If you've attended the Winter Symposium before, you already know it's a one-of-a-kind opportunity to dive deep into hot topics with your peers, with a full day dedicated to education and lively discussions.
As a CMP-Preferred Provider, FICP offers sessions that are pre-approved for CMP credit, which enables you to maintain or earn your CMP certification. Attendees have the opportunity to earn up to 5 CMP-eligible hours at the Winter Symposium.
Thursday, January 23
Hospitality Partner-Only Session
5:00-6:00 p.m.
This session is an opportunity for hospitality partners to connect to understand what is new in the industry and how suppliers are navigating the challenges and opportunities 2025 is facing.
Meetings Professional Exchange
5:00-6:00 p.m.
This session is an opportunity for meetings professionals to network and discuss timely topics, best practices and challenges among peers. Due to recent events, a section of the conversation will be held to discuss duty of care and executive security.
Friday, January 24
Opening General Session: Proactive Accountability: Enhancing Responsibility Without Eroding Empathy
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Area of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP: Domain F: Human Resources
Recent upheavals, including the pandemic and the great resignation, shifted the power balance in manager-employee relationships. Now, managers know they need to boost results, but worry they have to trade off productivity in service of being compassionate. It’s time for a reset. We need a new era of greater personal accountability within your team, but you can’t afford an overcorrection that risks creating a toxic workplace. The secret is helping leaders understand that accountability and empathy aren’t mutually exclusive.
Learn more about this keynote session.
Thrive in Your Career Through Mentorship and Meaningful Networking
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Area of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP: Domain F: Human Resources
Speaker: Melissa Majors, CEO, Melissa Majors Consulting
Start the new year with an engaging and impactful session focused on career advancement. Discover how mentorship and strategic networking can enhance your success. Melissa Majors, a human-centered leadership expert and author of "Help Them Thrive," will guide you in elevating your networking skills beyond simple, one-time interactions to build meaningful relationships within your industry.
This session will explore how to identify, approach, and nurture mentor-mentee relationships, highlighting the significance of curiosity and authenticity in these connections.
FICP Chat LIVE! Unlocking RFP Success With Transparency
1:00-2:15 p.m.
Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP: Domain B: Project Management
Facilitators: Kathryn Meagher, CMM, CMP, Senior Manager, Operations and Compliance Event Center of Excellence, Cigna; Stephen Wheeler, Senior Strategic Account Director, Meeting Tomorrow
Join your peers in an interactive roundtable session to exchange practical tips and strategies for RFPs. Discussion topics will include managing expectations and timelines, utilizing RFP technologies, data integration, identifying how market conditions influence the process and more! At the conclusion of the session, each group will share their top takeaways, providing actionable insights to help you navigate the RFP process with your partners with ease.
Designing Memorable and Creative F&B Experiences on a Budget
2:30-3:15 p.m.
Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions
CMP: Domain G: Meeting or Event Design
Moderator: Monica Mobley, CMP, AVP, Events Management, Lincoln Financial
Panelists: Sonny Ingui, Executive Chef, Urban Farmer Philadelphia; Sarah Lockwood, Director of Banquets, The Logan Philadelphia
Tired of the same old menus at your events? Tune into this fireside chat to get the scoop on creative, cost-effective menus and presentation suggestions that account for sustainability and dietary restrictions. Not only will you hear some F&B trends, you’ll learn how to collaborate effectively with catering staff to craft innovative dishes and experiences that won’t break the bank.