Michelle Allgauer, CAE, CMM, CMP Fellow, is the Senior Vice President of Education & Engagement at the Financial Services Institute (FSI) and serves as the Chair of the International Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (MPI). With more than 30 years of experience in association management, Michelle's career journey began in hotel management before transitioning to associations where she assumed leadership roles focused on event management and educational content. At FSI, Michelle leads the strategic and operational direction of its portfolio of meetings, educational content, sponsorship and marketing initiatives. She is a passionate advocate for professional development and lifelong learning, as evidenced by her commitment to earning and maintaining multiple certifications, including the Certified Meeting Professional Fellow (CMP Fellow), Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), ASAE’s Business of Meetings Certification, and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. This Fall, Michelle will be celebrating her 20-year anniversary as a member of Meeting Professionals International, during which she has served in numerous leadership positions at both the chapter and global levels. She served as the Past President of the Potomac Chapter and has been on the International Board of Directors for the past six years, including two years as Vice Chair of Finance. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the International Board of Directors for MPI and is the first female from an association to ever hold this position. Outside of her role at FSI, Michelle remained deeply engaged in the meetings industry, and has participated in various advisory boards, including the Events Industry Council’s CMP Governance Commission. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science with a minor in Business from Ithaca College in New York.