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<h2>Global Meetings Industry Day</h2>
Happy second annual, GMID and hats off to <a href="http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meetings Mean Business</a> and the <a href="http://www.conventionindustry.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention Industry Council</a> for starting the movement. There’s so much to celebrate and be proud of. The statistics for the meeting industry’s impact on the economy are staggering. According to <a href="http://www.mpiweb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meeting Planners International</a> the meetings industry contributes $393 Billion to the US’ Gross Domestic Product, employing professionals in the travel, tourism hospitality, and entertainment industry in addition to a host of others.

We are a profession of seemingly tireless individuals, whose inexhaustible energies and passion bring people together to motivate, educate and celebrate, and most of the time, while simultaneously accelerating an organization’s sales cycle. Today, without borders or boundaries, we stand together and unite and give a voice to our efforts. So, make some noise and let the world hear us roar!

The Strategic Meetings &amp; Events team stands proud and tall on Global Meetings Industry Day. Our mission, today and every day, is to elevate the status of the talented individuals who have chosen this field and to help them earn the respect and recognition they deserve.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Christy1.jpg" image_size="large" lightbox="true" frame_style="border_shadow"][vc_column_text]
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM</strong>
<strong>Visionary | Entrepreneur | Strategist</strong></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">“Don't support meetings one day a year. Join the Strategic Planning Movement and build our <a href="https://strategic.events/time-event-industry-plan-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">future</a>.”</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="“Don't support meetings one day a year. Join the strategic movement and build our future.`` - @SMEChristy" share_hashtag="GMID17"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Spacer-III.png" image_size="full" align="center"][mk_padding_divider size="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Meetings support sales so support your sales meetings."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``Meetings support sales so support your sales meetings.`` - @LisaDooley31" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="LisaDooley31" share_hashtag="GMID17 #Eventprofs"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/LisaGMID17.jpg" image_size="medium" lightbox="true" frame_style="border_shadow"][vc_column_text]
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Lisa Dooley</strong>
<strong>Director of Strategy and Operations</strong>
<strong>"A Woman with a Plan"</strong></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>James Rota</strong>
<strong>Director of Imagination</strong>
<strong>"The Creator of All Things Fabulous"</strong></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Creative energies soar when people come together."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``Creative energies soar when people come together.`` - @Dazzlevents" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="Dazzlevents" share_hashtag="GMID17 #Eventprofs"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Spacer-III.png" image_size="full" align="center"][mk_padding_divider size="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Face to face meetings are paramount to forming true relationships."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``Face to face meetings are paramount to forming true relationships.`` - @SMPEventsLLC" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="SMPEventsLLC" share_hashtag="GMID17"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sanece1.jpg" image_size="large" lightbox="true" frame_style="border_shadow"][vc_column_text]
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sanece Marie Poolas</strong>
<strong>Senior Event Strategist</strong>
<strong>"Our Own Mary Poppins"</strong></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cody Price</strong>
<strong>Media Strategist</strong>
<strong>"Jedi in Training"</strong></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Businesses, economies, and communities need F2F meetings."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``Businesses, economies, and communities need F2F meetings.`` - @Yodynice" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="Yodynice" share_hashtag="GMID17 #Eventprofs"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size="10"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Spacer-III.png" image_size="full" align="center"][mk_padding_divider size="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
<h2 style="text-align: center;">"In person interaction is priceless. Virtual meetings are not."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``In person interaction is priceless. Virtual meetings are not.`` - @sherrifuchs14" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="sherrifuchs14" share_hashtag="GMID17 #Eventprofs"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sherri1-1.jpg" image_size="large" lightbox="true" frame_style="border_shadow"][vc_column_text]
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sherri Fuchs</strong>
<strong>Event Strategist</strong>
<strong>"Moves Mountains"</strong></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Erin Buckley</strong>
<strong>Strategic Support Manager</strong>
<strong>"Energizer Bunny"</strong></h3>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Technology cannot replace a smile and a handshake."</h2>
[/vc_column_text][vc_tweetmeme share_text_page_title="" share_text_custom_text="``Technology cannot replace a smile and a handshake.`` - @buckleyerin16" share_via="SME_Events" share_recommend="buckleyerin16" share_hashtag="GMID17 #Eventprofs"][/vc_column][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size="30"][mk_social_networks size="medium" style="simple-rounded" border_color="#000050" bg_color="#000050" bg_hover_color="#ffffff" icon_color="#ffffff" icon_hover_color="#000050" align="center" facebook="https://www.facebook.com/StrategicMeetingsEvents" twitter="https://twitter.com/SME_Events" instagram="https://www.instagram.com/strategic.events/" linkedin="https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-meetings-&amp;-events"][mk_padding_divider size="20"][vc_column_text]Look for SME’s upcoming infographics on event management, social media, and more. Follow us for the latest <a href="https://strategic.events/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blog</a> posts and industry <a href="https://strategic.events/articles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">articles</a>.

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