Dear Fellow NACE Members & Event Colleagues,

Happy August to all of you!  Wait, is it really August already??   

I'll start this month's President's message by telling you what an amazing time the Reno-Tahoe NACE board and other chapter members had at the NACE Experience! Conference in Austin, TX. Along with almost 700 NACE members from around the country, we shared a great week of learning the lastest and greatest ideas & trends in the catering and event business.  From event design, to wine & food pairings, to core business strategies, we Experienced! (sorry, couldn't  help it!)  and learned from some of the top leaders in our industry. For me personally, it was one of the greatest conferences I have ever attended. We met up with old friends again, and made many new ones as well.  So often you hear me talk about the instant network of "family and friends" you gain when joining NACE, but being there,  talkingand sharing ideas, and spending time with everyone, takes that family and network to a whole new level.  Everyone you talk with "gets" what you do. Truly an amazing week, both personally and professionally. A big thank you to the Austin Chapter for doing such a great job and making us all feel so welcome! 

On that same note, two of our very own members took home awards. Robin Brockelsby, our Immediate Past President and owner of Creative Coverings, was awarded the NACE Business Partner of the Year Award. And Karen Nichols, co-owner of Red Carpet Events & Design, was awarded Best Catered Event of the Year with a budget over $75k. How awesome is it to have both of  them here in our chapter?  Congratulations to you both! 

So what now? Well, as you all know, Reno-Tahoe will be hosting NACE Experience! Conference next year.  We expect over 800 attendees and your board has already been working pretty hard at the details for the last six months. So if you ever wanted to get involved and want a phenomenal opportunity to showcase your business and talents, now is definitely the time to do it.  Details will be out soon about how you can help get involved, and be apart of making this the best conference ever. We plan on blowing everyone away with the great talent we have in the Reno-Tahoe area! 

Hope you see you all at the next meeting at the Tannenbaum on September 7th! 

All My Best,

Robin L. Eissinger
Reno-Tahoe NACE President     

AND THE  EVENT PROFESSIONAL OF THE MONTH
SPOTLIGHT GOES TO......

Beth Jones from My Wedding Library! 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Here's the NACE meeting schedule for the rest of the year:

September 7th  - Tannenbaum Alpine Events Center  
*An Evening with Jill Lublin ~ Master Publicty Strategist*

 October 5th - Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe 
 *Meet NACE - Member Vendor Fair*   

November 2nd - Food Bank of Northern Nevada
*A Night of Giving Back*

December 7th - D'andrea Golf Resort
*Holiday Mixer*

THINKING OF JOINING NACE? WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?    

When you join NACE, you immediately become part of an extended family, there to help you with all your business and career needs. You immediately have a long list of member benefits at your fingertips—most only a mouse click or phone call away. From more than 43 local chapter meetings across the country to the premiere industry annual conference, from exclusive professional certification to monthly news and trends reports, you gain access to valuable tools and resources designed to move you to exactly where you want to go.

Outstanding Networking Opportunities: Let NACE help you build your professional network. National conferences and seminars, local chapter events, member directories, leadership training – these and more offer our members the chance to network with colleagues, experts, and professionals from their own and related industries.

Relevant Educational Services: You have the chance to attend national and local NACE seminars, often offered through local NACE chapters, and all designed to ensure you stay up to date with what’s going on in your industry.

More than 43 Chapters Nationwide: Your local NACE chapter gives you the chance to learn, share and grow with colleagues close to home. Chapter involvement offers peer-to-peer idea sharing, opportunities to build professional relationships, and the chance to hear the latest industry news—in addition to giving you access to nationally known speakers and high quality educational programs tailored to your interests and locale.

Online Membership Directory: Looking for colleagues in your state? Interested in partnering with compatible businesses? Hunting up old friends you met at that last NACE seminar? Search for members by chapter, state, or type of business using the on-line NACE Membership Directory.

Consumer Directory: Reach more potential customers through the Consumer Directory, a web service allowing consumers to search on-line for caterers, florists, photographers, venues and other event suppliers. Only NACE members can list their services here.

Leadership Summits: Getting involved with NACE on any level can result in a big pay off. Chapter Presidents and other local NACE volunteer leaders are eligible to attend NACE Leadership Summits, annual training and educational sessions with the NACE Board of Directors.

Awards program: Be recognized among your peers! The NACE Awards Program honors the outstanding achievements and contributions, as well as the vision and inspiration, of our members at an annual gala and in industry publications.

Catersource Magazine: NACE members will receive a complimentary subscription to Catersource Magazine, published by Catersource Magazine, Conference & Tradeshow.

Career Opportunities: through the NACE job board, post your resume or find your next position to advance your career. 

CALLING ALL NACE MEMBERS! 

We're already planning for the NACE Experience! 2011 Conference, which is being held right here in Reno-Tahoe!  We need your help in making this the best educational conference ever, so be on the look out for details about how you can get involved. 

Can't wait and want to get involved now??

We need are seeking a Donation's Chair person to manage and solicit
all donation's for the conference. You must be a NACE member to hold this position.  If you are interested, please contact Chapter President, Robin Eissinger or Vice President, Kate Kovalick.

Robin Eissinger: reissinger@harrahs.com or 775/586-5094
Kate Kovalick: kate@creativecoverings.com or 775/359-6733   

INTERESTED IN EARNING YOUR CPCE DESIGNATION?

Certified Professional Catering Executive Certification: Available to all hospitality professionals, the CPCE certification is the best in its class and members achieving this certification are consistently recognized as the best in the industry. 

NACE encourages the professional development of caterers and event specialists through voluntary participation in its certification program. Achievement of the Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) designation demonstrates expertise in catering earned by taking a comprehensive examination that covers the seven core competencies of the catering and event management industry.

The goals of the CPCE program are to:

• Establish a nationally recognized standard of competence in catering.
• Promote professional commitment to excellence in catering.
• Endorse active participation in educational offerings that support the continued competency of Certified Professional Catering Executives.
• Aid employers in identifying qualified catering personnel.
• Enhance the professional image of the catering executive.
• Provide a sense of personal achievement for the advancement of one’s career.

We're looking to put together a study group, with testing to be held in January or February of 2011. If you're interested, please contact Kate Kovalick, Chapter Vice President, at 775/359-6733 or via email at kate@creativecoverings.com.