MPI Kansas City

As we look forward to a new year and the opportunities ahead, we want to take a moment to recognize our incoming 2025 Board of Directors. These incredible leaders are at the heart of MPI Kansas City, guiding our chapter and championing the meetings and events industry across the region. Their dedication and vision are instrumental in helping us thrive as a community of meeting professionals. We are excited to see all the great work they will accomplish in the coming year! 🌟 2025 MPIKC Board of Directors 🌟 President - Emily Bannwarth, CMP | Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. Immediate Past President - Whitney Butler, CMP | Platinum XP President Elect - Scott Kautzi | Strang Chef Collectives VP of Finance - Amy Worden | Overland Park Convention Center VP of Membership - Rachel P. | The Westin & Sheraton VP of Communications - Aubry Cottrell | ABC Heart of America VP of Education - Lauren Stipp | Serendipity Labs Director of Student Involvement - Ellen Valdez, CMP | Platinum XP Director of Annual Conference - Tracy Nice | Stancy Events Director of Leadership - Bryan Kitahara | 21c Museum Hotels Director of Special Events - Holly Robben | T-Mobile Director of Education - Lisa McBride, CMP | Lockton Director of Communications - Jessica Peak | The University of Kansas Health System Director of Membership - Samantha Murry | Chicken N Pickle Let’s make 2025 a year to remember! 🔗 Learn more about our chapter and upcoming events here: https://buff.ly/3YfzPdo #MPIKC #BoardofDirectors #Leadership #EventProfs #MeetingProfs #KansasCity #Networking #Community

🌟 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | J. Rieger & Co. 🌟 Jacob Rieger & Company was founded in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms Livestock Exchange district. The brand offered over 100 alcoholic products and took pride in maintaining a quarter of a million unique customers by offering mail-order delivery services. In 1919, Prohibition was enacted by the federal government and wasn’t reversed until 1933. J. Rieger & Co. was a casualty at the time, but was not destined to be lost forever. Now, a century after Prohibition, we are proud once again to call Kansas City home.

🙌 NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Brooke Hass 🙌 Name: Brooke Hass Company: T-Mobile Center Title: Private Events Coordinator Favorite event you've been involved with: Ooh, an overall favorite is hard to pick! My most recent favorite event that I’ve coordinated would be the Veteran’s Community Project House Party in 2023 here at T-Mobile Center. LinkedIn: https://buff.ly/4feiIh0

🎄✨ Happy Holidays from the 2023-24 MPI Kansas City Board of Directors! ✨🎄 Before we look ahead to an exciting new year, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the season with a little holiday cheer. This incredible group of leaders gathered for an end-of-year brunch (and some fun holiday sweaters!) at Pinstripes to reflect on all we’ve accomplished together. To our MPI Kansas City family, thank you for your continued support and for being part of this amazing community. Here’s to a joyful holiday season and an even brighter 2025! #HappyHolidays #MPIKC #BoardofDirectors #HolidayCheer #EventProfs #MeetingProfs #Community Bryan Kitahara Whitney Butler, CMP Emily Bannwarth, CMP Rachel P. Lauren Stipp Scott Kautzi Katie Schillare Kyle Sadewhite Tracy Nice Holly Robben Aubry Cottrell Not Pictured: Ellen Valdez, CMP Kendra Brayfield Amy Worden

🙌 NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Lizzie Wilkerson 🙌 Name: Lizzie Wilkerson Company: CPKC – Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad Title: Event Coordinator LinkedIn: https://buff.ly/3OMLI4u Favorite event you've been involved with: My favorite event I’ve been involved in was our Electric Western themed party this past July. Each year, CPKC is the main sponsor for an LPGA tournament in Canada. It’s become a tradition for CPKC to host a themed event after the end of play on the tournament’s Friday for all our customers and coordinators. This year’s event was extra special, as it took place in Calgary, where our Canadian headquarters is located. Hosting an event in our own backyard, with a theme connected to the city’s spirt, made it even more meaningful. Attached are a few images from the event!

🌟 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT | Embrace the Grape Beverage Catering 🌟 Embrace the Grape is the oldest full service, beverage only catering company in the Kansas City Area. Liquor licensed in Kansas & Missouri, we are the turn key solution to all things bar related. Small corporate gatherings for 50 guests to blow out soirees for thousands, Embrace the Grape answers the call, collaborating with you and your client for a fantastic experience. #MeetingProfs #MeetingPros #EventProfs #Sponsor #KansasCity #MPIKC

🙌 NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Joy Broils 🙌 Name:  Joy Broils Company:  Hustle and Ground Title:  Founder/CEO LinkedIn:  https://buff.ly/3ZD6b24 Favorite event you've been involved with:  I truly enjoy working with all of my clients, but if I have to choose, my favorite event was helping my client in Canada get ready for their annual conference in Kansas City.  My client needed help sourcing products for the amenity gifts for their conference attendees.  We decided on 8 different items from local businesses and I delivered all of the products to my client at their host hotel so they could assemble the bags and additional conference information together.  I love being able to help my clients make gifting easy and in this case, I helped my client who lived out of the country, to have everything ready for her when she arrived in Kansas City.

📸 The full album of photos from the 2024 MPI Kansas City Presidential Gala Awards Celebration & Silent Auction is officially available! 📸 Thank you so much to everyone who joined the fun this year! 👏 And another congratulations to all our 2024 Award Winners & Nominees! 📷 View the full album at: https://lnkd.in/g2Xv-jmz Photo Credit: Adri Guyer 🎞️ Photobooth Album: https://buff.ly/3V17fKv #MPIKC #Gala #Awards #Celebrate #MeetingProfs #EventProfs #KansasCity #Networking

🙌 Cyber Monday is here and MPI is offering 40% off memberships when using code “CYBER2024” to join or renew! 🙌 Offer only valid 12/2/24 and cannot be combined with discounts including faculty, students, retired, dual memberships, and MyFriendMPI. Join or renew: https://buff.ly/3OxBpBv

This past weekend, the MPI Kansas City Board of Directors and volunteers had the honor of volunteering at REHOPEorg's "Fall at the Farm" graduation ceremony in Harrisonville, MO. 🎉 It was a day filled with celebration, gratitude, and hope as we supported an incredible organization dedicated to empowering survivors of human trafficking. From helping behind the scenes to witnessing the joy of program graduates and showcasing the beautiful community, we were reminded of the strength and resilience of those served by ReHope. 💙 We’re proud to be part of this partnership and to stand united in the fight against human trafficking. Together, we’re making a difference! 💪 #EndHumanTrafficking #ReHope #VolunteerImpact #MPIKC #MPICommunity #MeetingProfs #EventProfs #KansasCity Whitney Butler, CMP Katie Schillare Emily Bannwarth, CMP Ellen Valdez, CMP Aubry Cottrell Holly Robben Lisa McBride, CMP Samantha Murry Tracy Nice Ava Miller Shari B Hockenbery Jason Alvis