Lydia Blanchard, business development sales manager for NAV Centre and a member of MPI Ottawa, is the 2016 recipient of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) RISE Award for Young Professional. Blanchard received the award at a gala luncheon held June 13, 2016 at MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Lydia Blanchard (centre) received the 2016 RISE Award for Young Professional from Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO, MPI; and Courtney Stanley, Strategic Partnership Membership, EventMobi and MPI International Board of Directors member.
The RISE (Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence) Awards are given in three categories: individual achievement, community achievement and organization achievement. Recipients are recognized for innovation, global transferability, impact and influence within the industry.
Blanchard was honored for her past volunteer work on MPI Ottawa’s Community Outreach Committee. During her tenure, she helped raise more than $90,000 towards the Ottawa Network for Education School Breakfast Program as part of the chapter’s annual charity auction dinner. She also developed a sport tourism events partnership for the region in order to create unity among key stakeholders so that the city could bid on large tournaments and events. Blanchard current serves as the director of publications for the chapter.
The other 2016 RISE Award recipients are:
RISE Award for Meeting Industry Leadership – Ken Iwamoto, GLP, GTP, MPI Northern California Chapter. Considered one of the founders of strategic meeting management (SMM), he currently serves on the MPI Foundation US Council and is a senior consultant with GoldSpring Consulting LLC.
RISE Award for Member of the Year – Carol Norfleet, MBA, CMP, DMCP, MPI Tennessee Chapter. Norfleet was honored for her contributions to the CMP program and multiple leadership roles. She is the executive vice-president and COO of Destination Nashville, and has served as co-presenter for the CMP Boot Camp/Master Class at WEC since 2004.
RISE Award for Educational Programming – Presented to both the MPI Minnesota and MPI Tennessee chapters for the advancement in education and professional development of their members through innovative programming. In September 2015, MPI Minnesota implemented MPILive! hybrid meetings in conjunction with monthly educational programs. The MPI Tennessee Chapter Past Presidents’ Road Trip incorporated a new meeting style called Pecha Kucha, where educational presentations are given in just under seven minutes and limited to 20 slides.
RISE Award for Marketplace Excellence – Presented to the MPI Belgium Chapter for providing exceptional business exchanges for its members.
RISE Award for Membership Achievement – Presented to the MPI Arizona Sunbelt Chapter for outstanding membership growth, engagement and retention. The chapter held a volunteer-a-thon from June to August 2015 with the goal of influencing 50 members to join a volunteer committee. At the program’s conclusion, 34 members signed up to serve on 12 committees and by October 2015, the chapter’s volunteerism rate grew to 31 percent.
RISE Award for Meetings Impact – Presented to Ricoh USA, Inc. for its achievement through the strategic use of meetings and events. By holding its annual Ricoh Services Leadership Symposium in smaller sessions within seven regions, it created the opportunity for more local leaders to attend and interact with their counterparts.
“Congratulations to the 2016 RISE Awards recipients,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “We salute each of these leaders who were nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions and performance. Their achievements will be recognized within our global community for years to come.”
Daniela Caputo, chair of the RISE Awards Judging Panel and owner of Montreal Event Planner, said that the awards highlight the exceptional talent in the industry worldwide. “This year’s recipients have all demonstrated that with hard work and dedication we can achieve success, whether as an individual or team.”
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