2018 40 Under 40: Class Acts
Our 40 Under 40 are class acts—event professionals who are changing the world for the better through conference, meetings and events.
While these event professionals you will learn more about are young, there is much everyone in the industry can learn from them. They are proactively changing the world for the better through conference, meetings and other events. No wonder they are worthy members of the 2018 40 Under 40.
Meet the next generation of leaders, these “Class Acts.” Learn how they got here and imagine where they, our industry and our world are going.
Melinda Borucki
39 • Director of Marketing LMI Solutions Phoenix
Allison H. Carpenter
33 • Director of Exhibits and Sponsorships National Defense Industrial Association Arlington, Virginia
Anne Chen
38 • Sales Manager Explore Gwinnett Duluth, Georgia
Jim Clapes
37 • Conference and Events Manager Drug Policy Alliance New York City
Becca Cohen
26 • Conference Services Manager Destination DC Washington, D.C.
Jeff Dougherty
36 • Director of California State Association Sales Visit Sacramento Sacramento, California
Jacob Fabbri
39 • Senior Vice President of Marketing Fonteva Washington, D.C.
Melissa Winfield Faber
29 • Director of Sales—Meetings and Events, Americas Radisson Hotel Group Bozeman, Montana
Kara Ferguson
33 • Meeting Planner American Society of Anesthesiologists Chicago
Jonathan Foresythe
36 • Account Manager McVeigh Global Meetings and Events New York City
Pedro Goes
25 • CEO InEvent Wilmington, Delaware
Addie Graham-Kramer
37 • President The Event Company Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Emily Hook
35 • Conference and Event Manager AMR Management Services Lexington, Kentucky
Caitlin Hume
26 • Business Events Manager RIMS New York City
Katie Janoski
23 • Conference Services Coordinator Partnership for Public Service Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Jones
38 • Executive Director American Institute of Architects, San Francisco and The Center for Architecture + Design San Francisco
Richard J. Kenney
32 • Associate Director, Housing Operations and Facilities University of Miami Miami
Diane E. Kovats
36 • Executive Director International Society for Computational Biology Leesburg, Virginia
Becky LaHaie
25 • Project Specialist Michigan Realtors Lansing, Michigan
Casi Maynard
37 • Senior Director, Global Accounts HelmsBriscoe Phoenix
Alison Jo McKeithen
38 • Conferences Manager NMAC Washington, D.C.
Rebekah McWain
36 • Associate Director of Events National Correctional Industries Association Crownsville, Maryland
Meda L. Merritt
37 • Senior Association Manager Fusion Marketing Dallas
Morgan Miller
29 • Sales Manager Oklahoma City CVB Oklahoma City
Sarah Mullins
35 • Vice President, Event Services Accent Indy, a DMC Network Company Indianapolis
Pat Reilly
35 • Meeting Planner Pulmonary Hypertension Association Hyattsville, Maryland
Scott Riesterer
30 • Director, Events and AV Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas
Meagan Rockett
37 • CEO Greenfield Services Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Matt K. Schechter
35 • Regional Director of National Accounts NYC & Company New York City
Janet Ortiz Smith
39 • CEO, Director of Corporate Travel and Events EMC² Travel Planners Wylie, Texas
Jennie L. S. Socha
34 • Executive Director International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jennifer Soup
33• Director of Meetings and Marketing Association for Accessible Medicines Washington, D.C.
Amaia P. Stecker
34 • CEO, Lead Design Pilar & Co. Alexandria, Virginia
Laura Terrero
38 • National Sales Manager—Multicultural Meet AC Atlantic City, New Jersey
Mary Thao
37 • Director of Meetings and Events ACA International St. Paul, Minnesota
Amanda G. Voss
39 • Vice President of Sales Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas
Lisa Ware
37 • Director of Sales The Entertaining Company Chicago
Olivia Weir
27 • Event Manager Redstone Agency Toronto
Richelle Wilkins
34 • Events Manager e-Builder Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Christopher Young
34 • High School Division Director DECA Reston, Virginia
About the 40 Under 40 process: Nominations are submitted by colleagues and peers through Connect Association’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 July 15, 2018.
