Elite Meetings Advisory Board

Andy Anderson, a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the hospitality industry, has led sales and marketing efforts for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Foresthills Hotels & Resorts, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Inc.

His resume goes on to include key sales positions with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels. Today, in his role as Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Destination Hotels & Resorts, Anderson oversees the sales and marketing efforts for over 30 individual properties in tandem with corporate programs.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recognized Anderson with the “President’s Award” in 1992. Two years later, MPI recognized him again, this time with one of its most prestigious awards, “Supplier of the Year.”

Amanda Armstrong, originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. After working for a newspaper for a year in Santiago, Chile, she accepted a stateside logistics position with INTRAV, an international travel company. After four years on the road as a travel director, she became a program director in product development to research and operate programs in Africa, Holland, and Belgium.

Armstrong transitioned into event management at a consulting firm in Clayton, Missouri. After a steep two-year learning curve in operating large, domestic educational training events, Enterprise Rent-A-Car hired her to head their Corporate Meetings Department at their headquarters in St. Louis in 2007.

Since then she has procured more than 15 national meetings, operated 13 large meetings, and survived the largest of the lineup—the four-day rental branch-manager meeting for 7,300 attendees.

Louise Barnes is the founder of Tred-Lite, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations become more sustainable with a focus on environmental responsibility, economic growth, and social awareness. The firm provides consulting and project management services in the areas of corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy, program development and management, and reporting. Barnes is one of a handful of consultants in the US who has achieved Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) certification.

In her previous experience as director of corporate events for VMware Inc. Barnes was responsible for the strategic planning and integrated program approach to VMware’s industry trade show, launch, and VMworld events.

Prior to joining VMware, Barnes spent eight years at Schwab Institutional as director of client education & events. Her background also includes a position as senior event manager for Carlson Marketing Group, where her corporate accounts included Oracle and Varilux.

A senior event strategy manager at VMware Inc., Kellie Beakey enjoys more than 15 years in the meetings industry. Her career began at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel, where she served as catering manager for three years. Beakey then moved on to LKE Productions as director of program management for the small San Francisco–based event-management company. During her five years with LKE, Beakey was charged with site selection, budget management, vendor negotiation, and logistics coordination for large high-tech conferences.

One highlight of her tenure: working on conferences in London and Munich. After LKE, Beakey moved to Charles Schwab for four years, where she managed IMPACT, the largest event Schwab produces. There Beakey managed a $7-million budget and worked with both internal partners and external vendors to produce the 3,000-person annual event.

At VMware, the global leader in virtualization solutions, she is responsible for VMworld’s event strategy. She ensures VMworld maintains its position by implementing an integrated marketing communication plan, overseeing the creative and theme development, managing the general session strategy, and developing the overall revenue program, including attendee and sponsorship programs.

Hillary Bessiere has spent more than 14 years in the meetings and events industry. Currently she is vice president, client services for Firesky Events Group where she manages events ranging in size from 10 to 5,000 attendees.

Before joining Firesky she managed the global meetings and events group for Network Appliance Inc. and spent close to eight years managing the Americas Sales Events Group at Symantec Corporation, where she produced more than 30 events per year.

Bessiere also has a strong background in marketing and public relations. Prior to Symantec, she worked as an account executive at Ketchum Public Relations in San Francisco, where she developed national media tours with renowned chefs to promote consumer products such as Kikkoman Soy Sauce, California Strawberries, and Spice Islands Spices. She has also held public relations and marketing positions with Hyatt Hotels and KSAN Radio in San Francisco.

“The events industry provides a working environment that is dynamic, exciting, and challenging,” says Bessiere. “But most of all, it’s truly gratifying to see your hard work pay off through successful and memorable events.”

Jamie Bruce returned to Kerzner International as the senior vice president, sales and revenue management for Kerzner International Resorts Inc. in 2006. In this role he is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of all sales and revenue management efforts for the Paradise Island operation, including Atlantis, One&.amp;Only Ocean Club, and Harborside at Atlantis.

A hospitality industry veteran, Bruce had previously been with Kerzner from 1994 to 1998. In the interim, he served as vice president sales and marketing for Coral Hospitality in Naples, Florida, a full-service hospitality management firm with a portfolio of 35 properties throughout Florida and Georgia.

Bruce has also held management posts with other KSL Resorts at Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui, Hawaii, and Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami. His hospitality career began with the Hyatt Hotels Corporation serving in a variety of sales positions at properties in Washington, D.C.; Virginia; Atlanta; and Hawaii.

As director of marketing and customer programs at Pathway Medical Technologies Inc., Bradley Ford provides support to a sales force of 65 sales consultants via sales training, physician education, and market development programs. Before Pathway, Ford supported more than 20 sales managers and 200 direct sales representatives nationwide at FoxHollow Technologies Inc., where he led physician training, field-level referral marketing programs, and effective sales training programs.

The majority of Ford’s event management experience comes from his years of experience with a major incentive travel management corporation as well as a boutique event-planning firm. At Maritz Travel, MeetingsPlus.com, and Woodberry Events, Ford coordinated several creatively, logistically, and technologically challenging corporate events.

A procurement specialist with Synthes, Glenna Fulks’ career began as an aide to Mike DeWine, the lieutenant governor of Ohio who later became a United States senator. She left the political arena to become a global meetings manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she spent much of her time in international locations planning events for the telecommunications industry.

Seven years ago she moved to the pharmaceutical industry, where she currently sources at least 65 programs a year, performs site visits, and handles contracts for all meetings.

The best part of her job, Fulks says, is that she’s able to maintain her working relationships with vendors she has known for years. “The chance to participate in such an exciting venture with Kelly Foy, the Elite Meetings team, and the other talented members of the Advisory Board is a rare opportunity,” Fulks says.

With more than 16 years in the hospitality industry, Mike Greto is currently event manager, strategic events at The Coca-Cola Company, where he manages national customer hospitality events, meetings, and incentive programs.

Before joining The Coca-Cola Company, Greto led business development for McGettican Partners, now Maritz Travel Company, where he established the company’s Southeast presence. He previously worked for MGR Food Services, the exclusive food service provider for the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome & Centennial Olympic Park, running corporate meetings and events at the convention center.

Greto serves as a member of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board and chairs the Programs & Education committee for the SITE Southeast Chapter. He is also an active member of PCMA and a member of the Meetings Competitive Advantage Forum (MCAF), a corporate benchmarking group used for information and best-practice sharing with 20 Fortune 50 companies.

Greto’s other leadership and volunteer roles have included work with the Atlanta History Center, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Sales Club for The TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, Executives for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Hands on Atlanta, and The Chastain Park Conservancy.

Jennifer Leto serves as senior meeting planner at Hess Corporation, a Fortune 100 company. The midsize New York–based corporation takes a fully integrated approach to the exploration, production, and refining of oil and gas, and maintains operations in 20 countries around the world. Leto strategically plans and executes high-level corporate events and meetings throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, including board of directors meetings, executive retreats, and senior leadership conferences.

Responsibilities in her position include site search and selection, contract negotiations, budget preparation and management, logistics coordination, vendor negotiation and supervision, participant coordination, and corporate communications coordination. Prior to joining Hess Corporation in 2003, Leto served as an event coordinator with Morgan Stanley for three years, after spending eight years as a wedding planner on Long Island.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to engage with many talented professionals in the industry and collaborate on ways to challenge industry standards in order to reach our maximum potential,” Leto says.

As senior vice president, brand management, North America at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., David Marr is responsible for the brand experience delivery across all nine brands for Starwood’s North America Division. He also directs the development, execution, and evaluation of brand and tactical marketing communications, partner marketing strategies, and public relations for the company’s North American hotels.

Additionally, he oversees the field marketing organization, a team of 65 field-based marketing professionals who focus on online and offline initiatives that drive revenue back to the 495 hotels within the division.

Marr joined Starwood in January 2001 as regional vice president of sales and marketing to spearhead their sales and marketing efforts for the ten New York City properties, then assumed that responsibility for the 35 hotels in the mid-Atlantic region in 2003. In July 2005, he added the role of vice president of sales and field marketing, North America.

Prior to Starwood, Marr spent over 12 years with Marriott International, serving as market director of business strategy, as well as director of sales and marketing for the New York Marriott Marquis. Prior to Marriott, he worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation for over 5 years in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria, New Jersey, Boston, and Washington, D.C.

Elisa Novoa enjoys more than 15 years of experience in the events industry. She spent her early years managing corporate functions for McKinsey & Co., followed by six years at Maritz Travel Company, where she specialized in major sporting events. After a year at Compaq, she came to Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., where she creates unique and memorable programs for Schwab clients and employees.

Environmental awareness lies at the forefront of Novoa’s many passions. She is currently focusing on creating and implementing green meeting guidelines for the events department at Charles Schwab. As part of this initiative, Novoa is tapping into resources such as the Green Meeting Industry Council and best practices of corporate meeting colleagues at various Fortune 500 companies.

Novoa’s work has taken her to numerous destinations across the globe, most recently managing an employee recognition event in South Africa.

Before joining Cisco Systems Inc. as the senior global meetings & events manager, Carolyn Pund worked at several high-tech telecom and networking companies in Silicon Valley throughout the past 25 years. Her roles touched everything from travel and procurement to facilitating corporate meetings and marketing events.

Pund holds two leading industry certifications. She earned her CMP in 1996, and was part of the inaugural CMM class of 1998. In 1999, she cofounded MCAF (Meetings Competitive Advantage Forum), a corporate best-practices sharing team comprised of 20 Fortune 50 companies.

Pund has served on several advisory boards over the years encompassing event technology, meeting management, hospitality, economic development, client boards, and cause-based charities.

Lisa Schelle’s 17 years of industry experience includes the past 5 years at Nike Inc., where she leads the Global Meetings & Events (GME) department, Nike’s corporate resource for off-site meetings and events. Schelle is responsible for creating and driving the strategic vision and business planning, in addition to managing the department’s operations, budget, and staff. The GME team manages the sourcing and contracting of group hotel business, in addition to planning and managing worldwide meetings and events including: leadership meetings, sales meetings, product launches, media events, athlete hospitality, and logistics for major sports events.

Prior to Nike, Schelle worked at Ford Financial & Ford Motor Co. as the global events/internal communications manager supporting the CEO and senior leadership’s strategic initiatives. In addition to her 9 years in corporate meetings, she has worked in the nonprofit sector as marketing manager for the GLNA, an international tourism marketing organization in Chicago, and as meeting coordinator for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.

Darell Stokes serves as a global meeting & event manager at Symantec Corporation, a world leader in data security, storage, and systems-management solutions. In her position, Stokes facilitates worldwide travel for global meetings and incentive events ranging from 25 to 5,000 travelers. Her responsibilities call on her to facilitate the global hotel program for over 18,000 corporate travelers and global meetings for up to 5,000 guests.

Prior to joining Symantec, Stokes spent more than two decades with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including over ten years in the GSO office as global account director serving top-volume accounts.

Stokes lives in Castro Valley, California, near Symantec’s Cupertino headquarters, and loves travel, learning about cultures, the outdoors, and all types of music.

With nearly 30 years of hotel experience, Gus Vonderheide has worked in both operations and sales. From his beginnings as a convention service houseman to his current position as vice president of group sales, he has had exposure to numerous departments.

Vonderheide’s first director of sales position took place at the Frontenac Hilton in St. Louis, Missouri. He joined Hyatt Hotels in 1994 as a director of sales in Louisville, Kentucky; followed by positions in Dearborn, Michigan; and Washington, DC. In 2000 he joined the corporate sales division and became director of Hyatt’s western worldwide sales force.

In June of 2007, he was promoted to vice president sales – group. He now has complete responsibility for Hyatt’s worldwide and national sales forces, as well as client events. He also serves as liaison between the sales division and the full-service franchise properties.

Vonderheide resides in the Chicago-land area with his wife and two children.

John Washko leads the sales and marketing team at The Broadmoor, the longest running consecutive winner of both the AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five-Star Awards.

Washko sits on the HSMAI Americas Board of Directors and the HSMAI Resort Marketing Special Interest Group, of which he is the past chair. He also sits on the board of Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak (CVB) and is chairman of their marketing committee.

A 28-year hospitality veteran, Washko’s career highlights include national sales roles at the Sheraton Carlton (now a St. Regis property) in Washington, D.C.; PGA National Resort & Spa in Florida; and the 2,300-room Atlantis, Paradise Island and the neighboring Ocean Club Resort in the Bahamas, where he rose to executive director of group sales before joining The Broadmoor.

David Kliman, CMP, CMM, is founder and president of The Kliman Group, a market research and communications consulting practice based in Sausalito, California, which specializes in facilitating customer advisory boards, focus groups, and strategic planning meetings for hospitality industry organizations. Kliman helps his clients understand customer trends and converts those trends into sales, service, and marketing best practices.

Kliman is a widely respected hospitality industry leader with 30 years experience in business development, global sales, and marketing and operations management in both the hotel and financial services industries.

He has served as international chairman of MPI (Meeting Professionals International), and as a delegate on the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. He co-chaired the MPI PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Tomorrow’s Summit Conference and has served on MPI’s Multi-Cultural Initiative committee. Kliman was awarded one of the industry’s highest accolades, MPI’s International Meeting Planner of the Year, in 1999.