MESSAGE FROM CEO

Greetings,

I greet you on behalf of Chairman Kevin L. S. Richardson, the Board of Directors, and in the spirit of our founders.  
NCBMP finds itself with a dual responsibility: fulfilling our professional development mission while serving as the industry's moral compass. The mission of The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) is to provide high-level education, professional development, business-to-business opportunities, training, and speaking to the needs of our membership. Our organization exists primarily because the event planning industry lacked a dedicated space for high-achieving, competent, credentialed, and driven Black Event professionals or those who believe in equality within all aspects of the industry. Many of our association memberships' historical origins were born from legal segregation.

NCBMP intentionally positions itself at the table when policies are being determined, be in spaces to challenge the status quo, and be the industry's moral compass when those most directly impacted are often voiceless and marginalized. Oftentimes, this places our organization at philosophical odds with our industry partners and positions us as an outlier when asking relevant policy questions or disagreeing with industry priorities. Therefore, this moment in history has caused our organization to tap into its duplicity of consciousness.

NCBMP is not a political advocacy organization, but our members are impacted by the politics or apathy of our industry's advocacy. We believe that eliminating the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and other Executive Orders causes insurmountable problems at the core of why tourism has become a global economic vehicle. Small business contracts, infrastructure development, hiring practices, enforcement of anti-discriminatory policies, financial resources, and the collapse of moral character are all at risk. Our industry must be keenly aware and act for the benefit of ALL its constituents.  
Within the next 30 days, our organization will execute the following Engagement Strategy:

Educate: 

·      Create virtual webinars and activations with relevant speakers, educating our members on specific Executive Orders and their impact on our industry.

·      Host "Think Tanks" with association executives to assist in navigating the political ecosystem.

Partner Relations: 

·      Work with industry partners to develop collective next steps based on the mutually aligned principles of the events industry. 

Advocate: 

·      Be a connector for members who are not adequately resourced to self-advocate.

The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals was founded on February 23, 1983, on the principles of friendship, equity, and empowerment. Our very existence as an organization was created in the spirit of advocacy with the knowledge of our economic impact on a destination or hotel brand. As a result, NCBMP has directly or indirectly influenced the hiring, empowerment, and training of many hospitality professionals today. Again, NCBMP is not a political advocacy organization, but our members are impacted by the politics or apathy of our industry's advocacy.

We understand the importance of standing for fundamental freedoms and supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from all levels and we will continue to push for positive change. We also understand the power and influence of tourism on any economy, especially destinations, communities, and partners that we consider friends, which is why our motto, and our guiding principle is…We do Business with our Friends.

Sincerely,
Jason E. Dunn, Sr. 
Chief Executive Officer
National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals