Membership Structure & Strategies

MEC Membership Investment Levels Pinnacle: $50,000 minimum a year. Profile: The highest level of membership is reserved for the state’s largest corporations dedicated to making a significant investment and difference in our state’s future. CORPORATE SPONSOR* Capstone: $30,000 minimum a year. Profile: Companies with multiple locations across the state with more than 1,000 employees. CORPORATE SPONSOR* Keystone: $20,000 minimum a year. Profile: Companies with multiple locations and/or Mississippi- headquartered companies with significant employment. CORPORATE SPONSOR*

Milestone: $15,000 minimum a year. Profile: Companies looking to reach beyond their foundation of already strong support of MEC to becoming more active in promoting a strong business climate in our state. INCLUDES THREE SPONSORSHIPS Cornerstone: $10,000 minimum a year. Profile: Companies with a single location in Mississippi and fewer than 1,000 employees. INCLUDES TWO SPONSORSHIPS Foundation: $5,000 minimum a year. Profile: Companies with a single location in Mississippi seeking to demonstrate a foundation of strong support of MEC and its programs. INCLUDES ONE SPONSORSHIP Chair’s Council: $2,000 minimum a year. Profile: MEC’s entry level corporate membership is designed for smaller companies with a strong focus on the future of Mississippi OR for larger multi-state corporations who want to become more familiar with MEC and its programs before committing to a higher level of support.

Sustaining: $1,000 minimum a year. Profile: Smaller companies who want to make a strong commitment to MEC and its programs. Supporter: $500 minimum a year. Profile: Small companies with fewer than 20 employees who want to begin demonstrating a higher level of support for MEC and its programs. Participant: $300 minimum a year. Profile: Small, new, and/or emerging companies with fewer than ten employees. These companies want to engage, learn more about MEC, have representation and receive vital information on current issues affecting their business.

Breakdown of our Membership 1.8 Million in Dues, ~1,100 Member Firms 16 Pinnacle 50k+; 6 are 100k+ 4 Capstone 30k+ 10 Keystone 20k+ 2 Milestone 15k+ 7 Cornerstone 10k+ 45 Foundation 5k+ 127 Chair’s Council 2k+

Strengths Allows flexibility in negotiating investment level Allows bigger companies who aren’t familiar with MEC and/or newer companies to “dip their toe in the water” before making a higher financial commitment Helps us retain members who are struggling Gives major corporations accessible participation levels not tied to employee count A lot like church. Invest as much or as little as you want to get out of it.

Challenges Major companies can join and essentially get away with a low investment level if they choose. Some companies have gotten very comfortable with underinvesting. I.E. – Ashley MEC does not offer affinity programs—so the “benefits” of membership don’t kick in until at least 2k investment. MEC Membership investment is not black and white. Many times we rely on providing a range. Sometimes we miss the mark.

How it affects our event dollars Three major meetings – on paper, we sold 490k in sponsorships and individual registrations. When you add in the sponsorships that are “built-in” to membership investment—that represents another 350k that doesn’t show up on paper in the events column. However, this helps guarantee butts in seats and projects a strong “voice of business” to our state leadership who attend and speak at our meetings.

Kelly Boutwell