Speaker Biographies
Meetings Industry Experts
Linda Andreani
Director, Professional Development Programs
Destination Marketing Association International
Linda manages learning & development programming and growth strategies within the professional development and meetings department of DMAI. She previously served as vice president of programs for the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting. Linda's other prior roles include consultancy targeting business performance and human capital management, national sales and services at Marriott International, and corporate development and program expansion in the nonprofit sector.
» Session: "Industry Certifications: An Avenue for Career Enhancement"
Marlene Blas
Associate Director for Meetings & Events
California Western School of Law
Program Advisor & Instructor
California State University San Marcos
Committed to education, Marlene established and funded the San Diego MPI Student Member Scholarship in August 2012. She serves on numerous industry advisory boards and co-edited Meeting and Event Analysis: Tales from the Trenches, a compilation of case studies for use by those teaching at undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels.
» Session: "Are You Ready? Disaster Prep for Meeting, Convention, and Trade Show Professionals" 
Jean Bryant, CEM
Manager, Exhibits and Corporate Services
AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks)
A 25-year industry veteran, Jean has managed consumer, trade, and association shows & meetings. She joined the AABB education and professional development department in 2008. Her expertise is looking at a show from the exhibitor's viewpoint and developing sponsorship opportunities that enhance the meeting experience. Jean is a member of the IAEE Washington, DC Chapter.
» Session: "Traffic Building: Creating a Wow Factor on Your Show Floor"
Katie Callahan-Giobbi
Executive Vice President
Minding Your Business, Inc.
A 25-year industry veteran, Katie helps organizations develop strategies that drive business, as well as design and execute innovative live event experiences. Before joining Minding Your Business, she served as executive vice president of the MPI Foundation and senior vice president of sales for LA Inc. Earlier in her career, Katie was area director of sales and marketing for W Hotels of New York, as well as The Century Plaza Hotel & Spa and the St. Regis Hotel & Spa in Los Angeles. She was also director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago and held similar positions at other Chicago-area hotels. Katie has served in a variety of roles on MPI’s executive committee and international board of directors, as well as a past president of the MPI Chicago Area Chapter. She currently serves on ASAE’s Meetings & Exposition Council and is a frequent guest lecturer on the meetings industry at Roosevelt University.
» Session: "Building Attendance: Fresh Strategies for Audience Acquisition"
Jason Chmiola
Audio and Video Engineer
WebLink Audio Video
Jason is a multimedia professional based in Washington, DC, with a strong background in audio / video recording and internet technology. After working as an editor and cameraman, Jason founded his own company, WebLink Audio Video, in 2010, to focus on content creation and distribution of internet media. He now specializes in web streaming of live events, video-on-demand systems, podcasting, and production of audio and video targeted to online audiences. Jason's primary customers are small to mid-sized business, trade associations, and professional groups seeking to expand their reach via web-based media.
» Session: "Lights, Camera, Internet: Video + Marketing = Impact"
Barbara F. Dunn, Esq.
Attorney and Partner
Howe & Hutton, Ltd.
Barbara works with many individuals and organizations in the meetings industry—including corporate and independent planners, as well as suppliers. She has written numerous articles on a wide range of legal issues and is a frequent speaker for ASAE, MPI, PCMA, SGMP; along with other meetings, travel, and hospitality industry groups. Barbara was the 2005-06 chair of the ASAE Legal Section Council—the first woman to serve in such a leadership role—and is also a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the John Marshall Law School, where she served on the editorial board of the John Marshall Law Review.
» Session: "Meetings and the Law: Must Knows for the Digital Age"
George G. Fenich, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Hospitality Leadership
East Carolina University
Dr. Fenich has delivered over 100 seminars and presentations to both academe and industry. He has served on DMAI's Student and Educator Advisory Council; along with service to MPI, PCMA, ACOM, and ICHRIE. Dr. Fenich is also an active consultant to the industry and his "FuturePace" processes are being used by over 50 DMOs in the U.S. He personally experienced hurricane Katrina.
» Session: "Are You Ready? Disaster Prep for Meeting, Convention, and Trade Show Professionals"
Brad Gentile
Owner/Creative Director
Bottomline Video & Creative Group
Brad has more than 20 years of experience in the video and media industry. He has produced and directed award-winning documentaries, corporate industrials, association highlight and membership features, live concerts, and theatre performances; as well as content for such media outlets as ESPN, NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates, Ivanhoe Broadcasting, and Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation. Brad had also worked with non-profits and associations, such as the American Rental Association, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Compressed Gas Association, Airborne Law Enforcement Association, and the Association for Career and Technical Education.
» Session: "Lights, Camera, Internet: Video + Marketing = Impact"
Richard B. Green, FASAE, CASE
Vice President, Association Sales and Industry Relations
Marriott Global Sales
Richard is Marriott’s primary liaison & spokesperson and is actively involved with key clients and industry associations, including ASAE, IAEE, MPI, and PCMA. He was formerly vice president of sales for the Greater Boston CVB and a national sales manager at the Anaheim Area CVB. He started his industry career with Hyatt Hotels and also spent ten years with Marriott, as a national account executive in the Washington, D.C., office and as opening director of association sales at the San Francisco Marriott.
» Session: "Vital Decisions: Getting the Most From Your RFPs"
Laura Hudson, CMP
Manager, CES Projects
Consumer Electronics Association
Laura joined the Consumer Electronics Association in March 2002, where she is responsible for a wide range of meeting and event planning, including managing CEA's Board of Industry Leaders and executive board meetings. Currently, she manages the Leaders In Technology (LIT) program and the Innovation Policy Summit (IPS) at the International CES, the world's largest annual innovation event.
» Session: "Government Ethics, Transparency, and Contracting / Planning Successful Events" 
Kimberly Knight, CAE, CMP
Senior Governance Analyst
AARP
Kimberly is part of the CEO's office at the 37 million-member AARP, where she assists the 22-member board of directors in all aspects of corporate governance. Her previous experience includes serving as CEO of the Women's Bar Association of D.C., as well as section director at the American Bar Association. Kim has also held executive positions in association marketing, membership, meetings, and trade shows. She currently serves on the CAE Commission, overseeing the CAE credential program.
» Session: "Industry Certifications: An Avenue for Career Enhancement" 
Lawrence Leonard, CMP
Chief Operating Officer
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: "Industry Certifications: An Avenue for Career Enhancement" 
Samantha McKenney, CMP
Senior Meeting Planner
AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks)
Samantha has more than 10 years of experience in the meeting and event planning arena. She joined the AABB education and professional development department in 2003 and is now the senior meeting planner for AABB's city-wide meeting with 6,500 participants and 200 exhibitors. Her passion is creating quality networking experiences and leveraging social media to increase the visibility and reach of the meeting. Samantha currently serves on the PCMA Capital Chapter's communications committee and is a member of Senior Planners Industry Network.
» Session: "Traffic Building: Creating a Wow Factor on Your Show Floor"
Ann McLeod, CEM, CAE
Director of Meetings & Expositions
Society of American Military Engineers
Ann joined SAME in 2010 and oversees the organization’s meetings and conferences, including two trade shows, two overseas conferences, and other meetings throughout the year—ranging in size from 15 to 2,500 persons. Previously, she was on the staff of GWSAE and ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. Ann's last position at ASAE was director, exhibitions and registration, where she oversaw the operations of the organization’s trade shows, including Springtime and the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.
» Session: "Industry Certifications: An Avenue for Career Enhancement"
Monique Montoya, CMP
CMP Program Manager
Convention Industry Council
Monique manages the day to day operations of CIC's Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program, the foremost certification of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. The CMP program, established in 1985, recognizes individuals who have achieved the industry's highest standard of professionalism. Prior to joining CIC, Monique worked as the meetings manager at the Glass Packaging Institute.
» Session: "Professional Certification: Obtaining CMP Status"
Elizabeth Perrin
Director, Consulting Services
Courtesy Associates
Elizabeth directs a team of contracting specialists that consult with hotels and conference & convention centers to obtain and maintain multiple award schedules with the General Services Administration. With 27 years of experience, she previously served as the key account director responsible for Dolce Hotels and Resorts' becoming the first hotel brand awarded a GSA Schedule for conference centers and hotels; as well as worked in sales at The Westin Washington Dulles Airport, BCD Travel, and American Airlines. She currently co-chairs the programs committee for the National Capital Chapter of SGMP.
» Session: "Government Ethics, Transparency, and Contracting / Planning Successful Events"
Glenn M. Reighart, CAE, CMM, CMP
Director, Meetings and Conventions
National Association of School Psychologists
Glenn oversees all aspects of NASP's meetings functions. His 15-years of previous experience includes project director at a meeting management consulting firm and directing the meetings department for three healthcare associations. He has served on MPI's board of directors and Foundation board of trustees, as a past president of the MPI Potomac Chapter, and is also a member of ASAE and PCMA. Glenn has received several awards from MPI and, in 2006, was named one of the "magnificent seven" most valuable players in the meetings industry by Successful Meetings.
» Session: "Vital Decisions: Getting the Most From Your RFPs"
Terri Roberts
Director of Training for empowerMINT.com
Destination Marketing Association International
Terri joined DMAI in June 2010, bringing more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience to her role. She previously held positions with Marriott Hotels & Resorts and the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, in both sales and training capacities. Her personal forte is the design and delivery of high-energy, high-impact training sessions, aligned with business needs, to engage participants and enhance learning for maximum personal and professional growth.
» Session: "Vital Decisions: Getting the Most From Your RFPs"
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Thom Singer
Author and Networking Expert
Thom is the author of eight books on the power of business relationships and networking, including: "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships", "The ABC's of Networking", "Batteries Not Included: 66 Tips to Energize Your Career", and "The ABC's of Conferences". He has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience with firms such as RR Donnelley, Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, Andrews Kurth LLP, Marsh, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank. An accomplished speaker and presenter, Thom was a semi-finalist in the 2002 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking, placing second in the Region III competition, putting him among the top 18 Toastmasters of 20,000 who competed that year.
» Keynote Session: "Some Assembly Required: Integrated Visibility"
