Emeritus CMPs

Howard Feiertag, CMP
Blacksburg, VA

As a charter member of MPI, back in 1972, I always thought that the business of planning meetings was a very professional endeavor and should be recognized as such. At the time I was a supplier to planners, working as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for a hotel management company operating 50 hotels. However, in addition to my company role in development business for our properties, I had the responsibility of putting on and conducting all the meetings and training programs for our organization. With these responsibilities I realized that there needed to be some sort of organization, where folks like me can network and train ourselves to do a better job in the area of generating sales as well as putting on meetings.

From 1972 to 1985 MPI grew rapidly. We created a wide variety of training programs for buyers as well as suppliers, and developed the MPI Institute which is still running strong today. The CMP program was initiated in 1985 with its first exam being given at that time. MPI’s Lincoln Colby was our representative to CLC (now CIC) which initiated the CMP designation and administered the exam. Having always wanted to be the first to do anything connected with my business, I made sure that I was signed up for the test. I knew I just had to be a CMP. Frankly, it was from a self-worth position. I wanted to feel that I could stand against other planners with the knowledge and the background to achieve certification. I believe I may have been the only supplier at the time to take and pass the exam, with only 15 people sitting in for the exam at that time.

Achieving the CMP designation was an important highlight in my business career and afforded me terrific recognition not only within my own company, but around the country among other suppliers and planners. It was a big accomplishment. At the time I was also writing for two industry trade publications, and having the certification following my name was a big plus.

For about 15 years I had been on the faculty of MPI Institute providing instruction on course in Negotiations, Contracts, as well as Hotel Operations to other meeting planners from all over the world. It was very important to me and to MPI for me to have the designation all during that period which reflected on my professionalism and knowledge. It was something that helped indicate to participants in the program that: “That guy is certified, so he knows what he is talking about.”

Through the years I have continued to renew my certification and I had always been well qualified to be able to do so to earn the points required to apply. Following my career in the hotel business where I entered the field of higher education. From my last hospitality endeavor as Senior Vice-President of Operations for 60 hotels, I joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where I am still employed and teaching Meetings and Convention Management, as well as Hospitality Sales. The CMP certification certificate is proudly displayed on my office wall for all to see. It is something of which I have always been proud.