Event Profiles

Hey-Ho, Sounders, We Love You

Each July, Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, transforms into the weeklong Oneweek. The event is an opportunity for Microsoft employees to come together to learn about new products and services, and to bring their own ideas to life through presentations and activities. The week culminates with a keynote speech on the company’s bold ambitions and opportunities.

Northwest Meetings + Events editorial advisory board member Melissa Jurcan is our guest blogger. She offers a recap of the 7th Annual Solutions5 conference held on Friday, Jan. 20.

Meeting Professionals International, the official sponsor of Smart Monday, has added five new programs to the inaugural day of IMEX America.

Paws for a Break

MPI is teaming up with Love Dog Adventures—a Las Vegas animal-assisted therapy program. Designed as a stress-reducing activity, several dogs will be present during Smart Monday for attendees to cuddle with. These puppy sessions are quickly becoming a hot new trend and have been featured in a number of World Education Congresses. Puppy Cuddling is sponsored by Visit Norfolk.

Few heads turned when Judge Kemp walked into a Office Depot store in Portland, Oregon, one Saturday evening in May 2015 wearing 3-and-a-half-inch goth rocker boots and an above-the-knee, off-theshoulder little red dress. Kemp grabbed what he needed—some last-minute lanyards—and hurried back to The Old Freeman Factory to kick off one of Portland’s most anticipated and colorful charity events of the year: the Red Dress Party.

On June 28, members of Meeting Professionals International Washington State Chapter gathered together at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington, for their June Celebration. This year’s Chapter Award Winners are:

Planner Member of the Year: Melanie DeGrow, CMP

Supplier Member of the Year: Olivia Sloan, CMP

Tomorrow's Leader: Emily Ziemba

Rookie of the Year: Kris LaFata

This year, the Emerald City Applause Awards had a new look, starting with its setting. The 11th annual awards, honoring event professionals, was held on April 13 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall for the first time.

From May 9-11, Seattle is playing host to the 2016 IVAM Region 4 Conference, a three-day event consisting of networking opportunities, a golf tournament and many speeches and breakout sessions. But that’s not all taking place at the Washington State Convention Center. Emerging Sales Professionals are hosting their bi-annual Venue Sales Training program in association with the IVAM Conference.

Q&A With Event Director Jaime McAuley

In early January, I wrote a blog about the Seattle Hotel Association’s 19th annual “Evening of Hope Gala” presented by Delta Air Lines.