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January 2016 Baltimore NACE Newsletter

President's Report

Welcome 2016!

I am excited to be your incoming Chapter President. I am very enthusiastic about what the new year will bring our Chapter. I am a fan of the old adage: you keep doing the same things and you will achieve the same results. I am blessed to be working with a talented Board who are some of the best in our industry. With them, I hope to elevate your experience during our monthly meetings. I do believe it takes all of us including members to keep our Chapter alive and fresh with new ideas. I want to challenge you to become more involved this year by joining committees, being vocal with new ideas, helping in our fundraiser in March, joining our community service projects, etc. There are numerous opportunities to be part of the Chapter. From my ten years of being a Baltimore NACE member, I know the more you are involved, the more you will realize the value in your membership.

Please feel free to approach me at any time. I want to hear your feedback and ideas on how we make the Baltimore NACE Chapter ROCK in 2016!

Sherri Griffis, CPCE, CMP
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Director of Catering Sales
[email protected]

Marketing & Communications Update

Hello 2016 Baltimore NACE! We are looking forward to having another exciting year of educational meetings and, of course, we can’t do it without you!

This year our Meetings Chairs are Petra Compel and Brian Morse. If you would like to HOST a meeting, CATER a meeting … or provide any donated services to any meeting this year, please contact Petra ([email protected]) or Brian ([email protected]). I know they would love to hear from you!

From the Marketing and Communications side, I am all ears when it comes to promoting YOU and promoting NACE the best that I can. If you have any ideas or time to help the Marketing Committee, please let me know. I look forward to seeing you all at a meeting this year!

John Paul Berry
Director of Marketing & Communication
[email protected]
443-889-5991

Community Service

The House of Ruth needs to cover their butts! Well not their own, but for the babies of their clients. They need diapers! In January the Baltimore NACE Chapter traditionally supports the House of Ruth Maryland, www.hruth.org. This organization is one of the leading domestic violence centers, helping thousands of battered women and their children find safety and security that so many of us take for granted. We ask our members to please bring new, disposable diapers, sizes 4, 5, & 6 as well as Pull-ups sizes 2T thru 6T to our January meeting. We will make sure they get delivered to the House of Ruth.

Thanks for your help in advance!
April Lichtenberg, Flowers and Fancies
Director of Community Service
[email protected]

Membership Specials & Welcome New Members

Welcome New Members:

Shelby Haile, Event Planner & Coordinator for Rutland Beard Floral Group

Matt Davis, Comedy Stage Hypnotist at Matt Davis

Sharon Hailey, Catering & Convention Services Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton at BWI

Member Benefits:

Did you know that if you are a member of NACE, you have access to Catering & Events Weekly as a resource for your business? Go here to check out the latest issues.

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight: Lauri Dixon, General Manager at Party Plus Tents & Events

1) What does your day to day consist of at Party Plus?

A typical day at Party Rental….I do not think there is such a thing! And honestly, that is definitely one of the best parts! Every day is different…new people, new events, new venues, new products and new challenges! I spend the majority of my 9 – 5 day with clients; on the phone, via email, in our studio or at their venue. Outside of our studio hours I spend a lot of time catching up on emails, catching up on industry news and managing our social media. It really never stops!

2) How did you get started in the event industry?

By happenstance! When I was 18 years old, and living in Texas, I accepted a job at a neighborhood restaurant called the Rumble Seat with hopes to earn some quick cash for a trip to Cancun. After a month, I was hooked!!! I have been involved in this industry, in one facet or another, ever since! I have worked in private Restaurants & Hotel Restaurants in Houston, Texas and Baltimore, Maryland. I was DOC at HarborView Marina and Yacht Club for 5 years before joining Party Plus 19 years ago.

3) What is your favorite thing about what you do?

Pleasing my clients! My single biggest motivator is their smile, their hug, their thank you, their referral! It could be a bride, a meeting planner, a wedding planner, a homeowner….it does not really matter; simply put, I take great pleasure in immersing myself in their event and making it the very best that it can be!

4) What is something we all should know about tents that a lot of people in the industry might not know?

Climate control in tents: Tents are a temporary structure; they are not permanent. Tents are intended to help shield you from the outdoor elements while providing a festive atmosphere. Accordingly, there are additional costs to protect against the wind, to heat a tent and to air condition a tent. Let’s think about it a minute - there is you, a piece of vinyl and Mother Nature. Generally speaking, there are no hard walls and windows, and no insulation. In order to compensate for that you have to provide a lot of heat or a lot of a/c. As soon as I say, imagine opening every window in your home in the winter and being cold….that is what it is what your tent will be like like with no heat. And vice versa for air conditioning. It is like the proverbial lightbulb is being lit and they all say ohhhh that makes so much sense, I never thought of it like that!

5) Tell us something personal about yourself that others in NACE might not know (hobbies, family, etc)?

I am a tomboy at heart and I love anything and everything that has to do with the outdoors! Walking, hiking, cycling, boating, paddle boarding, gardening, you name it, I am game! I especially love walks on the beach with my pup, he is my fur baby. If I ever were to leave this industry, it would be to chase my dreams of working with and helping dogs. I LOVE dogs. I am obsessed with dogs! One day when I grow up I hope to have a farm so I can have tons of dogs!

Ashley Sullivan, Director of Membership
Ashley Michelle Photography
Email: [email protected]

Fundraising & Raffle Recap

Happy New Year!!

I’m excited to serve as your Fundraising Co-Chair! Good luck and congratulations to those running for Co-Chair at the January Meeting. I look forward a very successful 2016!
Get your tickets early…January’s raffle will be a 50/50. Even if you didn’t win the lottery, you can still walk away with some CASH!

SAVE THE DATE! The first “Four Chefs and a Pairing” event will be March 21, 2016 at the Grand. Our annual fundraiser benefitting Moveable Feast will feature four local celebrity chefs. You’ll experience cooking demos, sip on paired craft cocktails, dine on the culinary delights created by our Chefs. We look forward to seeing you then! *This event is open to the public.

If you would like to get involved with the Fundraising Committee, please contact Mary at [email protected]

Mary Carballo, NACE Baltimore Fundraising Co-Chair
AFR Event Furnishings