you got 50 years ago.

I have a real problem with “quacks” and pretenders – as in those who say they are CMP and are not – an up to date list of “qualified” CMPs creates a roster that anyone can turn to and discover who is and who is not a CMP.

Lastly, having the CMP has given me a lifelong sense of intellectual inquiry. Even in my old age, I read the trade and association magazines avidly to learn of new and enervative things going on in the industry. The concern of the industry to reach out to honesty and integrity and to expose unlawful, immoral and shady practices if of constant interest to me. I can remember, way back, when I sealed a contact with a hotel with a handshake.