Event Solutions Academy Starts on September 8, 2026 at 8 PM Eastern
It's not too late to join the current cohort!

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Whether your goal is:

✔ a promotion
✔ a salary increase
✔ more credibility
✔ leadership opportunities
✔ or landing your dream job

You don't have to figure it out alone.

Ready to stop questioning whether you're "CMP Material?"

Become the confident professional you already have the potential to be!

Get started now

Why Students Succeed in the Event Solutions Academy

Most CMP prep programs focus only on content.

The Event Solutions Academy teaches:
  • CMP content mastery
  • test-taking strategy
  • how CMP questions are written
  • confidence under pressure
  • study systems that prevent
  • overwhelm

    • That positioning is GOLD.

    Students who enroll in this course benefit from:

    • Access to the course for 1 year
    • A structured weekly plan so you always know exactly what to study next.
    • 12 live, content sessions and 3 review classes
    • A plan for reading the recommended study materials, divided into 12 manageable assignments
    • Taking weekly practice quizzes
    • Learning how the CMP exam actually thinks, so you recognize patterns faster
    • Creating a valuable study aid
    • Building test-day stamina
    • Learning how to stop second-guessing yourself
    • Taking 5 full-length practice tests to build stamina and good test-taking habits
    • Attending weekly office hours

    Reviews

    5 star rating

    More Than Just Passing the Test

    April Joy Nietes-Rudnick

    Ellen has put so much time, thought, and expertise into designing a class that will yield serious results. Her assignments and lectures are all designed to, ...

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    Ellen has put so much time, thought, and expertise into designing a class that will yield serious results. Her assignments and lectures are all designed to, not only teach you the material but also to get you to start thinking like a certified professional. I have ten years of experience in events, and I walked away from this class feeling like Ellen gave me new skills to be a better professional. You will not regret signing up for this experience!!

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    5 star rating

    I would not be a CMP without the Event Solutions Institute

    CJ Minott

    Ellen & her team are an incredible group of educators. This class provides all of the resources you need to pass the CMP. This class balances both teachi...

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    Ellen & her team are an incredible group of educators. This class provides all of the resources you need to pass the CMP. This class balances both teaching you more about how to run a successful event from her years as an events professional, but also the tactical specifics of what the CMP exam is looking for. Couple her expertise and teaching style with the resources (Vocabulary to know, weekly practice tests, and multiple final practice exams) THIS is the CMP Study group that you want to join.

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    5 star rating

    This Course Made Me A CMP!

    Courtney Buzan

    I'm so thankful for Ellen and the resources she provided with this course! Becoming a CMP is no joke, and it requires discipline and lots of focus and dedica...

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    I'm so thankful for Ellen and the resources she provided with this course! Becoming a CMP is no joke, and it requires discipline and lots of focus and dedication. But if you stick with it and trust what Ellen shares, it is totally possible. I cannot recommend this course enough for anyone who wants to have the CMP certification - you will be very prepared for the exam after taking this course!

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    5 star rating

    THE Class to Take to Pass Your Exam

    Charly Solomon

    If you are looking to take your Certification Exam, Ellen's class is THE class to take! Two hour classes each week that don't interfere with work makes it th...

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    If you are looking to take your Certification Exam, Ellen's class is THE class to take! Two hour classes each week that don't interfere with work makes it the perfect balance to take at any time of the year. The weekly office hours are what you make of them. You will get out of the course what you put into it. You have access to the material and practice questions for a full year from registration, She offers over 1000 practice questions of which look very similar to questions on the exam. I honestly could not be more thankful for Ellen and the Event Solutions Academy for helping me get my certification; it was worth every penny! Thank you Ellen!!

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    5 star rating

    Thankful for this course!

    Heather Tyner

    I do not believe I would have passed the CMP exam without this course. It pushed me to stay on top of studying, get through the material, and know what to fo...

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    I do not believe I would have passed the CMP exam without this course. It pushed me to stay on top of studying, get through the material, and know what to focus on in order to pass the test. The class kept me accountable and also gave me guidance and support when I hit topics I needed extra help on learning. I am grateful for Ellen's class!

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    5 star rating

    5 Stars!

    Maria Rodriguez

    Thank you very much, Ellen! In Event Solutions Academy you can get excellent advice and support for your preparation for the CMP exam. Whatever is your chall...

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    Thank you very much, Ellen! In Event Solutions Academy you can get excellent advice and support for your preparation for the CMP exam. Whatever is your challenge, you can pass successfully your CMP exam. With her experience, patience, and knowledge, Ellen will provide you with a very assertive method for taking the exam. ¡Gracias!

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    5 star rating

    You too can pass! :)

    Dawn Will

    I highly recommend the Event Solutions Academy; if you follow all Ellen's recommendations and commit...you will pass! It was such a great feeling taking the...

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    I highly recommend the Event Solutions Academy; if you follow all Ellen's recommendations and commit...you will pass! It was such a great feeling taking the test and feeling confident answering the questions because I knew the information! Thank you Ellen for such a great course! Good luck everyone...you can do it!

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    5 star rating

    BEST Course to prepare for CMP!

    colleen bingle

    This course was the best use of my time and had me fully prepared to take the Exam! Ellen is a god and she does it all! From the very start after signing up...

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    This course was the best use of my time and had me fully prepared to take the Exam! Ellen is a god and she does it all! From the very start after signing up I felt that I was in good hands and that Ellen would walk me through the process. For me, the structure of the class was amazing. It kept me honest and on track. Ellen has everything thought out perfectly and paces the content for you. She always says trust the process and now as a success story of her class and passing the exam I see what she means! Ellen is always available to help and is more than willing to do so. Outside of scheduled class times she hosts an hour office hour per week. This is a great time to connect and get your questions answered or topics clarified. Taking the Exam is a daunting challenge, but with Ellen and her class it makes the process manageable and even fun! I will definitely be recommending Ellen's class to anyone interested in taking the Exam.

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    Investment

    Event Solutions Academy Tuition: $599

    • 15 live guided sessions

    • practice quizzes and exams

    • office hours

    • structured study roadmap

    • one year subscription

    • proven CMP test-taking strategies

    • Payment plans available

    This course is for you if...

    ✔ You’re overwhelmed by the CMP process
    ✔ You’ve failed before and don’t know what to change
    ✔ You struggle with standardized tests
    ✔ You need accountability and structure
    ✔ You work full-time and need an efficient plan
    ✔ You want a proven study strategy instead of random guessing

    Questions For Ellen?

    What's Your Next Career Move?

    • Does your meetings and events career feel… stuck?

    • Have you looked at the CMP handbook and thought: “Where do I even start?”

    • Icon & text

      Have you taken the CMP exam before — and not passed?

    • Are you tired of studying hard but still feeling unsure of yourself?

    • Do you want a clear, efficient, step-by-step strategy instead of random guessing?

    • Are you ready to build confidence, advance your career, and finally earn the CMP certification you’ve been thinking about for years?

    You don't have to figure it out alone.

    Ready to stop questioning whether you’re “CMP material” and finally become the confident professional you already have the potential to be?

    Academy Member Benefits

    • The Academy has been around for more than 20 years to Rave Reviews (scroll down to reviews section of profile)
    • Your membership is good for one year from the date you register. Come back more than once at no additional fee.
    • Because your classes are live, you have access to a live instructor and coach every class. Need more help? Give her a call!
    • If you miss a live class, no worries! It's been recorded. You might even use the recording to review before the big exam.
    • You get 15 two-hour live study sessions over a web conferencing interface.12 two-hour content sessions. 3 two-hour review sessions.1 recipe for success!
    • 24-hour access to distance learning classroom with forums and resources to keep you thinking around the clock
    • 12 weekly quizzes and 5 full length tests. Build stamina and good test taking habits.
    • Each 2-hour class starts at 8:00 PM Eastern Time in the USA. Click here to convert to your time zone.
    • Weekly Office Hours: There's no agenda. Bring your questions. Office hours are posted here.

    Reviews

    5 star rating

    I passed my CMP thanks to Ellen and this Course!

    Monica Silva

    There is one thing I know for certain, I would have NOT passed the exam if it weren't for Ellen and the resources she has made to help us prep for the exam. ...

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    There is one thing I know for certain, I would have NOT passed the exam if it weren't for Ellen and the resources she has made to help us prep for the exam. Specifically the classes, the practice exams, the note cards and so on were helpful beyond words. Also, I appreciated that Ellen has tools so if you are a (visual, audible or Kinesthetic learner, she has you covered. I would absolutely recommend Ellen to anyone and everyone who asks me about getting their CMP certification.

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    5 star rating

    Don’t study by yourself.

    Timothy Tsogtsaikhan

    Ellen is a great instructor. She knows well what you need to study to pass the CMP test. I would highly recommend her to anyone!!!

    Ellen is a great instructor. She knows well what you need to study to pass the CMP test. I would highly recommend her to anyone!!!

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    5 star rating

    The Ideal Preparation for Those Seeking Certification

    Mary Jo Keller

    Event Solutions Academy will readily equip certification candidates with the necessary tools, guidelines, and confidence to be successful in pursuing a passi...

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    Event Solutions Academy will readily equip certification candidates with the necessary tools, guidelines, and confidence to be successful in pursuing a passing score on their exam. Ellen’s methods are tried and true, and her belief in her students is a boost of motivation to conquer the study material and review, review, and review. I admire Ellen’s “celebrate” attitude because through this process there will be many times you need to reflect and celebrate all you’ve accomplished. Ellen is a mentor I highly recommend investing in!

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    5 star rating

    A Must-Take Course for Future CMPs

    Tomell Harbison

    I recently completed the CMP study course with Ellen and can confidently say it was one of the best professional development courses I’ve taken. Ellen’s teac...

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    I recently completed the CMP study course with Ellen and can confidently say it was one of the best professional development courses I’ve taken. Ellen’s teaching style made complex concepts easy to understand, and she did an amazing job keeping the class engaging, interactive, and practical. The live review sessions were especially valuable and absolutely helped me feel prepared and confident going into the exam. Being able to walk through questions in real time, hear explanations, and learn test-taking strategies made a huge difference in my success. I’m proud to officially be CMP certified, and I truly appreciate all of Ellen’s support, knowledge, and encouragement throughout the process. Highly recommend this course to anyone preparing for the CMP exam!

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    5 star rating

    Highly Recommend Event Solutions Academy CMP Class!

    Suzie Hagstrom

    The Event Solutions CMP class was extremely valuable in helping me prepare for and pass the CMP exam. Ellen is a fantastic instructor, and both she and Micha...

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    The Event Solutions CMP class was extremely valuable in helping me prepare for and pass the CMP exam. Ellen is a fantastic instructor, and both she and Michael are incredibly knowledgeable and truly invested in their students' success. I would highly recommend this course to anyone serious about earning their CMP designation!

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    5 star rating

    Event Solutions Academy

    Lee-Anne Singh

    I signed up with Ellen, as I needed the hours to qualify to sit the CMP exam. It was the best thing I did. She was so thorough in going through the curricul...

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    I signed up with Ellen, as I needed the hours to qualify to sit the CMP exam. It was the best thing I did. She was so thorough in going through the curriculum, with well prepared notes and PPT presentations that at we covered over 15 weeks. She was very patient and explained things with illustrations and sample scenarios. Sitting the other side of the world in Zambia, the classes were 02am in the morning! It was hard! However, Ellen allows access to the course work for 12 months, so you can repeat the classes and have full access to all the resource material.` In preparation for the exams, we worked creating sample multiple choice questions as part of the weekly homework, that was very insightful in preparing for the exam. Ellen also prepped us on how to tackle the exam, and answer questions, by eliminating answers and keeping at most two probable choices. She also encouraged us to take our time during the exam, so as not to rush. The prep was awesome, and I was very confident when I took the exam. Thank you Ellen, much appreciation to you and Michael.

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    Ellen Maiara, CMP, DES, CED

    Chief Solutions Officer, Event Solutions Management

    Ellen Maiara

    Ellen Maiara, CMP, DES, CED, is an internationally best-selling author of Event Industry courses. For more than 20 years, Meeting Professionals have studied with Ellen to learn how to live their best life by realizing their career goals. She has developed an efficient, effective system by having her students concentrate on three areas, content, test-taking skills, and confidence-building. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, Ellen is also an indie Meeting Professional producing dozens of events for clients worldwide. Her meeting planning niche market is Public Media, planning conferences for non-commercial radio and television associations, with medical meetings thrown in now and then for added challenge. Ellen has planned in corporate and university settings. She has also been a theatrical stage manager on and off-Broadway. Ellen is a non-Box-ie thinker and Broadway musical theater geek. She lives in Tampa, Florida, USA, with her lovely husband, Michael, and their incredible cat, Liberty, who have just supervised this brief biography's writing. Ellen uses she/they pronouns.

    Evolving Course curriculum

    • 1

      COMPLETE THIS CHECKLIST BEFORE OUR FIRST CLASS

      • Checklist to Complete Before Our First Live Class
    • 2

      Welcome

    • 3

      Examples, Samples, Templates

      • Samples & Examples

      • Sample Contract.doc

      • Sample Master Account Form

      • Income Statement (synonym Profit and Loss Statement or P&L)

      • Balance Sheet Sample

      • Cash Flow Statement

      • ExhibitorProspectus Sample

      • Sample_Pickup_Report

      • Sample ESG

      • Sample Function Sheet

      • Sample Resume

      • Sample BEO

      • Sample Pre-Con List

      • Sample Exhibitor Service Kit

      • Site Selection Matrix Example - I have redacted all sensitive information, so you will need to scroll down quite a bit to see actual data. I promise it's there!

      • APEX_Function_Set-Up_Order_with_exhibits

      • APEX_Function_Schedule

      • APEX_Function_Set-Up_Order_with_exhibits_1

      • APEX_Destination_Management_RFP

      • APEX_Transportation_RFP

      • APEX_Single_Facility_RFP

      • APEX_Contracts

      • APEX_Event_Specifications_Guide

      • APEX_Service_Contractor_RFP

      • APEX_Audio_Visual_RFP

      • APEX_Site Inspection List

      • APEX_Housing_Registration

      • APEX_Post_Event_Report

      • Emergency Plan Template

      • Mobile App Emergency Information

      • Booth Types

      • Sample Arrival Manifest

      • Sample Departure Manifest

      • Leko vs Fresnel
    • 4

      Topic 1

      • Reading Assignment Topic 1

      • Live Class Session 1

      • Presentation Notes Topic 1

      • Presentation Notes Topic 1 - 6 Slides

      • Quiz Topic 1

      • Vocabulary Topic 1

      • Note Card Writing Instructions - watch the intro video and we will discuss in our first class

      • Question Writing - will review during our first class

      • Question Writing Topic 1

      • Recording Topic 1
    • 5

      Topic 2

      • Reading Assignment Topic 2

      • Live Class Session 2

      • Presentation Notes Topic 2

      • Presentation Notes Topic 2 - 6 Slides

      • Quiz Topic 2

      • Vocabulary Topic 2

      • Question Writing Topic 2

      • Recording Topic 2

      • Law of the Harvest
    • 6

      Topic 3

      • Reading Assignment Topic 3

      • Live Class Session 3

      • Presentation Notes Topic 3

      • Presentation Notes Topic 3 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 3

      • Quiz Topic 3

      • Question Writing Topic 3

      • Pecha Kucha Video

      • Open Space Technology

      • Unconference

      • Bar Camp

      • Recording Topic 3

      • ROI - The Pop Hit Sensation
    • 7

      Topic 4

      • Reading Assignment Topic 4

      • Live Class Session 4

      • Presentation Notes Topic 4

      • Presentation Notes Topic 4 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 4

      • Quiz Topic 4

      • Question Writing Topic 4

      • Recording Topic 4
    • 8

      Topic 5

      • Reading Assignment Topic 5

      • Live Class Session 5

      • EIC Event Risk Management Guidebook 2021

      • Presentation Notes Topic 5

      • Presentation Notes Topic 5 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 5

      • Quiz Topic 5

      • Question Writing Topic 5

      • Recording Topic 5
    • 9

      Break Even Practice

      • Break Even

      • Break Even with Answers

      • Fun with Break Even

      • Fun with Break Even with Answers

      • More Fun with Break Even

      • More Fun with Break Even with Answers

      • Even More Fun with Break Even

      • Even More Fun with Break Even with Answers
    • 10

      Topic 6

      • Reading Assignment Topic 6

      • Live Class Session 6

      • Presentation Notes Topic 6

      • Presentation Notes Topic 6 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 6

      • Quiz Topic 6

      • Exam Scoring

      • Recording Topic 6

      • Question Writing Topic 6
    • 11

      Topic 7

      • Reading Assignment Topic 7

      • Live Class Session 7

      • Presentation Notes Topic 7

      • Presentation Notes Topic 7 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 7

      • Quiz Topic 7

      • Test Taking Tips

      • Question Writing Topic 7

      • Recording Topic 7

      • Practice Mid-Term
    • 12

      Topic 8

      • Reading Assignment Topic 8

      • Live Class Session 8

      • Presentation Notes Topic 8

      • Presentation Notes Topic 8 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 8

      • Quiz Topic 8

      • Question Writing Topic 8

      • Recording Topic 8
    • 13

      Topic 9

      • Reading Assignment Topic 9

      • Live Class Session 9

      • Presentation Notes Topic 9

      • Presentation Notes Topic 9 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 9

      • Quiz Topic 9

      • Question Writing Topic 9

      • Recording Topic 9
    • 14

      Topic 10

      • Reading Assignment Topic 10

      • Live Class Session 10

      • EIC Digital and Hybrid Events Guidebook

      • Presentation Notes Topic 10

      • Presentation Notes Topic 10 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 10

      • Quiz Topic 10

      • Question Writing Topic 10

      • Recording Topic 10
    • 15

      Topic 11

      • Reading Assignment Topic 11

      • Live Class Session 11

      • SEPC guidebook

      • Presentation Notes Topic 11

      • Presentation Notes Topic 11 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 11

      • Quiz Topic 11

      • Question Writing Topic 11

      • Recording Topic 11
    • 16

      Topic 12

      • Reading Assignment Topic 12

      • Live Class Session 12

      • Presentation Notes Topic 12

      • Presentation Notes Topic 12 - 6 Slides

      • Vocabulary Topic 12

      • Recording Topic 12

      • Quiz Topic 12

      • Question Writing Topic 12
    • 17

      Topic 13

      • Homework Recording

      • Live Class Session 13

      • REVIEW THIS!!! - Items to Commit to Memory

      • Recording Topic 13

      • Practice Final 1

      • Remote Proctoring

      • Prometric - Pro-Proctor Guide
    • 18

      Topic 14

      • Math Problems - complete this before the Topic 14 Live Class

      • Homework Recording

      • Miscellaneous Math With Answers

      • Live Class Session 14

      • Presentation Notes Topic 14

      • Presentation Notes Topic 14 - 6 Slides

      • Recording Topic 14

      • Practice Final 2
    • 19

      Topic 15

      • Live Class Session 15

      • Presentation Notes Topic 15

      • Presentation Notes Topic 15 - 6 slides

      • Recording Topic 15

      • Professionalism and Ethics

      • Practice Final 3

      • Practice Final 4
    • 20

      Review the Course

    • 21

      Winter 26 Recordings

      • Session 1

      • Session 2

      • Session 3

      • Session 4

      • Session 5

      • Session 6

      • Session 7

      • Session 8

      • Session 9

      • Session 10

      • Session 11

      • Review 1 Homework

      • Review 2 Homework

      • Session 12

      • Session 13

      • Session 14

      • Session 15
    • 22

      Fall 25 Recordings

      • Session 1

      • Session 2

      • Session 3

      • Session 4

      • Session 5

      • Session 6

      • Session 7

      • Session 8

      • Session 9

      • Session 10

      • Session 11

      • Session 12

      • Session 13

      • Session 14

      • Session 15
    • 23

      Summer 25 Recordings

      • Session 1

      • Session 2

      • Session 3

      • Session 4

      • Session 5

      • Session 6

      • Session 7

      • Session 8

      • Session 9

      • Session 10

      • Session 11

      • Session 12

      • Session 13

      • Session 14

      • Session 15
    • 24

      Winter-Spring 25 Recordings

      • Session 1

      • Session 2

      • Session 3

      • Session 4

      • Session 5

      • Session 6

      • Session 7

      • Session 8

      • Session 9

      • Session 10

      • Session 11

      • Session 12

      • Session 13

      • Session 14

      • Session 15