Alex Zapple is an experienced business event strategist who has over 17 years of experience in leading events from 10-14,000 people throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. She has held various planning positions at the American Society for Nephrology for nine years and currently is the Senior Director of Meetings. She previously served as an event manager at SmithBucklin.

Cait is the Chief of Event Planning and Operations at Society for Science a 103 year old nonprofit out of Washington, DC. Cait produces the International Science and Engineering Fair which is the world's largest science competition for high school students. There 2,000 students compete for $8 million dollars in scholarships and prizes. This citywide event attracts 10,000 attendees annually. Cait's team also produces the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which is the U.S's oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for middle school students. Additionally, Cait is responsible for the Society's buildings and facilities as well as producing an additional 50 meetings and events each year.

Carol has been a valuable member of our Strategic Account Director team since 2022. She began her journey with Maritz as a Sourcing Manager for Association & Trade Show events back in 2015. Her dedication and expertise propelled her to become a Senior Sourcing Strategist, dedicated to the Microsoft Portfolio. During her career at Maritz, Carol has been the recipient of many peer recognitions and awards, including: 2019 Sourcing Manager of the Year, Impact Player, Key Contributor, Special Performance, Standing Ovation, and 2016 Top Sourcing Manager. Now, as part of our Account Management team, Carol consistently delivers results and has proven herself to be an invaluable member of the Maritz family.

Charlene Liu, CMP, DMCP, is the esteemed Director of Meetings & Events for the Higher Education User Group. With a career spanning over two decades, Charlene's expertise in the events industry was honed from her early involvement in organizing DE&I initiatives for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. during her college years. Her meticulous attention to detail, organizational prowess, and adept problem-solving skills have fueled her passion for meeting and event planning, leading to a distinguished career. An alumna of the University of Florida, Charlene recently earned her Master’s degree in Meeting and Event Management from San Diego State University. Her professional credentials include Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP), and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certifications. Charlene actively contributes to the MPI Tampa Bay Area Chapter Board of Directors, serves on the National Client Advisory Board for the cities of St. Louis and Toronto, and volunteers her expertise to various community organizations.

Courtney Miller is Director of Meetings at the Society for Vascular Surgery. Courtney brings extensive experience and a proven track record of managing all aspects of nonprofit, association and corporate events. Her experience spans planning, sourcing, execution, staff augmentation and employee management, budget management and contract negotiation.

James leads all market development and local government partnerships for BLAST. He is responsible for BLAST’s selection and mobilisation of strategically important destinations, long-term local partnerships and driving value for the host economy. Previously, James was responsible for the operational planning of over 100 events at Wembley Stadium, one of the UK’s most iconic venues, including England National Football fixtures, UEFA Champions League matches, NFL UK Games, and over 50 music artists, amongst many others. James then worked in the Project Management and Business Solutions teams at FIFA, responsible for project planning for all World Cups, including the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Josh Henry is a Meetings Manager and Diversity and Inclusion Lead at SPIE, based in Bellingham, Washington. With the help of a fantastic team of event professionals, he manages events for up to 23,000 attendees around the world. Listening, learning, and adapting is what guides his process and reinforces his goal of creating inclusive, equitable, and welcoming events for all attendees. Josh was recognized as PCMA’s 20 in their Twenties in 2022, and served as chapter president for the Pacific Northwest chapter of PCMA in 2023. He has also served on the board of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association and was honored with the Clapes Award in 2021. When he’s not working, Josh spends his time traveling with his partner, collecting records, growing unusual plants, and filling walls, windows, and shelves with his artwork.

Justine Friedman, CMP is a seasoned Event Director, Sourcing and Housing, for The Linux Foundation. With 20+ years of experience in the event industry, she brings a unique approach to sourcing and housing by bridging her experience in sales and events at The Ritz-Carlton and Kimpton Hotels, and as an in-house event planner in her current role. Working from both perspectives she understands there is a solution for everything and works to achieve synergy between her team, the stakeholders, and vendor partners. She loves recommending new locations and believes the best way to experience a new city is through the local fare.

Kathleen brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having held various leadership roles that showcase her expertise in strategic planning and execution. She is a detail-oriented leader known for her ability to drive performance improvement, resolve complex issues, and foster strong vendor relationships. Kathleen's forward-thinking approach has been instrumental in guiding organizations toward success, particularly in the realm of meetings and events. Her professional contributions include serving on the program committee for the ALHI Executive Exchange and currently participating in the Greater Miami Visitors and Convention Bureau's Innovative Think Tank. Kathleen's insights and leadership have also been recognized in industry publications, with recent features in both PCMA and MPI.

Kristi Casale is the Senior Vice President of Meetings and Continuing Education at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She has recently served as the Past President of the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA. She was honored to be a finalist for two PCMA Visionary Awards in 2023: PCMA Event Designer of the Year Award and humbled to have received the 2023 PCMA Business Event Strategist of the Year Award. She is a proud Spartan who graduated with a degree in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University. It has been a dream since the moment she decided that chemistry was too hard and gave up on her pre-med plans to get started in the hospitality industry. Recently, she was appointed to PCMA's North American Strategic Advisory Board, an opportunity that allows her to contribute her insights and expertise to the industry that she is so passionate about. Giving back to the industry is of utmost importance to Kristi, and she remains dedicated to making a meaningful impact. She is so proud of her accomplishments, but even more excited about the future and the continued opportunities to contribute to the growth and success of the events community. In her free time, when not immersed in the world of events, you can find her enjoying time with her husband Jeff at the baseball field or by the pool, and traveling to create lasting memories with her two boys, Declan and Matteo.

Lancey Cowan, JD, CAE, is Chief Officer, Meetings and Community Engagement for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. In her current role and along with her team of 5, she is responsible for programming and logistics for all in-person meetings, in addition to overseeing the customer service function, the awards and grants area and mentorship programs. ARVO holds an Annual Meeting for 11,000+ attendees each May and this takes up a large portion of her team’s time. Lancey began working in association meeting management in 2000 and most of her experience is in citywide meeting planning. She has been with ARVO for almost 18 years. Her particular passion is everything involved in the citywide housing management process, from negotiating contracts to managing blocks to dealing with onsite issues. When she isn’t working, she likes to walk, jog, hike, do paper crafts, read, watch detective shows on Britbox and listen to audiobooks and podcasts. She is obsessed with Ted Lasso. She lives in Frederick, Maryland with her insane rescue dog, Ollie, and (when she is home from college) her 19-year-old daughter, Maggie.

Meeting planner with 28 years of experience on both the vendor and association sides of the business. Background in registration data system management, citywide hotel contract negotiation and international meetings.

Mariana Gallo is Director of Meetings & Progams at American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Her career path has included time with leaders in the market such as Experient, Inc, ConferenceDirect and IMN Solutions. Mariana holds a BA in Business and Marketing from St. Bonaventure University. She earned her Certified Meeting Planners (expired) and Digital Event Strategist; sat on the executive board for the Capital Chapter of PCMA; and is active on the Capital Chapter of PCMA Community Service Committee. When not taking over the world Mariana is vested in animal welfare and volunteers with the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC.

Megan (she/her) joined Google in April 2019, and serves as the Global Events, Strategy Lead. She partners across Google to understand how events drive business, build communities and promote cultural continuity, informing strategy for a global team of amazing event professionals. She also leads an interdisciplinary innovation effort called the Google Experience Institute, focused on the futures of human-centered, multi-modal experience design and founded The Neu Project, a charitable organization that aims to advance neuro-inclusion in the events, experience, travel and hospitality industries.

Currently the Director of Meeting and Events for the Society of Actuaries. An accomplished event professional with 20 years of progressive leadership in meeting and event management within associations and corporations. Prior to joining the SOA in October, 2019 was the Senior Manager, Events with the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. An active member of Association Forum, ASAE, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

Melissa Dewey CMP is an Events Director in the Healthcare Portfolio at Smithbucklin, with more than a decade of experience producing events from various industries including technology, manufacturing, and medical events. Melissa has had the pleasure of planning meetings, programs, and events in almost 10 different countries and implementing strategic programs using data-based decision-making. Melissa is involved in KPMG’s Executive Leadership Institute for Women, a program that cultivates relationships with other women executives in the Washington D.C. metro area.

Director of Events with over 20+ years’ experience delivering national, international, virtual, in-person, and hybrid events for commercial entities, nonprofits, and trade associations. Strong focus on events technology and accessibility. I currently lead the events effort for Tessitura, a cooperative software organization, formed and owned by the users of our CRM system tailor-made for an arts and cultural organization. , After receiving a CFC de Commerce from EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, I moved to San Diego where I pursued a B.S. in Hospitality Management, After graduating, I started my career in meetings and conventions at the Hilton San Diego Resort. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Hilton Washington team where I had the opportunity to work on large conventions and Presidential events. In 2007, after almost 8 years with the company, I left my role as the Assistant Director of Events to focus on my family, while taking on contracting work. Through the span of my career I have worked for a variety of organizations, from trade associations, education, third party contractor, patient non-profit, and currently serve as the Director of Events for Tessitura Network, a non-profit software organization for Arts & Culture Organizations with members on three continents.

Ori Lahav joined Kenes in 2013 as VP Marketing, bringing more than 15 years of marketing experience to the management team. Ori’s expertise includes implementing marketing strategies, ATL/BTL and leading digital campaigns in online/social media channels. He began his career in the communications industry, where he held marketing positions at Internet, voice and mobile telecom providers. This was followed by a senior role in the automotive sector with a start-up that raised US$ 900M to manufacture electric cars. After 4 years in Kenes Group, Ori moved to manage the Client Accounts & Operations business unit. At the beginning of 2017, Ori also became an IAPCO Council Member (IAPCO – the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers), currently, serves as the association's Immediate Past President President. Ori was announced as Kenes Group's CEO at the beginning of 2022. His appointment marks the first time a CEO is not from a family member in 57 years. Lahav was recognised by event professionals in the Eventex Top 100 Most Influential People in the industry for four consecutive years. In addition, Ori speaks at different industry events: IAPCO EDGE Seminars, PCMA Convening Leaders, ICCA World Congress, Event Innovation summit, IMEX and more. Ori holds a BA in Statistics from the University of Haifa and an MBA from the University of Derby, UK.

As co-founder and Chief Business Officer, Tia brings three decades of multifaceted industry experience and an extensive network of global connections to The Honeycomb. Working with global companies including Salesforce, Amazon, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Toyota, Tesla, Autodesk and Wells Fargo, she is a proven strategic leader focused on delivering successful results, on time and on budget. Having traveled extensively to all seven continents, Tia understands what it takes to provide a quality event experience anywhere in the world. Tia's reputation as a listener and creative solution provider who understands her clients' challenges is well established.

Trey Weaver (he/him/his) is the Senior Manager for Meetings & Education at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He is an expert cat herder (i.e., an event and meetings professional) with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit/association industry, including consulting organizations across the country on areas of operations, management, and inclusive event design. In 2017 he was named an “Agent of Change” for faith-based meetings by Connect Faith magazine and recognized again by BizBash/Connect in 2022 as part of their “40 Under 40” feature highlighting association meeting professionals. Trey currently serves on the board of directors for the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, as well as the Equality Federation. He is a published contributor for Do Good Well, an introductory how-to on grassroots leadership, action, and innovation. Trey lives in Colorado Springs, CO, with his ever-patient partner Paul, their cat overlords Draco and Nola, and a constant supply of cherry Pepsi.

Vandana is laser-focused on creating compelling user experiences through a variety of holistic virtual and physical platforms. She is widely recognized for her strategic event experience vision which has led to massive growth for the industries where she has led event management. Early on, she knew her secret to success was working with clients, customers, and partners to ensure a flawless experience. Helping people learn, experience new products, and leveraging her unique insights to create an experience that would build excitement and loyalty became her trademark value to the market. She is skillful at supplier relationships, understands how to build content that resonates with audiences and is an expert at driving event attendance and engagement. Her unique approach to events has propelled her to the top of the event industry, earning multiple awards and accolades.

As General Manager, Exhibition Place - Laura Purdy CEM CMM, is responsible for the management of Canada's largest convention and exhibition complex; Enercare Centre and Beanfield Centre. For 25 years, Laura has been a leader and influencer in the meetings, exhibition, and convention industry in Canada. An active member of several industry associations; she currently serves on the Board of the Convention Centres of Canada, Canadian Association of Exposition Management, Meetings Mean Business Canada, and is a founding member of Women In Exhibitions North America.

Ron Pellerine currently holds the position of Interim President & CEO at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), Canada’s leading convention and trade show facility. He joined the MTCC as General Manager in September 2019. With a career spanning over 30 years in the hospitality industry, Pellerine has worked internationally in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and has extensive experience in all aspects of facility operations. Before his time at the MTCC, he served as the General Manager at the Shangri-La Toronto, the Langham Boston, and the Chelsea Hotel, where he oversaw the operations at Canada’s largest hotel. Known for his strong leadership skills and commitment to creating successful events at the MTCC, Pellerine is recognized as a genuine leader within the hospitality industry. As the Metro Toronto Convention Centre celebrates its 40-year anniversary, the facility continues to be instrumental for Ontario’s success. The MTCC is an economic driver and a premier gathering place for conventions, trade shows, and corporate meetings. MTCC continues to generate significant economic benefit to the Province and City of Toronto.