Holiday Greetings!

At this special time of year, we want to thank those who are a part of the AMG family and who have contributed to our success this past year and over the past 25 years. The value you have placed on the delivery of our services and the strong relationships we have forged with you are the common threads to that success. But we recognize we must continuously earn your trust in AMG to perform to, and exceed, your expectations.

Whether hiring a lawyer, a CPA, an auto mechanic or an association management company, retaining professional services requires putting your affairs and trust in someone else's hands. It takes a leap of faith, some hope and ultimately trust that those we hire will put our interests ahead of, or next to, his or her own. At AMG, we understand that keeping and recruiting clients is about earning and deserving your trust and doing the right things for you. We know we must do good things for our clients and give good service in order to get and keep your business.  

There was a time when clients trusted professionals based solely upon their honorable calling. Great firms and institutions were born out of the natural expectation of trust. The world has changed, but the need for trust has not gone away. The necessity to earn it, and re-earn it, through constant competent acts and through strong partnerships is more apparent than ever before.

As we celebrate our twenty-fifth year of operation, we recognize the importance of sharing our principles, our values and acting in accordance with those principles. That’s how trust is developed and that’s what we want our clients to rely on with AMG.

My colleagues at AMG know that trust is about relationships built upon shared values and principles, reciprocity and the confidence in knowing that each person is doing his or her part to contribute to the partnership.

Knowing that values and principles are scarce in today's world, we know that the more we are trusted by clients, colleagues and subordinates, the more we will get from them, and the more we will thrive as a company and as an organization.

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Meet Our New Vice President of
Meetings Management Group

Hunter Clemens, CMP, joined MMG on November 1st with a goal of growing the business but more importantly, building on the trusted relationships established with current clients. “MMG has a reputation for delivering personal and strategic services that help clients save dollars and time,” says Clemens. “The company is recognized in the industry for producing quality meetings and events and I want to continue to elevate our standing.”

All 14 meeting professionals on the MMG team are Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) or working toward that distinguished achievement but Hunter says the team is about much more than producing excellent meetings. The MMG commitment to outstanding results is a given but working in partnership with clients, MMG offers solutions to challenges and issues only discovered when the team becomes part of their clients' businesses.

“We won’t just ask you how many people you anticipate at your event,” Hunter says, “we want to know the ins and outs of your business. We want to understand the most important issues facing your industry today and offer insight as to how those issues might affect your meetings. MMG will provide solutions that may not be readily apparent and opportunities that clients may not be considering.”

Hunter wants MMG to be part of the process that envisions what success will mean for clients so that everything aligns with that common goal in mind. MMG’s team members must become part of the clients’ teams, Hunter notes, which requires trust and partnership to accomplish even greater success.

His rare blend of sales and operational strengths, combined with his hospitality and meetings industry experience will help him expand the business quickly building on the strong foundation that has been established. MMG manages more than 300 meetings each year for a diverse blend of clients that Hunter intends to broaden even more.

“This is a great opportunity for me to learn a new facet of the industry to which I am deeply committed and the entrepreneurial aspect of running a business unit is very exciting,” Hunter says. “One of the most important things I have learned throughout my 25-year career is the value of listening to be able to offer significant, meaningful solutions to any situation. I look forward to carrying that with me to MMG in serving our current and future clients.”

Hunter is passionate about the meetings and conventions industry and is known for his integrity. He is highly regarded by customers and colleagues and from his career start as a front desk clerk at the Hyatt Regency in his hometown of Savannah, GA, recognized that exceptional customer service was the cornerstone to the success of a business. He comes to MMG from NYC & Company Convention and Visitors Bureau where he held the position of Associate Vice President.

Find out more about Hunter Clemens by visiting the MMG Web site at www.meetingsmanagementgroup.com.

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American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington (ACEC/MW) is in its 50th year and is enjoying a wonderful start to their calendar year (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008). Each of the organization’s events this year has been record-breaking in both attendance and interest. The group continues to be active locally, partnering with other organizations within the architectural, design and construction community. By doing this, ACEC/MW is helping to bring these different organizations together in order to further the education of best practices and business interests of all in the community. This local group is increasingly mentioned in national magazines and press releases from the National office. We are successfully meeting the needs of our members and friends within the industry and we are striving to achieve even greater success.

Association of Fundraising Professionals Washington, DC Metropolitan Area (AFP/DC) hosted the Sixth Annual National Capital Philanthropy Day - - A Celebration of Giving on Thursday, November 1 at The Marriott Wardman Park. The awards luncheon, recognizing outstanding achievement in philanthropy in the national capital region, was emceed by WJLA ABC News 7 Anchor Leon Harris and attracted over 500 fundraisers and other representatives of the philanthropic community.

The Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) providing board certification and recertification for sleep technologists processed nearly 1200 applications for the December exam window - that’s double the number of September’s exam window. BRPT hired two new staff members, Katie Higgins and Andy Nees, just in time to handle the dramatic increase in applications. The organization exceeded its credentialing goal for 2007 by more than 1,000.    

The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) held its 29th Semi-Annual Conference in New York over Halloween. The controversial theme, “Is Hispanic Advertising Dead,” drew much attention from the advertising community at-large as conference organizers challenged old-school thinking and inspired Hispanic agencies to continually reinvent with new strategies and fresh ideas. Two full days of workshops, panel discussions and thought-provoking presentations emphasizing creative and planning were designed to spark opinion and continue to inject new life into the advertising discipline. The purpose of AHAA’s conference is to create better agencies that will in return create better competition, better awards, and greater recognition for the value of the industry.

Special Congratulations

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) associate executive director Ilsa Whittemore received the 2007 Women Who Advance Excellence in Associations award on November 7th. Recognized for being a “mentor, volunteer and leader,” Whittemore was presented the award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) & The Center for Association Leadership’s Greater Washington Network at the In Honor of Women luncheon.

The award is given to those women in the Greater Washington area who have set the standard of excellence in their association professions. “In today’s increasingly demanding world, we often don’t realize the positive influence and enduring impact our actions have on coworkers, colleagues and the larger community,” said Susan Sarfati, CAE, president & CEO, The Center for Association Leadership and executive vice president, ASAE.

Whittemore’s remarkable career in the association sector spans 37 years and through her tenure she has gained the respect and admiration of many volunteer leaders and staff members. She is celebrating her 25th year with HSMAI and has been a pioneer and a leader in the association community.

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Juli Jones, rejoined AMG when she was recently hired as Director of Special Interest Groups for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Juli is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s five special interest groups, including professional development activities, communications and publications, membership development and governance.

In her previous term with AMG, she served as Vice President of the Convention Industry Council, primarily responsible for the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative which developed voluntary standards for the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Juli has spent the last two years with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) where she launched the AASA Center for System Leadership and managed all of the organization’s professional development programs. Julie’s degree is in Leadership Studies but her continued professional development has centered on project management and marketing.

Q. What do you hope to accomplish?
A. I’d like to contribute to the growth of HSMAI’s overall membership by providing increased relevance to members through the special interest groups. In addition to providing “places” for people in specific disciplines to go for assistance with the complex issues they face in their work, the SIGs can fulfill unmet needs within the profession. I’d like to help the SIG’s increase both the breadth and depth of the products of their interactions.

Q. Are you glad to be back at AMG?
A. I’m really glad to be here. It was so nice to come back and see so many familiar faces of folks I have worked with in the past. I am part of an incredible team at HSMAI that consistently delivers exceptionally high quality programs, products and services. I like to associate myself with people like that because it challenges me to better in what I do. AMG is a great place to be and HSMAI is a wonderful team to work with.

This fall, Richard Owen, CAE was selected by a search committee of the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) and AMG to lead the operations of the organization that serves the worldwide inflight entertainment and communications industry. His creative, strategic approach to management and entrepreneurial spirit combined with more than fifteen years of experience was attractive to the search committee according to leaders. “Although Owen is new to the inflight entertainment industry, his strong leadership, established career and personality are ideally suited for WAEA,” says Doug Backelin, WAEA president.

Two things have become clear since joining AMG, he says. While he was familiar with the association management company structure, he wasn’t able to grasp until he began working at AMG, just how valuable the internal networking among other leaders and organizations can be for an executive. “Just being able to walk down the hall and bounce ideas off of other leaders, or bring up a need or issue in a meeting and have sixteen other perspectives is something I am really taking advantage of for the benefit of WAEA,” Owen says. “It’s also pretty clear that I’ve come to an organization whose volunteers and leaders feel very passionate about what they do which is great.”

Owen’s second day on the job also happened to be the start of WAEA’s annual conference and exhibition in Toronto. “You couldn’t ask for a better orientation to a new job,” he says. “It was the ideal opportunity for me to begin immersing myself in the industry.”

He has spent the past two months trying to learn the industry, the organization dynamics and really “wrapping his arms around a lot of moving parts.”  He says the organization and the industry are going through fundamental shifts. Competitive forces and industry needs are requiring a strategic shifting  for the organization. While it is an exciting time, the challenge is keeping focused and siphoning through both established and new opinions and resources to really help bolster the organization.

He brings a new dimension to the leadership background at AMG. Having a diverse background with government and negotiating experience has been helpful with two particular issues WAEA is facing. Owen says his background  is a little unusual for an association executive.

Although Owen has only been at WAEA for a short while, he has identified a few things that he wants to accomplish. First, he wants to gain a thorough understanding of the inflight entertainment industry, and the broader global aviation industry, of which he now feels a part. And, he wants to be the staff lead of a strategic plan that will allow the organization to be nimble and adaptive to the industry evolution while guiding the group with purposeful direction. The cornerstone of AMG best practices lies is the solid foundation of a clear strategic plan tied to a well-constructed budget and Owen intends to ensure both are fully operational.

What is equally as important to Owen as his professional accomplishments?  He says keeping his professional ambition in balance with his personal and family life. Owen is a husband and father of four-year-old Carson and likes to spend his free time on house remodeling projects and outdoor activities.

Richard’s sense of humor, energy and positive outlook on challenges and opportunities has endeared him to staff members, AMG association leader comrades, and the volunteer leadership and members of WAEA. His unique style and blend of formality and casual fun is engaging. On long conference calls, you may catch him – always in a suit – with his feet crossed and up on the desk but make no mistake that his relaxed, comfortable approach is a sign of much needed strength in managing the organization.

Owen is organizing a governance training and a strategic planning session for the WAEA Board of Directors on December 3rd and 4th at the AMG offices in Tysons Corner. Founded in 1979 as a nonprofit organization, the WAEA is the official worldwide inflight entertainment network representing nearly 100 airlines and more than 250 airline suppliers committed to excellence in inflight entertainment and communications and the continual improvement of the airline passenger environment.

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AMG Holiday Projects To Help Our Community…At Home and Abroad

Each holiday season and throughout the year, the employees of AMG select charitable causes to support through monetary contributions, gifts and volunteerism. This year, employees have been active raising funds and volunteering for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), breast cancer, and now the Central Asia Institute, Inc. (CAI) and Our Neighbors Child.

As we approach the holidays, the hustle and bustle of this time of year can sometimes make us forget for a moment the global unrest we face each day. With the importance of peace in mind, AMG President Bruce Wardle, CAE announced that the company will raise funds this season for the Central Asia Institute, Inc. of Bozeman, Montana. CAI’s mission to support education and peace in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan touched the heart of AMG’s owner and he wanted his company to contribute to the peace-building effort.

Taliban resurgence is occurring in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many Taliban get their training in the radical religious schools, called madrassas, in rural Pakistan, where there is no alternative schooling. Greg Mortenson, a U.S. military veteran, founded CAI to promote and provide community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. There are 145 million children without education there -- and the numbers are going up -- because of slavery, gender discrimination, religious intolerance and corrupt governments. There is an urgent need to do more and to build more schools and Mortenson is committed to building them one school at a time.

“When I found out about and researched Mortenson’s effort, I felt compelled to get the company involved,” says Wardle. “He is proof that one person really can change the world and I want to show our support for his efforts.”  Wardle will match all contributions raised and present a donation to Mortenson before the end of the year.

Additionally, AMG employees will have the opportunity to support families in need in Fairfax County through Our Neighbors Child, providing Christmas gifts to less fortunate children. Employees can select a name or names of children from the tree in AMG’s lobby and purchase the toys on their wish lists. The organization will pick up the toys to deliver to the children on December 21st. “Getting involved with this charity brings out the children in all of us,” says Rick Garcia, TeAMG organizer. “Our wish is that every child and family will have a merry Christmas and happy holiday season.” [contents]

The volunteer team of professionals at AMG, known as TeAMG, is designed to promote camaraderie and a sense of unity among the client teams and services. TeAMG, joined in Lee National Denim Day, one of the largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer. AMG encourage employees to wear jeans and contribute $5 to the fight against breast cancer and as usual, our staff members responded with exceeding generosity. AMG employees raised $350.00, many donating in honor or in memory of loved ones. Funds are used to support treatment, early detection and grassroots education and outreach.  More than $70 million has been raised through this event since it started in 1996 and more businesses like AMG are joining the fight each year to help the cause. “Several AMG employees have family or friends that have been touched by this terrible illness,” says Jean Heavrin, project organizer. “We wanted to use this opportunity to benefit our community as well as support our employees.”

There were only treats, no tricks, at the AMG employee Halloween luncheon this year. Teams and individuals dressed up in their favorite costumes and dined on sandwiches and homemade goodies. The winner of the individual costume contest was Teresa Gutsick dressed as Bride of Frankenstein and the winner of the team costume contest was the staff members of the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) dressed as airline employees. Rob Rader, also from the WAEA team won the pumpkin carving contest and Maureen Gribble of the SMRP team won the Halloween-themed baking contest with her scrumptious pumpkin cheesecake.

Groups of employees decorated the halls and common areas competing for prizes in different categories. “We like to take these opportunities for employees to share their creativity and get to know a different side of them so that friendships can be created and a real sense of team can be developed,” says Bruce Wardle, AMG president. [contents]