IPGW

Melissa has been in the meetings industry since high school and attended the top hotel school in
the country, Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration for her college degree. Her
involvement in the hospitality industry has been consistent for over 30 years. Her career includes
hotel convention services, hotel sales (both on property and at national levels), convention bureau
representation, meeting planning, and association management.
Melissa’s meeting planning experience ranges from corporate product launches and sales
missions, corporate sponsored public trade shows to association annual conventions. Melissa has
managed multiple meetings ranging in size from 50 – 12,000 attendees held across the United
States, Canada, and Europe. Melissa’s success in performing as a seamless conduit between
clients, facility contacts and other vendors, not only resulted in a positive meeting experience for
all parties but repeat clients. Melissa is well known for her attention to detail, clear vision, forward
movement, and her unique ability to respect people’s opinions and passions while maintaining
processes and procedures.

Kristie Chang, CMP, MPS has over 25 years of experience in a wide range of hospitality and business event services including strategic planning, business analytics, contract negotiation, and logistical management. She supported association, corporate, and government clients and managed business events ranging from 50 to 30,000 global attendees. Kristie holds a master’s degree in Global Hospitality Leadership from Georgetown University and was awarded The Hoya Professional 30 which recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership and excellence within the university and their respective industries. Her professional training includes data analytics, strategy and design thinking, business models, consumer insights, revenue management, and digital strategies for business.

Suzanne Clegg, CMP is President of Suzanne Clegg Meetings & Events, LLC, a full-service meeting and event planning firm delivering thoughtfully executed, well-organized and financially accurate events. Active in the meetings and events industry for over 20 years, Suzanne is a seasoned and certified meeting professional (CMP) with extensive experience in meeting and destination promotion targeted to drive attendance and create success. Suzanne has worked with numerous nonprofit and corporate clients to turn their meeting goals and objectives into reality. Her long-term relationships with hospitality salespeople and vendors ensure clients receive the very best value and benefits at contract time. As a trusted partner, Suzanne utilizes her expertise and unique solutions-driven model to achieve success and build long term client relationships.

Michael Cubbage, CMP, CGMP has worked in the meetings industry since 2007 and has experienced both sides of our industry, having worked as both a supplier and a planner and has found his niche in the hybrid position of a professional independent planner.  

Michael has been an active member of the Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPs) since 2008 and has served on a number of committees and on it’s Board of Directors, culminating with the role of the 2014-2015 Chair of the organization.  He was a nominee for the 2011-2012 “AMPe Award” for Outstanding Meeting Professional of the Year & was selected as part of PCMA’s 2015 class of top 20 in their Twenties for the meetings industry.   In 2020 he earned a certificate in Virtual Event & Meeting Management through the Event Leadership Institute.  

Lorie Grooms, CMP has a professional background heavily weighted in association management, where the focus is always on excellent customer service and support. She enjoys working with clients, sponsors, exhibitors, and vendors to create memorable experiences. Her favorite part of event planning is seeing the personal connections and business opportunities that are formed between attendees. Over her career, she’s created many unique events, including outdoor beer-tasting fundraisers, food sampling expos, homebuilder open-house experiences, as well as annual conferences, educational trainings, and board meetings. Having started her career in advertising, her skills in editing and proofing have also served clients well when creating event materials. Lorie truly loves planning all the details.

Leslie Howard, CMP is the owner and principal planner of Crisp Meetings & Events. Her strengths lie in the details, with extensive experience in all logistical requirements including site selection and contract negotiation, vendor coordination, event staffing, tradeshow logistics, food and beverage, audio visual, speaker management and post event evaluation and reporting. She has experience managing events, conferences and tradeshows for companies including United Fresh Produce Association, T3 Expo, Leftfield Media, PCORI, Association of Financial Professionals and VNU Expositions. Leslie can manage any event involving ten to tens of thousands of attendees and exhibitors. 

Lauren Kramer is experienced in many facets of business event strategy, including virtual meeting and event management, branding and managing large-scale global conventions.  Meeting Priorities was founded in 2007 and the team continues to evolve and learn new skills to adapt to the ever-changing meetings and events industry.

A committed volunteer, she served on the PCMA Board of Directors and is a member of the PCMA Foundation’s “Legacy Society”. Named as PCMA’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Awardee as the visionary educator, she is a lifelong learner and greets each day with gratitude.

Ashley H. Pencak, CMP is the owner and principal planner for Amonos Global Productions, LLC. With a strong track record in executing upon effective strategy since 2006. she uses her strong organizational skills to flawlessly execute conferences and trade shows for diverse audiences. She works as a strategic partner in driving unique live and virtual attendee experiences in alignment with organizational goals and budget.
Her expertise includes site search; contract negotiation; budgeting; logistics; vendor management; volunteer management; and onsite execution. Her strongest skill is building relationships with clients by meeting their goals as a trusted member of their team.

MaryBeth A. Powers, has been the owner and president of Planning
Powers, LLC for the past 22 years.   Planning Powers is a full-service
meeting planning company that specializes in site selection, contract
negotiations and provides on-site meeting management.
Prior to forming her own business, MaryBeth started her career
working in a hotel, then at an association management firm, then on
to two associations, one that boasted an attendance of 23,000
people, then as the sole meeting planner for a 3-association annual
meeting of 1200.    
MaryBeth has achieved her CMP; is a member of the Advisory Board
for the Alliance of Independent Meeting Professionals (AIMP) and is
an active member of the Professional Convention and Management
Association (PCMA), where she has served as a member of the
Independent Meeting Planners Task Force.   She was the Program
Chair for the Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPs), where
she was recognized 2 years in a row for the “Meeting Planner of the
Year” Award.

Britt Schwendinger, DES is Co-Owner of Precision Planners, serving as Principal/Senior Planner.  Britt has over 25 years of experience in the meetings industry, including 17 years as the owner and manager of an independent meeting planning business.  Britt has worked with a variety of corporate and association groups on both short and long term projects ranging from a 50 person VIP Board Meeting to an Annual City Wide Convention of 15,000 attendees.  Attention to detail, superior communication skills and proactive problem solving have earned Britt a reputation for producing top-notch meetings.   

​Tana Stellato –Tana launched her consultancy in 2011, after 30 years as a DC-based association executive, and is proud to oversee a dynamic team of certified business event strategists.  We support our association clients by producing stellar conferences ranging from 450 to 2,200 in attendance.  Our firm specializes in contract re-negotiation to improve terms of existing agreements, uncovering revenue sources, sourcing and booking new conferences (under a non-commission model), exhibit and sponsorship sales, high-quality general session production, and logistical execution.  The team quickly pivoted in 2020, acquiring a DES certification to support our client’s changing needs.  We boast a successful record for re-branding, increasing attendance/word-of-mouth ratings, and WOW factor for events we support.

Valerie Sumner completely enjoys her role with VRS, working with clients, colleagues, and partners to guide business event development, strategic planning, marketing and creative design within the face to face and digital event practice.  From hotel sales and marketing positions, she continued her passion for the industry as part of the leadership team, taking the TCI Companies (DMC-Washington DC) global. In 2005 she launched VRS Meetings & Events with her sister, Roberta. Valerie brings leadership, vision, and a can-do attitude to the VRS team, each client and to every event. Problem solving and designing solutions are part of Valerie’s DNA. Contract negotiations, budget development and managing high-level budgets are an “opportunity”. Always eager to learn, Valerie is a frequent presenter, facilitator and attendee at industry conferences.

Annette M. Suriani, CMP, DES, has been in association management and a meeting professional for 30+ years working with professional societies, trade associations and Boards of Certification.  She has a proven track record managing trade shows and annual meetings, exemplary customer service and leadership.  Annette is well-respected in the meetings and events industry and has held various positions within volunteer organizations.  She served on the Professional Convention Management Association Capital Chapter Board of Directors 2008-2010 and 2012-2015.  In 2010 she was selected as the PCMA (National) Distinguished Member of the Year, their highest award.  In 2017 she was selected as one of Smart Meetings Smartest Women in Meetings Award.  She has dedicated her career to advancing the meetings and association industry through advocacy as well as content development for the associations she has worked for.

Sara is a hospitality industry veteran with over 17 years of experience. She began her career
with Marriott hotels in 2007 as a trainee and over the years worked her way up through various
promotions. Sara has expertise in hotel sourcing, events, and sales. Her skills in projection and
forecasting, contract negotiation, profit margins, and industry trends make her a respected
sourcing expert.

After leaving hotels, Sara continued working in the hospitality industry, sourcing for a large
nonprofit. Seeing a need for her level of acumen, she started her own sourcing business, Swift
Sourcing LLC. Sara's depth of experience, expertise, and industry connections enable her to
provide cost-effective and tailored sourcing solutions for her clients.
Sara is originally from New Jersey and currently resides in Maryland. She lives with her perfect
Golden-Doodle named Fey (after Tina Fey).

Erin Williams is the founder, owner and principal planner of Association Allies, LLC.  She is the primary provider of attentive and hands-on client service.

Erin applies 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in special events and conference management, in the United States and overseas.  She is experienced in all logistical requirements including site selection and contract negotiation, vendor coordination, event staffing, food and beverage management, audio visual, speaker management and special event design/management.  Additionally, Erin has worked with several member-driven committees and was commended in her abilities in supporting and facilitating their work. 

Her superior level of attention to detail and communication skills have given her a strong reputation for producing exquisite meetings and events.  Erin has demonstrated success in influencing partnerships, managing complex meetings, and creating memorable special events and experiences.