DATE: Monday, September 1, 1997             TAG: 9708300960

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: SERVICE Q & A 

SOURCE: BY MELISSA GUNDEL, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   58 lines

NEED TO TAKE A MEETING? PRO PLANNER COULD HELP

Meeting Management Unlimited, which Mickey Wright started in Alexandria in 1989, specializes in conference planning and meeting management services for corporations, non-profit organizations, volunteer groups and government agencies. She moved her business to Portsmouth in 1995.

What led you to this type of work?

I started working with non-profit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area about 20 years ago. My responsibilities included planning meetings, seminars and conferences. After doing that for about 10 years, I started my business with that experience in Alexandria.

What kind of things do you offer your clients?

I plan and organize every kind of meeting possible including trade shows and exhibits. I write agendas, arrange for speakers, look for hotels, give instructions to hotels to make sure everything is set up right, make name badges, order food and beverages. . .

What differences have you seen in running a business here and in Alexandria?

In Alexandria, businesses are very accustomed to contracting out their meeting planning needs. . . Almost every large organization and trade association in the D.C. area has a meeting planner on staff or a contractual agreement with an independent planner. It's a little slower here.

Why do you think that is?

The businesses aren't used to going out of their own staff. They are still using their secretaries, who have a thousand other things to do. . . My understanding is that maybe about two other people in this whole Hampton Roads area provide these services.

How do you get the word out?

I've been trying to do as much networking as I can. I joined the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. A year ago I brought a very large meeting to Norfolk. As a result of that, I have some very good contacts from the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau and Virginia Beach's Department of Convention and Visitor Development, as well as with the larger hotels in the area. I also do direct phone calls - the usual marketing activities. . . I have found that mass mailings and cold calls aren't very effective.

What steps did you take to open your business?

I was very involved in the meeting planning community. I am a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), which is earned through several years of experience and testing. I'm also a co-founder of the organization called Associated Meeting Professionals, which is located in Alexandria. I was involved with both of those activities before I got started and it brought me in close association with a lot of meeting planners.

What advice can you offer?

No matter what kind of business - know your market, do your research, have the two years' capital in your pocket and get out there and meet everybody you can. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

Mickey Wright

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