New Member Feature Profile: June 2018

Annette works with Brownell Incentive Travel as a New Business Development Executive.  In this role, she has the privilege of working with companies and organizations around the country who want to reward, motivate, or engage their employees and/or customers through exceptional travel experiences. Annette’s first job in meeting and incentives was in 2002 when she switched career paths. She left her public relations position with a tour operator in Chicago and took a regional sales position for the Marriott Grand Cayman. “I had a very smart female leader who took a chance on me and showed me the ropes. She shared her knowledge and experience and gave me a list of 12 Best Practices which I have in a frame on my desk to this day. They are little reminders like:

• Build loyal client partnerships

• Listen more than you talk

• Be more creative than the other guy to make your point.”

Annette’s experience has allowed her to pay it forward and share her advice and best practices. During a time when she worked as a hotel supplier, Annette learned that sometimes you need to turn business down. She wanted to bid on everything; even programs that were just too big for the hotels she represented because she approached every program with “I want to win this.” Turning down business can be tough, and it is something we all can relate to in our industry.

This is not Annette’s first journey with the MPI Georgia chapter. She originally joined in 2011, but didn’t really become involved. However, she continued to follow chapter events and updates on social media and felt this was the time to rejoin and get involved. On a personal note, Annette recommends that everyone should see the world. In fact, she and her husband are planning a Danube cruise this summer and plan to visit Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.