83 RD GRAND CHAPTER MEETING PLANNING
Above: the local planning team meets with members of the Southern Province Board of Directors. At right, from left: Alfonza Mobley and Kevin "KJ" Johnson, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Grand Chapter Meeting Planning Committee, respectively.
items that help to produce and execute world class events for the organizations we represent. Some of these include: contract negotiating, cutting edge tech- nologies and programming optimization. Journal: How do you assist host chap- ters in planning for Province Councils and/or GCMs? KJ: Per our Constitution and Statutes, the planning for GCM begins five years in advance when the host city is select- ed. Once the contracts are signed with the host city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, the participating hotels and ven- ues, such as the Convention Center, the lines of communication are opened with the local chapter to begin dialog on out- lining and framing our GCM. From this point forward, our team assists the local chapter with all aspects of them serving as hosts. Items include: budget develop- ment, content programming, operations and logistics. KJ: Regarding Province Councils, my role is to counsel the Province Meeting planners where needed. The Meeting
Planning industry is a multibillion dollar operation of which Kappa Alpha Psi ® plays an integral role. On an ongoing basis, we discuss ways to improve their throughput and execution, especially in regard to cost saving initiatives.
Journal: What about this line of work keeps you motivated?
KJ: The opportunity to serve the Fra- ternity in this manner. I have planned events for almost 30 years, beginning on the local level, transitioning to the Province level and now on the national level for 22 years as the Vice Chairman for five years and the Fraternity’s Na- tional Meeting Planner for past 17 years. Each of the 12 Conclaves on which I have worked presents a new and unique opportunity to showcase the fraternity in a different perspective to our members, the host city and the world. It has been and continues to be an honor to serve the last six Grand Polemarchs to assist them in bringing their Conclave vision to reality.
vention and Visitors Bureaus provides the opportunity to continuously learn to improve my skills as a meeting planning, which translates to a better planned, more efficient GCM. Also, since retiring from General Motors in 2009, I now serve as the Director of Events for the Michigan Minority Supplier Develop- ment Council, planning over 60 events annually. This profession allows me to create best practices within the work and Fraternity’s environments, which can be utilized in future applications.
KJ: Serving on several boards of Con-
54 | SUMMER 2017 THE JOURNAL
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