Brenda Kay Eckler, Assistant Professor, Center for Sports, Entertainment and Event Management of Johnson and Wales University and Advisor for the school’s MPI student club
MPI World Education Congress (WEC) in June 2016 was your first visit to Atlantic City. What brought you to WEC ’16?
After 20 years as a meeting planner, I moved into education, preparing college students to become effective event management professionals. As a veteran with memories of drawing floor plans by hand and communicating via flip-phone, WEC represented a valuable opportunity to get up to speed on the industry. Like Atlantic City itself, I would experience a personal and professional transformation.
How so?
For starters, my perception of Atlantic City, based on media reports of an unpopular and unattractive destination, was way off base. With the hotels, Boardwalk and beach alive with visitors, Atlantic City has clearly turned the corner and transformed into an attractive, welcoming and satisfying destination ideal for event professionals.
The city, Caesars, Harrah’s, Borgata, MPI and the MPI Foundation truly pulled out all the stops for WEC ’16 attendees. I never imagined networking barefoot on a beautiful beach, as we did on opening night, or having productive conversations by the pool, or sitting on bean bags, or in comfortable lounges. The food and beverage was amazing, and I even saw my teenage heartthrob, Rick Springfield.
Wanting to meet as many industry professionals as possible, the event exceeded every expectation—and revealed just how much the industry has transformed as well.
What specifically did you learn?
MPI President and CEO Paul Van Deventer talked about “innovation and transformation.” MPI Board Chairman Fiona Pelham emphasized the need for meetings professionals to be “forward thinking and unafraid to try new things.” I also learned about virtual reality technology, creating and spreading happiness through a positive mindset and much more.
The sum of it all? I found an industry transformed from one of being on your own to one of team-oriented collaborations where people are willing to help others advance. Successfully hosted by Atlantic City, WEC ’16 was an eye-opening experience—and true inspiration for teaching future professionals in this exciting industry.