Mar 03, 2025
What does it take to launch and run a successful event planning company? In a captivating fireside chat with us at Connect North 2025, MJMeetings Founder and CEO Missy Johnson shared her inspiring journey of building a successful event planning business that recently celebrated its 11-year anniversary—despite event industry shutdowns during COVID.
With more than 30 years spent in the events industry, Johnson's experience offers invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, relationship-building, and overcoming challenges. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Corporate Event News recognizes… more
Feb 19, 2025
Black History Month marks a significant moment to celebrate Black leaders in the business events industries as well as spotlight the strategies, experiences, and insights of Black industry professionals—especially during a time when attacks on DEI programs are becoming more prominent across various business sectors.
Eric Kincaid, Vice President, Sales, Choose Chicago, is a travel and tourism industry leader who not only oversees the city’s convention market sales—he’s also a DEI advocate who makes it his mission to celebrate Chicago’s diverse history and offerings, as well as infuse a… more
Feb 07, 2025
In January, the U.S. corporate event industry kicked off 2025 with a multitude of new hires, promotions, and executive appointments. Here’s our monthly jobs report.
Corporate Event News’s take on the biggest move in the last month: Caesars Entertainment promoted seasoned hospitality professional Kelly Gleeson Smith from vice president of sales to senior vice president of sales.
The big picture: Considered a global leader in the gaming and hospitality industry, Caesars Entertainment operates more than 50 properties worldwide, including nine hotel-resorts in Las Vegas. Offering more than 1… more
Jan 28, 2025
The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) has selected 30-year convention industry veteran Joyce Leveston as the new CEO of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, following a unanimous recommendation by the executive search committee and approval from the NYCCOC Board of Directors. Joining the Javits team on February 10, Leviston will officially take the helm on March 10.
Hugh Carey, Vice Chair of the NYCCOC Board of Directors and chair of the search committee, expressed enthusiasm for her historic appointment, which marks the first time a woman has held… more
Jan 17, 2025
As 2024 wrapped up, the corporate event industry continued to thrive, actively recruiting and promoting seasoned professionals in preparation for a promising 2025. Here’s a summary of some personnel changes that took place in December.
CEN’s take on the biggest move in the last month: Creative brand experiences agency Cheerful Twentyfirst welcomed Joe Rivers as its new U.S. brand experience director, responsible for overseeing business development and supporting the agency’s wider growth strategy for its North American division.
The big picture: Based in London, Amsterdam, and New York… more
Jan 13, 2025
If you looked up the word “versatile” in the dictionary, you just might come across a photo of Natascha Williams, HMCC (Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate).
Since getting into event planning in 2001, Williams has handled logistical and strategic planning for meetings hosted by pharma companies, medical-device makers, physician societies, and a group that’s close to her heart: Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP).
Currently the account manager for events agency Touch Associates, Williams will tap her wide range of expertise for the benefit of fellow life-science event planners when she… more
Jan 10, 2025
While in college pursuing an undergraduate degree in communications and journalism, Robin Lickliter had envisioned a possible future as a magazine writer or sports broadcaster. But still unsure about her direction and feeling restless, she made the fortuitous decision to seize the opportunity to study abroad after winning a scholarship for Semester at Sea, an educational program that offers college students the opportunity to study abroad while traveling around the world on a ship.
While onboard, she met Annie Peiser, who introduced her to the vibrant world of events and live marketing and… more
Jan 09, 2025
To kick off the new year, Corporate Event News sat down with some of our industry’s most well-respected leaders to gain insights into what we can expect for business events in 2025.
In this second installment of our series running through the month January, we sat down with ASM Global Executive Vice President of Convention Centers Dan Hoffend and Visit Orlando President and CEO Casandra Matej. They shared what their organizations will be focused on this year and what they expect for the corporate event industry in 2025.
Dan Hoffend, Executive VP of Convention Centers, ASM Global
What… more
Jan 02, 2025
To kick off the new year, Corporate Event News sat down with some of our industry’s most well-respected leaders to gain insights into what we can expect for business events in 2025. While none of them claimed to own a crystal ball, their extensive experience in producing impactful, high-quality live experiences for growing audiences has convinced us that these consummate professionals have their fingers on the pulse of the industry.
In this first installment of our series running throughout the month of January, we sat down with Shawn Pierce, president of Strategic Events, Meetings and… more
Dec 17, 2024
As the business events industry moves into the holiday season, myriad organizations and suppliers announced good tidings in the form of leadership appointments and executive promotions in November. Here’s our roundup on corporate event moves last month.
CEN’s take on the biggest move in November: Twenty-four-year events industry veteran Russ Callahan was recently promoted from vice president of sales and operations to Chief Revenue Officer for Quest Events, where he is responsible for overseeing sales leadership, marketing strategy, strategic planning, and customer experience.
The big… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more