Strategic events and meetings management firm MCI has launched its Investment & Management Partnership initiative, designed to help U.S. associations accelerate the growth and market impact of their event portfolios.

Events are a critical revenue driver for associations. MCI’s Investment & Management Partnership frees association partners from the responsibility of planning and executing their events so they can focus on membership, education, advocacy and other areas of expertise that differentiate them in the market.

Meanwhile, MCI is able to implement efficiencies and introduce cost savings through its event management expertise and global buying power.

“MCI is recognized as an innovator and we are proud to introduce this highly strategic market approach in the United States,” said Tom Gibson, CEO of MCI USA, the U.S. division of the Geneva, Switzerland-based company. “By partnering with our client’s event portfolios, we provide a long-term commitment to innovate, develop, and accelerate association growth and impact.”

MCI launched this initiative last month via a strategic partnership with the National Cannabis Industry Association, which boasts a $7 million event portfolio serving more than 16,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors, according to MCI officials.

Through its Plano, Texas-based Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives division, MCI USA will manage NCIA’s trade show portfolio to free up the association’s internal resources to focus on industry advocacy,  membership engagement  and  content curation. 

While MCI works to ensure a streamlined event experience and grow the events year over year, NCIA will enjoy reduced risk and financial success while focusing its energies on serving the needs of the cannabis industry. 

“NCIA looks forward to a long-term partnership with MCI USA,” said Aaron Smith, NCIA executive director. “While our team is passionately fighting to end prohibition on Capitol Hill and throughout the country, we rely on a world-class organization like MCI to efficiently and effectively direct event operations and management strategies.”   

NCIA’s shows include the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, the California Cannabis Business Conference and the Seed to Sale Show. In 2020, MCI will be working with NCIA to launch into additional markets.  

“If an association event isn’t growing in this robust economic environment, it is quickly losing ground, placing enormous pressure on other association revenue centers while compromising membership engagement,” said Shawn Pierce, president of Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives for MCI USA.

He continued, “Through MCI’s Investment & Management Partnership approach, we provide a combination of financial, strategic planning and event management expertise to help unleash a powerful growth capability for client event portfolios while radically reducing risk for the association.”

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