Chapter News

Member Spotlight: Meet Maria Davis

Meet Heartland Chapter member Maria Davis, CMP and Director of Meetings and Partner Relations for Missouri REALTORS, Jefferson City, MO.

 

The first concert I went to was: Menudo in Manila (Philippines) since I was a fan of Ricky Martin back then.

 

My favorite holiday is: Valentine’s Day since I am a hopeless romantic. In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is as busy as last minute Christmas shopping. 

 

What you would be surprised to know about me: My childhood dream job was to be a Classical concert pianist.  

 

My favorite food is: Since I am originally from the Philippines, I always crave for Filipino food or any Asian food. Next to Filipino, I love Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese food. Italian and Spanish are not too far behind.  

 

My next dream trip is to: The Sultanate of Oman – I spent all my high school Christmases here with my family in the 80s and would love to go back and see how much things have changed.      

 

Recently read book I recommend reading is: The last one I read was, One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

 

Nickname growing up was: I had four nicknames growing up – Chu, Chuchi, Marichu, or MariRose. The last one was my least favorite.       

 

Won’t eat: I will pretty much try anything which my parents have always encouraged me to do growing up. If I don’t like it, then I will at least know why. Beans are currently in my “won’t eat” list.

 

Movie or bowling? Movie for sure. Avengers: Infinity is the last movie I saw with my son. 

 

Start every morning with: I love a good cup of coffee to wake me up or hot black or green tea. 

 

Why I joined the PCMA Heartland Chapter: I joined PCMA to grow my network and gain a variety of viewpoints from meeting planners that manage events on a regional, national, and international level.   

 

What I like best about the Heartland Chapter: I am new to the Chapter so not sure I am equipped yet to answer this question. But, I do like the fact that members come from not just one but from six states – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. I believe this translates to a wider resource for ideas and connections within our region. I look forward to meeting more PCMA Heartland members. 

 

Best business tip/idea I’ve learned so far this year: I love the quote “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination, if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” – George Horace Lorimer

 

What I like best about my job: I have three things I like about my job. First, I am constantly challenged to be creative in turning a vision into a reality whether it’s a new agenda format, different room set, a sponsorship product, an event theme. etc. I am a visual person, so it is very gratifying for me to see all the “puzzle pieces” of an event come together to bring about an unforgettable experience for our conference participants.  Second, I also enjoy bringing people together, making introductions, and helping them connect with like-minded individuals. Last but not least, I enjoy interacting with people whether they be our Members, our sponsors/exhibitors, or our meetings industry suppliers. These interactions allow me to grow, learn, and see things from someone else’s perspective which in turn expands my way of thinking and creativity.         

Jacky ListonMember Spotlight: Meet Maria Davis