More than 500 volunteer leaders representing MPI’s global chapters participated in the two-day Chapter Business Summit (CBS), the association’s annual leadership training event.

The event, which concluded Friday, was designed to educate and inspire volunteers who begin their terms July 1, leading MPI’s 70 worldwide chapters and clubs. MPI is the largest association in the world for meeting industry professionals.

For the second consecutive year, the training was conducted virtually due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stephen Revetria, chair of the MPI International Board of Directors, spoke to attendees on Friday, and MPI’s senior leadership team joined later for a coffee talk Q&A.

CBS also featured a range of presentations, including one from MPI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Co-chairs Zoe Moore and Tanida Mullen.

Training, education and networking will continue throughout the year for the volunteer leaders, including future sessions on harassment, role-specific initiatives, budgeting and meet-ups during the European Meetings and Events Conference and World Education Congress.

On the first day of CBS, attendees broke into groups for discussions around key chapter initiatives such as education, membership, the office of the president, finance/administrators and marketing/communication. The sessions were led by experienced volunteer leaders and members of MPI Global.

The second day of training included an introduction to the MPI RISE Awards and breakouts aligned with regions—USA East, USA West, Canada, Europe and Japan and Latin America.

CBS was moderated by Belinda Cottrell, director of chapter operations for MPI.

Sponsors of CBS included Signature Sponsors Grit Productions & Expositions and Foster + Fathom; Title Sponsors Cvent and Piccles; and Contributing Sponsors David Hanscom, Worldly and Ovation.