This year’s group celebrates the diversity inherent in the events industry. Honorees range from company presidents to budding CVB stars. They come from myriad backgrounds, using different strengths to advance their organizations and careers. While each has a unique style, this collection of superstars is in on what it takes to create lasting and impactful experiences. We salute this group and what they represent: The best this industry has to offer.

---

Aquera Agee

31 • Associate Manager of Meetings Association for Accessible Medicines Washington, D.C.

 

---

Ogechi Anyanwu

36 • Manager of Events Telecommunication Industry Association Arlington, Virginia  

---

Sarah Blose

37 • Account Manager Destination Tahoe Meetings & Events Lake Tahoe, Nevada

 

---

Paola Bowman

38 • Destination Services Manager Arlington CVB Arlington, Texas

 

---

Pamela Wike Boyd

33 • Senior Manager, Meetings and Events The Solid Waste Association of North America Silver Spring, Maryland

 

---

Erin Cook

33 • Director of Sales & Marketing Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa Austin, Texas

 

---

Sarah Soliman Daudin

31 • President & CEO Soliman Productions, Inc. Orlando

 

---

Jessica Farmer

27 • Chapter and Events Manager AA-ISP Richmond, Virginia

 

---

Alena Frey

37 • Director of Education and Meetings American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Chicago  

---

Christine Grant

35 • Director of Operations On The Scene - The Event Company Chicago

 

---

Melissa N. Grigsby

33 • Director of Communications and Events Independent Electrical Contractors Alexandria, Virginia

 

---

Michelle Guelbart

31 • Director of Private Sector Engagement ECPAT-USA Brooklyn, New York

 

---

Emily Hartstone

33 • Manager of Events & Operations Magellan Management Delray Beach, Florida

 

---

Ashley Hinkle

35 • Director, Meetings & Conventions Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge Roanoke, Virginia

 

---

Natalie Intondi

34 • Meeting Planner National Governors Association Washington, D.C.

 

---

Sam Edidin Jankowski

31 • Relationship Manager SmithBucklin Chicago

 

---

Megan Johnston

27 • Director, Event Services Accent Indy, a DMC Network Company Indianapolis

 

---

Samantha Lazo

35 • Manager, Production & Event Technology The Institute of Internal Auditors Lake Mary, Florida

 

---

Anthony D. Mace

36 • Meetings Manager Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Burke, Virginia

 

---

Allie Magyar

38 • Founder & CEO Hubb Vancouver, Washington

 

---

Brittany Marinovich

31 • Manager, Meetings and Expositions Kellen Atlanta

 

---

Kristen Merrifield

38 • CEO Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits Phoenix, Arizona

 

---

Kari Messenger

32 • Senior Meetings Manager Association Management Center Chicago

 

---

Jessica Moy

37 • National Conference Coordinator Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Parker, Colorado

 

---

Ceré Netters

28 • Director of Education & Events National Speakers Association Tempe, Arizona

 

---

Flavia Oliveira

36 • Director of Sales and Marketing Hotel Paradox, an Autograph Collection Santa Cruz, California

 

---

Akshar V. Patel

36 • Senior Director of Conventions AAHOA Atlanta

 

---

Natasha Stamper Pedigo

38 • Meeting Planner and Event Manager The Asphalt Institute Lexington, Kentucky  

---

Amy M. Pettigrew

38 • Meeting Planner National Governors Association Washington, D.C.

 

---

Alicia M. Quinn

36 • Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Alliances Discover Lehigh Valley Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

 

---

Bailey Roth

32 • President Redstone Agency Inc. Toronto

 

---

Mattie Scheeter

32 • National Sales Manager Visit Omaha Omaha, Nebraska

 

---

Steven Schumacher

33 • Director of Sales Discover Dunwoody Dunwoody, Georgia

 

---

LaShawn Sidbury

38 • Director, Meetings and Special Interest Groups Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Rockville, Maryland

 

---

Cheryl Sulock

37 • Director of Convention and Trade Show Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Association Winter Park, Florida

 

---

Megan Tallman

35 • Conferences and Meetings Manager Financial Planning Association Denver, Colorado

 

---

Annie Tebow

32 • Senior Event Planner American Academy of Family Physicians Kansas City, Missouri

 

---

Heather Wakefield

39 • Senior Manager, Education & Events Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society Fort Lauderdale, Florida

 

---

Shauna Whitehead

39 • Vice President, Global Account Management BCD Meetings & Events Minneapolis

 

---

Ashley Wilson

30 • Sports and Events Sales Manager Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission Gulf Shores, Alabama

---

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 April 1, 2019.