O’Malley, whose current term as chair was slated to conclude at the end of the year, will instead serve another year.

The decision, announced by MPI during IMEX America in Las Vegas, comes after Annette Gregg, who was in line to become chair in 2020, resigned from the board in August to take the role of senior vice president of experience at MPI, overseeing the MPI Academy and Live Events.

“By agreeing to serve for another year, I think it will enhance the effectiveness of the MPI staff and our board versus having to place someone into the role without the benefit of the incoming chair experience,” O’Malley said. “There is a lot of learning that takes place during the chair-elect year which allows the incoming chair to develop an understanding of the demands of the role and how they can lead MPI to continued success. I agreed to serve because I want to see MPI’s success and trajectory continue to increase.”

O’Malley, a respected meeting and event industry leader, is a division president at Maritz Travel, where he has worked for 30 years, and longtime supporter of MPI where he has served on committees including Audit/Finance and the MPI-MD Advisory Board.

In the selection, MPI's International Board of Directors (IBOD) followed a process defined in its bylaws that state when a chair-elect resigns, any current IBOD member in good standing can be nominated as a candidate to fill the open position. After review by the IBOD, the nomination is sent to the IBOD’s Board Development Committee (BDC) for endorsement and finally on to the MPI membership for approval. To fill the open 2020 Chair position the BDC, which is chaired by the board’s immediate past chair, Amanda Armstrong, was charged with examining individual leadership skills and experience paramount to fulfilling the leadership position. The protocol included adherence to communications with the IBOD, a nomination process/period, confidential on-line scoring processes, and discussion and debate by both the IBOD and BDC.

After being unanimously nominated by MPI’s International Board of Trustees to serve a second term, O’Malley’s nomination was unanimously confirmed by the BDC and will be advanced to the MPI membership for final confirmation. The IBOD and BDC did its due diligence and concluded O’Malley was the best choice. The process also resulted in Armstrong being asked to continue in the role of immediate past chair for another term and she agreed. The full slate of the 2020 board will be finalized and put before MPI members on Nov. 1.

O’Malley said that when Gregg informed the IBOD that she would be applying for the position of senior vice president of experience for MPI, he and MPI president and CEO Paul Van Deventer began discussing what that meant for the IBOD’s succession planning. 

“I was so thrilled to hear of Annette’s interest that when Paul asked if I would continue in the chair role, I agreed almost immediately so as not place a concern or obstacle in the way of MPI securing the perfect candidate for this role,” he said.

“Like with any volunteer role, my first consideration was if my family and my company could and would support this additional commitment,” O’Malley said. “In both of those cases, I am incredibly blessed and there was immediate support. Our Maritz Travel team believes in and supports the great work of MPI and they feel strongly that my service to MPI in this continued role is the right thing to do for our industry.”

Van Deventer said the result is “truly a win-win outcome for MPI, our board and our community.”

“To bring a professional with the business acumen, experience and visionary thinking of Annette Greg to MPI's staff significantly strengthens our team,” he said. “And to have an inspirational leader and executive of Steve's standing, with his passion for MPI to continue as chair for a second year, provides our community and board with invaluable continuity with a proven, accomplished leader.”

O’Malley will be the second chair to serve an extended term as the leader of the IBOD in recent years. Kevin Kirby, who is now executive director of the MPI Foundation, served 18 months as chair from 2014-15. “Our new board slate will benefit immensely from the experience that both Steve and Amanda bring,” Kirby said. “Continuity in boards, when managed correctly, is critical to long term success. To be able to see through initiatives that were developed during their tenure is something few chairs get to experience and that is because the focus and commitment is clear. I really don’t see any issue with their ability to evolve and adapt our association’s efforts.” 

O’Malley said he plans to continue his goals of reinforcing the inclusivity of MPI and the events industry through education and action, and to continue to support MPI’s global community with the best education, certification programs, and networking opportunities.

“We want to continue to find ever better ways to support our volunteer leaders at the chapter and global leader in their important work.,” he said. “One new goal that has come to light in my first half year as chair was to increase the velocity of decision making at the board level. This will help our MPI Global staff get more important work done sooner. I feel we owe that to them, our 18,000 members and our 60,000-person community.”

Armstrong, who was the IBOD chair in 2018, said she was honored to continue in her role as immediate past chair, citing her commitment to volunteerism. “I am passionate about MPI,” she said. “I am honored the board trusts me and Steve to continue our roles for another year. MPI is stronger than ever and I am happy to serve with my fellow board members as we support its continued growth in 2020. The chair position is a big responsibility and the IBOD wants any chair to be set up for success. Having the chair-elect year to prepare for the role is essential, so they felt continuing on our terms would be the best for MPI, its members and the staff.”

The value of volunteerism was a central theme throughout the process. Kirby said O’Malley and Armstrong have been “consummate volunteer leaders and helped MPI navigate industry issues and our own future efforts. Their willingness to stay engaged is really a testimony to the quality individuals they really are. These roles are involved and time consuming. To voluntarily juggle their own professional roles with this commitment is good for MPI. “This is a bit of a record for service for both of them,” he added. “Ironically, I sense, like myself, they’ll miss the board engagement when it ends. I’m so thankful for their commitment.”