I hope you are doing well. Welcome to the New DC Chapter Website! Please feel free to peruse our new website; get acquainted with our Board of Directors; Read our Capitol Ideas Blog; Stay up-to-date with our Events Calendar; review the CEM educational offerings; and check out any volunteer opportunities.

It's been said: "The strength of our Chapter is its people!" I encourage you to contact any of of the Board members with any ideas, suggestions or concerns. This is YOUR website. I hope you enjoy it.

In honor of Good Friday, Easter and Spring Break the Chapter Luncheon originally scheduled for April 14 will be cancelled. We will have our regularly scheduled luncheon on May 12.

Below you will find important information on upcoming activities being held in your backyard and around the country:

CEM at Women's Leadership Forum
Two CEM courses are being offered on 1 May at the MGM National Harbor prior to the start of Women's Leadership Forum in Oxon Hill, MD. Exhibition and Event Sales with yours truly and Floor Plan Development with Charlotte Pearson, CEM - both require registration. 

Also, the MGM National Harbor is offering complimentary parking to CEM and Women's Leadership Forum attendees.

Expo! Expo! Call for Presentations
Now through 31 March, IAEE is accepting proposals for the 2017 Expo! Expo! taking place in San Antonio, TX on 28-30 November. Submit your proposal for consideration now.

CEM Week Los Angeles
IAEE is hosting CEM Week in Los Angeles on 17-21 April. Whether you take one class or up to five, CEM Week provides a valuable opportunity to make new connections and knock out more than half of the courses needed to earn this globally recognized designation.

BONUS: One of your DC chapter colleagues is teaching in Los Angeles!

Mon, 4/17 - Event Operations | Bruce Lemmon, CEM
Tue, 4/18 - Strategic Planning & Management | Eric Hoffend, CEM
Wed, 4/19 - Exhibition & Event Sales | Ashley Kerwin, CEM*
Thu, 4/20 - Finance, Budgeting & Contracts | Michelle Monteferrante, CEM
Fri, 4/21 - Floor Plan Development | Erika Welling, CEM

Don't forget, based on a salary survey by IAEE, exhibition professionals with the CEM designation make up to 30% more in the mid manager title. (Mind blown!)

This Friday 24 March is the Hotel Indigo room cut off, so if you are planning on signing up and need a room, please do so by Friday.

Take one class or five, what are you waiting for?

Helpful links to get you started are below:

• CEM Week LA general information
• Hotel Indigo reservation link - promo code is IEE

Exhibitions Day
Registration is open for Exhibitions Day, a free industry event on June 6-7 in Washington, D.C. For the fourth year, exhibitions professionals from all over the US will gather on Capitol Hill to meet with federal lawmakers on issues affecting our ecosystem.

I encourage you to take advantage of any and/or all of the offerings made possible through IAEE.   Hope to see you there!

B. Murphy, CEM
DC Chapter Chair