Ratliff Earns Certified Government Meeting Planneer Designation

Visit Jackson, the official destination organization for Jackson, Mississippi, announces that Sherri Ratliff, CMP, Senior Business Development Manager, has earned the Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) designation through the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, adding the industry's highest credential for government meetings work to her professional portfolio.

The CGMP is the premier designation for professionals whose work is governed by federal regulations and compliance standards. Earning the certification requires completion of an intensive training program followed by a comprehensive examination, with candidates required to pass with a minimum score of 85% — demonstrating both knowledge and practical application of government meeting protocols.

Ratliff, who has been a cornerstone of Visit Jackson's sales team for 26 years, has built her career connecting meeting planners across government, religious, association, and education sectors to Jackson's culture and experiences. The CGMP designation reflects the depth of expertise she has developed working alongside government planners and navigating the unique compliance requirements that define that market.

"Pursuing the CGMP certification was a natural progression, given my 26-year tenure with Visit Jackson," said Ratliff. "Through years of showcasing Jackson and connecting planners to its rich culture and experiences, I've developed a deep understanding of my destination. Combined with my experience navigating the unique requirements of government meetings and building long-standing industry relationships, this made pursuing the certification both relevant and impactful."

With both the CMP and CGMP designations, Ratliff brings a well-rounded, credentialed perspective to Visit Jackson's meetings and conventions sales efforts — reinforcing the organization's commitment to serving planners with expertise, compliance awareness, and authentic destination knowledge.