Meeting News - April 20, 2009 - (Page 12)

The Ones to Watch: Thirty Under 30 The next generation of leaders of the meetings and hospitality industry aren’t waiting to be discovered; they are already out in front bringing the customer experience to the next level. MeetingNews is happy to recognize: Lindsay Culbreath, 29 Director of Sales, Smith Travel Research Hendersonville, TN Amanda Gourgue, 28 Owner, Meeting Revolution, Lee, NH Culbreath, who is responsible for the growth of all Smith Travel Research participant programs, as well as increasing sales of non-traditional products, transitioned from health care to hospitality. She is a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) Under 30 Council. Kirsten Hassert, 29 Director of Operations, North America Starwood Hotels & Resorts, New York, NY Since starting her own company, Gourgue has traveled throughout the U.S. to educate individuals and organizations to reduce the carbon footprint of the entire industry. She is always willing to lend her expertise in meetings and the green industry to any organization. Jean Guptil, 28 Radisson Resorts, Aruba & St. Martin intern with Smith Travel Research. McBride is vice chairman of AH&LA’s Under 30 Council. Nathan Tollett, 28 The Golden Nugget, Houston Office Hassert began her hospitality career at 14 as a dishwasher. After graduating from Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School, she spent two years in strategy consulting and now supports Starwood’s North American president. She belongs to the Under 30 Council. Trey Alonzo, 28 Financial Analyst, FelCor Lodging Trust Dallas A self-starter, Guptil is noted for her positive attitude and solutions to problems. She is efficient and effective in her duties and always goes above and beyond to help her colleagues. Meredith J. Herrick, 28 Manager of Human Resources Hilton Hotels Corp., Los Angeles Tollett started his career at the George R. Brown Convention Center, then moved to the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he booked high-profile conventions for Microsoft and the Dairy Deli Association by getting creative, thinking outside the box, and generally knocking the socks off planners. He has recently taken a job at Landry’s, selling the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. In February, the global board of directors of the International Association of Conference Centers awarded its first global scholarship to recognize emerging young leaders in the conference center industry. Bland, who joined the Sundial group of hotels at the age of 17, became involved in IACC as part of the European Annual Conference Planning Committee in 2008 that organized IACC’s hugely successful inaugural last summer at Scarman House at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. Bland is working on a master’s degree in marketing. Jessica Soklow, 26 Manager of Media Relations American Hotel & Lodging Association Washington, DC AH&LA Staff Liaison Soklow’s first job was as an account coordinator at a public-relations firm Alonzo began his hospitality career behind the front desk as a guest service agent. He now oversees the debt management responsibilities for FelCor’s treasury group, preparing forecasting models and providing support for strategic planning. He is a member of AH&LA’s Under 30 Council. Renee Brockinton, 28 Manager of Grassroots & Gov’t Affairs American Hotel & Lodging Association Washington, DC Herrick began her Hilton career in a buyer position within the guest-room module of corporate purchasing, liaising with the company’s nine brand executive teams on new products and programs. Now, Herrick focuses on employee relations and corrective action, coordinating corporate events, employee recognition, and benefit programs for over 900 employees. She belongs to the Under 30 Council. Michael McBride, 28 Operations Analysis Manager Gaylord Entertainment, Nashville thirty best UNDER Mary Gallagher, 27 30 inspires may still be in school entering their first or second job “get it” talent starting out They impresses their superiors Conference Coordinator Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Ctr. Nashville Brockinton began by working for a congressman from South Carolina, where tourism is the biggest industry. Now responsible for managing, marketing, and mobilizing AH&LA’s grassroots efforts, she is also staff liaison for AH&LA’s Under 30 Council. During high school, McBride—who is currently co-leading a project responsible for documenting best practices throughout the brand (in operations, accounting/finance, human resources, purchasing, and information technology) and implementing operational efficiencies— started in hospitality as a summer With Gaylord’s conference coordinator program being relatively new to the market, Gallagher has played an important role in creating the standards for the position through training and mentoring new coordinators. Her knowledge of the convention business allows her to be proactive and make quick yet educated decisions that are critical to the massive property. James Bland, 26 Marketing Manager, Sundial Group, England with many hotel, restaurant, and tourism board clients. She now handles AH&LA’s external communications with media, promoting the association’s executives, research, events, and the organization’s overall initiatives. Soklow is also a staff liaison for AH&LA’s Under 30 Council and is also a part of ASAE & the Center’s Leadership Academy Class of 2010. Jennifer Sosa, 26 Convention Services Wynn/Encore Las Vegas Sosa has been promoted three times over the three years she has been with Wynn Resorts. She started in conven- 12 MeetingNews April 20, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - April 20, 2009

Meeting News - April 20, 2009
Contents
What’s Up in the MeetingNews Community
Inside the Industry
People Making News
Thirty Under 30
Hotels & Resorts
Chef Talk
Convention Centers
International
Destinations: Caribbean
Destinations: Kansas City, MO
Green Beat
Destinations: New Jersey
Destinations: Myrtle Beach, SC
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - April 20, 2009