Vanessa Kane, CMP, CMM, works in Kansas City, Missouri, as manager of meetings/events and exhibits at Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US. As a 2019 15 Over 50 honoree, Kane discusses her passion for the events industry.
*Connect with Kane on Twitter.
What I do: I coordinate logistics for all meetings for the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, including the annual national convention. This includes site selection, food and beverage, AV, exhibits, meeting transportation, local committee involvement and myriad other details specific to each meeting.
How I got here: In 1978, I began work as a secretary to a senior vice president of a national real estate franchise, ERA, who was in charge of the national convention. I began my career as a planner there. The organization moved out of Kansas City in 1996. I worked for a small event company for a brief time and a position as an internal meetings manager with the VFW was presented to me, I applied and was hired in July 1998.
Greatest career accomplishment: I received my CMP in 1995 and my CMM in 2009.
Impressive stats: I manage an annual budget of $1.5 million that encompasses the meetings I handle each year.
What I do outside of work: I am a past chapter president of KC-MPI and was instrumental in the start of the chapter in 1981. I am a member of the Heartland Chapter of PCMA and have served on that board. I am an active member and current ex officio Meeting Planner board member for ESPA. In my free time, I travel, read, enjoy staying up on the current movies, and volunteer with a local charity: Operation Break-Through. I have also volunteered with a therapeutic riding group.
