MPI Events Industry Training Program Inaugurated Today

Five day 'sell-out' workshop is host to leading global authorities from events, hospitality and tourism sectors

Doha - 9th November 2008 - Meeting Professionals International (MPI)'s 5 day workshop for event and meeting planners to attain the internationally recognized 'Global Certificate in Meeting Operations 1' (GCMO1), started today. The sell-out event has been organized in partnership with Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI); and sponsored by Qatar Airways, Gulf Adventures and Qatar National Convention Centre.

Joyce Dogniez, CMM & Director of Operations, MPI EMEA said: "We have been overwhelmed by the interest, particularly from leading organizations in Qatar to attend the GCMO1 course. This is a testament to the growing need for event management skills to support the increasing number of events taking place in the country." Dogniez furthered: "We are honored to have received such positive feedback; and would also like to thank our sponsors who have contributed to the workshop's success."

Matthew Meredith, CEO, Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI) said "MPI brings to Qatar global industry standards and access to internationally acclaimed event industry authorities." Meredith continued "With only a limited 50 delegate places available, the course was filled very quickly. However, to cater for the waiting list of people wishing to attend the course, we plan to run a second workshop in the near future."

GCMO 1's tried-and-proven curriculum provides a semester's worth of practical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of event management and operations.

The 5 day interactive workshop is being conducted by the following highly respected trainers:

Dr. Joe Goldblatt, CSEP is the executive director of the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events and a lecturer at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland in the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Group. Previous responsibilities included executive director for the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where his program was named "best in the world" by the International Festivals and Events Association (ISES). Dr. Goldblatt also served as Dean of the graduate school at Johnson & Wales University where he created the first master of business administration degree program in Event Leadership. In addition, he created the first masters degree and professional certificate programs in the field of event management at The George Washington University. He is the author, co-author or editor of 19 books and many scholarly and trade publication articles. He has produced hundreds of events for luminaries including two U.S. presidents, the opening of the Donald Trump Taj Mahal Resort.

Tyra W. Hilliard, J.D., CMP is a consultant, educator, and attorney and is actively involved with meetings industry associations as well as serves on the Student/Faculty Advisory Council for Meeting Professionals International. She was named "One of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry" by MeetingNews magazine in 2004, and has chaired the Convention Industry Council's APEX Contracts Panel. As a part-time faculty member at The George Washington University, Tyra teaches graduate courses in meeting and event management; and is published in risk management, contracts, intellectual property law, and ethics, hotel safety and security, Olympic Games security, and hotel meeting contracts

Dr. Sheila Scott-Halsell is an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration where she teaches in the areas of conference and event management, hotel sales, human resources, and hospitality financial analysis. Dr. Scott-Halsell is currently the Director of Special Events for the Oklahoma Chapter, a member of the MPI Student Faculty Advisory Council and has spoken on "Managing Your Emotional Intelligence Along With Your Event" which was presented to the Wild West Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Planners.

Lorie Tuma is an Instructor at Central Michigan University, teaching in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration, specifically the Event Management Minor. This includes university-level capstone courses in Special Event Administration, Meetings & Exposition Planning, and Tourism, as well as serving as speaker delivering power-packed presentations on professionalism, event branding, and "Intrapreneurship". Lorie earned a Bachelor's Degree in Community Development and a Master's Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University. She is currently completing a doctoral degree in Education with a cognate in Teacher Leadership.

Joyce Dogniez CMM, MPI Director of Operations, EMEA
Joyce Dogniez joined the MPI European office in August 2005 as manager of chapter relations and development. In July 2006, she was promoted to the position of director of European operations. Joyce has event planning and key account management in major organizations such as Lease Plan Belgium, Toyota Motor Europe, European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA); and at AGS as an association planner and Liberty Incentives and Congresses, as its sales and marketing director. Joyce has a bachelor degree in Translator/Interpreter and speaks Dutch, French, English, Spanish and German and has a basic knowledge of Italian.