Leading the Next 365: Yourself, The Business, The Recovery

The future doesn’t fit into the containers of the past, but what does the future hold? Business experts say we are in a cosmic opportunity time and that we must seek growth through innovation and creativity. Gartner reports that 41% of employees are likely to work remotely at least some of the time post coronavirus pandemic. Skift’s hospitality reporter, Cameron Sperance warns, “Don’t look to the past in how to rebuild the travel industry’s post-pandemic future. Look at everything from design to diversity to structuring events.”

These viewpoints can be daunting or exciting depending on your perspective. 

Our panel of professionals will share their stories and empower you to lead yourself, lead your business, and lead the recovery with these takeaways:   

• Shifting your mindset from wishing for the past to creating the change you want to see.
• Clarity on the specific skills you have and need to expand your career in events and hospitality or transition into a new industry.
• Seizing upon what could be the next opportunities in the future of events and hospitality.

TIME: 5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
(The Zoom Room will open at 4:45 p.m. an the meeting will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m.)

CMP/CEU Credits: 1 Clock Hour | Domain E: Human Resources

MEET OUR PANEL:
Kelly Gleeson Smith, Executive Director of Sales, Caesars Entertainment
Kelly leads the northeast sales team for Caesars Entertainment.  Her team represents over $100M of annual revenue by cultivating virtual and face-to-face meetings and events for major corporations and associations held throughout the Caesars Entertainment empire. Kelly was the 2019 recipient of the Caesars Corporate Excellence in Leadership award - presented to only 7 out of 65,000 Caesars Employees. Prior to joining Caesars Entertainment, Kelly spent over 19 years with Hyatt Hotels Corporation where she held various roles, including Director of National Accounts based out of Washington, DC.

David Landgraf, Founder & Chief Experience Officer, Make It Happen Management 
Before founding Make It Happen Management in 2018, Landgraf planned and managed worldwide events for Blackstone, the Government of Singapore, Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, and Arthur Andersen, where he applied his unparalleled expertise, access, and ability to engage people to brands within each high-profile project. For example, a veteran hiring initiative summit and press conference with First Lady Michelle Obama, to an event with tennis champion Novak Djokovic. Landgraf’s reputation for making every event exciting, educational, entertaining, and empowering for both clients and guests inspired his company’s moniker.

One of the founding principles of Make It Happen Management is Doing Good and Giving Back. Landgraf supports and serves on several industry organizations and boards, including the Travel + Leisure Business Travel Advisory Board (BTAB), Transfernation, God’s Love We Deliver, City Harvest, Alliance of Independent Meeting Professionals, Meeting Professionals International, and the Live Events Coalition. Make It Happen Management is a National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce certified LGBT Business Enterprise.

Dawn Penfold, President, Meetingjobs a Cadre Company 
Dawn Penfold, a former meeting professional, started Meetingjobs in 1990 to fill a need for a professional recruitment company serving meeting professionals for associations and corporations. Recently, she merged forces with Cadre, providing a full complement of labor resources across the hiring spectrum, from full-time planners to project-based contract planners to on-site event staff. Dawn is a recipient of the MPIGNY Board of Directors Award, Chapter Manager of the Year Award, Hall of Fame Award, and also served as Past President of the Chapter. She recently was named one of the Top 25 Influencers of 2020 by Northstar Meetings Group.

Travis Pham, CMP, Director of Sales & Strategic Partnerships 360 Destination Group 
A Los Angeles transplant living in New York, Travis is no stranger to extending the olive branch from coast to coast. Over the past 13 years, he has focused his career on establishing innovative partnerships and developing inspiring meetings and events within the hospitality industry. He collaborates with 360 Destination Group’s 21 offices to deliver meaningful destination experiences for their clients, leads their WeWork Global Events + Productions team; and manages their in-home party rental solution, Party Parcel. Travis is an active member of MPI, SITE, ILEA, PCMA and HSMAI, and can be found setting up a picnic at Domino Park overlooking the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Follow him on IG at @travishpham.

About 360 Destination Group: 360 Destination Group is the leading full-service destination and event management company in the country, with offices in all the destinations that matter most to corporate planners. From California, Las Vegas, and Arizona to Texas, Chicago, New York, and Florida, 360DG packs 41 years of know-how into the destination experience. At 360DG, “Built Around You” isn’t just a tagline. It’s their DNA. For more information, please visit 360dg.com.

Elizabeth Sage, MBA, CMP, Associate Director, Events, and Tradeshows, Illumina  
Elizabeth Sage is an award-winning event strategist whose purpose is to create safe spaces and impactful experiences where humans can connect. Guided by curiosity and the idea of “what if,” she has spent almost two decades in the meeting and hospitality industry designing events and conferences for diverse audiences ranging from 20 – 7,000+ participants. She believes the future of events will be part of a multi-channel mix, where influence, content, and connection are built through a strategic channel blend. In her current role as Associate Director of Events and Trade Shows at Illumina, she leads the team responsible for executing a high volume of complex and fast-paced customer events.

Elizabeth earned an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. She holds the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, certification in Meeting and Event Planning from San Diego State University, and in 2020 was honored as one of Smart Meeting Magazine’s Planners of the Year. Elizabeth is a founding member of the Think Tank Happy Hour, hosting a weekly room on Clubhouse discussing human connection in the experience economy. A native of Hawaii, she has made San Diego her home. Her family and friends know her as a fitness fanatic, lover of books, podcasts, and deep conversation, and most importantly, a positive role model for her two daughters.

Moderator:
Stacey Staaterman, Certified Professional Coach & Business Consultant, Stacey Staaterman Coaching 
Stacey Staaterman is a PCC-level Certified Professional Coach (Leadership, Career). Recognized by BUSINESS INSIDER as one of the Most Innovative Coaches, Stacey works with people seeking more fulfillment, happiness, and reward from their career and professional pursuits. Stacey is a regularly featured leadership and career expert appearing in Forbes, Fortune, Men's Health, and The Wall Street Journal.

Stacey has coached people at Google, Meredith Corporation, Egon Zehnder, Mercer Healthcare, New York University, Amazon, Chanel, Random House, LVMH, Sesame Street Workshop, Travel + Leisure, Saks Fifth Avenue, Prudential, Consumer Reports, Fortune, Post Foods, Inc. Magazine, American Express, Departures, Marsh & McLennan, MIT, Random House, Blackstone, Deloitte, Legal Zoom, Bloomberg Media, and EY. Prior to becoming a professional coach and consultant, Stacey held leadership positions in the advertising and media industry for more than 20 years – with companies including American Express (Travel+Leisure, Food & Wine, Departures), Time Warner, Fast Company, Meredith Corporation, and Scholastic. Stacey received her B.S. in Advertising from Syracuse University (S.I. Newhouse School of Communications) and is a member of the FORBES Coaches Council — an invitation-only cohort of business, career, and leadership coaches.

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