MPI is excited to honor its chapters for their achievements over the past year. In fact, three MPI chapters received the Overall Excellence Award, which recognizes chapters for overall outstanding performance. These chapters have exceeded performance in all key metrics consistently and shown measurable positive impact on their membership.

We reached out to the 2019-2020 presidents of thee chapters to gain some insight into their successes and the year ahead.

MPI Middle Pennsylvania Chapter

To what do you attribute your chapter’s success over the past year?

Terry Cochran: “Our chapter is a very welcoming, supportive community—and that has never been as important or as needed as it has been over the last nine months. Both our board and members are committed to always moving forward and getting and keeping our members involved on the board, committees and with events. Each year we manage to step up our game, get more creative, set higher goals for ourselves and really provide an atmosphere where everyone feels heard and has the opportunity to participate.”

Of your chapter’s accomplishments this year, is there a component for which you’re most proud?

Cochran: “Although the chapter’s many successes and milestones throughout the entire year are a tribute to every member’s participation and input, I’m extremely proud of how both our board and members adapted to creating and attending events in a completely virtual environment in the last quarter of the fiscal year. We held some amazing virtual education sessions, our awards ceremony and a series of virtual happy hours that were open to both members and potential members at no cost. Our chapter showed that in good times and, especially, the not-so-good times, we are still dedicated to providing opportunities to our members and future members. Our membership numbers continued to grow after March and I firmly believe that keeping everyone connected through our continued presence on social media, awesome education sessions and virtual events were major factors in that growth.” 

What are you most looking forward to in 2021?

Cochran: “I think we’re all looking forward to holding in-person events/meetings and really reconnecting with each other. I hope we see venues safely opening up, doing a booming business and getting back to a bit of normalcy. Personally, I’m looking forward to eating in a restaurant and going to the movies!”

MPI North Florida Chapter

Congrats to you and your chapter for earning the Overall Excellence recognition for three years in a row! To what do you attribute your chapter’s success over the past year?

Liz Hogan: “I could not be prouder of our chapter and all we have accomplished this year. We have been so fortunate over the years to have incredible, dedicated talent on our board. They each share a passion for MPI and are committed to serving our members at the highest level. We also have a very active and engaged membership and our members really understand the value of being involved. The challenges we faced this year united us more than ever and I believe having this solid foundation certainly attributed to our achievements.”

Of your chapter’s accomplishments this year, is there a component for which you’re most proud?

Hogan: “I am so incredibly proud of how our chapter came together this year despite the pandemic. Like other chapters, we essentially redesigned everything we were doing to adapt to the circumstances and provide our members with the education and support they needed. I watched our leaders, despite their own personal challenges, come together in the best interest of the chapter and make our members and this community a priority. Not only was our chapter able to remain united, we also had the opportunity to collaborate and support other chapters—something I am extremely proud of and certainly a silver lining of 2020!”

What are you most looking forward to in 2021?

Hogan: “Being a part of leading the industry in returning to safe and successful face-to-face events. Anxious to reunite our community, this fall we returned to hosting hybrid meetings which have been very successful. Offering a virtual component has allowed us to meet the needs of all of our members as well as extend our reach beyond our own community in North Florida. We will continue to navigate the future of meetings together and look forward to continued progress in 2021.” 

MPI Heartland Chapter

To what do you attribute your chapter’s success over the past year?

Tara Platt: “I attribute our success to the great leadership of the past MPI Heartland Chapter board members, especially the chapter presidents who served before me. Due to their vision, dedication and hard work in providing the foundation for our chapter, the 2019-2020 MPI Heartland Chapter was able to persevere in unprecedented times. They provided great mentorship and were wonderful at sharing all the secrets to their success. They were always there with support, encouragement and advice on how to continue to move the chapter forward.”

Of your chapter’s accomplishments this year, is there a component for which you’re most proud?

Platt: “I am so proud of our amazing board. They are a very caring and resilient group of individuals. When the going got tough, the tough got going. The support I received from the board as president of the chapter was nothing short of inspirational. Because we were able to collaborate as a team and quickly implement our ideas, we were able to still succeed as a chapter by hitting our metric goals while being there to support our members.”

What are you most looking forward to in 2021?

Additional 2020 MPI Chapter Awards

Chapter Merit Awards

MPI Belgium Chapter – Highest Net Member Growth

MPI Caribe Mexicano Chapter – Highest Net Profit/Fiscal Sustainability

MPI Connecticut River Valley Chapter – Highest EIC Education Accreditation

MPI Japan Chapter – Highest Retention

MPI New Mexico Chapter – Highest Member Satisfaction

MPI Tampa Bay Chapter – Highest Volunteer Engagement

Top Performing Chapter Awards

MPI Arizona Sunbelt

MPI Caribe Mexicano

MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter

MPI Mexico Chapter

MPI New England Chapter

MPI New Jersey Chapter

MPI Ohio Chapter

MPI Southern California Chapter

MPI St. Louis Area Chapter

MPI Tennessee Chapter

MPI Virginia Chapter

MPI Wisconsin Chapter

Congratulations to all of you—and special thanks to all of the chapter volunteers who helped create these successes!