A normal Tuesday in the life of a meeting professional is the stuff of action movies. Whether hanging (metaphorically) suspended in the control room waiting to cue the video at just the right moment or flying through the hallways at a massive convention center to arrive, breathless in the ballroom in the nick of time with the forgotten name badges, you could say that #eventprofs “are the storm.”
We were on a mission to find the most thrilling event producers around, daredevils who risk everything to achieve the impossible. We put out the call for nominees in June and received a record number of applicants with testimonials like this: “Julie’s ability to foster teamwork within her own organization and through the vendor partnerships is like no other. Her bar is always set high with a fool-proof plan for everyone to succeed. Julie is currently managing a tidal wave of organizational change with limited impact to the vast number of meetings she is ultimately responsible for.” If that isn’t the hospitality equivalent of dangling from sheer rock faces, we don’t know what is.
We narrowed down the list to those who took our breath away and asked them to break down their Claim to Fame moments and named the superstars Meeting Professionals of the Year. Their descriptions of their approach to creating transformational change for attendees included “compassionate cage fighter” (Aaron B. Del Mar), “calm and collected” (Julie Giles Parkes), “networking ninja” (Kim Goff), “engagement champion” (Chris Trimmer) and “unremitting maverick” (Leslie McClain).
José María Ortiz described himself as an “Event Alquimista” turning meetings and incentives into extraordinary experiences. Stephanie Sorrells shared that she sees herself as Brandtastic and individualistic (every event design is unique to my client’s brand and not rinse and repeated). Rey Rodriguez self-identified as “Captain Coordinate” because the term captures his knack for organizing and synchronizing all aspects of an event to ensure a smooth and memorable experience for everyone involved. Laura LeBlanc shared the secret to going the extra expo-floor length: “Work hard, travel frequently, sleep late and never turn down chocolate.” But we wanted to close with sage advice from Paula Arevalo, “Always tackle the closest alligator first.” Wise words indeed.
Congratulations to the thrilling meeting professionals taking the leap every day to deliver the most riveting experiences on the planet. We hope sharing their stories inspires you to try your own stunts to jump higher, farther, faster.
Editor’s Note: Read the Meeting Professionals of the Year Motivational Secrets and get fired up here.
Rachel Aden, CMP, CFMP
Senior Account Manager, Arrowhead Conferences + Events
Meeting Specialties: Learning the desired goals for each conference and guiding groups through a holistic approach to achieve those goals, with a focus on building relationships with all parties throughout the process. The larger and more complex the conference, the better!
Claim to Fame: Changing Lives! As a planner of Christian conferences, I’m blessed with the opportunity to be behind the scenes as ministries work to accomplish their missions of bringing attendees to know the love of Christ. It’s a joy to build relationships with planners as I assist them through the process of gathering information and using strategies that allow them to achieve their goals, while also creating an environment where relationships are built with industry partners. It’s amazing to see all the parties come together with both sides feeling like they’ve succeeded! I’ve been fortunate to have wise mentors throughout my career and am honored to have the opportunity to mentor others.
Motivational Secret: It’s extremely encouraging to see the impact that Christ has on attendees during conferences. The stories are endless, and I’ve heard numerous individuals sharing their testimonies of how their lives have completely turned around as a result of their experiences at events.
I have the privilege of working with some of the kindest individuals and groups and seeing how they care for others is humbling. I frequently receive calls from hotels asking when a group can return as their staff was impacted so positively by their interaction with the attendees. Seeing lives changed definitely provides a purpose, which I believe is the best motivator of all.
Carla Albright
Meeting Specialties: Team Building, Corporate Events, Special Events
Claim to Fame: I am extremely proud of winning both the MPI Georgia Chapter 2023 Phoenix Awards Planner Member of the Year and the 2023 Creative Concept Award. It is truly an incredible honor. Winning Planner Member of the Year highlights my dedication to providing exceptional experiences. Additionally, receiving the Creative Concept of the Year award recognizes having the ability to think outside the box with fresh and innovative ideas. I am truly grateful for this recognition.
Motivational Secret: The passion I have for creating unforgettable experiences is incomparable. The look on a client’s face when they enter a room for the first time is priceless.
Paula Arevalo
President and Event Director, Eighth Square LLC and Meetings Made Easy
Meeting Specialties: Event Pre-Planning, Onsite Support and Matchmaking
Claim to Fame: I am the owner and event director of Eighth Square, a woman-owned small business. This past year, we have conducted more than 80 events for clients across the country in addition to leading the event planning division as event director for Meetings Made Easy. With a portion of our events focusing on business-to-business matchmaking, this past year we have also successfully enabled hundreds of small and minority-owned businesses to have their companies matched with contracting opportunities to grow their businesses. Like most in the industry, I had 90% of work pulled in 2020. I am incredibly proud that I was able to retain all staff with no layoffs or pay cuts by reducing my salary as we worked to survive. We are an amazing example of what can happen when you work together to foster collaboration vs. competition to achieve success.
Motivational Secret: “Treat others how you would like to be treated” and “Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you” and together you can pull rabbits out of hats. Also, always tackle the closest alligator first.
Monique Lipman Collins
Manager, Strategic Events, Essendant
Meeting Specialties: Anything and everything, but I have a special place in my heart for incentive trips. The customer experience is where my passion is, and of course, staying under budget!
Claim to Fame: I have been in my role for a long time and have weathered through the 2008 recession, H1N1, Covid, an ice storm in Nashville on arrival day, and many other challenges that show time and time again that I can handle any problem that comes my way. That is what we do as professionals.
Motivational Secret: The end result! Nothing motivates me more than to see happy attendees who treasure the memories gained from programs I have planned. I enjoy seeing people connect and develop new business and personal relationships as a result of time spent at a meeting or on an incentive trip.
Aaron B. Del Mar, MBA
Founder and CEO, Adrenaline Special Events LLC (ASE)
Meeting Specialties: Sports, Corporate, Incentive, Franchise and Philanthropy
Claim to Fame: ASE was built from humble beginnings that included a single, local event that operated out of my parents’ basement in 2005. Today, ASE creates unique events nationwide that now include multiple brands/franchises earning the title of “Chicago’s Premiere Event Company.” ASE has grown into a multimillion-dollar venture that now operates out of a sprawling facility in the northwest suburbs of Illinois. The company has been fortunate to build a diverse team that continually contributes to its growth and earns awards and accolades through many successes. Most importantly, every ASE event incorporates a local charitable partner that event proceeds are donated to, which assists them in fulfilling their unique and philanthropic missions, to help others.
Motivational Secret: My goal is to positively affect our world—with purpose. ASE has impacted thousands of lives in so many ways—and that is the true motivator. Our company brings people and communities together to create traditions and lasting memories. The blending of fun, excitement and fitness at ASE events impacts overall health and participants have raved that ASE was the catalyst to begin leading healthier lives.
Each event is an experience that creates a social impact by partnering with a local charity, which not only receives financial contributions to serve others, but also gets woven into the PR and marketing ASE facilitates to promote their goals and missions. From an economic perspective, bringing an ASE event into any town creates tremendous economic impact, through multiple tourism channels. Our motivation is to bring every city we work with not only an economic impact but a social one as well!
Julie (Giles) Parkes, MBA
Head of Corporate Event Production, Adobe
Meeting Specialties: Large-scale event management (2,500 – 17,500); Operations, Contract Negotiations, Vendor Management, Budget Management and Communications
Claim to Fame: I have worked at Adobe for over 13 years and have been a part of so many transitions—but I am most proud of being a part of the growth and success of Adobe Summit, the signature event for Adobe corporate clients. It started as a “small” 2,500-person event and grew to over 17,500 within 5 years. In addition to managing the operations and overseeing many talented individuals on the team, I built out and managed the growth of the “Adobe Bash” our big evening party that reflected creativity, energy and fun for all our sponsors and attendees.
Motivational Secret: What is your gift? Mine is the ability to see the big picture, which allows me to anticipate potential roadblocks. This enables me to remove the roadblock before it becomes a problem. This also allows me and my team to create a better experience all around. Everyone has their own gifts and I encourage my team to build on their strengths and collaborate with each other with open and friendly communication—thus creating a positive work environment that directly affects the end result…the best event experience.
Kim Goff
Owner, Elevated Experiences Travel Planning & Concierge
Meeting Specialties: Sales Meetings, Team Building, Executive Dinners, Corporate Events, VIP Level Music Festival Programs, Executive Retreats and Special Events
Claim to Fame: Building and creating Elevated Experiences from the ground up. In 2016 my business partner and I took a leap of faith and turned our business ideas into the reality it is today. We hit the ground running and never looked back. Our success comes from hard work and never giving up. I couldn’t be prouder of the business we have built and the hard work we put into it day in and day out.
Motivational Secret: Teamwork makes the dream work! As an ex-collegiate Division 1 athlete, I was always taught that the key to success is hard work, heart and team culture. In order to succeed, hard work is a must. Second is heart. You must have love and passion for what you do and believe with everything that you have that you are giving the best version of yourself not just to others every day but to yourself.
Self-worth is key to a happy life and a happy life is key to success. Lastly, team culture requires you to trust the people around you and earn their trust by building your personal and professional relationships. Trust goes a long way.
Brianna Harmon
Senior Project Manager, Global Access Meetings
Meeting Specialties: National Sales Meetings, Launch Meetings, Customer User Events
Claim to Fame: An aesthetic company client of ours had a vision to create an experience lounge—a Zen atmosphere where guests can receive treatments featuring modern organic decor and a spa-like homey feel to encourage folks to lounge around. However, we did not have a budget allocated for rental furniture and decor. I understood the vision completely—as a matter of fact, it sounded exactly like how I had just decorated my living room. Ironically, the event happened to be local to me in Scottsdale.
I spent weeks gathering decor items and greenery from local stores and thrift shops. On the morning of setup day, I pulled up to the resort in a rented U-Haul filled with my own living room furniture, including my linen couch. Our CSM kindly got in the passenger seat while she navigated me to the loading dock—the look on her face was priceless!
Motivational Secret: My motivation is fueled by the thrill of watching every fragment of an event transform from an idea and concept into something tangible that leaves guests feeling inspired. I love working alongside my clients to create a vision that aligns with their meeting objectives and I am excited to watch it come to life every step of the way.
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the result of a seamlessly executed meeting or event that elicits an impactful and lasting experience for attendees. Additionally, I work with a team of event professionals who are extremely passionate about what we do. Sharing thoughts and ideas with my team members and collaborating on the compelling new goals we are accomplishing together is a huge motivator for me.
Tarin Horan, CMP, CSEP
Vice President, Events & Sponsorships, Northern Virginia Technology Council
Meeting Specialties: Awards Programs, Summits and Developing Content
Claim to Fame: When Covid hit, I had to pivot our events from in-person to virtual. What our members love about our events is the networking, content and experience. Virtual is different and I needed to figure out how to host our annual Tech100 program that was creative and different from the other events they were attending. What would make this event stand out? How about adding a lip-sync challenge with an audience vote for the winner?
We asked our members to put together videos singing their favorite songs which would be played at the virtual event. We had several creative submissions and the attendees loved it! It made the event fun, interesting and unique, all things our in-person events are known for.
Motivational Secret: I am a pretty positive person who greets everyone with a smile, on the phone, zoom or in person. I start my days with a 6 a.m. OrangeTheory class and have been known to cheer for and encourage the person next to me.
You never know what someone else is going through and if I can help them with my positivity and encouragement, that makes my day. That positivity follows me to the events as I treat my event attendees the same way, always with a smile and a big welcome. Having them smile and greet me back keeps me going and energized.
Teri Jakob, CMP, CMM
Manager, Special Events and Partnership Giving, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation
Meeting Specialties: Themed Fundraisers Events, Golf Tournaments and VP of Communications for MPI Middle PA Chapter
Claim to Fame: Orchestrating an unforgettable vintage carnival themed gala for the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation’s Labor of Love campaign, celebrating the upcoming Women and Babies Unit. A night of sheer magic unfolded as guests strolled along a red carpet adorned with vintage streetlights, leading them to a spectacular carnival tent in the hospital parking lot. Inside, a suspended acrobat elegantly served champagne, adding an enchanting touch to the ambiance.
Throughout the event, mesmerizing carnival performers delighted and amazed the crowd, setting the tone for an extraordinary experience. Attendees savored upscale twists on classic circus food, savoring every delectable moment. The grand finale was a breathtaking confetti cannon launch, unveiling the name of the much-anticipated new unit. My passion for creativity, paired with unwavering dedication, culminated in a gala that left a lasting impression and solidified my reputation as an event planner extraordinaire.
Motivational Secret: Creativity is the language I communicate through. It lies at the core of who I am. By looking for small but impactful moments that ignite joy, I find ways cultivate wonder and excitement. This awareness fuels my heart and guides my imagination to creatively craft unforgettable narratives for my events.
From the tiniest details to the grandest visions, I believe every element plays a vital role in shaping the overall experience. Embracing the power of these small yet significant aspects allow me to infuse authenticity and depth into every event I design. Through this approach, I can create enchanting and memorable occasions that resonate deeply with guests, leaving them with cherished memories that endure. My motivational secret lies in the belief that the magic of life lies in the intricacies we often overlook. My boss recently said I bring to life things she never knew she wanted and needed.
Aggie Kobrin, Honorary Ph.D. in Humanitarianism
Founder and director, CEC Global Events
Meeting Specialties: The space area, we have a large number of space events per year and I run a space magazine called “Ad Astra”. Real Estate and Marketing events as well.
Claim to Fame: My clients stay with me for many years, some for up to 10 years any many have become friends. I have been invited to sit on their company boards and much more because of the trust they have in me and my company. I am grateful for the trust others have in me and I will do everything I can to ensure that my clients and associates events are successful and on budget. My job is done when I have done everything I can to make the event a success.
Motivational Secret: I have planned and assisted in planning thousands of events ranging from 50 to thousands of participants. I enjoy what I do, and I do it very well, I have a great team of people I work with and I plan on doing it for many more years. I love having my own companies and wonderful partners.
I have met the most incredible thought leaders and successful entrepreneurs as well as heroes and thoughtful people doing what I do and the types of events I am involved with. I am grateful, helpful, honest and success follows. This is an industry that opens doors to exciting people and creative endeavors. I am never at a loss for ideas and share them happily with anyone who asks for my help. I truly love what I do and that helps me succeed for my clients and for myself.
Emily Ladd
Marketing and Membership Specialist, Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MnCCC)
Meeting Specialties: User Group Conferences, Small- and Large-scale Meetings, Business Celebrations, Retreats, and Teambuilding
Claim to Fame: We hosted a Women in Government event on International Women’s Day. What started as a small pitch in a marketing meeting turned into a largely attended and highly empowering event for women in the public sector. It lit the path for more events like these, creating a space for women and people of all genders who deserve and demand visibility in government work. It was the most magical event!
Motivational Secret: Don’t take things too personally. There will always be something that could have gone better, something more to be done. At the end of the day, your best is whatever you brought to the table. When you put your heart first, that is always more than enough. Words to live and work by from Pam Moore: “You can never go wrong by investing in communities and the human beings within them.”
Laura LeBlanc, CMP, Hospitality & Tourism Management Certification, CVENT Event Management Certification
Senior Conference Manager/Associate Director, Innovation, Conference Catalysts LLC
Meeting Specialties: Conferences, Tradeshows, International Events, Innovation, Hybrid, Attendee Experience and Customer Satisfaction
Claim to Fame: Having an opportunity to work on a wide variety of event types (in-person, virtual and hybrid) for a diverse group of customers in unique national and international venues is both challenging and rewarding. I am most proud of the high level of client, attendee and sponsor satisfaction our teams have consistently achieved.
Being able to maintain my client’s standards and traditions while also keeping a focus on proactive problem-solving and innovation. Within Conference Catalysts, I am proud of my contributions toward training new hires and developing more efficient and effective processes.
Motivational Secret: At the end of every day, I remind myself just how fortunate I am to have a career in something that I love and that naturally aligns with my interests and skills. I have always had an internal drive to become the best version of myself which requires continual self-improvement. But complex events can’t be planned or managed alone.
Drawing out the best in others and being a part of a synchronized team focused on common goals is incredibly rewarding as well. There is no better feeling than when all the hard work is evident in the memorable experiences of our clients and attendees. The added bonus of traveling the world and being exposed to different cultures provides that additional motivation to push through the hard work and long hours. Motto: Work hard, travel frequently, sleep late and never turn down chocolate.
Stephanie McVeigh
CEO & Founder, Strategic Incentive Solutions
Meeting Specialties: Experiential Travel
Claim to Fame: I have achieved many wonderful professional milestones over the years, but one I’m extremely proud of is my recent Circle of Distinction award from the DSA. I feel it is important to connect with others on a personal level. In my profession, it’s referrals that help me build my business.
When you build relationships based on a desire to help them achieve a goal or purpose, it becomes a building block toward trust. If I have one claim to fame in my profession, I would have to say that it’s my ability to build meaningful relationships and connect with others. I believe my positive, can-do approach to new people and situations sets me apart. Very often my clients become friends. It makes work more fun and I love it!
Motivational Secret: When I was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, I was faced with the reality that life doesn’t wait for us to plan. We have to create the life we want today, and that’s what I tell other people. Motivating others to take control of their lives is something I feel passionate about because I’ve learned how precious time and family are.
We can’t wait for approval, for the stars to align, or for someone else to do it for us. I’ve learned how important it is to continually evaluate life, priorities and where I want to be. Even small steps that keep me moving in the direction I want to go are important. Everyone is faced with choices. I choose optimism, hope and laughter! I choose to live life following my passions and goals and I encourage others to do the same.
Courtney Mesmer, CMP, DES, CED
Vice President of Events, WorldatWork
Meeting Specialties: Meeting and Experience Design for Global Nonprofit/Association Events, Experiential Learning, Design Thinking
Claim to Fame: Reimagining and redesigning the WorldatWork Annual Conference experience. When I came aboard WorldatWork, I knew we needed to evolve the conference experience drastically. After evaluating the product, we immediately made several sweeping changes. With less than six months of planning until our show opened, we changed the layout of the exhibit hall, added new modalities of learning, reconfigured the schedule, added new networking events and even changed the name of the conference.
In 2023, we built upon those successful changes and pushed the envelope even more. We added even more activations on the show floor, curated more content and focused on creating connections in a playful way, which resulted in our 2023 event experiencing a 50% increase in total registration, 82% in paid registration, and a 94% satisfaction rating—and we are not done evolving yet!
Motivational Secret: The Power of Early Mornings—Yes, I am part of the “5 am club”—something which I never thought I would be. Just a few years back, I thought waking up before dawn was absolutely ridiculous, but alas, I am now an early riser and never looking back. Starting my day before the sun comes up allows me precious time to focus on my well-being through exercise, personal reflection and reading or learning. It sets a positive tone for me to take on the day and helps me overcome whatever might get thrown my way.
Jennifer Minzey
Meeting Planner & VP of Education for MPISCC, Kaiser Permanente
Meeting Specialties: Hybrid Meetings, Symposia, Board Meetings and Galas
Claim to Fame: In 2015, I was with a third-party events and marketing firm and in six weeks, we produced an inaugural “Night on Broadway” event to showcase the historic core of Downtown L.A. could offer. We opened up a number of the theatres where we produced entertainment and closed down seven blocks of Broadway to produce a street festival, complete with a Ferris Wheel, food trucks, a car show and much more! We had no idea how many people would show up, but we hoped for about 10,000. In the midst of the event, we approximated that there were 40,000 people in attendance!
Motivational Secret: I strive to be innovative and creative while being able to wow my attendees, my colleagues and those that I mentor towards their goals as an event professional. My most important motivational secret is raising my 13-year-old daughter on my own. She gives me inspiration, motivation and light to my life and my events. I want her to be able to see what is possible in the world for a woman, whether in events or another industry.
Showing her what I can do to grow my career, stretch myself outside of my comfort zone and by serving on the Board of Directors for MPISCC, is another way to show her just how important my profession and network are to me. She has always been there to be the biggest cheerleader for me and I will always be her biggest cheerleader for whatever she chooses to do in life.
Leslie McClain, CMP, CGMP, CVEP
Senior Conference Planner/Project Manager, Palladian Partners Inc.
Meeting Specialties: Government, Associations, Health & Science, Animal Health, Technology, Aeronautics & Space
Claim to Fame: Early on in my career, I worked at the Embassy of Canada, handling logistics for high-level visits. This opportunity allowed me to meticulously plan and execute visits for the governor general, two prime ministers, and countless ambassadors. Interaction with these individuals honed my event management skills and provided me with invaluable diplomatic exposure. Navigating the intricacies of international protocols and coordinating seamless arrangements brought immense satisfaction to my professional journey. The experience gained from working in this setting shaped my professional growth. This foundation has equipped me with valuable expertise and cultivated a heightened sense of adaptability and cross-cultural communication.
Motivational Secret: Some call it being a perfectionist, but I prefer being a conscientious, detail-oriented person. If you share this personality trait, my advice is to embrace progress. While the pursuit of flawlessness is commendable, remember that events are dynamic and ever-evolving. Instead of striving for an elusive ideal, focus on continuous improvement and learning from each experience. Embrace constructive feedback as a tool for growth, recognizing that it enhances your expertise and enriches future endeavors. Cultivate a flexible mindset that adapts to unforeseen challenges, allowing innovation to thrive.
Celebrate the achievements and positive impact of your thoroughly planned meetings, understanding that perfection is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the beauty of imperfections, as they often lead to unique and memorable moments. Ultimately, your commitment to progress will lead to consistently exceptional events that leave a lasting impression on attendees and inspire others in the industry.
Rose McCullough, CIS, CITP
Senior Event Producer, Ladidadi XM
Meeting Specialties: Experiential product launches, conferences, executive retreats, high touch incentives, annual sales kick-offs, brand activations, roadshows
Claim to Fame: There are a lot of things that I’ve done thus far in my career that I am proud of. Recently, a program that I lead was a finalist for the Hidden Gem 2023 Awards. What I love most is being able to connect to the events I’m planning in the mindset of the client, the individual participant, but most importantly, natural human behaviors. There’s no way we would have been considered for this award without the incredible talents and energy of the entire Ladidadi team. I believe that great ideas come from many voices, not just one.
Motivational Secret: Making people happy and feel cared for motivates me. I am so fortunate to work for an incredible company with the best team that I respect and admire and with the most amazing clients and partners. I love curating the most perfect environment or interaction that sparks wonder and joy in someone, making someone feel like anything is possible. Knowing that I can make change and help people grow is pure magic.
Abby Mund, CMP
Director of Meetings and Events, Strategic Association Management
Meeting Specialties: Large-scale Conventions and Conferences, Professional Development and Learning, Exhibit Hall Management
Claims to Fame: Planning a professional development conference that supports and prepares teachers each year makes me proud. That event set an attendance record online during Covid and has continued to do so in person every year since. I executed moving an exhibit hall with 243 companies from one floor of the center to another, to help my client support the recovery efforts of our host city after it was devastated by a hurricane six weeks before the conference.
Planning and seeing the impact of a more than 15,000-person convention that motivates, recognizes and celebrates the members of a youth leadership organization is gratifying, especially since I am a former member. Most of all, I am proud of the relationships that I have built over the years and my colleagues that I am honored to serve alongside of and consider friends.
Motivational Secret: Meetings empower people to create change within their lives, communities, professions and our world. I believe that the business of meetings depends on the attendee experience. As a former educator, readiness to learn, participate and connect are areas of special interest for me.
I’m passionate about focusing on the way we want people to leave a meeting and then building their experience to prepare and motivate them to use their new knowledge, perspective or ideas beyond that meeting. Attendees rave about transformative experiences and the organizations that offer them. As meeting planners, we can deliver exactly that by growing relationships, ideas and people through our events.
José María Ortiz
General Manager, Spain, GPi DMC Spain
Meeting Specialties: Incentives and Product Launches, Project Consulting and Sponsor Management
Claim to Fame: Over the last year, we have created amazing incentive experiences from Mexico to Greece for a renowned insurance company, privatizing the world-famous Acropolis in Athens.
Motivational Secret: A happy client and a team that feels supported makes my heart sing.
Emily Park
Experience Designer, Bishop-McCann
Meeting Specialties: Strategically syncing creative opportunities with logistics for impactful meetings/events. Analyzing attendee experiences at every touchpoint and bringing forth inspired concepts to communicate a message and contribute to the goal of the meeting/event.
Claim to Fame: My journey of creating joy. I have had the privilege to have been a meeting planner, event designer, competition event manager, festival planner and now an experience designer. Throughout all those opportunities, the magic and memorable experiences I am able to create for others during meetings/events makes me incredibly proud.
Motivational Secret: Be Adaptable; Be Curious; Be Receptive; Be Thorough; Be Impactful; Be Present
Rey Rodriguez, CTA
President, Corporate Event Architects
Meeting Specialties: Corporate, Government and Professional Sports
Claim to Fame: Bridging multiple sectors, I’ve leveraged my expertise to significantly impact the events and hospitality industries, notably in integrating esports partnerships. My journey began with supporting a long-term esports multi-team competition and managing guestroom logistics during my tenure in hospitality. This relationship continued with me into event planning, in coordinating hotels, meetings and off-site activities for a diverse set of events, with a particular nod to the esports industry.
By streamlining processes and alleviating logistical burdens, I’ve allowed teams to concentrate on mission-critical aspects of their work. Thus, not only have I strengthened ties but also innovatively merged the hospitality and esports realms, demonstrating the remarkable outcomes of industry intersection. Today, I am proud to recount this journey as a testament to my resourcefulness and adaptability, qualities that truly make magic happen!
Motivational Secret: The power of the 3Cs—Coffee, Collaboration and Can-Do Attitude. Being from Seattle, I kickstart every project with a cup of my favorite coffee brew and dive into the leading industry publications—such as Smart Meetings—as well as collaborate within social communities for an educational and creative session on the latest trends.
The energy and wisdom that emerge during these collaborations fuel success. And when challenges arise, as they invariably do in the events world, it’s the can-do spirit (likely that mixture of caffeine and knowledge from collaboration) that accelerates the skill to turn potential problems into opportunities for innovation.
Cindy Shtur-Scarlett, CMP
Director of Global Accounts, ConferenceDirect
Meeting Specialties: Sourcing and Hotel Negotiations
Claim to Fame: Giving back and being a mentor. I have been very grateful to have amazing mentors in my life and to know how important it is to give back and pay it forward. Out of my 40 years in this wonderful industry, one of my most proud accomplishments was teaching at SDSU (San Diego State University) Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning for almost 20 years. Many of my students uphold high-level positions within the industry and I could not be more proud.
Motivational Secret: In an environment that can be driven by numbers and bottom lines, I’m most motivated by the people. I love working side-by-side with my amazing teammates and talented partners to get the job done and have some fun doing it! We get to establish connections with a vast array of people when creating an event, and I get inspired learning about people’s backgrounds and experiences, hearing about their favorite restaurants, where they are traveling to, and what they’re up to outside of work!
Nora Sheils
Co-Founder, Rock Paper Coin
Meeting Specialties: Social events, Education, Event Technology
Claim to Fame: Flipping the switch on our subscription fee was a pivotal moment for Rock Paper Coin. Witnessing our first renewal cycle and retaining an astounding 97% of our subscribers showcased the trust and value our platform offers event professionals. Celebrating our first $2 million month in member transactions was both a testament to our commitment and a symbol of our growth. These particular moments underscore my shared vision with my co-founder Elizabeth and the transformative impact we’re striving for in the event industry.
Motivational Secret: My motivation is ignited by the continued innovation surrounding us in events. I always say that the technologies being introduced should not just be considered tools—they are enablers that reimagine not only the event experiences but how we as event professionals operate.
I find myself invigorated by the potential of technology to streamline our processes, making us more efficient while also creating more memorable events and allowing professionals to not work themselves into the ground. I hope to always embrace the new while never losing the heart and soul of why we do what we do. The wedding and event industry does not receive the respect it deserves, and I’m on a mission to do what I can to elevate it and everyone that works within it.
Stephanie Sorrells
Senior Experience Designer, Creative Group Inc.
Meeting Specialties: Brand Launches, Brand Focused User Conferences and Events, Luxury and High-touch Incentive Stories, Specialized Niches—shows such as CES, NADA, SXSW
Claim to Fame: Pioneer as a storyteller designing attendee journeys that give them the power to co-create their experiences at an event. “Your Experience. Your Way.”
Motivational Secret: There is always a way to ‘yes’ when finding a solution to a client’s request or vision. It doesn’t always have to be an exact yes, but I don’t believe in no. I believe in finding a way to deliver my client’s brand vision from design through operational excellence; and I positively influence all of the talents around me to do the same! Staying centered on the client’s brand is the key to getting the experience design perfectly infused every time!
Michelle J. Taunton, CMP, CMM
Director of Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe
Meeting Specialties: Site Selection, Contract Negotiation
Claim to Fame: During Covid, I was able to negotiate over 40 cancellations or rebookings for all of my clients’ meetings—including many cancellations/rebookings after hotels had stopped recognizing it as force majeure—without any of my clients losing a penny in cancellation or rebooking fees.
Motivational Secret: The world is constantly changing, so be ready to evolve and learn new things every day.
Chris Trimmer, CAE, MBA
Vice President of Membership, Marketing and Communications, Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI)
Meeting Specialties: On-site Event Experience Creator and Community Builder
Claim to Fame: While working with World Obesity Federation, I launched the Healthy Venue Accreditation which now has a number of incredible conference centers accredited around the world that incorporate healthy offerings and support everyone that spends time at the venue to make healthy choices.
Motivational Secret: Find the joy every day–sometimes it hides, search it out!
Frank I Wolfe, CAE
CEO and Executive Vice President, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
Meeting Specialties: Hospitality Industry Technology Education Conference (HITEC), Finance, Technology, HITEC is a trademarked conference.
Claim to Fame: My favorite was 2006 when our Director of Education, Steven Stout, FCAE, (now CEO of the Texas Society of Association Executives) and I were entrusted to develop a hotel guestroom of the future, called Guestroom 20x. We invested six figures into this pinnacle event. After our first pitch, which totally crashed to our advisory committee, we had six weeks to start over and make it successful.
At the event, we successfully “built” a fully functional guest suite on the exhibit floor. It was so popular that it made international printed news and was covered on major television networks in the U.S. and Asia. Let me be clear, I am not smart but have lots of experiences and have many not-so-proud experiences.
Motivational Secret: My biggest motivator has always been the commitment from my team, our partners and members to move the industry forward and to have always worked for a nonprofit organization. Our major event, HITEC, has about 6,000 attendees and 800 or so exhibits and is one of the oldest technology conferences in the world and celebrating our 51st birthday last month.
We have survived many for-profit competitors, two attempted takeovers, and last month celebrated a very successful event in Toronto after another association started a new event over the same dates. These successes have only been possible because of the commitments and support from the HFTP staff, board, our industry partners and HFTP members. Our little group of less than 20 full-time equivalent staff produces more than 25 in-person and online events annually in North America, Europe and the Middle East and most treat HFTP as a way of life, not a job.
Our team has a long average tenure, and I am also fortunate to have had seven staff members who have been CEOs of their own shops. When you represent a supportive group like I have been blessed with over my 40-plus-year career, there is no room for not being motivated.
This article appears in the September 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
