Meeting Industry Mourns Loss of Tony Carey, CMP, CMM
Meeting industry consultant, educator and award-winning writer Tony Carey passed away June 1. Charismatic, witty and always willing to help a friend, Carey served in the British Army for 20 years before embracing the conference industry and opening his own company, Campaign Management Associates—which he sold in 2000 to embark on a third career as a writer and teacher.
Carey wrote for many industry magazines across the globe and won several awards for his work in MPI publications The Meeting Professional and One+. A former MPI board member, Carey traveled frequently, though he always looked forward to touching down on his home of Guernsey, where he was considered a local celebrity.
Carey glowed with enthusiasm, curiosity about the world and a catchy, youthful manner and will be well remembered as a dear friend, colleague and industry humorist. To honor his memory, find below some memories from his dearest friends, many of whom also considered him a mentor and advisor.
CORBIN BALL, CSP, CMP, Corbin Ball Associates
For the past several years, Tony taught the International Congress & Convention Association Forum for Young Professionals, a multi-day course for about 20 young adults from around the world working in the meeting industry, held just before the annual EIBTM meeting. For many of these courses, I had the good fortune of being a guest presenter and watched with admiration Tony’s teaching and mentoring skills. Invariably, the students loved the course. Tony’s insight, humor, wit, knowledge and experience were phenomenal!
As much as the students enjoyed the course, Tony clearly enjoyed being with the students. He thrived on their energy, optimism, curiosity and eagerness to learn—all qualities that Tony also possessed. Each year, one of the highlights was the Sunday evening Tapas Tour Pub Crawl through the winding streets of the gothic Barcelona old city. Tony reveled in hanging out with the students—some 40 years his junior—he was mentoring.
Tony was one of the greatest people I have ever met in the meetings industry. As he comes to mind, I will always remember his ready smile, his quick wit and good humor, and his passion to help others. Although I will miss him dearly, I will smile when I think of him, remembering his kind manner, prodigious intellect and wonderful humor.
CARINA BAUER, IMEX
Tony, being a stalwart MPI veteran, was always present at the most important events—giving advice, regaling us with hilarious stories and generally providing great company. When I first started to attend MPI events, Tony often seemed to be at my side giving support—in my first year on the MPI Multicultural Committee as “the” fellow European, at my first Leadership Dinner and during conferences around the world. Of course, everyone will know Tony as a great writer, speaker and humorist, but he was also a good friend and mentor to many. He will be very missed by the whole industry.
DIANNE BUDION-DEVITT, Dianne Devitt Presents!
It’s not often that we meet someone who recognizes who we are even before we say hello. Someone who makes a heart to heart connection on an unspoken level. Describing the larger-than-life Tony Cary in a non-verbal way is a bit of an oxymoron, yet our deepest conversations were without words. Tony and I met when he first came on the MPI scene. We shared stories of Americans and Europeans, including the Brits and the many ways we all so unquestionably think alike, always from the same perspective.
Tony’s command of the language and wit without doubt embellished any story, and together we had some very meaningful conversations. Being introduced to the Carey family including the indomitable Burble, sons, wives and grandchildren while being part of a celebration in Slovenia put the pieces of Tony's life in perspective, for his family was his terra firma as he traversed the globe.
Tony and I discussed collaborating on a book a few years back while sitting in a train station in Trenton, NJ. I was to do the majority of writing on “What Color is Your Event?” and Tony was to contribute “What Scent is Your Event?” Well, the effort is nearly finished on my part except for a new chapter on “What Scent is Your Event” dedicated to my friend, Tony. Here’s to you and always smelling the roses.
PETER HAIGH, Preferred Hotel Group
Tony was always willing to sit down and share thoughts and ideas on the industry and how it could be improved. He took a particular interest in Eastern Europe, conducting many training sessions there to help young people understand the opportunities in the meeting industry to build up the infrastructure in their own countries and attract international business. As a result of the time he spent in Slovenia, he fell in love with the country and bought a house there, which he always enjoyed visiting with friends and family. He was kind enough to compliment me on my networking skills, but he was really the master, always ready with a kind word or making introductions to help connect people where he thought there might be a business opportunity.
GERRIT JESSEN, CMP, MCI Deutschland GmbH
Tony was a true English gentleman, one of character with a subtle and dry sense of humor not only in the countless articles he wrote for our industry but even more so in person. I came to know Tony through MPI when I was elected President of MPI Germany and was organizing the European MPI Conference in Berlin in 2003. Since then, we have been in regular contact and Tony developed a very good relationship with the MPI Germany Chapter.
Tony was a true networker. He introduced me to so many colleagues in our industry who I have since developed strong relationships with. He helped many others that were new to our industry by connecting them. Tony was a true translator. He listened to people on both sides of the Atlantic and helped MPI to understand Europe better. Tony was a true teacher. He made me a CMP when, during a series of training sessions in Berlin, he coached the participants with his unrivalled mixture of knowledge and challenge, always combined with a good laugh. Tony, I will truly miss you!
JOHN KEENAN, M&IT magazine
I inherited Tony as a regular columnist for M&IT when I joined as editor in 1998. The instinct of any new editor is to get rid of the old guard. I soon realized that dropping Tony’s column would be a very foolish mistake. What a writer: witty, opinionated, infuriating—never boring. To consistently produce words of such high quality for so long is a truly remarkable achievement. The secret of Tony’s success lay in unfailing curiosity, undimmed enthusiasm and a genuine passion for the industry he covered.
PAUL KENNEDY, Reed Travel Exhibitions
On behalf of the global Reed Travel Exhibitions Team, I wish to add to the many accolades appearing about Tony—or Scarey as he was affectionately known by many. Presenter, writer, facilitator, teacher with a zest for networking, Tony will be sorely missed.
Speaking personally, his work with Young Professionals and his personal writing style are among his most notable legacies, though I know there are others. Among my favorite memories was the article on kissing in the meetings industry, something I wish I’d written! Many will remember Tony’s beaming smile and his fondness for a glass of wine at industry events.
CHARLES MASSEY, CMP, SYNAXIS Meetings & Events Inc.
I clearly remember the first time I ever saw Tony. I was still involved in leadership at the chapter level at the time and sat in the gallery at an international board meeting. At that time, although our association was “called” “Meeting Professionals International,” we were still in our infancy on the international arena. Then there he was: this well dressed British gentleman among a sea of North Americans.
The minute he opened his mouth and that dry British wit came out, I knew I had to introduce myself to him, which I did later that evening at the opening reception where we chatted for what seemed like hours about nothing and everything. As the years progressed, we kept in touch and whenever Tony wrote to me with a question for an idea for his column or we ran into each other at an industry event, we were always so happy to run into each other and catch up.
Over the years, the minute the mail came into the office around the time I knew the MPI magazine would arrive I would rush over, go through the mail and flip straight to Tony’s column. I always had a good laugh, but learned something new at the same time, every time. Tony, we will miss you—you were one of a kind, my friend, and I will be forever grateful that we met that first time and that we stayed in touch over the years, as together we watched our association truly become Meeting Professionals International.
DARJA KALAN MILINOVIC, CMP, Lek a Sandoz company
Tony entered my life as a lecturer at the educational seminars for the CMP examination within the MPI Germany Chapter in November 2006—a very short period of time, but nevertheless marked by a great friendship. It might have been the fact that Tony served in the army and met his beloved Barbara in Berlin what made the days spent together so wonderful and precious. Not to mention that Tony loved Slovenia.
Tony helped me find new passion in my life: the meeting industry. Under his mentorship, nothing seemed impossible. By setting high standards for himself, Tony was definitely a person to look up to. He always managed to bring out the best in people. It’s inconceivable that he’s gone, but he will always have a special place in my heart. His whole life Tony unselfishly shared his knowledge and experience with others, and I'll do my best to follow his example. Thank you, Tony. I will miss you.
MICHAEL OWEN, EventGenuity
My first formal introduction to Tony came during the Professional Education Conference - North America in Honolulu in January 2002. I attended a session that was billed as a conversation with MPI Chairman Jerry Wayne and MPI senior staff. I don’t know whether it was competition from Waikiki Beach or a rush to get Hawaiian shirts in time for the closing gala, but there were only five or six people (including Tony and me) in the audience for what was to be a 90-minute town hall meeting.
Jerry has never been one to waste an opportunity, so he gathered us around a table so we could talk. As we shared and learned and laughed, I bonded with Tony. This was the first time I felt truly connected to MPI on an international level. Tony had twinkle—in his eye, in his wit and writing and in his interaction with colleagues. Always. Any time you ran into him, Tony Carey was a guaranteed lift in your day.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to share many such encounters with Tony. We’d connect in meeting rooms and hallways and at networking events all over the world. And every time—every time—I would leave feeling better than when I’d arrived. After conference hours, we’d wind up in the hotel bar for a few laughs and a nightcap. I realized a couple of years ago that somehow Tony was never around when the tab came due. I teased him about that every time I saw him. Hey, Tony, no kidding, the tab’s still open. You will be missed, my friend.