Launched by the Convention Industry Council in 1985 to enhance the knowledge and performance of meeting professionals and advance uniform standards of practice, achieving CMP certification requires years of professional experience, education and mastery of a rigorous exam.
Grau, sales manager for the facility, joined the convention center staff prior to its opening in 1990, starting as an events manager, and, later, department director. She joined the OCC sales team in 2012 and is responsible for booking a variety of local events and meetings and working with Travel Portland convention sales team to recruit national conventions to Portland.
“Lisa is one of our most valued employees,” said Scott Cruickshank, OCC executive director. “She joined the team early on and has contributed so much to this facility throughout her tenure,” he added.
Adding CMP designation to her title helps to maintain the Oregon Convention Center’s position as a top-tier convention destination.
Grau joins five OCC staff who previously earned their CMP designations. “These certifications reflect not only hard work and diligence among the staff but a true commitment to keeping Portland in its top ranking on the national level,” Cruickshank added.
- Stephanie Soden