About

As a corporate meeting and event planner, I managed the full spectrum of the event planning process, across all levels of management with an emphasis on high profile, executive-level groups including senior management, Board of Directors and key customers.  My systematic approach to project management helped me to get and stay focused on the task at hand while handling multiple details, projects and deadlines throughout my career. 

 

You can read my full bio in the Media section of this website so I thought it would be fun here instead to "talk a little shop" and share my perspectives on things like ...

 

What exactly is a meeting planner?

A meeting planner by MY definition is the go-to person and would be/should be a key member of any design (or planning) team within an organization charged with the responsibility of planning and executing a meeting or special event.  They are there to partner with team members to take responsibility for the things they do best giving others more time to concentrate on the things they do best ….

 

Meeting planners utilize their project management experience, planning skills and attention to detail to help create and deliver events that meet or exceed company expectations.  They add value to an organization by drawing upon their knowledge of the hospitality industry to manage expenses and minimize risk by negotiating the best all-around rates and paying attention to contract terms. 

 

Meeting planners have the keen ability to bring the right people and resources together to create and deliver programs that best meet the strategic goals, objectives and key messages to a defined audience.   

 

However -- not all people who plan meetings are “meeting planners,” nor do all meeting planners start out as meeting planners. I, for one was on an administrative assistant track with absolutely no knowledge at the time that a career in meeting planning even existed (and at the time it probably didn’t).

  

I first became involved in planning meetings in my role as an office manager/prospect researcher in the Grants and Development Office of a state university right here in Minnesota. We reported to the Board of Trustees and were responsible for planning and executing quarterly board meetings.  Hmmm. Who do you think was given the responsibility of planning those meetings?  You got it – ME.   

 

Did I think of this at the time as “meeting planning”? I did not.

 

Did I know the difference then between a boardroom or conference room set or a classroom set? I did not.

 

But I learned -- and I learned quickly --  but not without making a few mistakes early on.

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What I also learned was that I liked what I was doing and that I was good at it – or had the potential to be. I also knew there was much more to learn to be successful.  So, I set out on a professional development journey and did just that.  

 

Why did I write this book?

Planning and executing meetings and events is no easy task.  It requires a PLAN, a PROCESS and a TEAM of experts to make it happen and for it to be deemed a success.  If you fail to plan appropriately, you are setting yourself up to fail and who wants to do that?  Not me and hopefully not you either. 

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I wrote and self-published the The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings in an effort to share with others the key strategies behind what I refer to as the “THE MEETING PLANNING PROCESS”, a "process" or "system" that evolved for me overtime to share with others the tools and the structure that helped me stay focused, on task and on time. 

 

Who can benefit from reading this book and why?

Whether you are a novice planner, an administrative or other professional who has been called upon to plan a meeting over and above your normal day-to-day responsibilities, this Guide will help bring ORDER to the planning process, lead you through the proper steps and sequence of tasks involved in planning a meeting thus eliminating the PANIC, CHAOS and/or FEAR one might otherwise experience when taking on a project and/or a process they are unfamiliar with – one where failure is not an option and one that can greatly affect your company’s bottom line.    

 

A few things people have said about me and/or the book...

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“The focus on a plan and how to develop and work that plan provides the key ingredients for how to manage a successful meeting or event while reducing the stress of multiple details and deadlines.”

 

“I appreciate how Mary Jo has pulled together everything to consider into one easy-to-consult tool …”

 

“If you want to expand your meeting planning abilities, I recommend checking this guide out ….  You might even discover an interesting new career.’

 

“ … the templates are priceless!”

 

I hope you’ll take a closer look at the “BOOK” section to learn more about the book, browse through the blog posts and check out the “Testimonials” of this website (of which I couldn’t be prouder) at your convenience. 

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Take care.  Be well.  Plan well.  Never stop learning. 

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