To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification program, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has launched a new social media campaign and award recognizing "CMP Influencers," it announced this week.
CMP Influencers are CMP-certified mentors, colleagues, and peers who have had a personal lasting impact on their colleagues, according to CIC, whose campaign is asking meeting professionals to recognize CMP Influencers on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #CMP30. From the group of tagged individuals, CIC will choose 30 to constitute its list of the 30 most influential CMPs.
Here's how it works: Through May 22, meeting professionals can nominate a CMP who has influenced their career or the meeting industry at large by posting the phrase, "I nominate (insert full name) from (insert organization) as a #CMP30 Influencer," to either the CMP 30th Anniversary Facebook Event Page or the CMP Twitter account. The nominated person should be a certified CMP. Once the nomination window closes, a Facebook poll will be conducted, after which a CIC committee will choose 30 "winners" based on number of Facebook poll votes, personal influence on peers, and community/leadership presence.
The final class of #CMP30 Influencers will be announced in July and honored during a special ceremony at the upcoming CMP Conclave, taking place Sept. 26-28 in Reno, NV.
"This awards program is different," said CIC CEO Karen Kotowski. "This isn't about a successful career, it's about the people who got you there. Which mentor, colleague, or leadership figure has dramatically influenced or inspired your professional journey? It's time we thank those individuals and celebrate the people, not just the program."
Established in 1985, the CMP program is designed to "increase the professionalism of meeting managers," "recognize and raise industry standards," and "increase the value of these practitioners to their employers," according to CIC. To date, more than 14,000 meeting professionals in 51 countries and territories have earned the CMP credential.
For a recap of recent top stories, check out MeetingNews Minute: