In the early 1990s major events such as the Special Olympics, the US Open, the Final Four and the Super Bowl raised the bar for events in the Twin Cities and gave impetus to a thirst for more knowledge, products, and talent.

 

Each year event professionals would travel to international conferences like The Special Event searching for connections and new ideas to bring back to the Twin Cities marketplace. Eventually, inspired by our experiences and searching for more, the question was raised, “How do we start an International Special Events Society (ISES) Chapter in Minnesota?”

 

In the winter of 1998, Diana Brasch, Becky Harris, CSEP, Jolene Ihle, Michelle Kramer, Jayna Larrea, and Cheryl Kranz, CMP,  began the process of establishing a “Chapter in Formation”. These ‘competitors’ committed to working together on this worthy mission and the idea gained momentum. The first membership rally was held on April 2, 1998. Over 100 people attended to learn more about the association from the President of the International Board of Governors, Tim Lundy. That first meeting yielded membership applications from 20 people! Our second membership rally on June 11, 1998, yielded the additional fifteen memberships needed to become a chapter. On Saturday, August 8, 1998, the National Board of Governors officially voted us in as the Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter of ISES, and on September 10, 1998, we held our first official meeting.