Corporate Event Expert Profile Series
At Corporate Event News, our objective is to showcase the diverse people, programs, challenges and rewards of corporate events, so what better way to accomplish that than by talking to industry experts? Our Corporate Event Expert series highlights a different corporate event professional each month. We also feature interviews with third party, association and supplier professionals, to help you get to know some of the individuals who make this industry thrive.
Nov 19, 2018
Julia Spangler’s website urges people to make sustainability a part of their events’ success stories. Spangler is a sustainable events consultant and speaker specializing in waste diversion and zero waste events. Her services include green events, green weddings and helping venues become more sustainable.
She also recently launched an online course, “How to Plan Zero Waste Events,” that teaches event organizers how to keep waste out of the landfill, improve guest satisfaction and achieve zero-waste results.
I met Spangler at the ILEA Live conference, where she was presenting a breakout… more
Nov 09, 2018
If you attend a fair amount of industry conferences, you’ve likely run into Jim Spellos, an incredibly popular and engaging technology speaker whose educational sessions on topics ranging from mobile apps and digital security to VR and other hot technologies have a reputation for packing a room. But besides his love for tech and rock music (he’s an accomplished musician and songwriter, too!), Spellos harbors a lesser-known passion: saving the planet while helping those in need.
As a board member and director of technology for Rock and Wrap It Up!, an anti-poverty think tank dedicated to… more
Oct 24, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
Stefanie Maragna, or Stef, as she prefers, has been involved in sales, marketing and events for more than 20 years, but has a special place in her heart for the events portion of her roles. Her diverse background has allowed her to better understand the needs and motivations of all the stakeholders who are involved with events, from marketing to sales to partners and executives.
Maragna was recently named as one of SmartMeetings… more
Jul 31, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
This month, I spoke with Wendy Laugesen, the director of global events for MarkLogic, a privately-owned enterprise database company with over 500 employees and 14 offices worldwide. Laugesen initially dreamed of becoming the general manager of a hotel, but after several years in the hospitality industry and earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration, decided that event management was a better fit.
Danalynne… more
Jun 19, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
Nick Cottone has been involved with events and event marketing for 17 years and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (although he will soon be moving to Austin, Texas). His LinkedIn profile describes him as a “conference producer/project manager by day and wedding/special event planner by night,” which immediately piqued my interest.
Danalynne W. Menegus: How did you get into the events industry?
Nick Cottone: When I… more
May 24, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series shines a spotlight on some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
This month, I spoke with Aila (pronounced “Eye-la”) Brookins. Brookins has been in the events industry for more than 20 years. She got her start as an executive assistant with a supportive vice president for a boss. He saw her potential and encouraged her to move into marketing. While learning the ropes as a marketing coordinator she had the opportunity to assist with the company’s trade show participation – and got hooked. As she… more
Apr 19, 2018
Editor's Note: Earth Day is April 22. To help illustrate how event planners can help move the industry towards a more sustainable future, we are sharing this inspiring TSNN interview with Kimberly Smith, director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
When Kimberly Smith began as director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), she already thought she was doing her part to be environmentally conscious, both in her career and personal life. Two years… more
Apr 09, 2018
At Corporate Event News, our objective is to showcase the diverse people, programs, challenges and rewards of corporate events. Our ongoing Event Expert Profile series shines a spotlight on some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
While we usually focus on planners who are employed directly by a corporation, this month I chose a different tactic. There are a large number of companies that choose to outsource some or all of their meetings and events programs, and some great independent planners and meeting management organizations whose staff act… more
Jan 09, 2018
At Corporate Event News, our objective is to showcase the diverse people, programs, challenges and rewards of corporate events, so what better way to accomplish that than by talking to industry experts? Each month, we highlight a different corporate event professional to help you get to know some of the individuals who make this industry thrive.
Our first featured event expert of 2018 is Emmanuel Gotsis, director of global experiential marketing at Microsoft. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Gotsis has impressive credentials. He got his first work experience at a young age in… more
Dec 12, 2017
One might expect Arne Sorenson to be a little jaded when it comes to travel. After all, the Marriott International president and CEO traverses the world for his role, which he’s held since 2012—especially significant as he’s the company’s first CEO not to bear the Marriott surname. Yet when we asked Sorenson at the ribbon cutting for the Marriott Marquis Chicago last month about one of his most memorable travel moments, it wasn’t a high-end destination or a luxury hotel opening of which he spoke. It was a trip with his wife to the countryside of Norway, where after stopping to chat with a… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more