Mary Jo Blythe: Meetings Innovator

Mary Jo Blythe has a long history in the meetings industry, founding Masterplan, Inc. in 1991, which was acquired by Creative Group in 2016. After years of first-hand experience working with many hardworking hospitality employees, she decided it was time to make a difference in their lives – one person at a time. She founded The Above and Beyond Foundation to award life-changing “Heart of Hospitality” grants of $10,000 to individuals recommended by planners and nominated by their employers (hotels or DMCs), then presented to the winners at a surprise awards ceremony.

Meetings Innovators is a new series dedicated to shining a spotlight on the trailblazers who are defining the future of the meetings industry. Each month, we feature visionary professionals who are breaking the mold with innovative strategies, fresh perspectives, and bold ideas. Beyond planning events, these pioneers are crafting experiences that resonate, inspire, and lead the way forward. Join us as we celebrate the creative minds taking the future into their own hands and shaping what’s next in the world of meetings.

Meetings Innovators is sponsored by Stova.

What does innovation mean to you in the nonprofit world and to The Above and Beyond Foundation (TAABF) specifically?

Innovation, to me, means finding new ways to create impact, overcome challenges and respond to change.

In the nonprofit world, where thousands of organizations strive to make the world a better place, the challenge isn’t just to do good work. It’s about doing work that truly stands out. So many causes are vying for attention and support, so you have to be innovative to engage donors.

How have you been innovative about rethinking the traditional charity model?

When I started the foundation, I realized that there was an overwhelming need to support the front-line workers in our industry – those people who can easily be overlooked despite their hard work and dedication. Often, these workers survive on minimum wage.

Many organizations aim to help large groups of people, but that can dilute the impact. So, instead of casting a wide net, we focused on a small group of individuals who go above and beyond their duties every day and who exemplify exceptional service. By narrowing our focus, we created a meaningful way to offer targeted support, which led to a more impactful outcome. 

Does the meetings industry need more innovators and leaders?

Absolutely. The meetings industry, like any sector, is constantly evolving. There’s a demand for more diverse and engaging experiences.

We need people who can push the envelope and develop new formats for events. We need to reimagine traditional agendas. And we need to create new methods to deliver content in a way that engages the younger generations.

How do you get the buy-in of others to support TAABF?

We start by creating an emotional connection to our mission. Involving  our supporters and donors directly in our award ceremonies is the best way to showcase what we do. 

When people see the reactions on the faces of the people who win these big cash awards – the bartenders, or pool attendants, or bellmen – it’s impossible not to be touched by that! And it definitely sparks a deeper commitment to our cause among the people in the audience.  

When do you feel you became an innovator?

I believe innovation isn’t just about having a great idea; it’s about disrupting traditional ways of doing things and creating something new that resonates with people.

For me, becoming an innovator was when I realized that we needed to rethink the way most nonprofits provide support to people in need. That challenged the typical charity model.

We are on the brink of awarding a million dollars in grants, which is a testament to that approach working. Being 100% funded through donations shows that people believe in it. 

So innovation, for me, is seeing an idea take hold and become a movement that others want to be a part of.

Where do you look outside the meetings industry for ideas and inspiration?

As a meeting planner, I work with clients across many different sectors, and that gives me the chance to learn about their challenges and solutions. And that sometimes sparks ideas that I can apply to the foundation.

I’m also inspired by both the younger and the older generations. The younger generation brings fresh new ideas, while the older generation brings years of wisdom and experience. The intersection of the two is inspiring.