INSIGHT LIVE

You’ve been giving your time to everyone else all year. TEC26 is the moment to take some of it back. Host Timothy Martinez sits down with Michele Gonzalez, president of the MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter, for an inside look at the Texas Education Conference.

Michele shares how the team built TEC26 around you, with three big keynotes instead of a packed schedule and a brand new Oasis wellness track made for slowing down. Six EIC credits toward your CMP come built in. A candid panel shows how planners and audio visual pros can best support each other to make every event shine, and the evenings bring a Halloween party with costume prizes.

Michele’s message is simple: slow down a little and do this one for yourself. Press play, then register at mpitec.org for TEC26, October 28 through 30, 2026. This one delivers.

This month on INSIGHT LIVE, host Timothy taps into the mind of an association planner with Raul Cabello, Director of Conventions and Meetings for the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Raul came up the unlikely way, from theater kid to Freeman AV tech to running one of the country's largest medical conferences in the country. He breaks down what it takes to manage an event like ACEP Scientific Assembly, why he calls every vendor a partner, and how his years on the production floor made him a sharper planner. He and Timothy also get into the association budget squeeze and the shift that's changing why people show up: less about the education, more about experience, mentorship, and career growth.

Whether you're a supplier hoping to win the business, a planner eyeing the next step, or a tech wondering what's on the other side of the road case, this one delivers.

This month on INSIGHT LIVE, host Timothy sits down with a fellow MPI Texas Hill Country member, Angie Morales.  It's a rare, unfiltered look inside the mind of a corporate planner.

With 25 years in the industry, starting on the hotel side with Marriott before moving in-house, Angie now runs 80+ programs a year. She busts the myths ("banker's hours," the "unlimited budget"), explains why a 14-person executive retreat can be tougher than a 1,400-person event, and gets specific about what wins her business: rates, dates, and space, in bullet points, no fluff. She and Timothy dig into the corporate-versus-association mindset, why speed and detail beat creativity on most RFPs, and why the job ultimately isn't about logistics at all, it's about designing trust.

Whether you're a supplier trying to speak your client's language, a planner curious about the corporate path, or a young pro learning the ropes, this one delivers. 

Thank you for your loyal support!  While we are taking a short break for the month of June, don’t miss a quick message directly from our host, Timothy.  We are grateful and rejuvenated after what just may be the best WEC yet!

 What does it take to plan a conference for the people who plan everything? In this episode of Insight Live, host Timothy Martinez pulls back the curtain on exactly that, sitting down with Lori Pugh, VP of MPI Academy, and Colleen Connor, Senior Director of Events at MPI International, bringing the most exciting event in our industry to life this June... in our backyard! The MPI World Education Congress is coming to San Antonio this year, and if you have not registered yet, it is not too late. You do not want to miss it. Texas Hill Country, this is our moment to shine. 

What if the generational divide at work isn’t actually a problem to fix, but a strength hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Insight Live, host Timothy sits down with speaker, author, and generational dynamics expert Luke Goetting — the mind behind the keynote The Workplace Rewrite — for a conversation that will shift the way you think about the people you work with. Luke brings a rare perspective: genuine curiosity and appreciation for what each generation brings to the table, from the loyalty of Boomers to the digital fluency of Gen Z. He explores why understanding where someone is “from” matters more than judging how they show up, and what the meetings and events industry stands to gain when leaders finally stop fighting the generational shift and start working with it. Pick up Luke’s new book: Unlocking Next Gen Talent

Larry Long Jr. brings a rare mix of high-octane joy and real substance, the kind that makes you laugh, think, and immediately want to take action.

Larry brings the thunder with a message that is equal parts uplifting and practical. He gets real about choosing your energy, leaning on the right people, and turning strong intentions into forward motion. You will leave with a full cup, a clearer mindset, and that “let’s go” momentum that carries into the rest of your life. 

If you have ever felt burned out, stuck, or like your energy is running on fumes, this conversation is the reset button you did not know you needed.

 What does it look like to rebuild your life on purpose and then turn that courage into a roadmap for everyone else? In this episode, keynote speaker, musician, and mindset strategist Cameron Atlas shares the real stories behind The Edge of Possible from leaving the Australian Outback, to a defining tragedy that reshaped his mission, to the moment he sold everything he owned and stepped into the unknown. You will hear the simple framework that anchors his work, why “relentless recovery” matters as much as relentless ambition, and how he is blending music and AI to create next level audience experiences. If you have been feeling stuck, his one question cuts straight through the noise: “How do you want to feel next?” 

 Change is here, and this episode doesn’t tiptoe around it. In 2026: Disruption and Development, we sit down with Michele Gonzalez, 2026 President of MPI Texas Hill Country, for a bold conversation about what meeting professionals need next. Michele shares how stepping into leadership during disruption shaped her vision, why real education and access matter more than ever, and how MPI can be a true home base for support, skills, and community. If you’ve been craving practical takeaways, honest perspective, and a clear look at what’s ahead, hit play. 

If you’re curious how a legacy of human connection built a powerhouse in our industry, this episode delivers.

This episode takes you inside The RK Group, a powerhouse in meeting and event services, and into the legacy that shaped its rise. Jamie Kowalski shares remarkable stories of Rosemary Kowalski and the way her commitment to people, intention and genuine connection became the engine behind the company’s success. Through Jamie’s lens, you see how human connection is not just a value, but a strategy that can move communities forward and elevate everything it touches. It is an energizing look at leadership and legacy rooted in substance, clarity and purpose.