Career Pathways: Paving the Way
Developing a New Industry Standard

PI is developing a program, Career Pathways, which will emerge as one of the most profound and important tools in our industry. 

Career Pathways, to be officially unveiled in January 2006, will solidify the meetings industry as a profession. While the term “occupation” is defined as the principal business of one’s life, a “profession” is defined as a calling or occupation requiring specialized knowledge and training. Career Pathways will establish clear standardized classifications of meeting planning roles and the skills and knowledge that relate to each level. 

The National Directory of Occupational Titles and Codes lists meetings management as an “official” profession, and the U.S. Department of Labor lists Meeting and Convention Planners with the Standard Occupational Classification number 13-1121, defining it as the coordination of activities of staff and convention personnel to make arrangements for group meetings and conventions.

With its recent successful discussions with the U.S. Department of Labor, MPI is elevating the meetings industry as a viable career and profession in the American workforce.

Career Pathways will assist those of us in the profession and those starting their careers in meeting planning in several key ways.
• Developing and identifying job responsibilities and skills for different levels of planning.
• Identifying core competencies and skills necessary to accomplish growth from one job level to the next.
• Assessing individuals’ meeting planning skills and knowledge with industry standards.
• Providing tools and resources to help build skills and knowledge.
• Highlighting and linking individuals to educational resources and academic institutions with specific meeting planning educational programs.
• Supporting meeting planning positions as ones of strategic understanding and importance in the business world.
MPI is working with academic institutions to develop and integrate specific meeting planning competencies within their curriculums. The next generation of meeting professionals
is emerging, armed with specialized meeting planning knowledge. This generation will use Career Pathways as a guideline and measurement tool for success. Never has a tool so robust existed for meeting professionals. 
Career Pathways is a cornerstone of MPI’s strategic plan, Pathways to Excellence. MPI is committed to transforming and elevating our profession and paving the way for you to grow your career.

JANET SPERSTAD, CMP, is an instructor in
the Meeting and Event Management Associate Degree Program at Madison (Wis.) Area Technical College. She is also a member of MPI’s Professional Development Strategy Group and Faculty and Student Task Force. Contact her at jsperstad@matcmadison.edu.