DAPHNE J. MEYERS, CMM, is the managing partner of RED BARN GROUP, LLC, a firm specializing in strategic meeting, training and event best practices. Red Barn Group clients include corporate, non-profit and civic organizations. She specializes in guiding event teams to exceed their goals and objectives through strategic planning, analysis, and collaboration. 

DAPHNE’S consulting practice has two primary focuses. The first is coaching clients to maximize their event investment. This varies from helping them hire the right suppliers to project managing their event to how to structure their businesses to operate in the current business environment. The other focus of her practice is education. This includes numerous speaking engagements for a variety of meetings industry and non-industry groups on business issues. Her education focus also enables her to teach Events Planning at Minnesota State University - Minnesota.

DAPHNE is a former Program Manager for Partner Events at Microsoft. During her eight years with Microsoft and Great Plains, she managed multi-million dollar events for the partner reseller channel and employees. In this capacity, she managed all aspects of highly visible events; prepared 100’s of speakers to deliver content to 1000’s of attendees; solicited and managed 100’s of sponsors and exhibitors; facilitated stakeholder groups; and built and sustained successful event teams. Prior to Microsoft, DAPHNE spent eight years honing her planning skills at a variety of organizations.

In 2001, DAPHNE attained her Global Certification of Meeting Management (CMM) from Meeting Professionals International (MPI). CMM is the highest attainable professional designation for event professionals. Being a CMM means DAPHNE’S event planning focus is on the overall strategic success of an event.

DAPHNE has been a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) since 1996. DAPHNE is a MPI Platinum Series speaker on topics such as Strategic Meetings Management, Public Relations and Contracts.  For 2009-2010, DAPHNE is serving as the Vice President of Leadership Development for the Minnesota MPI Chapter.

DAPHNE recently became a certified trainer for MPI’s Global Training Program.  As part of the inaugural class of trainers, she is a member of the senior cadre of trainers that advises on educational offerings and trains other trainers.

In the fall of 2005, DAPHNE launched the first event planning course for Minnesota State University-Moorhead within the Mass Communications Department and still teaches it today.

In 2007, DAPHNE was awarded the 2006-2007 Community Service Award by the Fargo Moorhead Convention Visitors Bureau. The FMCVB annually honors those who play a critical part in supporting local tourism and group meetings industry.

DAPHNE’S favorite pastime is spending time with her son in Fargo trying to figure out the nuances of Bakugan, Pokeman and anything on the Disney Channel.