Emeritus CMPs

John S. Boudreaux, CMP
Metaire, LA

I am applying to the recertification board for the Emeritus designation. A copy of my driver’s license is attached certifying the fact that I am 66 years of age; your records will show that I have held the CMP designation since the year 1991 – shortly after the creation of the Certified Meeting Professional exam and designation. I have renewed my affiliation each 5 years since.

I am a retired Army Officer, and served for 5 years as a Protocol Officer to a 3 Star General in Europe – planning many meetings overseas; shortly after I retired, I went into the meeting planning business full time – first for a period of 16 years as the Director of Meetings and Exhibits for the Volunteers of America national headquarters in Washington, D.C., then later as a planner for PMPN – the Professional Meeting Planning Network in Durham, N.C. I have been active in PMPN for the past 12 years, and do medical meetings for them frequently (did one last night, in fact). I still enjoy the challenges of making meetings work!

I have found over the years that by holding the CMP designation, and having it on my business card, I get the attention of hoteliers, travel agencies and other planners, for those in the know then know that I know the ropes! At MPI meetings, local CVB outings, CMA and RCMA meetings, those with CMPs are heralded; I have really appreciated the recognition that comes with this designation.

I do keep up with industry trends through Meetings South. I have attended CMP conclaves to write new CMP exam questions and I have also proctored the CMP exam twice in New Orleans. Possessing the CMP designation has been quite valuable to me over the years, and I am anxious to obtain the emeritus designation and to still work in the industry. It is most important to me to retain CMP status until I drop, for PMPN counts on me to be their point of contact in the Greater New Orleans area, and I intend to do just that.