MPI CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON SELF-DISCOVERY Meeting Professionals International's 24th annual Professional Education Conference-North America will focus on self-discovery and finding a balance between career and personal life. The event will run Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 in Nashville, Tenn.

Conference workshops will include "How to Simplify the Search for the Perfect Meeting Destination Via the Internet"; "21st Century Trends and How They Will Impact the Meeting and Event Planner"; and "Communicating with Exhibitors."

Contact: MPI, 4455 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75244-5903; 972/702-3000; fax: 972/702-3070; Web site: www.mpiweb.org

NACE ELECTS REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS The National Association of Catering Executives has announced new regional vice presidents for its six regions: Region I-Alice Au, CPCE, Toronto; Region II-Kevin Brant, CPCE, Atlanta; Region III-Larry Osburn, CPCE, Chicago; Region IV-Gary P. Baumann, Houston; Region V-Valerie Vollmer, Westlake Village, Calif.; and Region VI-Cindy Marshall, CPCE, Anchorage, Alaska. Elections for the regions were held in July at the group's educational conference in Seattle.

NACE will hold its annual leadership conference for chapter leaders Jan. 6-8 in Baltimore.

Contact: NACE, 5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 328, Columbia, MD 21044; 410/997-9055; fax: 410/997-8834; Web site: www.nace.net

ISES RECAPS YEAR OF GROWTH The International Special Events Society called 1999 its strongest year ever, as it chartered six new chapters and added more than 800 members. According to executive director Nancy Rainey, ISES has 30 chapters and more than 2,800 members.

Rainey says plans are under way for the 2000 Conference for Pro-fessional Development, to be held Aug. 5-8 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

Contact: ISES, 9202 N. Meridian, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46260; 317/571-5601; fax: 317/571-5603; Web site:www.ises.com