The President’s Dinner, honoring MPI’s chapter presidents, outgoing board members, Industry Champions and recipients of the RISE and Chair awards, takes place tonight at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Here is a preview of the event.

The event honors the volunteer leaders who served as presidents of MPI’s chapters in 2019-2020.

Outgoing board chairs and members from the International Board of Directors (IBOD) and Global Board of Trustees (GBOT) whose terms are ending will be recognized, including IBOD Chair Steve O’Malley; GBOT Chair Chandra Allison; IBOD members Amanda Armstrong, Mike Massari, Antonio Ducceschi, Brent Taylor, Tracy Judge and Kaaren Hamilton; and GBOT members Carole McKellar and Mari Winer.

IMEX Group’s Ray Bloom, chair and founder, and Carina Bauer, CEO, will be recognized as Industry Champions, an honor bestowed upon those who make contributions with their time, financial support and resources in efforts to support and share the future of the industry.

Recognizing the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMEX Group donated $250,000 to MPI to provide support to meeting professionals facing distressed financial situations this year.

Most of the donation was a grant to the MPI Foundation, which will direct funds to distressed members. Additional funding will support MPI’s 11 European chapters for initiatives to sustain education and country-specific programs that can reengage industry awareness and commence recovery.

MPI will also name the MPI Global Board Room in Dallas the “IMEX Group Global Board Room” in recognition of the IMEX Group’s generous gift.

Industry Champions earn lifetime membership in MPI, while a complimentary annual membership in their name will be given to a young professional. Previous recipients include Ken Sanders, Dave Johnson, Brian Stevens and Stephen Revetria.

The 2020 RISE Award recipients will be recognized, including Bryan Quinan, Member of the Year; Sherry DeLaGarza, Meeting Industry Leadership; Cassie Poss, Young Professional Achievement; MPI Caribe Mexicano Chapter, Membership Achievement; MPI Potomac Chapter, Industry Advocate; MPI Mexico Chapter, Marketplace Excellence; and MPI Netherlands Chapter, Innovative Educational Programming.

The MPI Chair Award is presented by the MPI IBOD chair to an individual or group who have made an outstanding contribution to MPI, the meeting planning profession, the meeting industry or other activities that have benefitted the industry or MPI. The 2020 recipient will be announced tonight by Steve O’Malley. Previous recipients include Michel Wohlmuth, Erin Scholes, Michael Dominguez, Janet Sperstad and Makiko Yamamoto.

Jonathan Howe, who has served as MPI’s legal counsel since 1974, will receive a special recognition.

Hilton is the Founding Sponsor of the President’s Dinner. Tickets are still available.