Grad Feature: Coordination Domination

Meeting and event professional Mattie Logan is taking the world by storm – one carefully planned day at a time.

Meet Mattie
A lull in her professional life was one of the best things that happened to Mattie Logan, Meeting & Event Management graduate. After completing this professional certificate program, her career has been energized – and she’s just getting started.

After majoring and working in the fashion design and merchandizing industry, Mattie transitioned to jewelry design followed by game entertainment for professional baseball. However, she said, “I felt like I needed a change.”

Discovering a Passion
She decided to pursue the Meeting & Event Management professional certificate at KSU after realizing she was often the coordinator for friend and family functions. She said, “I have always had an interest in planning. No matter what the circumstance may be, people are always planning meetings or events which gave me hope for a constantly growing industry.”

Access to industry professionals was a major benefit of the certificate program.

She said, “Each week the class focused on a different topic, giving you a crash course on all aspects of the planning process. One week we had the VP of Operations from one of the top catering companies in the Atlanta area speak to our class about all things food and beverage-related. We had top associates from AV and Transportation companies speak as well.”

[fbvideo link=”ksucontinuinged/videos/vb.53335158947/10153255990113948/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”1″]

 

Top-notch Instruction and Support
Mattie said her instructors, also industry professionals, would spend time after class to help with questions or referrals. She said, “In no other class have I felt like my personal success was the main goal from my instructors and program directors like I did in this course. I had a great experience.”

Pam Moss, Meeting & Event Management program manager, said the combination of expert instruction and an interactive learning environment are what truly make students in this program successful.

She said, “Our program gives our graduates a competitive advantage in the marketplace. With Atlanta’s ranking as a top city in this industry, this course will continue to develop future leaders in this career field.”

The Journey Begins
After earning her certificate, Mattie was hired by Incentive Solutions, Inc. She is an associate account manager for a full-service meeting and event planning company with an emphasis on incentive group travel. Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic are some of the countries she’s traveled to for programs she’s assisted in planning and operating.

Her duties include writing proposals, creating websites, developing budgets and performing site inspections – all of which she was prepared for through the KSU program.

“I use every aspect of the topics and focuses of the class in my daily life at (Incentive Solutions, Inc.). When booking transfers, I refer back to my days studying transportation. When I put together proposals for possible business or costings for existing clients, I use my knowledge from the course to help guide me through tasks.”

Mattie credits the knowledge and tools she gained in the Meeting & Event Management program for her professional achievement: “I owe my career in planning to this program. It gives you the tools to build a career and support to help you grow and succeed.”

Atlanta – A top-ranked hospitality market

• Did you know Atlanta was ranked fourth of the top cities for meetings and events? In only a few weeks, you can acquire the skills to excel in an industry that is always booming (news.Atlanta.net).
• Meeting & Event Management is taught by award-winning professionals in the hospitality industry. At KSU, you will truly learn from the best in order to succeed.