Staffing at the Oregon Convention Center just got deeper and better. And the organization didn’t have to hire a single person to achieve it.
Convention Center account manager Raena Mayhew was awarded into an exclusive club within the events industry when she recently received Certified Meeting Planner designation from the Convention Industry Council. The CMP designation is awarded to those individuals who meet the industry’s highest standards and levels of best practices. Currently, only about 14,000 individuals in 51 countries have earned this special designation since it was established in 1985.
"We are very proud of Raena's accomplishment," says Matt Pizzuti, the Convention Center’s deputy director. "The OCC is committed to having the best staff that are well trained and top professionals in the field of venue and meeting management. Raena passed the three-and-one-half hour exam with flying colors."
A Portland native, Mayhew graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., with degrees in Theater Management and Public Relations. She has worked for the Convention Center for seven years and is currently an account manager. That means Mayhew operates as the single point of contact for numerous clients and manages everything for them leading up to and through their business’ actual event at the Convention Center. The duties are comprehensive and include contracting space, finalizing catering needs, room set-up, audio visual requirements, final billing after the event, and much more.
Mayhew is the first account executive at the Convention Center to receive the CMP designation. The Convention Center staff includes two other CMP designees, both of whom work in sales.
The designation is important because the Convention Council sets best practices standards that are commonly recognized by peers and clients in the venues and events industry. That designation by staff members helps the Convention Center with potential clients who evaluate the performance, facilities and staffing of different convention venues to host their events
"The idea is to have all of us in the industry speak the same language when it comes to standards," says Mayhew.
The designation is not easy to achieve. Not just anyone can apply, for starters. Applicants must first have at least three years of full-time experience as a meeting manager and have pursued continuing education courses for a period of time.
The application itself is extensive and demands that applicants document their expertise in ten different areas of meeting management. If approved after review by the CMP board, applicants can then proceed to register for the CMP exam. They have one year to do so. The three-and-a-half hour exam demands about 100 hours of studying
For Mayhew and others who’ve achieved the designation, the CMP represents public and peer recognition, marks possible salary enhancement and in general, welcomes a new career stage
"Attaining the CMP certification has been a longtime goal of mine," says Mayhew. "And I am grateful for the Convention Center’s support while I worked toward this goal. I’m proud to become part of such an esteemed group."