Media Contact:
Kristin Moreno
Kristinm@schaeferadvertising.com
+1.817.226.4332 ext. 241
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Meeting Professionals International’s
2012 World Education Congress Will Define “New Connectivity”
Cutting-edge industry insights to foster human connections at your next event
July 12, 2012 – DALLAS – With the quick pace of today’s event and meeting planning industry, it’s
easy to focus solely on logistics and neglect the original idea behind live, in-person meetings that
cater to people, encourage relationships and build networks. MPI, organizers and hosts of the 2012
World Education Congress, July 28-31 in St. Louis, recognize the importance of human connections
and designed this year’s annual conference around “New Connectivity.”
New Connectivity is an approach that weaves event and meeting planning into the human
experience. Via person-to-person encounters on-site, social networking during the event, webcasts,
mobile or other digital means, New Connectivity creates and fosters human interaction at meetings
and events through the many tools available today.
“We have a 40-year history providing the most progressive, relevant educational and professional
development opportunities, and MPI is excited to bring this conference to our members and
partners,” says Cindy D’Aoust, MPI COO and interim CEO. “As the digital era grows more robust, we
all feel the loss of personal one-to-one contact. New Connectivity is a critical strategic element for
the future success of meeting and event planning.”
Among a host of presentations, panels and educational opportunities, WEC will feature two
dynamic keynote speakers to deliver distinct perspectives on designing human connections and
why they are vital to business. Jonah Lehrer will open the conference and Nicholas Christakis will
deliver the closing keynote.
As an added measure to promote human connections, this year’s WEC takes into account very
specific audience needs by providing niche tracks that cater to particular industries and verticals.
These tracks will be held Tuesday, July 31 and will allow smaller networks of people to gather,
discuss and engage on topics that resonate with their particular focus.
Suppliers and planners at WEC have multiple avenues and opportunities to create their new
connectivity and improve their business. The Hosted Buyer Program is an opportunity for suppliers
to meet one-on-one with qualified planners that have specific needs for their products or services.
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Media Contact:
Kristin Moreno
Kristinm@schaeferadvertising.com
+1.817.226.4332 ext. 241
Attendees and suppliers can also meet, greet, mix and mingle between WEC events and sessions at
MPI’s enhanced MarketSquare. Strategically situated in the heart of conference action, outside of
the daily session rooms, MarketSquare is an ideal setting to conduct business at WEC.
For more information or to register for WEC, visit
http://www.mpiweb.org/events/wec2012/welcome.
-30About Keynote Speaker Jonah Lehrer:
Jonah Lehrer is a contributing editor to Wired magazine and author of the instant bestseller, How
We Decide, which discusses the way decisions are made and how to leverage this information to in
turn, make better decisions. Attendees will leave his session with practical tactics from ideas on
how to design workspaces that organically facilitate interaction, to creating purposeful educational
opportunities that develop powerful connections. Lehrer is presented by The Lavin Agency.
About Keynote Speaker Nicholas Christakis:
A physician and social scientist expert in healthcare and social networks, Nicholas Christakis, MD,
PhD, MPH, is co-author of the much heralded book, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social
Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. Christakis will deliver his keynote based on his clinical
research on how our networks – and the people in them – affect our mental and physical wellbeing. Christakis is presented by The Harry Walker Agency, Inc.
About MPI:
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the meeting and event industry’s largest and most
vibrant global community, helps our members thrive by providing human connections to
knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces. MPI membership is comprised of more than
23,000 members belonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information, visit
mpiweb.org.
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