DENVER - July 25, 2004 - In February 2003, MPI launched an aggressive strategic plan to elevate the role of meetings in business. After 18 months of research and development, MPI is executing the plan's most profound objective, a career pathways program that defines core competencies for meeting professionals and will deliver personalized guidance for professional growth … an unprecedented, industry-changing offering that will make meeting planning a true profession.

Scheduled to launch in 2005, MPI's career pathways program will define a standardized classification for distinct levels of professional meeting and event management competencies; identify critical knowledge; design and share pathways for growth from one level to the next; and provide tools and resources for meeting professionals to build skills and achieve career aspirations. Career pathways will culminate in MyCareer@MPI on MPIWeb (www.mpiweb.org) where members will complete profiles, take assessments and receive career development guidance. Technology will be combined with a human touch through a call center, mentoring program, professional coaching services and portfolio reviews.

"Career pathways will completely transform the MPI membership experience and provide an extraordinary resource for meeting professionals," said Colin Rorrie, Jr., PhD, CAE, president and CEO of MPI. "Career pathways is a major investment under objective number one of MPI's strategic plan, but also reinforces objective two, which is influencing executives about the value of meetings. As career pathways provides critical skills, knowledge, research, and tools needed for a lifelong career, meeting professionals can use that information to more effectively communicate with senior decision-makers about the strategic role and ROI that meetings play in every organization's success."

Early research concludes that career pathways will include a variety of career tracks; a detailed and comprehensive application process; pre- and post-assessments to verify progress; links to MPI educational programs, books, speakers, technology, etc.; choices for distance learning; connections to academic institutions with educational tracts that support the meeting profession; and a job bank. At this point, competency levels have been identified as college/university student, entry/novice, experienced, senior level, and executive/advanced.

Career pathways is sponsored by Intercontinental Hotel Group and The MPI Foundation. John Parke, president and CEO of Leadership Synergies, Inc. in Prince Fredrick, Md., is consulting with MPI to develop the program. The MPI International Board of Directors reviewed a preliminary plan of the career pathways program at the 2004 World Education Congress, and research and development will continue until the launch next year.

ABOUT MPI: Established in 1972, Meeting Professionals International (MPI; www.mpiweb.org) is the largest association for the meeting profession with nearly 19,000 members in 66 chapters and clubs. As the global authority and resource for the $102.3 billion meeting and event industry, MPI empowers meeting professionals to increase their strategic value through education; clearly defined career pathways via a curriculum and professional development; and business growth
opportunities.