In October 2000, Keith Hungerford, formerly with the Waterford Marriott, and Melinda Watkins, with the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, met to discuss the possibilities of forming an Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, Inc. (SGMP). Since this is the state capitol, both decided the opportunity for formation was invaluable.
The National Conference Logistics Center at the University of Oklahoma offered a “Meeting Planning Made Easy” conference April 25–27, 2001, to get a jump-start on the interest of meeting planning. Quentin Roberts, Director of Sales, Waterford Marriott hosted the Awareness Meeting at an evening reception on April 25th.Forty people were in attendance to find out exactly what the acronym SGMP was all about.
Under the leadership of Formation Chair Melinda Watkins, sub–committees and chairpersons were established at the May 10, 2001, formation meeting. Chairs were Crystal Mappes, CMP—Steering Committee; Melinda Watkins, Membership; Vicky Baker, CMP—Program; and Mary Waggoner, CMP—Finance.
In the following months, sub-committee meetings were held and Oklahoma was at the beginning for improving the communications and cooperation between planners and suppliers through regular meetings. Each charter member continued to recruit new members until we could reach the requirements for charting. Our goal was to charter in the fall.
We reached that goal in October 2001 with 54 members and chartered November 8, 2001.The Wild West Chapter became the 27th chapter of the National Society of Government Meeting Professionals. Our goal is to promote the state’s economy by creating national awareness of Oklahoma’s resources and to continue networking with local suppliers and planners to increase our membership.
In July 2017 the chapter board voted to change the name of the chapter from Wild West Chapter to Oklahoma Chapter, which was later voted on and approved by the national board.
Jessup Thomas Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse [email protected]
Budget and Finance - Chair: Open Responsible for maintaining budget, bank statements, tax reports and other tax information as necessary. The treasurer staffs the registration table to receive monthly meeting fees from members. The treasurer shall submit appropriate records to National Headquarters as required. Communication - Chair: OPEN Publishes the Chapter newsletter, which includes the solicitation of articles, layout and design, publication and distribution. The committee is responsible for all content on chapter website, including but not limited to, meeting schedules, archives, and advertising. Community Service - Chair: Jessup Thomas, [email protected] Develops and implements community service projects, which are carried out by the Chapter membership throughout the year. Hospitality - Chair: OPEN Responsible for meeting and greeting members and guests at each chapter meeting, soliciting door prizes for each monthly meeting and send a thank you card for those who donate gifts, maintaining Chapter PowerPoint for each monthly luncheon meeting, and maintaining spreadsheet of monthly door prize donors. Marketing - Chair: OPEN Responsible for regular communications and notifications to the chapter membership for monthly luncheons, special events, and other chapter events. Membership - Chair: OPEN Develops, promotes, and maintains the chapter membership. The committee registers members and guests at all official functions and maintains membership database and revisions on a monthly basis. Nominations & Elections - Chair: OPEN Oversees the nominations and elections process. Programs & Education - Chair: OPEN Arranges meeting sites, speakers and programs for the regular monthly luncheons and acts as the liaison to the speaker for any audio/visual equipment requested and the host properties. Also serves as Chapter Liaison for the Chapter Government Meeting Specialist certificate. Scholarship - Chair: OPEN Consists of Chapter Board members and Committee Chairs. Updates the scholarship guidelines and distribute to all chapter members at least three months prior to NEC. Special Projects - Chair: OPEN Responsible for planning special activities to raise funds for scholarships to enable Chapter members to attend the NEC (National Education Conference). Also responsible for the holiday gala, silent auction, installation of officers and awards ceremony. Special Recognition - Chair: OPEN Responsible for recognizing members nominated for the Chapter Shining Star Award who volunteer time and energy to the Chapter. Coordinates with host property logistics for Annual Supplier Appreciation and Awards Banquet in June of each year.
2022 Shining Star Planner - Carina Armine, OCCC 2022 Shining Star Supplier - NCED, 20 Year Gala Host 2022 Shining Star Supplier - VisitNorman, 20 Year Gala Sponsor 2022 Shining Star Supplier - VisitOKC, 20 Year Gala Sponsor 2021 Shining Star Planner - Jessup Thomas, ODMHSAS 2021 Shining Star Supplier - Kiel Miller, Stoneycreek Hotel Broken Arrow 2019 Planner of the Year: Stacy Payne 2019 Supplier of the Year: Krista Hughes, Skirvin Hilton 2019 Host Property of the Year: DoubleTree Tulsa Warren Place 2019 President's Award: Shaina Bennett, Embassy Suites OKC Downtown 2018 Planner of the Year: Alice Moore 2018 Supplier of the Year: Taylor Mauldin Wagner 2018 Host Property of the Year: Sheraton Downtown OKC 2018 President's Award: Piper Wofford 2017 Planner of the Year: Allison Woodard 2017 Supplier of the Year: Marlene Livaudais 2017 Host Property of the Year: Marriott NCED 2017 President's Award: Ginger Thompson 2016 Planner of the Year: Leah Scoles 2016 Supplier of the Year: Tasha Houck 2016 Host Property of the Year: Sheraton Downtown OKC 2015 Planner of the Year: Amy Knowles 2015 Supplier of the Year: Ginger Thompson and Marke Burroughs 2015 Host Property of the Year: Oklahoma State Parks, Sequoyah Lodge 2015 President's Award: Crystal Mappes 2014 Planner of the Year: Gail Russell 2014 Supplier of the Year: Ashley Norman 2014 Host Property of the Year: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa 2014 President's Award: Ginger Thompson 2013 Planner of the Year: Alice Moore, CGMP 2013 Supplier of the Year: Michael Farr, CGMP, CASE 2013 Super Supplier Brag: NCED Conference Center & Hotel 2012 Planner of the Year: Crystal Mappes, CMP 2012 Supplier of the Year: Laura Morgan 2012 Super Supplier Brag: Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel & Spa 2012 Members’ Choice: Laura Morgan 2011 Planner of the Year: Alice Moore, CGMP 2011 Supplier of the Year: Jessi Rigney, CMP 2011 Super Supplier Brag: Embassy Suites Norman Hotel & Conference Center 2011 Members’ Choice: Laura Morgan 2010 Planner of the Year: Maggie McGowan, CGMP, CMP 2010 Supplier of the Year: Laura Morgan 2010 Super Supplier Brag: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa 2010 Members’ Choice: Angela Salusky 2009 Planner of the Year: Sherry Roberts 2009 Supplier of the Year: Sara Furr 2009 Board of Director’s Choice: Patrick Pellegrino
The Special Recognition Committee is accepting nominations for Shining Star awards. Shining Star awards are presented to members who demonstrate distinguished service to the chapter.
Guidelines:
The person you nominate must be a current, active member of the Oklahoma Chapter of SGMP.
A member can only be recognized for a Shining Star award once per year (July–June).
Nominations must be submitted before the first of the month for recognition the following month; otherwise, nominations will be carried over for the next award date.
