The events industry is filled with professionals who thrive when it matters most. While they may not battle Thanos, these planners and suppliers have every right to call themselves superheroes. They avenge poor contracts, are fast and furious when needed and adapt to trying situations just like the X-Men. Meet the “Action Stars,” our 2020 Connect Corporate 40 Under 40. They deserve top billing, even if they work behind-the-scenes.
About the 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 the final list is selected for publication. Honorees must be under the age of 40 as of Jan. 15, 2020. Job titles and responses reflect honoree’s status as of February 29, 2020.
Lidija Ahmetovic
Sales Manager, Savannah Convention Center
Chris Bonnett, CHIA, CMP
Program Manager, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide Inc.
Keely Brazil
Senior Event Planner, Benco Dental
Starr Butler
Director, Entertainment Booking, Prudential Center
Jessica C. Charles
Executive Director of Programming, ForbesLive
Erin Congregane, CMP
Sales Manager, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Bonnie Coop, CIS
Senior Producer, Total Event Resources
Lauren F. Farrell
Senior Designer/Producer, The Global Event Team
Kayla Gill
Corporate Event Manager, Dynamic Events Inc.
Amrita Gopaldas
Events Specialist, Paragon Events Inc.
Scott Higgins, HMCC
Associate Director of Sales and Business Development, Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board
Tracy Judge, MS, CMP
Founder and Chief Connector, Soundings Connect
Sean Keliiholokai, CHSP, CHIA, MHA
Vice President, Business Development, West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board
Rachel Klar, CMP
Senior Events Marketing Manager, Intuit Canada
Nick Kopach
Director, National Event Sales and Programs, Topgolf
Leigh Ann Krohmer, CMP, DMCP
Director of Account Management, 360 Destination Group
Alexis Levenson, CMP
Senior Manager, Operations, MCI Group Canada Inc
Sami Taylor Levinbook
Director, Venue Sourcing, Break the Floor Productions LLC
Josie Lewis, CMP
Director of Sales, Visit The Woodlands
Jane Maine, CMP
Senior Commercial Event Manager, Illumina
Fabio Marcolini
Senior Project Manager, McVeigh Global Meetings
Ally Masi
Senior Manager, SMB Executive Events, Salesforce
Brittani Menina, CMP, CWP
Events Director, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Sara Meyer
Senior Director, Americas Operations and Global Group Travel Solutions, CWT Meetings & Events
Polina Moskvina, CMP
Manager, Event Projects, C.D. Howe Institute
D. Channing Muller
Principal, DCM Communications
Melissa Park
Global Event Producer
Kiersten Perry
Director of Meeting Services, HPN Global
Amy Popper
Senior Marketing Manager, Marriott International’s Convention & Resort Network
Monique Rochard-Marine, CMM, CMP, CTSM, MBA
Director, Strategic Meetings Management and Event Operations, Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
Cory Rosenberg
Director of Sales, West, NYC & Company
Kara Schmitt
Executive Director of Sales, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Emily Starr
Senior Corporate Meeting and Event Manager, CHG Healthcare
JoAnn Stevens
Assistant Manager, Sourcing Operations, HPN Global
Melissa Thuston, CMP
Senior Meeting and Event Manager, BCD Meetings & Events, Halliburton
Matt Tibbetts
Director of Sales, Visit Huntington Beach
Kristin Twombly, CMP
Senior Event Strategist, Capital Group Private Client Services
Mandy Watters
Senior Project Manager, FIRST
Jamie Whitefield
Senior Vice President and COO, Cothran Development Strategies Inc.
MeLisa C. Zackery
CEO and Founder, Unlimited Possibilities Co.
