ETMP History
ETMP has a rich history of fostering education, career development, and business connections among its members. Our commitment to excellence and community has made us a trusted resource for planners and suppliers alike, continually shaping the future of event planning in East Tennessee.
ETMP History
East Tennessee Meeting Professionals (ETMP) was established in July 2002, arising from the dissolution of the local Tennessee chapter of The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP). A dedicated group of about 40 members, consisting of Supplier Members, Contract Planners, and Government Planners, decided to join forces and form this new organization.
In the early days, ETMP membership was composed of 60% Supplier Members, 15% Contract Planners, and 25% Government Planners. The SGMP had a category for Contract Planners, allowing those who worked under government contracts but were not government employees to join. However, the Tennessee Chapter had always struggled to build Government Planner membership due to SGMP’s strict requirements.
East Tennessee Meeting Professionals (ETMP) was established in July 2002, arising from the dissolution of the local Tennessee chapter of The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP). A dedicated group of about 40 members, consisting of Supplier Members, Contract Planners, and Government Planners, decided to join forces and form this new organization.
In the early days, ETMP membership was composed of 60% Supplier Members, 15% Contract Planners, and 25% Government Planners. The SGMP had a category for Contract Planners, allowing those who worked under government contracts but were not government employees to join. However, the Tennessee Chapter had always struggled to build Government Planner membership due to SGMP’s strict requirements.
The challenge of filling the Office of President under SGMP’s bylaws, which mandated that the President must be a Government Planner, led to repeated terms and difficulties. In 2000, Norma Cardwell, a well-respected Meeting Planner at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was elected President. However, due to her classification as a Contract Planner, the National Office of SGMP required her replacement. This decision caused significant disillusionment among members, and Barry Neal from the University of Tennessee stepped in as the final SGMP President for the Tennessee Chapter.
At the final board meeting in November 2001, the decision was made to dissolve the affiliation with SGMP and form an independent organization. Thus, East Tennessee Meeting Professionals was born. Jim Johnson was appointed Executive Director, and Norma Cardwell became the first President of ETMP in 2002.
Our Journey
Since its inception, ETMP has hosted hundreds of monthly meetings across various venues and cities in East Tennessee, including Knoxville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Chattanooga, and Kingsport. Our active membership ranges from 25 to 40 attendees, and our meetings cover diverse and relevant topics such as:
- “Taking Control Again….. Post Covid”
- New Trends in non-alcoholic drinks for conferences
- Tour of Knoxville’s Downtown Art, Theatre, Restaurants & the iconic Sunsphere
- “What Am I Doing….. & Why Am I Doing It?” -- My Impact in the Workplace
- Millennials in the Workplace
- Event Planning Trends in 2023
- How the Internet Helps with Meeting Planning
- Methods for Building Effective Teams & Leaders
- What’s New in the Smokies
- “Prepare for Anything” – Planning Effective Conferences in 2023
- Conference & Meeting Food Trends for 2023
- Secret Ingredients of Great Hospitality
- McGhee Tyson Airport --- What new for 2024 & Beyond
- Implementing Good Corporate Culture in Hospitality
- Human Trafficking --- How to Spot this in MY HOTELS
- “100 Things to do in Knoxville Before You Die” – Kristen Combs
- Chattanooga Familiarization Day-Trip Tour – Oct 2024
- “Taking Control Again….. Post Covid”
- New Trends in non-alcoholic drinks for conferences
- Tour of Knoxville’s Downtown Art, Theatre, Restaurants & the iconic Sunsphere
- “What Am I Doing….. & Why Am I Doing It?” -- My Impact in the Workplace
- Millennials in the Workplace
- Event Planning Trends in 2023
- How the Internet Helps with Meeting Planning
- Methods for Building Effective Teams & Leaders
- What’s New in the Smokies
- “Prepare for Anything” – Planning Effective Conferences in 2023
- Conference & Meeting Food Trends for 2023
- Secret Ingredients of Great Hospitality
- McGhee Tyson Airport --- What new for 2024 & Beyond
- Implementing Good Corporate Culture in Hospitality
- Human Trafficking --- How to Spot this in MY HOTELS
- “100 Things to do in Knoxville Before You Die” – Kristen Combs
- Chattanooga Familiarization Day-Trip Tour – Oct 2024