If the future is indeed now, as the saying goes, the events industry will be standing strong for years to come. Consider this group of event professionals representing all facets of the industry. Not only are they talented, they are passionate—the word most commonly used by our honorees to describe themselves. No wonder they are worthy members of the 2018 40 Under 40. Meet the next generation of leaders, the “Heirs Apparent.” Learn how they got here and imagine where they, and our industry, are going.
Audrey Alloul
38 • Director, Industry Liaison & Sales Kenes Group Ness Ziona, Israel
Marie-Claire Andrews
39 • Chief Operating Officer Event Tech Tribe New Zealand
Rob Bezdjian
34 • Founder and President Zaven Global Salt Lake City
Lindsay Borkowski
38 • Director of Sales and Conventions Sunriver Resort, A Destination Hotels Company Bend, Ore.
Michelle Castady Orlando
34 • General Manager 360 Destination Group Chicago Chicago
Katie Devine
31 • Senior Project Manager FIRST Jersey City, N.J.
Lindsay Ezykowich
27 • Event Manager Forbes Live, Forbes Media Edison, N.J.
Mike Ferreira
33 • Owner and Founder Meetings Made Easy Las Vegas
Quin Gable
25 • Marketing and Show Director Behindthechair.com Chicago
Diane Garcia
37 • National Sales Manager, Northeast Memphis CVB Memphis, Tenn.
Tiffany Graham
37 • President; Meeting Planner Star Client; Ascension Health St. Louis, Mo.
Kimberly Greene
36 • Lead Associate, Events and Strategic Market Development Booz Allen Hamilton Rockville, Md.
Jamel Hardtman
39 • Business Development Manager Bermuda Tourism Authority New York City
Angeline Holder-Cunningham
32 • Complex Director of Catering and Events Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Emily James
30 • Director of Events 1st Global Dallas
Jillian Kyde
35 • Executive Director of Sales Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas Las Vegas
Joanna Lean
34 • Assistant Manager, Global Event Management Scotiabank Toronto
Latoya Lewis
36 • Founder and CEO EnventU Washington, D.C.
Sarah Lo
36 • Vice President of Professional Services Red Velvet Events, a Global DMC Partner Austin, TX
Ashley Lowe
34 • Director of Sales Las Vegas/Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas
Jeremy Luski
38 • Founder, President and Chief Event Strategy Officer JML Worldwide New York City
Jennifer Mason
31 • Manager of Events Medifast Baltimore, Md.
Lucas McCarthy
26 • Chief Executive Officer Showpass Calgary, Alberta
Maggie McGlade-Palmer
28 • Marketing and Events Strategist TD Ameritrade Omaha, Neb.
Sonali Nair
30 • Co-founder and Sustainable Events Director; Global Accounts Manager Neem Eco Events Manager; HelmsBriscoe Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cheryl Oswald
36 • Event Project Manager Kohl’s Department Store Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Brian Payne
38 • Senior Sales Executive Gaylord Rockies Las Vegas
Jessica Perrozzi
28 • Director of National Accounts NHS Global Events Dana Point, Calif.
Amanda Pfeil
28 • Director of Event Services Visit Rochester Rochester, N.Y.
Joshua Rice
39 • Global Hotel and Venue Manager McDonald’s Corporation Downers Grove, Ill.
Rachel Runnals
35 • Senior Analyst, Emerging Markets COBX Southfield, Mich.
Sarah Schneider
27 • Event Manager Dynamic Events, Inc. Seattle
Joe Schwinger
39 • Founder and CEO MeetingPlay Washington, D.C.
Krista (Reimer) St. John
33 • Managing Director Blue Nest Events New York City
Antwone Stigall
28 • Chief Events Officer Antwone Stigall & Co. Event Management and Production San Francisco
Katherine Stokoe
26 • Manager of Meetings and Events Paragon Events Delray Beach, Fla.
Brent Turner
39 • Senior Vice President, Solutions—Marketing Strategy and Technology Cramer Boston
Lisa Wallace
34 • Senior Communications Manager Visit Indy Indianapolis
Kimberly Wander
33 • Owner Elevated Events LLC Tampa, Fla.
Sydney Wolf
27 • Senior Sales Manager metroConnections Minneapolis
*About the 2018 40 Under 40 process: Nominations are submitted by colleagues and peers through Connect Corporate’s website. They are then reviewed by Connect’s editors, and finalists are vetted before winners are selected for publication. Honorees must be under the age of 40 as of Feb. 15, 2018.
