2020 National Education Conference Location Announced

SGMP to Hold 2020 National Education Conference & Expo in St. Louis.

The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) announced that its 38th National Education Conference (NEC) will take place in St. Louis, Missouri. The event will be held May 19-21, 2020, at the Cervantes Convention Center at America’s Center. The Marriott St. Louis Grand has been named the convention hotel. The 2020 NEC will bring together members from all over the country for industry-leading educational sessions and networking.

“The SGMP National Board is looking forward to bringing the NEC to St. Louis,” said SGMP President Michelle Milligan, CGMP. “We are pleased to be working with the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (Explore St. Louis) who is helping us arrange the logistics for our annual meeting. We look forward to a fabulous meeting in a fun, energetic venue, and enjoying the city’s warm Midwestern hospitality.” SGMP meeting planning members reported more than $1.2 billion in buying power for planning and holding government meetings in 2018.”

The Society’s goal is to prepare new and seasoned government meeting professionals with best practices and connections they need to succeed in the field. This need was highlighted recently as meeting professionals have been handling the challenges brought on by the recent partial federal government shutdown. Risk management, such as responding to government shutdowns, natural disasters, and medical emergencies, is one of the nine core competencies that will be addressed at the conference.

Other core competencies related to government meetings include the following: education/programming, facilities & services, logistics, financial & contract management, technology, leadership, ethics, protocol, and federal, state & local travel. Attendees will earn at least eight education contact hours that include multiple blocks of specific training toward their Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) certification.

The Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) three-day course will be offered as a special pre-conference program. The CGMP course, which concludes with a written examination, teaches recognized industry practices and includes specific and thorough instruction in ethics, federal budget and appropriations, acquisition and contracting, federal travel rules and regulations, RFPs, risk management and protocol. Once earned, the CGMP is the highest designation available that is specifically for government meeting professionals, and it is frequently required by government agencies.

Those who plan or provide services for local, state or federal government meetings are invited to attend the 2020 NEC. Visit SGMPNEC.org to learn more.