New Format For CMB Momentum Summit

Movin' On Up!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC BROADCASTERS (CMB) announces an innovative new format to it's flagship MOMENTUM convention, effective SEPTEMBER 2015.

Beginning next year, the MOMENTUM conferences will leave the familiar confines of ORLANDO and DISNEY properties, and head for "greater heights" in markets like NYC, SEATTLE and CHICAGO, according to CMB Exec. Dir./MICHELLE YOUNKMAN.

MICHELLE explains, "We were in COLORADO SPRINGS for a planning session, and our creative juices had kind of dried up.  Someone came up with the idea of riding the train to the top of PIKES PEAK, and having lunch on the mountain.  So we just adjourned and did it!  During the hour long ride, as we took in all the amazing scenery on our way to the top, it began to dawn on me.  We need to get out of our comfort zone, and take MOMENTUM to a whole new level.  When we got to the peak, and were eating, I shared my thoughts with the rest of the team.  And it just kind of started to escalate from there."

"When MICHELLE first presented the idea, we decided to see if DISNEY would catch this vision, and permit us to make SPACE MOUNTAIN a part of our awards gala," added CMB Board Chair/CHRIS LEMKE.  "We met with them the following week, and they pretty much took our idea and filled it with rocket fuel.  They suggested that we need to take MOMENTUM on the road for three years, but not as a change of venue.  Rather, they proposed to build an addition onto the MAGIC KINGDOM that will be known as the MAGIC MOUNTAIN, including an all new SUMMIT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER.  We were blown away by their buy-in, and agreed without hesitation to proceed."

The three year plan for MOMENTUM CLIMBING is to take the conference to NYC's ROCKEFELLER CENTER/TIMES SQUARE in 2015, SEATTLE's SPACE NEEDLE/MT. RANIER in 2016 and finally to CHICAGO's SEARS TOWER/NAVY PIER in 2017.

The three year tour is critical to allow DISNEY the time necessary to build the new MAGIC MOUNTAIN addition, as DISNEY Dir. Mktg./MELISSA RADOVICH explains, "This will be an unprecedented addition for our companies.  I took this idea back to our team of designers and they expanded it even further than originally agreed.  Our engineers have already received approval from the FAA to construct a 3,000 foot mountain complex at the center of the MAGIC MOUNTAIN attraction.  Since the ORLANDO/LAKE BUENA VISTA area is just 100 feet above sea level, this will permit MAGIC MOUNTAIN guests to view the GULF OF MEXICO and ATLANTIC OCEAN from the peak on a clear day."

RADOVICH continues, "Building something the expanse of this mountain is going to take an enormous amount of dirt movement, so we have agreed to work in conjunction with an ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS project entitled FLORIDA ISLAND.  Their plan is to build a shipping canal across the top of the FLORIDA peninsula, which will require them to dredge for ship clearance.  They need somewhere to move the dirt, and we have just the place.  We love the idea, because it will increase the intrigue to invite tourists to FLORIDA ISLAND.  It's not nearly as enticing being known as just a peninsula."

CMB's MOMENTUM SUMMIT will return to DISNEY's MAGIC MOUNTAIN in 2018, with an innovative new scholarship program in place, according to CMB Event Mgr./BRITTANY WHATLEY, "We're excited to announce that we've reached agreement with two new corporate sponsors, MOUNTAIN DEW and PEAK ANTI FREEZE, which will allow us to offer many more MOMENTUM scholarships than in previous years.  It seems like everything's coming together at the right time, to help us take this conference to new heights."

CMB Board Vice Chair JOE PAULO added, "Looking back to our lunch several months ago at PIKES PEAK, I have to admit that I originally thought MICHELLE's idea might be more due to the thin air than creative juice.  We were all more than a little lightheaded.  But as I've watched it all develop, it's obvious that there's something much more powerful at work here.  I can't wait to climb to the top of MAGIC MOUNTAIN in 2018 and celebrate this effort."

For more info on the CMB MOMENTUM SUMMIT, visit CMBonline.org.

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