MPI Reorganizes to Spur Sustainable Growth

DALLAS — Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has implemented an organizational realignment, involving the creation of new leadership positions, realignment of management responsibilities, and the restructuring staff roles and teams, to better position the association for long-term strategic growth, it was announced Sept. 22.

The leadership appointments, which include two new hires and two promotions, are as follows:

Marianne Strobel – senior vice-president of marketing & community. Strobel is charged with managing MPI’s membership, chapter operations, creative services, brand marketing and communications teams. Strobel has served as a consultant for MPI for the past few months and will assume the new role on Oct. 3.

Matthew Marcial, CAE, CMP – vice-president of education & events. Marcial previously served as MPI’s senior director of events and has been with the association since 2014. He now has oversight of MPI’s global events portfolio and the MPI Academy educational products, experiences and professional certificate programs. Prior to MPI, Marcial previously led the Meetings & Education Department at NAFA Fleet Management Association.

Evan Casey – vice-president of sales. Casey previously served as senior director of business development. He was with Plan Your Meetings for 16 years before MPI acquired it in November 2015. In this new role, Casey is responsible for leading the association’s business development team in global sales efforts.

Bernie Schraer – vice-president of revenue & channel development. Schraer has served as a consultant for MPI for the past 18 months. In this new role, he manages MPI’s strategic alliance, Plan Your Meeting audience development, and publishing teams. Schraer was previously with Northstar Travel Media for 24 years.

In addition, Diane Hawkins, MPI’s vice-president of people, performance and administrative services has assumed responsibility for the volunteer experience team, which manages board relations and governance.

Jodi Ann LaFreniere Ray, MPI’s current vice-president of membership and volunteer experience, will depart in mid-November to become executive director and CEO of the Texas Society of CPAs.