Speaker Biographies
A Who's Who of Industry Experts
Lawrence Leonard, CMP
APEX Program Director
Convention Industry Council
Lawrence manages APEX, an industry initiative to develop and promote voluntary best practices, along with the development of the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, a set of nine formal specifications addressing sustainability in all facets of meetings and events. He has more than 15 years of management and planning experience in the meetings, events, and exhibitions industry. Prior to joining CIC, Lawrence was director of conferences for the National Association of Home Builders, where he directed the management and delivery of educational and networking events—including the NAHB National Green Building Conference.
» Session: "Environmental Sustainability: Implementing APEX/ASTM Meeting Standards"
Christine "Shimo" Shimasaki, CDME, CMP
Managing Director of empowerMINT.com
Destination Marketing Association International
With more than 15 years of experience in the destination marketing industry, Shimo facilitates the overall business development goals and objectives of DMAI's empowerMINT.com. She joined DMAI after serving as executive vice president and chief strategy officer for the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau (ConVis). During her tenure at ConVis, she led every division, including convention center sales, hotel meeting sales, marketing, business development, information technology, and operations. Prior to ConVis, Shimo held positions with several Marriott hotels and resorts and has distinguished herself as a recipient of the TWIN Tribute to Women & Industry in 1998, as well as 1995 winner of the "Salesperson of the Year" Gold Key Award from the San Diego Hotel Motel Association.
» Session: "Until There Are Clones: Maximizing DMOs to Increase Your Planning Productivity
