CMP Class

Update from Joanne Dennison About her CMP Classes:

July 13, 2026

It’s been a good long run. 25 years.

After much reflection, I’ve come to the realization that the time has come to bring my CMP Prep Classes to an end. While I will no longer be offering CMP classes or individual CMP preparation services, I want to assure you that I am not retiring.

Teaching CMP was never part of my career plan. In 2000, my friend Elizabeth George, then President of MPI New Jersey, called to ask if I would teach a CMP prep class for a large corporation. My immediate answer was no—I didn't think I was qualified. But Elizabeth reminded me that I was already teaching meetings and events through a continuing education program and encouraged me to take the leap. Looking back, it was exactly the push I needed. What began as a single 15-week evening class quickly evolved over the years into weekend programs and, eventually, virtual classes that made CMP preparation more accessible to planners around the world.

Over the past 25 years, I've had the privilege of teaching thousands of meeting professionals while continually adapting my classes alongside the evolution of the CMP exam, study materials, and the meetings industry itself. I've taught across the United States and internationally, always striving to improve the learning experience with every class. It has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career and a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities begin with saying "yes" to something that feels a little intimidating.

Over the past several months, I have stepped away from both of my businesses, The MeetGuide and The Guidance Counselor for Grown Ups, following the sudden death of my partner, Steve Hoffman, whom many of you knew as "Steve the Great" or "STG." If this is the first time you’re hearing this news, you can learn more here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ajct2W91YKzQy3tSnFtDlH2NX3gUAFwI/view?usp=sharing.

Steve was not only my partner in life but also an invaluable part of my business. For many years, he worked behind the scenes to produce and support my CMP Prep Classes. His loss has brought profound changes to both my personal life and my business, and after a great deal of reflection, I have made the difficult decision to discontinue my CMP Prep Classes and all individual CMP preparation services, including my CMP Prep Hotline.

That said, this is not the end of my professional journey. While I am saying goodbye to a significant part of my business, I will continue doing work that I love such as speaking at industry events, delivering keynotes, facilitating discussions, moderating panels, and continuing my work through The Guidance Counselor for Grown Ups. This work won’t resume until at least Fall 2026, as I’m still getting my feet back under me.

My EGuide newsletters have also been a meaningful part of my work for more than a decade, and I have loved creating them for all 1,200 of you. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has read, shared, and supported them over the years. For now, I’ve decided to bring the newsletters to a close as well. I can’t say what the future holds, but if a new version of the newsletter ever returns, I’d love the opportunity to reconnect. If you’d like to stay in touch and be notified of any future newsletters or updates, we’ve created a form where you can leave your email address.

If you have any questions or comments at this time, please send them to kelly@joannedennison.com.

Sincerely,

Joanne