MPI Southern California Chapter

What MPI Southern California Chapter does

MPI Southern California Chapter (MPISCC) is a regional, nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional association chapter affiliated with Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Los Angeles, it is the fourth-largest MPI chapter globally and serves more than 450 members in Southern California, broken down into 163 planners, 214 suppliers, 16 students, 5 faculty, and 15 other members. The chapter's core product is community: it delivers educational programming, networking events, and the award-winning (WE)Con Weekend Educational Conference, supplemented by scholarships, the You Belong Diversity Scholarship Program, a supplier member directory, and the MPISCC Scoop newsletter.

The chapter operates an event-driven, community-led go-to-market model rather than a technology product model. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring membership dues processed via MPI's global platform, multi-tier annual sponsorships (Unity, Collaboration Champion, DMO Alliance, Togetherness, Impact, and Influencer tiers, with roughly 30 named partners including Disney, Universal Studios Hollywood, Cirque du Soleil, and the Rose Bowl Stadium), tax-deductible donations to the general and scholarship funds, and event programming revenue. Distribution is regional, with membership enrollment routed through mpi.org and in-person value delivered through chapter events and programs across Southern California.

The chapter has no proprietary technology stack, no AI or data products, and no external funding rounds; it is governance-led via an annually elected board (with leadership including Margaret Launzel-Pennes as Vice President of Marketing Communications). Strategic differentiation rests on the diversity of its sponsor ecosystem, the RISE Awards earned in 2018 and 2019, and its reinvestment in member support, notably increasing scholarship awards from the usual $2,500 to over $6,500 in response to member hardship.

Name

MPI Southern California Chapter

Legal name

MPI Southern California Chapter

Website

https://MPISCC.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MPI Southern California Chapter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association serving more than 450 meeting and event industry members in Southern California through educational programming, networking events, scholarships, and a multi-tier corporate sponsor program as the fourth-largest MPI chapter globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Revenue generated from membership fees. MPI Southern California Chapter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
2. Sponsorships and Supplier Members: Annual sponsors at multiple tiers (Unity, Collaboration Champion, DMO Alliance, Togetherness, Impact, Influencer) provide financial and marketing support. Supplier members advertise and support the chapter.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Accepts donations to general fund and scholarship fund. The chapter awards scholarships to members ($2,500 normally, increased to $6,500 recently).
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from hosting educational conferences and networking events including the (WE)Con Weekend Educational Conference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MPI Southern California Chapter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association that serves more than 450 meeting and event industry professionals in the Southern California region. It delivers chapter membership, year-round educational programming including the (WE)Con Weekend Educational Conference, networking events, scholarships, and a supplier member directory that connects planners with event vendors.

Product overview

MPI Southern California Chapter is a professional membership organization and the fourth largest MPI chapter globally, serving over 450 members. Rather than a technology product platform, the chapter offers a portfolio of professional development services including chapter membership, educational programming (such as the award-winning (WE)Con Weekend conference), the You Belong Diversity Scholarship Program, networking events, supplier member directory, and the MPISCC Scoop newsletter. The chapter operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and annually awards over $6,500 in scholarships to support member career advancement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chapter Membership Professional membership in the MPI Southern California Chapter, providing access to networking, educational programming, scholarships, supplier directory, and career development resources for meeting and event industry professionals.
• Educational Programs and (WE)Con Weekend Educational Conference Year-round educational events and conferences for members, headlined by the (WE)Con Weekend Educational Conference which received the 2018 RISE Award for Innovative Educational Programming.
• You Belong Diversity Scholarship Program Scholarship program designed to create an inclusive membership reflecting the diverse Southern California community, recognizing event industry professionals and students advancing diversity through continuing education.
• Networking Events Regular networking events and community gatherings throughout the year connecting event industry professionals across the Southern California region.
• Supplier Member Directory Directory of verified supplier members that planner members can connect with for events and professional needs, including venue, technology, and service vendors.
• Annual Sponsorships Tiered annual sponsorship packages (Unity, Collaboration Champion, DMO Alliance, Togetherness, Impact, Influencer) providing advertising and marketing access to the chapter's 450+ members.
• MPISCC Scoop Newsletter Regular email newsletter keeping members informed about chapter activities, events, member news, and industry information.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered unity sponsor, collaboration champion, dmo alliance, togetherness sponsor, impact sponsor and influencer sponsor.

• OhSnaptasticunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor providing event photography and capture services to MPISCC events.
• Ruby Lemonunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor supporting the chapter.
• Sync Technologiesunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor providing technology support.
• Santa Anitaunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor - race track and event venue.
• AFR Furniture Rentalunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor providing furniture rental for events.
• Olson Visualunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor providing visual displays and signage.
• Blitz Nationunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor.
• Sloomoo Instituteunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor.
• Rose Bowl Stadiumunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor - iconic stadium venue for events.
• In'N'Out Entertainmentunity sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnity level annual sponsor.
• Heritagecollaboration championGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration Champion level sponsor.
• Universal Studios Hollywoodcollaboration championGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration Champion level sponsor - special events venue.
• Brianne Cohen Winecollaboration championGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration Champion level sponsor - wine services for events.
• Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Groupcollaboration championGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration Champion level sponsor.
• Visit Oxnarddmo allianceGTM or Marketing PartnerDMO Alliance partner - destination marketing organization.
• Visit Pasadenadmo allianceGTM or Marketing PartnerDMO Alliance partner - destination marketing organization.
• Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureaudmo allianceGTM or Marketing PartnerDMO Alliance partner - meetings and facilities promotion.
• Pepperdine Universitytogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor - educational institution partner.
• Hundred Housetogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor.
• Visit Anaheimtogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor - destination marketing organization.
• Visit Greater Palm Springstogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor - destination marketing organization.
• La Quinta Resorttogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor - resort venue.
• abfabtogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor.
• Fazzaritogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor.
• TRIGG Magic for the Futuretogetherness sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTogetherness level sponsor.
• Santa Monica Placeimpact sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerImpact level sponsor - shopping venue.
• Meet Long Beachimpact sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerImpact level sponsor - destination marketing organization.
• CIS Incimpact sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerImpact level sponsor.
• Visit Huntington Beachinfluencer sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerInfluencer level sponsor - destination marketing organization (Surf City USA).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter: Direct regional MPI chapter competitor serving Texas meeting professionals. Operates the same membership, education, and sponsorship programming model as MPISCC, targeting planners and suppliers in a major meetings market.
• MPI Houston Chapter: Sister MPI chapter in Houston offering parallel membership, networking events, and educational conferences to Gulf Coast event professionals. Comparable scale and structure to MPISCC.
• MPI Greater Orlando Chapter: Another large regional MPI chapter serving meeting and event professionals in Orlando. Same MPI parent structure, similar community-led and event-driven GTM model, comparable supplier/planner membership mix and sponsorship tiers.
• MPI New England Chapter: Regional MPI chapter serving meeting professionals across the Northeastern U.S. Runs the same annual education conference and supplier sponsorship program structure as MPISCC.

Regional players

• Destinations International: National association for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), many of which are MPISCC DMO Alliance sponsors (Visit Anaheim, Visit Pasadena, Visit Oxnard). A peer at the industry-association layer with overlapping sponsor relationships and shared event programming.

Broad incumbents

• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Larger global association serving the broader business events industry, including meeting planners. Overlaps with MPISCC's planner and supplier audience but operates at a national/global scale with a wider portfolio of education and certification programs.
• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): The leading association for the association management profession itself, with a broader membership model that overlaps with MPISCC's leadership and volunteer base. Operates at a national scale and is headquartered in DC.
• SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives): International association serving incentive travel and meetings professionals. Competes with MPISCC for the Southern California planner membership base, particularly corporate incentive event buyers.
• ILEA (International Live Events Association): Global association for live event professionals that competes for the same planner/supplier membership base as MPISCC, offering education, networking, and certification programs at scale.
• IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): Established industry association focused on exhibitions and events, serving many of the same supplier and planner professionals as MPISCC but with a global scope and exhibitions-specific programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpi-southern-california-chapter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MPI Southern California Chapter