I'm still recovering from a very busy October and we are still going strong in November. The Holiday Season is just around the corner and I am sure everyone is busy trying to find and secure last minute business. I wish you all the best in this area. I'm going to keep this letter short and sweet - Happy November!!!

Keep warm and happy and healthy this coming Holiday season! I look forward to seeing everyone on November 11th at our Installation Breakfast at the Marriott City Center. Don’t forget we are also honoring some of past board members and presenting a GREAT video on 2010 Trends..Whats Hot and Whats Not. 

Until Next Time,

Monica Cheeks
Director of Catering & Convention Services, Hyatt Regency Denver
President, National Association of Catering Executives, Denver Chapter

The JW Marriott rolled out the red carpet for NACE in October, hosting an interactive murder mystery with 20’s-era black & white décor; boas, beads and candy cigarettes adorned the tables. Red Herring Productions provided the actors and the murder; but it was up to the 80 NACE members and guests to team up and figure out “Who Dun It. This was another perfect setting to network, interact and build new contacts.

Some highlights from the menu-included tray passed Butternut Squash Soup Shooters, Eggplant Crostini with Yellow and Red Tomatoes and Apple Cider Martini’s. Everyone feasted on the Mashed Potato filled Baked Potato Bar and carved Roast Prime Rib of Beef. The Second Home Sweet Potato Chips and Tater Tots were a HIT! For the finale, there was a little something for everyone: Pumpkin Crème Brule, Bananas Foster Bread Pudding and Warm Chocolate Lava Cake…YUM! 

A special thanks to our sponsors: Event Rents, DesignWorks, Swank AV, Debi and Amanda Tipton with Kokoro Photography for capturing the evening and entertainment by Dueling Pianos with Caz Bzdek.

Fall in Love with NACE!

To celebrate the season, NACE is beginning its fall membership campaign, Fall in Love with NACE, on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. To show our appreciation not only to potential members, renewing members will have the opportunity to renew on time or before their expiration date to take advantage of a special renewal rate.

New Member Offer
For $295 (that’s right, a $100 savings!) potential members can enjoy the many benefits the National Association of Catering Executives has to offer! The offer is good for new members or for members who have lapsed on their membership for more than a year. Use the Fall Campaign Discount Code for online use: FC09.

Renewing Member Offer
Do you love NACE and all that it has to offer? Do you wish there was a way to save on your renewal fee? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then we have a special offer just for you. Renew your membership on time or before your expiration date and pay only $295 (that’s right, a $50 savings!). Use the Fall Campaign Discount Code for online use: FC09.

Student Membership Drive
Got students? As we say farewell to summer, students are saying hello to books, homework and NACE! Now is the perfect time to recruit student members to your chapter. All across the country, colleges and universities hold organizational fairs in the fall to introduce students to organizations on and off campus. The National office has materials available to help make your student recruitment efforts go smoothly. Please contact me to receive the latest student membership brochure and application. The chapters who recruit the most student members (new and renewals) will receive a prize for one lucky student member.

Offers are valid September 22- November 20, 2009.  Use the Fall Campaign Discount Code for online use: FC09.

Meet...Brandi Lipe, DMCP, CMP

Event Designer at Catering by Design

Brandi began her career at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee in 2001. With a BS degree in Recreation & Tourism, she ventured into the world of hospitality, not sure what was in store. Shortly after joining the property, she became the youngest Catering and Convention Services Manager in the hotel’s history. With a focus on sports and entertainment, she handled events for all of the major sporting teams, as well as many of the movies filming in Memphis including Elizabethtown, Walk the Line, 40 Shades of Blue and more.

After 4 years with the hotel, Brandi joined the in-house DMC, Destination King as the creative proposal writer and lead sales manager. Her portfolio included a spectrum of events from private dinners, non-profit galas, mass transit, product launches and ground breakings just to name a few.

When Brandi’s husband was transferred in 2006, she packed up and headed West for a new adventure. After some contract and DMC work, Brandi found herself at Catering by Design as an Event Designer. Here she brings a vast knowledge of various event styles, paired with culinary expertise to create soirees for an array of clientele. A typical day for her includes designing a menu and event concept for a wedding, mitzvah, non-profit gala and corporate holiday party!

In addition to Brandi’s “real job”, she is an active member of the Greater Denver Chapter of NACE. For the past two years, she has served as a founding member and the Fundraising Chair. As the recently-elected Vice President for NACE, Brandi will focus on the programming and education for the 2010 year.

Brandi holds a DMCP, CMP and currently resides in Lafayette with her husband, Liles, and their yellow lab Mr. Beau and greyhound Cookie Rojas.

Promote your business -  exclusive to NACE Members only

Our Membership Committee is working on a Welcome Bag for our existing members and as a welcome hand out for our future members.  We will be including Members Only information in the bag, but we need YOU.  We would like to formally invite you to promote your business by including a logo item for these bags.  Some examples of items we are in search of: logo pens (business name & contact information); logo mint tins, bridal magazines, business card holder, 2010 calendars, useful items...basically anything that will make your business stand out and help benefit your membership. 

For assistance and ideas of items to include, please contact Tom or Pam Rusch with Original Baskets Boutique.  They would be happy to help design or provide a solution to market your business. Pam is a new NACE member and is located in our website directory.

Just a reminder to RSVP for our next upcoming event on Wednesday at the Marriott City Center for breakfast. Go to our website for more information and to RSVP online.

Other industry events taking place this month:

Network for the Needy Luncheon - November 10