David G. Rosenbaum, CHME
Director of Sales and Marketing
Fiesta Resort Conference Center
www.fiestainnresortcc.com
When David Rosenbaum first joined the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter of MPI 10 years ago, he was looking to take advantage of the group’s business and networking opportunities, and gain exposure to various meeting planners around the state.
As he became more involved in MPI, his career also jumped, and today, Rosenbaum is director of sales and marketing at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center in Tempe.
Rosenbaum grew up in the resort industry. He started 35 years ago in operations, working behind the front desk and parking cars. He was then given the opportunity to work a different angle of the business.
“I came out of operations and I thought I’d be in sales for two or three years, and then I’d get back into operations,” says Rosenbaum, who adds he has been in sales for 25 years.
Although he is not currently on any local MPI committees, Rosenbaum has participated in the student relations and programs committee, and has helped with planning various galas and events the chapter hosts. He remains involved with MPI by supporting the many people on his sales team who also are members of the chapter. Rosenbaum makes sure his employees get the time they need to become active members of MPI.
He says MPI is facing several challenges because of the down economy, namely a drop in membership. That, he says, is preventing the local chapter from meeting its full potential.
“The people that are supporting the membership are stretched thin, and are not as productive as they otherwise could be,” Rosenbaum says.
He says the solution to keep membership increasing is to provide more value to AzMPI.
“The more members we have, the more support, the more talent, the more creative ideas and the more successful our chapter will be,” Rosenbaum says.
Although many people join MPI for the business opportunities and networking, Rosenbaum says the most important thing he gets back from the organization is education. He enjoys just sitting down with other members and learning from them.
In the next year, Rosenbaum wants to see the local MPI add more educational programs, such as the ones he attended on surviving in this economy and keeping up to date with technology.
“Basically any education that makes us better prepared as professionals, that is where the value and the ROI is,” Rosenbaum says.
