Stephen Revetria (MPI Northern California Chapter) is president of Giants Enterprises in San Francisco, has been an MPI member for 27 years and has been involved in the meeting industry since 1992. He has served on the International Board of Directors (IBOD), the Global Board of Trustees (including as chair) and on the RISE Awards and Board Development committees. He co-chaired the 2003 and 2015 World Education Congress (WEC) Host Committees when the event was held in San Francisco. Learn more about him.
What will be your No. 1 priority as IBOD chair?
Perhaps of highest priority in 2021 will be personalizing the individual journey, with the word “individual” being key. We are investing in technologies that incorporate machine learning, emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence to help understand the needs and wants of every individual so we can customize the MPI experience down to their precise need. Working with our board, MPI staff and a consultancy group throughout 2020, we established transformative strategic initiatives that will drive MPI through 2025, ensuring the organization’s relevance and growth in this ever-changing environment. My primary goal is to accomplish those must-win battles that lie immediately ahead of us while helping MPI create that framework for the entirety of our plan.
What has helped prepare you to manage through this very difficult time?
I have immense confidence in our industry and its recovery based on our proven resiliency, and in MPI to lead that path forward, as they did with WEC Grapevine and its innovative 100 percent live hybrid format.
What message would you like to send to meeting professionals right now?
Sadly, so many of my colleagues have found themselves jobless or furloughed. We have been through crises before—terrorist attacks, economic crashes and more—and we come back strong. This particular hurdle is a significant one, obviously, but the optimism, fight and adaptability from our industry shows its perseverance to overcome challenging times.
What will you do to reinforce the values of diversity, equity and inclusion within MPI and within our industry?
I am proud of what MPI has accomplished, creating resources, both educational and actionable, to help fight systemic racism and bring equality to the forefront of every conversation. That said, there remains a lot of work to be done. Our words must become our actions.
How will MPI be a leader in helping the industry recovery?
Seeing how proactive this organization became was nothing short of remarkable. It started with putting an enormous amount of effort behind resources that members and non-members needed to relearn, reskill and reconnect, despite being isolated. Global Meetings Industry Day was a great example—we had nearly 15,000 people registered. We also provided education resources, much of them complimentary, to almost 40,000 professionals. Perhaps what I am most proud of was the financial support that MPI has offered to over 1,700 members (and counting) to ensure they could retain membership; and it’s critical to call out both the MPI Foundation and IMEX Group for having provided that incredible support.
How did you get involved with MPI?
I joined right after college in 1992/1993. I was told by my boss at the time that if I ever wanted to advance my career, I would need to join MPI. The rest is history.
What has been the most gratifying aspect of serving on the IBOD?
I have never been prouder of the MPI community than now. It has been amazing to see our goals of reimagining live events, merging into a fully live, in-person and digital experiences. This would have not happened without commitment and an extraordinary amount of effort. WEC is an example where we took significant risks to show the industry how it can be done.
What’s the best advice someone gave you?
Help create a world where we live like we play. Sport, in its simplest form, is one of the most extraordinary of human activities. Sport imposes rules that point to a fair contest, equal opportunities for all, entertainment and enjoyment. Sport provides participants with the opportunity to stretch their physical and mental limits while sharing common values and experiences.
What advice would you give someone considering a career in meetings and events?
Only enter this industry if you believe that you can find joy in it. It can be challenging for many to find balance and adapt to the lifestyle and hours required. If you are not passionate about the work, find another career.
What are you most passionate about outside of your career?
In an age where the focus seems increasingly to be on the final outcome rather than the journey, I would like to be a voice for honesty, inclusion and acceptance. Sport for Humanity reminds all of us that whether in sport or life, what is important is how you play the game, not whether you win.
