Layton Rasco

How long have you been a member of MPI?
Almost 4 years. I should always remember that because it is the same as my wedding anniversary.
 
What committee’s have you served on?
Although I have officially only served on the Registration Committee, I feel a part of the Spotlight and Communication Committees through my work on the newsletter and the website.
 
What board position are you taking on this year?
I will be coming on to the board as Director of Finance and Investments. Luckily, Sherry Palmer has done a great job in her term and will still be around as VP of Finance to show me the ropes.
 
What do you do? What do you love about your job?
I am Chief Operations Officer for Attendee Management Inc. In a small company, this means that I do a little bit of everything but with a focus on how we can use new technology to provide better service to our clients. The best thing about my job is that it is a family company, so I get to work with my dad, sister, and a couple of aunts every day. Officially, we have more people on our team named something other than Rasco, but they all feel like family.
 
With Father’s Day coming up, we want to know what was your "A-ha! I'm a dad" moment?
The first time I held my daughter. Yes, it's a pretty obvious answer, but 30 seconds before that, I wasn't a dad. Then, A-ha!
 
What is the most important lesson you want to teach your kids?
"Father knows best" The sooner she learns to follow my every command without question, the better life will be. But since that will never happen, I'll say to always find the fun in life. If you want to ride on the back of the shopping cart down the hill in the parking lot to the car, do it. However, after a certain age, it is inappropriate to scream "WEEEEE!!".
 
What's the hardest part about being a dad?
I've only been a dad for 18 months, and so far it has been pretty easy. I'm lucky to have the happiest, smartest and cutest daughter ever. If I had to pick something, it would be trying not to get frustrated when I want her to sleep but she has other ideas.
 
Tell us the most important thing you have learned from your kids.
Patience and flexibility. You can try to have a plan or a schedule, but the more important it is to you to follow that plan, it is inversely that much less important to a kid.
 
Do you find yourself talking to your daughter and thinking, “I sound just like my dad?”
All the time. I think is it unavoidable to emulate your role models, but most people in the chapter would agree that my dad, Jeff Rasco, is a pretty good person to sound like.

Want to be featured? Don’t be shy, contact Mandy Begley, CMP  or Emily Mathews, CMP.

 

• Erika Brulé, CMP
• John Harris, CMP
• Nicole Kovacs, CMP
• Shirley LaVergne, CMP
• Tiffany Mendenhall, CMP
• Celina Mendieta, CMP
• Nestor Nuñez, CMP
• Donicio Rubalcava, CMP
• Kate Strause, CMP

---

The Education Committee is looking for “Table Hosts” for future educational programs. The goal is for table hosts to engage members at each banquet round by starting introductions and giving chapter updates. If you are willing to step up, contact Irma Adams at irma.adams@jqh.com.

---

The Austin CMP Study Group is desperately in need of venue sponsors for the study group meetings from July through mid-October.  We’re sure there are hotels or other locations that would love to host a meeting and just haven’t let us know!  Current available dates are:

• Monday, July 16
• Monday, July 23
• Monday, July 30
• Monday, August 6
• Monday, August 13
• Monday, August 20
• Monday, September 17
• Monday, September 24
• Monday, October 1
• Monday, October 8

Please view the CMP Study Group RFP and respond to  Lisa Gallo if interested.

---

MPI THCC Spotlight News

A personal thank you goes out to Emily Mathews and Mandy Begley,  our two 2011-2012 Spotlight Committee Chairs for their hard work this year. Publishing this newsletter twice each month is a huge undertaking – their work to publish relevant, timely, new, and fun information is greatly appreciated! Congratulations on your award as Committee Chairs of the Year- so deserved! Emily, your wit and humor will be greatly missed on this committee, we hope you return as a guest contributor when time permits!
 
As a committee, we’ve decided to make a slight change to the newsletter. The Spotlight will be published once a month beginning in July. We hope to be able to provide more and even better articles in these Spotlights and hope you enjoy more impactful, less frequent email. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to reach out to Paulina van Eeden Hill, paulina@txpta.org.

---

When John was promoted to his first management job, his boss gave him a book about twelve traits a leader must have. His father gave him a different book about the characteristics of great leaders. His sister sent him an article about the new leadership. And his brother-in-law sent him a different article on the same subject, but with different advice.

---

The Westin Memorial City in Houston celebrated its first year of operation in March and has already received the following accolades: Convention South Annual Reader’s Choice Award for Top New Hotel in the South (1 of 23 hotels) and a AAA 4- Diamond Rating.

---