October Education - Keeping it Real with MPIGNY

In March 2020 – the meetings industry came to a screeching halt.

We all scrambled to keep the energy of meetings alive using our knowledge and creativity – pivoting to Zoom Happy Hours, Hybrid Conferences, Virtual Tradeshows, etc. Hoteliers and planners were challenged to amicably cancel, postpone, or rebook contracts for live events. Some found success in this new virtual world, some did not – and we couldn’t see an end in sight.

Our industry held on tight, powered through and WE SURVIVED. Travel is picking up, companies are returning to offices, in-person meetings and events are filling calendars again!

But how did it happen? How did we make it through? What did we do to get to the other side? How do we keep moving in the right direction? Join us on October 27th at 5:00pm to hear from your industry peers as they discuss the strategies, tactics, and best practices they have used to move their events forward!

Get the 411 on:

Hear from these top Industry Leaders:

MODERATOR:

Bernard Toliver, CMP, President & Founder, Renaissance Meetings & Special Events, Inc.
Bernard Toliver, CMP, BFA, is an adjunct instructor in the Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, teaching credit and non-credit courses in event management, hospitality, and marketing. He is an event professional with more than 20-years’ experience and the owner of Renaissance Meetings & Special Events, an event marketing firm producing corporate and non-profit events. Bernard has served on the board of Meeting Professionals International’s Greater New York Chapter and has been featured in industry publications, including Security Director (ASIS International/New York City Chapter), Meeting Professional, and Corporate & Incentive Travel. He participates in industry conferences, webinars, professional development workshops, and trade shows.

PANELISTS:

Jeania Davis, Director of Meetings & Events, National Alliance to End Homelessness
Jeania Davis, DES is an experienced Meetings Developer and Certified Digital Event Strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the civic and social organization industry and the corporate sector. She is skilled in Conference and Event Management, Grants Management and Project Management. Jeania is a creative and highly organized professional with a variety of skills based around bringing individuals together around a common social cause or shared interest.

Cathy Diem, Director of Sales, Hilton Worldwide
Cathy Diem is Director of Sales Worldwide Accounts for Hilton representing Hilton properties in the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She is a Past President of MPI Philadelphia Chapter and is active in FICP- Financial and Insurance Conference Professionals.

Carrie Holmes, Director, Conferences & Meetings, The Association of Junior Leagues International
Carrie Holmes is the Director of Conferences and Meetings for The Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), a charitable nonprofit organization of women, developed as civic leaders, making a demonstrable impact on their communities. Prior to joining AJLI in 2007, Carrie was a project coordinator/supervisor in television and print production, where she developed many relatable skills that assisted with this past year’s ‘pivot to virtual’. Past positions include Senior Travel Coordinator for Sony Pictures Television and Production Supervisor for Lifetouch National School Studios. She also has logged hundreds of hours on award-winning Discovery Channel programming with New Dominion Pictures.

Carrie is also a certified Birkman consultant and enjoys learning how to strengthen relationships and adapt to the needs of others. In between events, Carrie enjoys traveling, cooking, dining out, attending art shows and festivals and crafting.

Molly Kievit, Senior Director of Campus Sales, Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority
Molly Kievit is the Senior Director of Campus Sales for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA). MPEA owns and operates McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, the 10,000 seat Wintrust Arena, the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, and the Marriott Marquis Chicago.

George Ntim, Market Director of Diplomatic & Community Relations, New York City Marriott Hotels, Chairman of the Board NYSHTA
George Ntim is the Market Director of Diplomatic and Community Relations for the New York City Marriott Hotels serving as a key emissary of the General Managers for all New York City Marriott Hotels. In this role, he is responsible for cultivating relationships with dignitaries, celebrities, and other VIP guests, as well as working with local and national government agencies to assist the hotels in their operations within the community. George also serves on Marriott International’s New York City Business Council as a Vice Chairman and an Ambassador of the Political Action Committee (MARPAC) for the Northeast Region.

In addition, George dedicates much of his time giving back to the hospitality community. He is the current Chairman of the Board for the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSHTA) and sits on the New York City Mayor’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB), Times Square Alliance Board (TSA), Mariano Rivera’s Refuge of Hope Foundation, and David Ortiz’s Children’s Fund. He is also a member of the Broadway Association of New York City and New York State Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council.

Gary Pagano, Vice President-Special Events, ViacomCBS
Gary Pagano is the Vice President of the ViacomCBS Special Events team where he produces a wide variety of events internationally. He has worked in all disciplines of the event industry and has been an instructor at NYU for over 13 years. He represents ViacomCBS on the Board of Directors for United Neighborhood Houses as part of the company’s extensive Corporate and Social Responsibility initiatives. As a delegate to the first Global Event Summit in Frankfurt and Edinburgh he was part of a white paper on the future of the event industry. He has been an international judge for the Event Industry Awards in Ireland and was  inducted into the Biz Bash Hall of Fame in 2016.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear real-life examples straight from the experts' mouths on what you need to know to “Keep it Real” for YOU going into 2022 and beyond! It’s time for the inside scoop on what others are doing in this New Meetings Climate.