MPI News Round-Up

Because he's considered a pioneer in the field of strategic meetings management, David M. Rich has been honored by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) with its first ever RISE Award for Meeting Industry Leadership.

Awarded this weekend during a special ceremony at MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) in Vancouver, the RISE Awards include annual awards in three categories: individual achievement, community achievement and organizational achievement. Recipients are recognized for innovation, global transferability, impact and influence.

Rich, who is senior vice president of George P. Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ), was honored for his thought leadership and substantial contributions to the meetings and events industry, to which he's dedicated more than 20 years. Having pioneered the strategic value of meetings and events as marketing tools, his contributions include inventing methodologies for the strategic application and development of meetings and events that achieve bottom line business results, as well as educating fellow industry professionals on becoming more strategic in their approach to events and event portfolios.

"The impact of David's leadership in the strategy area touches on nearly every aspect of the meetings and event marketing industry, allowing brands to compete more efficiently, integrate their marketing efforts, measure their event investments and accelerate sales," said MPI President and CEO Bruce MacMillan. "The RISE Award honors his ongoing contributions in this crucial area."

A former two-term president of its New England chapter, Rich has been an active leader within MPI, working with a wide range of industry groups and associations on a long history of work and research initiatives to advance a more strategic approach to meetings and event marketing.

"It's been incredibly gratifying to see how strategy is increasingly being talked about as a must-have discipline with the community," Rich said. "The RISE Award is a great honor, and I take it as recognition of the fact that strategy has been and will continue to be a transformative practice for our industry."