Upcoming Events 

Monthly Networking, Education, and Lunch Meetings

September 10, 2026

10:00am – Board Meeting
11:30 am-1:00 pm – Luncheon, Networking, and Education Program

Topic: Work Smarter, Travel Better: Practical Strategies for the Government Meeting Professional presented by Christina Lewis, CGMP, Amanda Sedita, and Stacey Swafford

Description: In the world of government meeting planning, travel is not just a line item on a budget — it is a critical component of every conference, site visit, training event, and professional development opportunity we manage on behalf of our agencies and the people we serve. And yet, for many government meeting professionals, navigating the intersection of travel logistics, agency policy, reimbursement requirements, and personal efficiency can feel overwhelming, inconsistent, and unnecessarily complicated.

This engaging and highly practical SGMP Louisiana Chapter education program cuts through the complexity and delivers what government meeting professionals actually need — clear, actionable strategies for working smarter and traveling better in every season of their career. From pre-trip planning and booking best practices to on-the-road logistics, expense documentation, and the technology tools that make the whole process smoother, this session is designed to help you show up to every meeting, conference, and site visit as the prepared, confident, and compliance-savvy professional you are.

Whether you are a seasoned CGMP with years of government travel experience or a newer member still finding your footing in the world of state and federal travel regulations, this session offers something valuable for everyone at every level — because in government meeting planning, the professionals who travel smartest always deliver the best results.

Core Competency: Applied for 1 hour of Travel - After the meeting add your credit to your SGMP Member profile using the Learning Portal (learn.sgmp.org) 

Location: 4099 Gourrier Ave at LTRC Building in Baton Rouge, La

Registration Deadline is September 3, 2026 - Unfortunately if you register after the deadline there is a $10 late registration fee and we won't be able to guarantee meal availability to those that register late. If you have questions, please contact Christina Lewis, SGMP President at [email protected] or Amanda Sedita, SGMP 1st VP at [email protected]

Register Now

Plan Ahead

1-day Annual Chapter Education Conference
A full day dedicated to professional development, chapter engagement, and knowledge sharing through educational sessions tailored to the government meetings community.
Personal & Professional Dev.
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

Building Resilience: Strategies to Manage Stress and Avoid Burnout
Attendees will learn how to recognize stress response and some accessible tools to manage it
Personal & Professional Dev.
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

Chapter Holiday Party
Planners & Suppliers 

Ethics in the Grey Zone: FAM trips, Rewards, and Vendor Relationships
Examine practical ethics case studies to strengthen decision-making and ensure compliance in government meetings.
Ethics
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

Meeting Planning Apps & Mardi Gras Celebration
Explore practical apps and digital tools that help government meeting professionals plan smarter, communicate effectively, and stay organized.
Technology
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

20th Chapter Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate SGMP Louisiana’s 20th Anniversary with Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser as we honor two decades of leadership, collaboration, and service while looking ahead to the chapter’s future.
Planners & Suppliers - Hybrid - LA DOTD 

Dealing with Difficult People: The Supplier Perspective
Discover practical approaches for building stronger supplier relationships while navigating difficult conversations and expectations.
Personal & Professional Dev.
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

Canva Basics
Explore the fundamentals of Canva to create professional, eye-catching graphics for presentations, social media, marketing materials, and chapter communications
Technology
Planners & Suppliers – Hybrid 

Board Retreat
We will focus on strategic planning, budgeting, and aligning chapter initiatives for continued growth and success.
Education & Programming
Planners & Suppliers - Hybrid - LA DOTD

Registration Fees

Planner Member $25
Supplier Member $35
1st or 2nd time attendee Non-Member Guest $0
Non-Member Guest $45
Retiree $25