When Angela “Angie” Sees became a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) 11 years ago, she was working as an Administrative Assistant for the Lansing Lugnuts. With fans and visitors regularly asking where to eat or what to do before and after games, she wanted to feel more confident sharing what Greater Lansing had to offer.

Today, as one of nine Conference and Event Managers at the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, Angie continues to use that knowledge and the relationships she built to support her events and help attendees enjoy their time in the community.

Getting to Know the Community She Called Home

Angie grew up in Haslett and East Lansing, but taking the CTA course helped her realize how much she still had to discover.

“Although I grew up not far from Lansing, in the Haslett and East Lansing areas, I realized I wasn't as familiar with Greater Lansing as I thought.”

She knew the State Capitol and the Lansing Lugnuts, but wanted to learn more about the area’s history, attractions, and local businesses. Working at the ballpark gave her plenty of opportunities to put that learning into practice, recommending restaurants, nightlife and family activities to visitors.

That same local perspective now helps her plan conferences, professional trainings, educational programs and special events for Michigan’s community mental health and behavioral health system.

Helping Attendees Experience More Than the Meeting

Angie’s events bring together clinicians, administrators, advocates, individuals with lived experience along with other community partners. Creating an engaging, well-organized program is central to her work, but she also thinks about what happens when the day’s sessions end.

Becoming a CTA gave her more knowledge and resources to help attendees explore Greater Lansing, whether they’re looking for dinner, entertainment, or an attraction to visit during their free time.

“I think it's important that attendees have a positive experience not only while they are attending our events but also while exploring the community.”

For Angie, even a small recommendation is an opportunity to make someone’s visit more enjoyable. She hopes attendees leave with a positive impression—and a reason to come back.

Her familiarity with local venues and businesses also informs her planning, helping her identify options that fit an event’s audience, purpose, and goals.

Having a Local Team to Turn To

When Angie reflects on the most valuable part of her CTA experience, the connections stand out, particularly her relationship with Choose Lansing.

While working for the Lugnuts, she was responsible for finding local restaurants to participate in the BWL Chili Cook-Off. She reached out to Choose Lansing for suggestions, and the team helped identify restaurants that might be interested.

In her current role, she continues to turn to them for help finding conference and hotel space. Her team submits requests for proposals (RFPs) through Choose Lansing, which distributes them to its hotel partners. That connection allows her to reach multiple properties and compare options that meet her events’ needs.

“Having that relationship and resource saves time, provides us with more options, and helps us find the right fit for the events we are planning.”

Knowing she has a knowledgeable local resource to call on makes the process easier—and gives her support when she needs recommendations or a new direction.

Building Confidence Through Connection

Angie describes herself as a people person who genuinely enjoys meeting others and learning from them. The CTA experience has helped her feel more comfortable reaching out to hospitality partners, asking questions, and drawing on their expertise.

Those relationships have also strengthened her appreciation for collaboration. Whether she is working with a venue, connecting with a vendor, or assisting an attendee, she sees value in knowing the people behind the resources.

For Angie, the benefits of becoming a CTA have continued well beyond the course.

Angie Sees, CTA

“Becoming a CTA has not only expanded my knowledge of Greater Lansing and what the area has to offer, but it has also helped build my confidence in communicating with others and developing relationships, which I believe are essential skills to being a successful Conference and Event Manager.”