CMP Designation Pays Off

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has revealed the results of its annual salary survey. Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked the meeting, convention and event planner role as the #1 best business job in 2012. This was confirmed by the PCMA survey as nearly 80 percent of 420 respondents indicated they were satisfied with their career choice.

In addition, the findings indicated that the average salary of a professional who earned the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation is $76,225, compared to $65,609 for those without the designation. Last year, the average salary of a meeting professional without the designation was $68,605. This year it dropped to $65,609, while the salary for those with a CMP remained fairly steady from the previous year.

Congratulations to Colorado’s newest CMPs, who passed the Jan. 7 examination. The next North American CMP exam is scheduled for July 12 – 21.

Debra Arneson, Metropolitan Denver Dental Society, Denver
Lori Bennett, ConferenceDirect, Centennial
Danielle Faris, AASHE, Denver
Jennifer Gollehon, EDUCAUSE, Boulder
Nikki Haddad, Colorado Convention Center/SMG, Denver
Timothy Larsen Healy, Denver
Joseph Leslie, Colorado Convention Center/SMG, Denver
Leslie Lloyd, Lockheed Martin, Littleton
Victoria Benavidez Medina, Colorado Convention Center/SMG, Denver
Carrie Nolan, Maritz Travel, Denver
Kim Peck, Crown Plaza Denver International Airport/John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, Denver
Stephanie Perkins, Thomson Reuters, Greenwood Village
Michelle Rangel, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Lousiville
Susan Schmidt, Tipping Point Meeting Solutions, Highlands Ranch
Laura Weddingfeld, Pinnacol Assurance, Denver