Soundings Connect Founder and Chief Connector to serve a special term on MPI’s International Board of Directors
Judge Will Represent Freelancers, Solopreneurs and Small Business Owners Who Make Up a Growing Segment Of MPI
San Diego, CA - Jan. 6, 2020 - Soundings Connect Founder and Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, will serve a special term on the Meetings Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors in 2020.
MPI is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. Soundings Connect, founded in 2018, is an innovative company that matches freelance meeting and event talent with organizations in need of highly qualified meeting and event support.
Judge’s involvement in MPI’s Independent and Small Business Owner (ISBO) community, in addition to her entrepreneurial acumen, will ensure that the freelance and small business community is duly represented in MPI’s mission to learn, innovate, collaborate and advocate in the global meeting and event community.
“MPI’s Independent and Small Business Owner community has always been an important segment of our association. Currently, ISBO’s represent a key cohort within our membership. The number of freelancers and small businesses owners in our industry is increasing globally. MPI is committed to providing education, resources and networks that support ISBO success. Tracy Judge’s industry experience, education and entrepreneurial drive will be highly influential as we increase our efforts to support this community,” said Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO of MPI.
Tracy Judge holds a Master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from San Diego State University. Tracy has worked as a consultant for SDSU throughout the launch of their Master’s program in Meetings and Events, which was co-created by the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality Management and MPI. The first cohort began in August of 2019.
“Tracy Judge has been instrumental in the launch of the SDSU Master’s program in Meetings and Events. As an alumna and success story from our Master’s program in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Tracy offers invaluable insights into our curriculum and how to apply those insights to meetings and events,” said Carl Winston, Director of the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism.
“Tracy’s innovative approach to business and her ability to authentically connect with others has helped us to develop a synergistic relationship between SDSU and MPI. Together, we’ve charted new waters by launching the first Master’s program to be co-created with an industry association,” Winston said.
Soundings Connect creates opportunities for freelancers and small businesses to thrive by strategically connecting organizations with talent solutions and consultants who are driving the meeting and event industry forward. This network-based approach to talent solutions ensures professional freedom, financial stability and business opportunities for entrepreneurial freelancers, all while connecting organizations with the most agile talent in the meetings and events industry.
Freelancers, solopreneurs and small businesses are expected to make up a significant portion of the workforce in the near future. Soundings Connect is reshaping the way the meetings and events industry finds talent through its entrepreneurial ecosystem based on authentic connections, collaboration, creative thinking and accountability.
As a business owner, Judge is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and solopreneurs in the meeting and event industry and founded Soundings Connect for this very reason.
“Taking the leap from a corporate position to a small business owner or freelancer is a difficult transition which I have experienced first-hand. It takes domain knowledge, strong leadership, persistence and a lot of grit. I am excited to serve on the MPI 2020 International Board of Directors to be an advocate for the courageous freelancers and small business owners in our industry. I commend MPI for their dedication to this community and I am honored to serve an organization that has brought so much richness to my life, both personally and professionally,” Judge said.
For more information about MPI’s International Board of Directors, please click here.
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About Soundings Connect
Soundings Connect is changing the way strategy meets implementation in the meetings and events business through an innovative network of freelance meeting and event talent. Established in 2018 and based in San Diego, CA, Soundings Connect specializes in strategically matching organizations with freelance talent to maximize opportunities and elevate the value of meetings and events. As an entrepreneur, Soundings Connect Founder and Chief Connector, Tracy Judge, is building an infrastructure to support the growth of small businesses in the meetings and events industry. For more information, visit www.soundingsconnect.com.
About MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. The organization provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and acts as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry. MPI has a global community of 60,000 meeting and event professionals including more than 17,000 engaged members and its Plan Your Meetings audience. It has more than 70 chapters and clubs in 75 countries. “When we meet, we change the world.” For more information, visit www.mpi.org.
Media Inquiries:
Tracy Judge
tracy@soundingsconnect.com
(610) 331-0183