MPACE Members were asked three questions:
1. Why are you a member of MPACE?
2. How has being an MPACE member benefited your organization?
3. What are some things you would tell someone who was trying to decide to renew their membership or had to justify including it in their budget?

- Elaine Stover, Associate Director, Arizona State University, Career Services  MOUNTAIN SOUTH REGION.

     I'm a member of MPACE because of the people I've met through the group. I've been very active in the association and that has helped me know whom I can count on or contact with questions or referrals. It's just a great group of professionals who are willing to share ideas and information to help us do our work better!    
     Employers have made the decision to recruit at ASU after either meeting an ASU staff person at an MPACE conference, a regional roundtable, or even from hearing us speak at a conference. We have changed certain processes as a result of learning about different ways of being successful and improving programs from attending break-out sessions at the annual conference.
     Membership fees are a very minimal expense compared to the benefits received! Just the contacts alone are worth it, not to mention the best practices gleaned from other members. In fact, it is likely that most members could justify their membership fees by implementing a cost-savings technique they learned from their colleagues during one of the conferences or events, newsletters, or personal communications.

 - Dan Almeida, Career Counselor, Loyola Marymount University, Career Development Services PACIFIC SOUTH REGION
    Joining MPACE (and renewing my membership) has been one of the best decisions I have made in my career. The professional development benefits and networking opportunities have been invaluable. As a career counselor, it is so great to be a member of an organization that not only includes career services professionals, but also includes our colleagues from the campus recruiting side. Though we serve in different roles, we share a common goal, and are able to help each other improve our services and practices to better serve students to ultimately make them and the companies they work for successful.
     Through my membership at MPACE, we have been able to recruit employers to participate in various events, including our Building Bridges for Others Program where we conduct resume reviews and mock interviews for local high school students. We have been able to enhance our counseling services to better help students in these challenging times by incorporating many of the ideas and resources learned through conversations with other members and attending workshops at conferences.
     If you are on the fence about renewing your membership, I would strongly encourage you to do so, and to get more involved with the association to take full advantage of your membership. While I believe you can certainly gain immediate benefit from an MPACE membership, you should also think of it as an investment that will pay off in the months or years to come. During these challenging times, budgets are tight, but a membership with MPACE may even be more essential because the need for dialogue and fresh ideas is even greater.

- Vickie Moul, Director of Human Resources, Armanino McKenna, LLP  PACIFIC CENTRAL REGION
     Under the recommendation of a director at one of the campuses where I actively recruit, I joined MPACE. She knew that I was looking to further enhance the relationships that I had established with the many representatives at our key campuses. In addition to that, I wanted to build my network of employers and colleges so that I could learn different ways for our  firm to become more active on campus and better known with students.
     Being a member of MPACE has given us the opportunity to learn more of the best practices with regard to working with the college representatives and campus recruiting. We have also benefited from meeting other employers (especially in the same industry) that are looking for ways to better expand and build relationships with students on campus. Sharing and learning from each other helps us build stronger relationships.
     Being a member allows you the opportunity to attend the annual conference at a discounted rate. I went to the MPACE conference for the first time last year in San Diego. I thoroughly enjoyed all the speakers, workshops and networking opportunities, and really felt I left the conference with some great takeaways that I want to implement in my own work. In addition, there are many professionals dedicated to making MPACE a valuable source for those that are involved. You will make connections with motivated people involved in campus recruiting and be better able to build relationships with the colleges in your region and beyond. MPACE as a resource is invaluable.

- Gary Hunt, Vice President, Human Resources, CH2M HILL MOUNTAIN NORTH REGION
     I belong to MPACE because it allows my company to effectively stay in touch with our key campus contacts around the country and be constantly ready to expand or retract recruiting programs as required. MPACE membership gives us a minimal threshold to keep an active presence on campus even in these tough times. It also allows us to keep abreast of changing tools, technologies and effective processes that will enable us to return to campus when we need to. And on top of that, this is an incredible group of professionals and by associating with them, your skills and abilities will surely improve.
     The tools and training offered by MPACE allow us to maintain a competitive edge in college recruiting. We can determine if our salaries are at a competitive market level or if our employment proposition is viable and attractive to students. We can use the training offered to teach effective skills to our on-campus teams. We have ready access to hundreds of contacts on campuses around the country, and the start of an incredible network of professionals to go to when we need to find tough answers.
     Now more than at any other time, keeping the tools that work are important. If you are serious about a long-range talent recruitment and management strategy, and workforce planning is key to that goal, maintaining membership in MPACE is a very cost-effective way to stay in touch with your key campus contacts. The ROI on your membership cost far outweighs the short-term gain from dropping your membership.

- Melissa Mackie, College Relations Lead, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield  PACIFIC NORTH REGION
     I am successful in my role because of my networks and relationships on campus. MPACE is the optimal vehicle for meeting business contacts and industry peers online as well as through the local workshops and the annual conference. MPACE provides me with opportunities to help me stay current with my skills and creates a forum for discussion on the latest trends and challenges facing college relations professionals.
     The networks and relationships we have built through MPACE colleges have increased our ability to attract top candidates from schools, specifically in the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, our membership with MPACE has put us in touch with key vendors important to the recruiting industry. For example, after meeting internhousing.com at the last conference, we implemented its services into our internship program. Additionally, attending a mentorship workshop in 2007 motivated and helped me design and implement a successful mentorship program.
     The networks and personal development that you gain from being a member of MPACE is invaluable. Most campus programs are taking a budget hit right now but need to maintain a good program any way possible. The best way to maintain a program in a tough economy is to continue to keep relationships strong and our skills sharp. Those relationships and advanced skills will always be important no matter what the climate is like.