Stuart Butler
President, Northwest Event Show and Butler Seattle
Motivating Force: I want to elevate the Seattle event and hospitality industry by fostering collaboration and innovation. I am driven by the belief that success is a shared experience—when one part of the industry thrives, we all do. My hands-on leadership style allows me to stay connected with people, build strong coalitions, and create opportunities for everyone involved. I’m passionate about showcasing Seattle’s unique charm and I find purpose in ensuring every event and project reflects the city’s potential and contributes to its growth and recognition on a larger scale.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: We treat every relationship as a unique opportunity. We focus on long-term strategy, aiming not only for immediate success but also for building lasting relationships that continue to thrive. Success is built on proactive planning and experienced industry veterans are critical to that success. Their discipline and expertise allow us to anticipate challenges and address issues early. By evolving from past experiences, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them, making each event better than the last.
I believe in experiencing as much as possible and paying attention to what moves me, as those moments often resonate with others. Observing how people experience the same event helps me design experiences that connect emotionally. We also prioritize strong industry partnerships and expanding our network into new circles. We connect with passionate individuals whose energy and authenticity enrich the experiences we create. This type of passion transfers to others, leaving lasting impressions. By staying engaged with the broader industry, we bring fresh, innovative ideas to our clients, further elevating our experiences.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: With 30 years of leadership at Butler Seattle, my brother and I have built the company into a premier provider of event services, including valet, transportation, coat check, tours and custom experiences, servicing nearly 10,000 reservations annually. For the past seven years, we have reenvisioned the NW Event Show, a key industry event connecting professionals across the meetings and events sector. Serving on the PCMA Board of Directors, being a member of ILEA (International Live Events Association) for more than 20 years and serving as 2015 Board President and the 2013 Director of Membership, growing membership from 40 to 125, earning the chapter the fastest-growing in the world.
Lonise Carey
DMCP, President, Island Destination Services
Motivating Force: Equity drives everything I do. Nineteen years ago, at 26, I co-founded Island Destination Services, overcoming many obstacles. Today, my mission is to remove those barriers for others. Tourism has the power to uplift entire communities by helping local businesses—entertainers, artisans and more —thrive. It also opens doors for aspiring students to pursue meaningful careers in hospitality. I’m particularly passionate about education and being able to uplift people who show interest in our industry: whether it’s a newcomer or an entrepreneur who is trying to find their spark. One initiative I’m proud to be shaping is ADMEI’s Campus to Career program, which will support young professionals as they build their careers in our industry. Ultimately, knowing that my work can open doors and transform lives is what keeps me motivated every day.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: Supercharging an experience begins with a deep understanding of the audience—what drives and excites them. Once we tap into their motivations, we can define what ‘supercharging’ means for them and design a road map to make it happen. Whether it’s flamingos greeting guests at cocktails, synchronized swimmers in the ocean, or a Bear Grylls-style island-hopping adventure, our focus is on creating something entirely unique. For some, exploration and novelty ignite excitement, while for others, it’s competition. With that in mind, we craft a story of how the experience will unfold, build its visuals, and test it ourselves to ensure it evokes that “OMG, this is amazing!” moment. We then capture it through brand storytelling and photography so clients can relive the magic. Our goal? To create an experience so unforgettable that no one wants it to end.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: One of the standout moments in my hospitality career was developing the documentary for the Lyford Cay Foundation’s 50th anniversary. As a Lyford Cay scholar, it was especially meaningful to help them celebrate their contributions to our community during a time when we were still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Dorian, only to face the challenges of the pandemic the following year. Despite the disruptions and event cancellations, we adapted our creative approach to commemorate their accomplishments through film. This experience was a powerful reminder of how multi-faceted and solutions-driven our work is, showing how hospitality can deliver hope and resilience in unexpected ways.
Kristin Green
Associate Director of Sales, CSI DMC
Motivating Force: My motivating force is passion. I’m wholeheartedly passionate about the event industry as a whole and creating memorable and dynamic experiences for clients and partners alike. I thrive on the exhilaration behind bringing a concept to life and exceeding the clients’ expectations.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: I believe taking a personalized approach in the planning process, listening and understanding the clients’ needs and then seamlessly executing their requests, all while maintaining a humanized and organic relationship supercharges the experience every time. Clients want, and need, to know that they are in credible and trustworthy hands. They appreciate the value in knowing they’re working with a team that operates as their local experts and resource. Supercharging the experience means engaging as an extension of their team, sharing their goals and maximizing their results.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: A continuous highlight of my hospitality career is working with clients that have not previously considered a DMC or have opted to manage their programs without one. And, doing so in the entertainment capital of the world. Each time I am given the opportunity to work with a group that has not previously experienced how CSI DMC owns and operates a program, I’m ecstatic. Our team is truly the epitome of a well-oiled machine. We have time and time again proven why utilizing us to build creative concepts and design, manage vendor outreach and contracts and streamline simultaneous event logistics is a no-brainer when your goal is to create an efficient and memorable program. From groups of 50 to 5,000+, we bring it home every time, this makes every program we touch a highlight for me. Viva Las Vegas!
Jacquelyn Helton, CMP, Senior Sales Manager, Access
Motivating Force: I am driven by creativity, customer service and the success of projects and team members. Whether it’s building a strong sales training program, crafting engaging activations or helping clients hit their budget targets in a dynamic, flexible way, I am always seeking innovative solutions to deliver high-quality results. Additionally, my passion for growing the Access brand in Houston and fostering strong relationships keeps me motivated.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: The goal is to always elevate experiences beyond expectations by focusing on personalization, innovation and execution. It is important to tailor every experience to the individual or group by understanding their preferences, needs, goals and desires. I believe that meticulous attention needs to given, even to the smallest details, as those details can create a sense of luxury and care. From perfect timing to flawless execution, ensure there’s no stone left unturned. Every event needs a carefully curated space that evokes emotion and crafts an unforgettable atmosphere.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: As a recipient of the Connect 40 under 40, PCMA Visionary Award, ADME Achievement Award for Best Innovative Event, as well as a Certified Texas Hospitality Instructor and Certified Tourism Ambassador Instructor, Past PCMA Gulf States Chapter President and incoming Director of Special Events for MPI Houston, I believe that hard work, straight talk and a commitment to get where you want to in life is done by taking control of your destiny and always strive for more.
Jonathan Jow
Director of Strategy, BoothEasy
Motivating Force: My motivating force stems from a passion for creativity, connecting people and creating impactful experiences that resonate with audiences. My career reflects a strong commitment to developing customer-centric marketing and event strategies that leave lasting impressions. Even in challenging times, such as during the pandemic, My ability to adapt and innovate ensured memorable experiences that engaged and delighted participants. Beyond just delivering great experiences, I am driven by the desire to build a company that’s more than just successful—it’s a great place to work. I prioritize creating job opportunities and fostering a positive, supportive work environment where employees can thrive, ensuring that his company is a source of both creativity and community for its team members.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: My approach to supercharging experiences is centered on using cutting-edge technology to drive deeper engagement and forge lasting connections between attendees and brands. I embrace the latest innovations, including AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and real-time data analytics, to create personalized, immersive experiences that captivate audiences. These technologies allow me to customize interactions in real time, ensuring each attendee feels a unique and meaningful connection to the brand.
Beyond AI, I approach the attendee journey with a focus on understanding and influencing behavior at every touchpoint, much like how successful brands design online or in-store customer experiences to guide engagement and conversions. My mission extends beyond simply creating memorable moments—I strive to help brands build authentic, human connections with their audiences. By utilizing technology such as instant sharing tools, AR/VR activations, and real-time event tracking, I enhance not only the engagement during the event but also the brand’s visibility far beyond it. These innovations turn attendee interactions into shareable content that broadens the brand’s reach. My strategic approach ensures that every activation not only captivates participants but also strengthens their relationship with the brand, leaving a lasting impression that resonates long after the event has ended.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: The highlight of my career isn’t just tied to the campaigns I’ve led or the growth I’ve driven for brands—it’s about the relationships built along the way. One of the most fulfilling aspects of his journey has been meeting and collaborating with event professionals from across the industry, who are some of the most hardworking, authentic and passionate individuals I’ve encountered. Their dedication to delivering memorable experiences has inspired me throughout my career and reinforced my belief in the power of human connection at the heart of every event.
Additionally, a standout achievement has been building the exceptional team at BoothEasy. Creating an environment where talented professionals can thrive, grow, and contribute their own creative ideas has been one of my proudest accomplishments. The collaborative spirit, camaraderie and shared passion within my team has played a key role in BoothEasy’s success. Leading a company that not only excels in innovation but also fosters a positive, supportive workplace culture is the true highlight of my hospitality career. It’s this focus on people—both within my team and across the industry—that has made his journey especially meaningful.
Barbara Pierra-Costa
DMCP, Director of Sales, Cream of the Crop Events & Logistics
Motivating Force: My motivating force comes from the love for the city that I live in and creating unforgettable experiences for our clients. I thrive on building relationships with clients and partners, understanding that our success in delivering a top-notch experience is directly connected to the overall attendee experience. Crafting unique itineraries and showcasing local culture fuels my creativity, drive and passion for this amazing industry.
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: At COTC I leverage my deep knowledge of the destination to highlight hidden gems and unique activities that resonate with clients’ interests. We personalize experiences after a thorough discovery call with the client, ensuring that we are capturing exactly what is important to our client and to the group. We create itineraries for conference and incentive travel groups that leave a mark. We have strong partnerships with local vendors which allow for top-of-the-line service and access to unique offerings, enhancing the overall client experience. Our operations team excels at delivering seamless logistics, allowing the client to shine and attendees to feel that they are the number one priority.
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: I have spent the last 15 years growing professionally as a DMC expert at COTC Events. Prior to COTC I worked in events internally at other organizations in Miami, The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce was one. My career started in Public Relations planning birdwatching trips for specialized journalists to Central America and my passion for hospitality and focusing only on destination related events flourished. I graduated from FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management with a Major in Communications and Minor in Hospitality Management.
Andrew Shafer
Photographer, Andrew Shafer Visuals
Motivating Force: I truly love what I do! I’m passionate about creating great visual content for my clients, and I’m inspired to work alongside meeting professionals who seemingly move mountains to build and manage events. I’m humbled to partner with these creators to highlight the accomplishments of a successful event! I’m thankful that I work in an industry which celebrates creativity and provides a niche for me to create content while partnering with amazing clients. It’s this simple concept that motivates me to do the best possible work I can, and to be the best possible partner I can be to help my clients shine!
Approach to Supercharging Experiences: I help each client tell the full picture of any meeting or incentive through high-end photography, but I’m not alone. Becoming a part of the visual ecosystem is how I amplify the attendee experience. My professional images are delivered quickly for relevance and impact, then woven into attendee and client supplied content to curate the full experience and amplify the event’s return on emotion! From RFP to execution, my objective is to understand the visual goals of each unique event. I want to be intimately familiar with the program so I can deliver the right content at the right time, staff accordingly and propel the event’s PR or social media presence. I strive to be a true partner and a familiar face that becomes an extension of the events team immersed in the culture of the group. Each event has its own unique energy that builds momentum through one-of-a-kind, shared in-person experiences. As a photography professional, I capitalize on these rare and unique opportunities to Elevate, Amplify, and Transform the event!
Highlight of My Hospitality Career: Highlights happen all the time! Mostly, I’m thrilled to work with industry professionals who are at the top of their game and are equally passionate about what they do. There is an inherent synergy that comes into play for an event that allows like-minded professionals who recognize each other’s strengths and skill sets to come together and create lightning in a bottle. It’s wonderful to be able to apply hospitality adjacent practices to everyday personal life as well. My wife and I do this all the time, by asking ourselves “How can we make this moment or experience even better for this person?”, “How are we giving of ourselves?”, “How can we turn this situation into a positive?”, or “If I were in their shoes, what would make my day?”. Hospitality isn’t just what a person does at work or with their clients but there is a through line into everyday life.
