DALLAS, TX November 25, 2024 — The Meeting Professionals International Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising arm of Meeting Professionals International, the world’s largest meeting and events industry association, is pleased to announce the approved slate for the 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees.
The Global Board of Trustees is the governing body of the MPI Foundation, with responsibility for Foundation governance, strategic planning, financial oversight and the raising and distribution of funds.
"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Immediate Past Chair. As we approach 2025, I am pleased to announce that the selection process for the new trustees has been thorough. The executive committee has made their selections from a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates, each aligning with the MPI Foundation’s mission and values. I am confident in the future contributions and extend my sincere congratulations to the new trustees." – Jennifer Beatty, Immediate Past Chair
Trustees will take office effective January 1, 2025, for the term from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
"We continue to build a roster of trustees that add to our ability to make an impact to our MPI community across the globe”, said Kevin Kirby, Executive Director, The MPI Foundation. He offered, “As we wrap our year-long 40th anniversary, we’ve set the framework for increased fundraising efforts that will yield more funding to our industry, chapters, and members. Since 1984, we have directly benefited over 25,000 individuals representing over $14 million in distributions. Having these passionate industry leaders complement our efforts is critical!”
Noted below is the full slate of the 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees.
2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees
The slate of officers (Executive Committee) includes:
Chair (previously selected)
Rebecca DeLuca, CMP
Vice President of Destination Sales
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Chair-Elect
Richard Allchild, CMP
Head of Sales
IMEX Group
Brighton, UK
Immediate Past Chair
Susie Townsend
Chief Destination Experience Officer
Visit Indy
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Vice Chair – Finance
Antonio Ducceschi, CMM, CHBA
Chief Commercial Officer
Starhotels Group
Florence, Italy
Vice Chair – Chapters
Darlene Kelly-Stewart
Owner
Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services
Richmond, Ontario, Canada
Vice Chair – Business Development
Julie Krueger (new term)
Vice President Global Business Development
Freeman Company
Dallas, Texas, United States
Vice Chair – Programs
Valeria Serrano Suzán, PCS (new term)
Managing Director
CTA Event Designer & DMC
Cancún, México
The slate for 2025 Global Board of Trustees:
Alice Harrington-Caravello
Vice President, Account Sales & National Group Sales
Marriott International
Holtsville, New York, United States
Angie Ahrens, CMP, CMM
Director, Global Events
MRI Software
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Brad Dean
CEO
Discover Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Brent Hill
Group Vice President
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Orange Park, Florida, USA
Brian Crumby, CED
Director of Sales - Key Accounts & Strategic Partnerships
Caesars Entertainment
Houston, Texas, United States
Darren Temple (new term)
Chief Growth Officer
The Expo Group
Dallas, Texas, United States
Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM, DES
Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations
Teno Hospitality Group
San Francisco, California USA
Heather Dow, CPhT, CAE, CPC (HC), HPDE, HMCC
Senior Manager
Events & Management Plus, Inc.
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
J.J. Wills (new term)
SVP, Marketing Programs and Business Development
ConferenceDirect
Long Beach, California, United States
Joe Marcy, CMP-Fellow, CITP, CMM
Director, Business Development
See Monterey
Manhattan Beach, California, USA
John Ehlenfeldt, CDME, CMP
Regional Director of Sales
Business Events Montreal
Long Beach, California, USA
Karin Davis (new term)
Vice President of Sales
The Venetian Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Kimberly Napolitano, CASE
Executive Director, Industry Relations, and Intermediary Group Sales
Hilton Worldwide
McLean, Virginia, USA
Dr. Krzysztof Celuch, CMM, CITE, CIS, HMCC, CED
Vice-Rector / Professor
Vistula School of Hospitality
Warsaw, Poland
Megan Archambeault (new term)
Vice President of Sales
MGM Grand/MGM Resorts
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Nicole Newman (new term)
Global Head of Destinations
SearchWide Global
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Rich Reasons (new term)
President
Simpleview Inc.
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Telesa Via
Head of Sales
IHG
Washington D.C., United States