Patches Edwards
Assistant Director, Convention Coordinator & Office Manager, Mississippi Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association & Mississippi Propane Gas Association
Jackson, Miss.
Describe your job.
We are a two-person office, and we operate two associations: one for gasoline distributors and convenience-store owners and the other for propane gas dealers across Mississippi. I am responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of our office, and I am the meeting planner for both associations. Our office provides education, information, and lobbying services for our members.
What made you choose the meetings and events industry?
I grew up in Delhi, La., a small town in the northeastern part of the state. Ever since I was a teenager, I have worked. During the last two summers of high school, I worked for a company specializing in hunting equipment, and I got to represent the company as a vendor at several summer trade expos. So early on, I experienced the vendor side of expos. After I graduated from Louisiana Tech University, I moved to Jackson, Miss., to find a job. I searched every day for two solid months. Everywhere I applied, I was either overqualified because of my education or unqualified due to a lack of adult work experience. One day, my neighbor told me her aunt was looking for someone to hire at her office. I interviewed with them the next day, and they offered me the job shortly after. This November marked my 28th year at this wonderful job.
How did you get started, and what got you from there to today?
From the start, I had the best mentor, Bobbi Wettach, the office’s assistant director, convention coordinator, and meeting planner. She managed our associations for years and planned the meetings, and although I was hired as the office manager, I soon started shadowing her. I have fond memories because Bobbi took me under her wing, letting me go with her to every one of her meetings and introducing me to hotel sales representatives. Bobbi allowed me to be part of the planning process to learn everything. She taught me how to be a successful planner and a gracious hostess. When she decided to semi-retire in 2014, I remained the office manager, but with Bobbi’s blessing, I also took on the responsibilities of assistant director, convention coordinator, and meeting planner. She had many years to mold me and instilled in me the confidence I needed to become the planner I am today.
How do you keep up with industry trends, changes, and cutting-edge developments?
I attend meetings on the national level and read trade publications. It is beneficial to have conversations with other planners to see what they are doing or what has worked for them. Networking is the most important thing you can offer at events. It’s how people connect. Let’s be honest: Most deals are not made in a boardroom. They are made while socializing during cocktail hour or over dinner. Connecting with others in a more relaxed environment is the key to making the deal, getting the contract, and forming lasting relationships. At the end of the day, that is how business is conducted in most industries. As for trends, we are hosting more virtual meetings, which is most convenient for our membership. Everyone stays so busy, and meeting on a virtual platform increases our participation and allows people who would not be able to attend in person to participate. This has allowed us to show up and be present without wasting a whole day.
What essential skills should every industry professional possess?
The ability to meet deadlines and communicate clearly with others is essential. Staying organized also is important; handling your business and staying caught up affects others. I also believe in being kind and respectful of other people.
What is the philosophy or approach to work that gets you through stressful times?
My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. I stay on task and get my job done no matter how long it takes; I can only relax once it is done or when I am at a place where I feel comfortable pausing.
What is the best professional advice you ever received, and what advice do you have for others in the industry?
In hosting meetings, if something goes wrong, Bobbi taught me that it is not a problem if you can stay calm and fix it; then, none of your attendees will ever know there was a problem. It is essential for everything to be well thought out and planned so that everything flows.
Describe your biggest professional success.
I feel a deep sense of accomplishment whenever someone shares a positive experience with me at our meetings. To see them return year after year is the greatest reward.
Share an anecdote about a meeting or event that did not go as planned (something funny or odd) and how you handled it.
It was the first convention I hosted solo after my mentor semi-retired. I had planned a plated meal of surf and turf for our guaranteed 190 attendees. The gala night came, and we had a fabulous dinner speaker. But only half of the people showed up. I was horrified. How had I missed the guarantee by this much? What had gone wrong? I was completely panicking. During the dinner, I found out there had been a terrible accident on the only access road that led to the resort. This accident caused multiple other accidents in a seven-mile stretch of the highway. Most of our attendees had left the property during free time that afternoon to explore the area or shop, so they were stuck for hours in traffic trying to get back to the resort.
What is the best part of your job?
I enjoy building relationships with hotel personnel. It is my job to do business with a property so I can be confident about meeting my expectations as a planner. I plan the meetings and trust the hotel professionals who work behind the scenes daily to execute the plan; this is their specialty. They make me look great as a planner, and I am most grateful for their work. I would be nothing without them.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy reading, yoga, dancing, and art. However, the thing that brings me the most joy is curling up with my adorable kitty cats.
