These 20 Meetings Trendsetters have stepped up to lead the business events industry in a positive direction from a variety of roles via accomplishments in a wide range of disciplines. These are the people who keep us relevant while fostering a sense of purpose in our professional lives.
Congratulations to the Meetings Trendsetters class of 2025!
1. Tahira Endean
Head of Program, IMEX • Co-Founder, Strategy Table • Instructor • Author
CONTRIBUTION: Curating content and stories that creatively educate and inspire the industry
Tahira Endean’s multifaceted career cements her as an industry trendsetter. As head of program at IMEX, Endean leads the content curation that inspires thousands of event professionals twice annually. As a co-founder at Strategy Table, her creative facilitation skills support organizations through growth, transformation and collaboration. Since 1999, she has instructed hundreds of students in event strategy and design.
As a frequent speaker and author of two influential books on business events: Intentional Event Design (revised in 2022) and Our KPI is JOY: How Live Events Catalyze, Happiness, Productivity and Trust (2025), she shares her passion for the powerful outcomes events offer, encouraging a focus on creating meaningful experiences.
[Related: Tahira Endean’s New Book Demonstrates the Importance of Joy at Live Events]
2. Heather Reid
Founder & CEO • Planner Protect
CONTRIBUTION: Event contract education and certification
Heather Reid is setting a new standard for how event professionals navigate supplier contracts via the recent launch of the Certified Event Contract Professional program. As founder and CEO of Planner Protect, she educates and empowers planners to negotiate balanced contracts confidently and fairly.
A former planner, graduate of paralegal studies and educator, she contributes to top industry publications and speaks widely across North America. Her leadership has also been recognized with awards from the Canadian Meetings & Events Hall of Fame.
[Related: Meetings Contracts Certification Features Industry Heavyweights]
3. David T. Stevens
Co-Founder • Club Ichi and Olympian Meeting
CONTRIBUTION: Advancing wellness and connections in the industry
David T. Stevens is a 20-year event veteran, co-founder of the Club Ichi meeting planner community and the event-wellness consulting firm Olympian Meeting, as well as a six-time Fittest Male Event Prof at the CrossFit Games Open.
As president-elect of PCMA Northern California and a founding member of the WITT Standards Advisory Committee, Stevens constantly advocates for weaving wellness and sustainability into every event experience. A Harvard-certified Lifestyle Medicine & Wellness Coach, Stevens hosts the Return on Wellness podcast, where he sets the pace for healthier, more meaningful events through his holistic approach centered on social connection, movement and nutrition.
[Related: 4 Trends Shaping the Future of Wellness in the Meetings and Events Industry]
4. Mulemwa Moongwa
Global Accounts Manager • HelmsBriscoe
CONTRIBUTION: Meetings industry advocacy in Africa
Mulemwa Moongwa has utilized her knowledge, skills and global network to create a multistakeholder conversational platform for her home country Zambia and throughout Africa.
Attracting the attention of the African Union Commission, the COMESA Secretariat, MPI and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, she also serves on boards such as the Council of Events Professionals in Africa, is founding vice president of the Events Professionals Association of Zambia, a board member of the Tourism Council of Zambia, MPI Africa Project Chairperson and was appointed as the chairperson of the Zambia Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Studies for addressing the human gaps in the recovery of the African tourism industry.
During her tenure, Zambia has integrated travel and tourism into the entire school system, an initiative that was supported by United Nations Tourism, Zambia’s ministries of tourism and education, and others.
5. Sepideh Eivazi
Founder • Dawn of the Earth | Director of Global Accounts • Elevated Meeting Solutions
CONTRIBUTION: Elevating and expanding the industry’s wellness space
Sepideh Eivazi is a TEDx speaker, Iranian immigrant, mental health activist, member of the Global Wellness Institute’s Breathe Initiative and former hotelier who now serves as director of global accounts at Elevated Meeting Solutions. She bridges the world of events and wellness with intention by integrating nervous system regulation and somatic breathwork, as shared in her TEDx talk, “The Most Radical Act: The Alchemy of Breath.”
As founder of wellness company Dawn of the Earth, she fuses breathwork and ethically sourced, custom tea blends into sustainable rituals. Eivazi keynoted Caesars Entertainment’s Wellness Roadshow earlier this year, and her impact shapes conscious leadership across key industry organizations and associations.
[Related: The Z: 4 Tips for Intentional Conversations That Lead to Real Connections]
6. Jennifer D. Collins
President & CEO • JDC Events
CONTRIBUTION: Knowledge sharing, creating community and uplifting the next generation
Jennifer D. Collins’ personal ethos is that the receiving is in the giving. This has guided her involvement with many organizations, including chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Communications at The American University, her alma mater, where she established the Jennifer Collins Experiential Learning Endowed Fund, designed to support experiential learning opportunities for multicultural students. She is also a founding member of PCMA Legacy Society, which provides scholarships for next-generation event industry professionals.
[Read more about the next generation of industry professionals]
7. Jill Blood
Deputy General Counsel and Privacy Officer • Maritz
CONTRIBUTION: Legal leadership
Jill Blood, known affectionately by her peers as “Jillegal,” is not as intimidating as her last name might indicate.
As the lead attorney for Maritz’s meetings and events business, Blood is known for translating complex legal issues impacting the industry into clear language that is easy for planners to understand and digest, allowing them to implement strategies to mitigate potential risks associated with their events.
In recent years, she has expanded her thought leadership role beyond the walls of Maritz, providing valuable thought leadership and insights across the industry. She quips that she is frequently described as “surprisingly reasonable...for a lawyer.”
[Related: 5 Meetings Contract Challenges and Solutions for Uncertain Times]
8. David Ruiz
Executive Chef • Overland Park Convention Center
CONTRIBUTION: Purpose-driven leadership through food
Chef David Ruiz is reshaping the perception of convention center dining by combining nationally recognized culinary excellence with a deep commitment to sustainability and community.
He leads a zero-waste kitchen, sources from local farms and the Overland Park Farmers’ Market, and creates globally inspired menus. A James Beard Foundation competition winner, Food Network’s It’s CompliPlated champion and 2024 IFPA Fine Dining Chef of the Year, Chef Ruiz is passionate about food education, DEI in the kitchen and mentoring young talent.
[Read about more Top Chefs in the meetings and events industry]
9. Tori Chivers
Vice President of Convention Services & Events • MGM Resorts International
CONTRIBUTION: Visionary events leadership in Las Vegas
Tori Chivers has nearly two decades of events experience, executing marquee events for Fortune 500 brands, U.S. presidents, celebrity chefs and global fashion houses. In her current role, she helps position MGM Resorts as a leader in large-scale, high-impact hospitality.
This past year, these skills were on display when she helped create the Bellagio Fountain Club for Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix. These two custom-built, multilevel structures spanning the size of two two-story football fields offered unmatched views of the Fountains of Bellagio and the track’s longest straightaway, along with a curated rotation of globally celebrated chefs and appearances by top entertainers.
[Related: Las Vegas Resort Leaders on Major Events, Game-Changing Developments and Meetings Momentum]
10. Ellen C. Snipes
Director, Meetings and Exhibits • American Oil Chemists’ Society
CONTRIBUTION: Industry advocacy
Ellen C. Snipes leads a global portfolio of scientific events with strategic vision, operational excellence and a commitment to delivering value. She contributes to the advancement of the events industry through volunteer leadership, mentorship and thought leadership.
A sought-after speaker, she advocates for the visibility and strategic influence of event professionals. Her contributions to initiatives like PCMA’s Convening Leaders and CESSE’s Leadership Conference demonstrate her dedication to driving the industry forward.
[Related: Final Numbers and Top Shots From the 2025 PCMA Convening Leaders Conference]
11. Richard Bliss
Founder & CEO • BlissPoint Consulting
CONTRIBUTION: Elevating audience engagement through digital presence
Combining his experiences as a software executive, business leader and speaker, Richard Bliss is redefining event marketing. Having hosted conferences across five continents and trained professionals in 22 countries, he now equips planners with tools to amplify their message and fill seats using LinkedIn and digital-first strategies.
His approach transforms how planners think about influencing and building an audience, turning social media from a stressor into a strategic asset.
[Related: Experiential Education Powers MPI Southern California Chapter's Annual Event]
12. Tamara Silva
Senior Manager, Executive Operations and Special Projects • JA Worldwide
CONTRIBUTION: Global event management and youth empowerment
Tamara Silva is senior manager of Executive Operations & Special Projects at JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs (non-governmental organizations), where she leads the planning and delivery of high-profile global events and special initiatives.
Silva helps create meaningful experiences, celebrate achievements and empower over 15 million young people each year, which has helped her organization receive multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.
[Read more about International Meetings and events]
13. Kevin Hinton
Managing Director, Group Travel • U.S. Travel Association
CONTRIBUTION: Navigating the meetings industry through tumultuous times
Kevin Hinton has worked at the intersection of travel and events for 25 years and now serves as the managing director of group travel at U.S. Travel Association.
During a challenging regulatory time for the meetings and tourism industries, Hinton advocates for the importance of gathering face to face. He believes events have the ability to change people for the better, and that gathering helps make our lives richer and more connected to one another.
[Read more about the latest news impacting the meetings and events industry]
14. Pat Schaumann
President/CEO • Schaumann Consulting Group
CONTRIBUTION: Advancing medical meetings education
Pat Schaumann is president and CEO of Schaumann Consulting Group, founder of the HMCC and MMP healthcare meetings certificate programs and the MPI MD community, and is the author of Breaking the Code to Healthcare Compliance and How to Plan Medical Meetings and Events.
Schaumann is the former executive editor for MPI’s healthcare training manual and has received numerous honors and awards for her work, most notably the Pharma Forum Lifetime Achievement Award. Schaumann also serves as an adjunct professor at four universities, co-chairs the Hospitality Management Advisory Board at St. Louis University and is an instructor for the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate program.
[Related: How the Trump Administration May Impact Medical Meetings]
15. Evan Babins
Manager, Event Production • Scotiabank
CONTRIBUTION: Thought leadership
Evan Babins has been in the events industry since 2006 in a variety of roles and companies, working in the live events, hybrid and virtual spaces while honing his craft as a trendsetting event producer.
Based in Toronto, he has made significant contributions to the events industry through thought leadership, having been a guest on more than 15 event industry podcasts, contributing his thoughts and ideas about managing vendor relationships, producing cutting-edge events and mastering the art of networking, allowing listeners to learn something new each time he is a guest.
Babins has produced over 150 events globally for brands such as Intuit Canada, Equitable Bank, TD Bank, Kia Canada, Nissan Canada and currently Scotiabank. He attends industry events, both locally and internationally, regularly and gets excited each time to hear what the industry is talking about—and not talking about—and continues to elevate the craft of the types of events he produces as he continues to trailblaze his way and leave his mark on the event industry.
[Read Meetings Today's coverage of Eastern Canada destinations]
16. Tara Miller
Director of Global Sales • Destination DC
CONTRIBUTION: Global business event strategy and cross-industry collaboration
Tara Miller is a driving force behind Washington, D.C.’s rise as a premier global meetings destination. As chair of BestCities Global Alliance’s Strategic Business Development committee, she leads international collaboration and propels lead generation.
Miller established Destination DC’s Ambassador Circle and the International Business Events Council, forging partnerships across healthcare, technology and academia to elevate D.C.’s global profile. She curates immersive programming that showcases the city’s creative economy and commitment to accessibility. Miller speaks globally on how meetings act as catalysts for change while navigating geopolitical challenges and championing local experts to amplify D.C.’s voice on the world stage.
[Related: Washington, D.C., Offers a Mosaic of Meetings Options for Planners]
17. Walt Leger
President & CEO • New Orleans & Company
CONTRIBUTION: Destination crisis management
A trendsetter in the meetings and tourism industry since even before taking the top job at New Orleans & Company in 2023, Walt Leger and his team deftly navigated the 2025 New Year’s Day Bourbon Street terror attack a little more than a month before hosting one of the most high-profile events on the globe: the Super Bowl.
Leger also serves on the U.S. Travel & Tourism Advisory Board, the executive board of U.S. Travel and the board of directors and trustees of PCMA. Known for championing innovation, inclusion and economic opportunity, Leger and his team of seasoned meeting professionals prove that meetings aren’t just events—they’re catalysts for connection, progress and meaningful change.
[Related: New Orleans Is Using the Super Bowl as a Springboard to Meetings Success]
18. Aoife Delaney
Managing Director • DMC Network
CONTRIBUTION: Leadership during an era of industry change
Taking the helm of DMC Network at the beginning of 2025 after being its vice president, business development, Aoife Delaney succeeded her father, Patrick Delaney, a pioneer of the global DMC alliance concept.
Stoking the fire for the next generation of elite destination management companies, the DMC Network is an exclusive member-owned community of DMCs hailing from independently owned, owner-managed backgrounds.
[Read more about recent news and updates on DMCs]
19. Jordan Lacey
Project Manager, Tech Events • Capital One
CONTRIBUTION: Gen Z empowerment and future-forward mentorship
A first-generation MBA graduate and proud member of Gen Z, Jordan Lacey is redefining what it means to lead in the meetings and events industry. Lacey has already been recognized as a rising force in the industry, receiving the 2025 MPI RISE Award for Young Professionals and membership in PCMA’s “20 in Their Twenties Class of 2025.”
Lacey also helps young people find their path in the industry through her nonprofit Light The Candle, which creates birthday cards for foster children living in group homes. Her work blends sustainability, strategy and innovation, showing that the future of events is already here.
[Read more about giving back in the meetings and events industries]
20. Emily Scheiderer
Vice President of Professional Development • Destinations International
CONTRIBUTION: Upskilling and reskilling destination professionals
Recently promoted from her previous role as Destinations International’s (DI) senior director of education, sales and services, Emily Scheiderer has played a crucial role in creating valuable resources for destination professionals that help them better serve meeting planners. These include the Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) and the Intellectual Capital Certificate and Business Intelligence Certificate programs.
Additionally, she navigates the challenges of managing and servicing the citywide sales efforts for DI.
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