The power of inclusive procurement: Tina Madden’s story

When Meetings & Incentives Worldwide (M&IW) outgrew its banking relationship at a competitor, CEO Tina Madden was thrilled to discover that BMO provided both personalized financial guidance and global banking capabilities. 

Tina and her sister, Jean Johnson, Chief People Officer, built M&IW into a leading market player in the Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE) industry after taking on their father’s business in 2010 and becoming a certified Women’s Business Enterprise in 2013.  

Headquartered in Caledonia, Wisconsin, M&IW specializes in the end-to-end event management of meetings, conferences, and incentives of all kinds, as well as enterprise program strategy. 

In a post-COVID world, meetings and events are critically important to accelerate relationships, deliver business results, and foster inclusiveness and belonging. To drive engagement, more than 30 M&IW industry professionals recently became certified in the Neuroscience of Exhibitions and Events. 

“We know how to take care of our customers. Our goal is to be in the Top 3 in North American event management. We can’t stop now – we’re having too much fun.”  

– Tina Madden
Chief Executive Officer, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide

As M&IW’s capacity has expanded, so has their relationship with BMO. At the 2023 WBENC conference, Tina learned her company’s offerings matched a BMO-identified need. Tina pitched M&IW’s services, won a contract, and now provides incentive trips for BMO. 

Tina was recently selected for BMO Elevate, a diverse business development program, where she will receive executive mentoring, education, and networking opportunities. This year, BMO Elevate’s current and previous graduates – more than 60 companies – will be invited to showcase their products and services and take part in a forum to raise issues related to breaking down barriers for diverse suppliers. 

BMO Elevate has contributed to BMO being recognized as a supplier diversity leader among financial institutions, having won several industry awards. In the last three years, BMO has more than tripled its spending with diverse businesses.  

Integrating diverse suppliers into our supply chain is a priority for BMO – and it helps support a sustainable future for the communities we serve, one where there are Zero Barriers to Inclusion.

Are you a diverse supplier? Register on our portal to be considered for future opportunities.