Rochell Planty, AzMPI President, discusses her role in the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, its goals and more.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your professional background.
I have more than 18 years of experience in the industry. My scope of expertise includes public relations, meeting planning and special event coordination, and trade show management. I have served as the director of public relations for the Arizona National Livestock Show which also encompassed event planning and after some years of expanding my experience we launched Rockin R Meetings & Events, LLC, in 2004.
Q: What motivated you at the start of your career? What motivates you now?
I have always been involved in coordinating events since youth. Today, the passion to be a part of the hospitality industry coordinating events is still alive. What continues to motivate me today are the wonderful clients I work with and drive to create an amazing event.
Q: How did you first get involved with the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter?
I became a member of the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter of MPI in August of 2001. I jumped right in feet first and joined the Holiday Party Committee. After that, I had the pleasure of chairing the education forum for five years and was on several other committees.
Q: What are your present goals for the Chapter?
Elevating the value of meetings; Increase the awareness of the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter of MPI throughout the hospitality industry, local media, business community and Arizona Government; Engaging our members through the education, certification and business opportunities AzMPI offers; Increase our membership in the Chapter and their level of satisfaction; and Continue to increase the awareness and participation in the Global Community Challenge which has already exceeded over $1.3 million dollars in referral business between AzMPI members.
For more information about Rochell Planty and the Arizona Sunbelt Chapter of MPI, visit www.azmpi.org.
Arizona Business Magazine September/October 2011
