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The Society PulseVolume 1, Issue 2 Winter 2017

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, Mar. 9th Lunch

Thursday, Apr. 20th Lunch

Board

President - Virginia Hessels

1st VP - Colleen Flage

2nd VP - Adam Anderson

Treasurer - Marcia Teague

Secretary - Rhonda Rogers-Bardsley

Planner Director - Erica Chatman

Supplier Director - Kelly Aleman

Planner Director - Sue Wagner

Committees Finance/Registration - Marcia

Teague, Candy Kaswinkel,

Lauren Guidi

Fundraising/Comm Svc - Virginia

Hessels

Membership - Stephanie West

and Shelby Sowder

Prog/Prof Dev - Jo Ann Winn,

Erica Chatman, Stephanie

McBride, and Emely McKitrick

Scholarship/Awards - Candy

Kaswinkel

Communications - Kelly Aleman,

Valkyrie Shah, Kaylee Brummett

Elections/Bylaws/Procedures -

Colleen Flage

2017 Education Day SAVE THE DATE! Best Western Gateway Grand July 20, 2017. To help plan Education Day, please contact Virginia Hessels.

National SGMP 2017 Save the Date SGMP is excited to announce that Fort Lauderdale, Florida will be the host city for the 2017 SGMP National Education Conference & Expo (NEC)! The event will be held June 6-8 2017, at the Broward County Convention Center.

Upcoming Meetings If you have any suggestions for upcoming meeting or speakers please contact the Prog/Prof Dev committee, we would love to hear from you!

Thank You for Sponsoring Thank you Hilton Garden Inn for great food and a convenient location in January.

Thank you Visit St. Pete/Clearwater for a delicious and festive holiday meeting.

Thank you Wyndham Garden for a relaxing November meeting.

Thank you Springhill Suites and Jason’s Deli for a tasty October meeting.

Congratulations! Congratulations to our Planner and Supplier of the Year! Kelly Aleman, Visit Gainesville and Erica Chatman, Historic Thomas Center

Welcome! Please welcome our newest members: Marsha Grant-US District Court Rodney Rackley-TRG ORLANDO, LLC Jordan Weir-B Resort & Spa Heather Palentchar-Interstate Global Sales Team

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Recent member certifications, awards, or recognition If you recently obtained any certifications, please let us know! We would love to share your accomplishments with our members. If you’re interested in CGMP or CMP, please contact Erica Chatman.

Member to Member Kelly Aleman with Visit Gainesville needed to organize a meeting in January 2017 in Gainesville. Kelly immediately thought of other SGMP members she could work with on this event. She contacted Erica Chatman with the Historic Thomas Center to host the meeting there. Erica was extremely efficient and professional to work with. She was able to provide Kelly with a layout that worked well with her space as well as the flow of Kelly’s event. Then, Kelly needed catering for the event. She reached out to Lauren Guidi at Sweetwater Branch Inn/Sweetwater Catering Co. Lauren was able to come up with a creative menu that worked well with the attendees and stayed within the budget. Kelly Aleman with Visit Gainesville said, “I genuinely enjoyed working with both of these ladies! Both were wonderful to work with.”

Who has done business with another member recently? We want to know! Suppliers and planners please email Communications to let us know so we can share with others.

Planner Highlight: Brittany Caldwell, UF Veterinary Hospitals/Marketing & Communications/Clinical Referral Representative

What is your role at your current company/organization? I assist with the marketing and communication efforts for the UF Small Animal Hospital, UF Large Animal Hospital, and UF Pet Emergency Treatment Service clinic in Ocala.

What do you want our members to know about you? I have been with the UF Veterinary Hospitals since 2013. I started working as a Client Service Representative at the UF Large Animal Hospital. I assist with

improving relationships with our referring veterinarians and clients. My background includes a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management with a specialization in Equine Business Management. I have a strong interest in veterinary outreach, community engagement and event planning for the UF Veterinary Hospitals.

What made you join SGMP? I joined SGMP to learn more about organizing, promoting, and executing meetings/events. I also joined to meet other professionals—relationships are invaluable and we can learn so much from one another.

Something fun about you? (Favorite hobby, favorite vacation spot, etc.) Horseback riding and saltwater fishing are my favorite pastimes. I love being outdoors and spending time with my animals: quarter horse (EZ) and lab mix (Stetson).

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Supplier Highlight: Marcia Teague, Sales Manager at Springhill Suites

What is your role at your current company/organization? My role at the hotel, as I see it, is customer service. I realize that the title is Sales Manager but nothing sells anything better than great service. I see myself and our team here at Springhill Suites as a service provider in the business of hospitality. We provide a great place to stay where you can feel at home. This attitude starts at the top. Our new ownership, Scarlett Hotel Group states, “...our organization is laser focused on the needs of our employees which we know translates into first class customer service…” Our leadership team, General Manager Steven Bradshow; Assistant General Manager Jason Chaney; Chief Engineer Robert Adams; and Housekeeping Supervisor Burnette Williams strive to exceed our customers’ expectations in quality and service on a daily basis.

What do you want our members to know about you? I love to help. I love helping people. I love my job because I feel it gives me the opportunity to help others. I spend my time outside of work helping family and friends. I feel my job Is also helping my community, co-workers, and associates. If I am not able to help, then I like to help make connections that may be able to help. Whether it is providing meeting space or rooms, I would like to help you. If I cannot, maybe I know someone who can.

What made you join SGMP? My first Regional Director of Sales in Gainesville recommended that I join SGMP. I was not familiar with the organization at the time but I began watching. Then I began waiting for an opportunity. It finally all came together last year for me and I am excited to be a member. I am learning from each meeting and meeting some really awesome people.

Something fun about you? (Favorite hobby, favorite vacation spot, etc.) Although I am on a hiatus from these activities for now, I have always enjoyed the outdoors, playing golf, tennis, swimming, biking, and hiking. I love to sew, cross stitch and upholstery. At this time, I am more focused on family. Church, parents, pets and young adult children are the center of my life.