In recognition of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2018, we decided to single out some of the hard-working women we’ve written profiles on since the beginning of 2017.
While it may seem odd to highlight International Women’s Day (a single day!) when you realize that the meetings industry—and more specifically the event planning profession—is predominantly made up of women who make stellar contributions daily, there is still more progress to be made.
And that industry progress also extends to working harder to make meetings more accessible for all.
Let’s take this day to explore and reflect on how women throughout our industry are the engine that drives it forward.
Although we regrettably can’t single out each and every woman who has made her mark since the beginning of 2017 that were profiled or interviewed by Meetings Today, we hope this partial list serves as a reminder of the contributions these and other extraordinary women have made to the industry.
MEETING PLANNERS/ASSOCIATION/ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVES
Among the planners we’ve covered in Meetings Today are:
- Jeanne Rappoport, from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation
- Michelle Mason, president and CEO of Association Forum
- Tracey Smith, the new executive director of SPIN
- Jackie Wright, from the American Society of Hematology
- Carrie Abernathy, leader of Women in Events
The best place to find a whole host of female meeting planners who are blazing new trails, along with educators and suppliers, is our annual Meetings Trendsetters feature.
MEETINGS AND EVENT TECHNOLOGY
More and more women are not only breaking into, but taking over the tech industry, and that includes those in the meetings and hospitality world. Examples of women who are moving tech forward include:
- KiKi L’Italien, an SEO, social media and content strategy guru
- Tahira Endean, an event producer, responsible for planning the #BCTECH Summit
- Dahlia El Gazzar, founder of DAHLIA+ INC, who helps everyone understand it all
All three are leading the way in the industry when it comes to the utilization of new technology.
WELLNESS
One of the biggest trends in the meetings industry and the hospitality world in general in recent years, is wellness. Everyone is increasingly focused on staying fit, both mentally and physically.
Here are just a few of the women who are leading the way in wellness:
- Lee Papa, mindfulness speaker, trainer and author
- Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and speaker
- Deb Gee, experience designer, Lululemon Athletica
- Monica Graves, founder and chief dharma instigator, Soulbare
- Holly Duckworth, leadership and mindfulness expert
All of these examples prove that there has been no shortage of female changemakers blazing new trails in health and wellness in the meetings realm, helping planners navigate all aspects of their busy lives.
SUPPLIERS
Hotels, facilities and CVBs are vital in making meetings and events a reality. More women are taking charge in executive roles on the supplier side of the business. Here are some examples:
- Julie Coker Graham, president and CEO of the Philadelphia CVB
- Sheila Johnson, Salamander Hotels & Resorts CEO
- Michele Polci, head of Caesars Entertainment’s catering operations in Las Vegas
- Tyra Hilliard, meetings industry attorney and all-around legal expert
Even more insights are available from our recent interviews with Marriott leaders.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
We’re going to cheat a bit in this category, because those who dedicate their time to charity should get all of the attention they deserve. So take a deep breath as we share some examples:
- Debi Kinney, who champions Clean the World
- Kathy Casper, from PGA National Resort & Spa
- Allison Beers, who helps local nonprofits at Events North
- Tammi Runzler, advancing CSR efforts through CSRConnections
- Jo Licata, who leads the charity charge at Hilton San Francisco Union Square
- Dianne Davis, owner of TulNet Meetings and Events
- Kay Kolbo, who is instrumental in helping many Las Vegas charities succeed
- Dale Hudson, who helps the IMEX Group give back where it meets
- Stacy Horowitz, leader of Shopping for a Change
TOP CHEFS
The glass ceiling of the male-dominated world of top-echelon chefs is increasingly being shattered by women who are making a name for themselves by leading kitchens around the U.S. and beyond. Following are some standout females of the food world:
- Roshni Gurnani, executive chef at Hotel Derek in Houston
- Mina Newman, executive chef at The Edison Ballroom and Sen Sakana in New York
Thanks to all of these wonderful women who are making a difference in our industry and our lives!
Happy International Women’s Day!
