Events Industry Council Names COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force Members
May 11, 2020
Just over a week after announcing the creation of the APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force, the Events Industry Council has released a full list of task force members.
Chair Paul Van Deventer said the EIC is seeing a number of industry-wide efforts focused on developing standards to ensure the safety and wellness of attendees and protocols essential to reinforce attendee confidence in attending live business events.
“The work of this task force is crucial to curate those efforts and present them in a comprehensive way that translates into practical solutions for professionals across our ecosystem,” Van Deventer said.
The task force will work to address key meeting and event industry needs in parallel:
- The immediate need for guidance on accepted practices and work already underway to reopen the industry when it’s safe to do so
- The long-term need to examine adaptation and transformation for future workforce stability and the relevance and resiliency of the industry as a whole
APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force Members
• Co-Chair Michael Dominguez, President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
• Co-Chair Kristin Horstman, Senior Director of Strategic Events, Salesforce
• Amanda Armstrong, Assistant Vice President, Global Meetings and Travel, Enterprise Holdings
• Cleo Battle, Chief Operating Officer, Louisville Tourism
• Scott Beck, President and CEO, Tourism Toronto
• David Blansfield, Executive Vice President and Group Publisher, Northstar Travel Group
• Amy Calvert, CEO, Events Industry Council
• Rod Cameron, CEO, Joint Meetings Industry Council
• Gregg Caren, Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development – Convention Centers, ASM Global
• Jerry Cito, Executive Vice President of Convention Development, NYC & Company
• Nalan Emre, COO, IMEX Group
• Heather Farley, COO, Access Intelligence
• Kelly Fox, Senior Vice President of Meetings, Learning and Business Partnerships, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
• Peggy Fritz, Event Services Supervisor, Toyota North America
• Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President, MGM Resorts
• Chuck Ghoorah, Co-founder and President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Cvent
• Linda Gray Martin, Senior Director and General Manager, RSA Conference
• Stephanie Harris, President, The Incentive Research Foundation
• Mark Herrera, Director of Education and Life Safety, International Association of Venue Managers
• Juli Jones, Vice President, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
• David Kliman, President, The Kliman Group
• Mary Kreins, Senior National Sales Director, Disney Meetings and Events, The Walt Disney Company
• Amy Ledoux, Chief Learning and Meetings Officer, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership
• Tony Lorenz, Founder, Headsail
• Karen Malone, Vice President Meetings, HIMSS
• Richard Maranville, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, The Freeman Company
• Frank Passanante, Senior Vice President, Hilton Worldwide Sales – Americas
• Tammy Routh, Senior Vice President Global Sales, Marriott International
• Stuart Ruff-Lyon, Vice President of Events and Exhibitions, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
• Gary Schirmacher, CMP, Senior Vice President, Industry Presence and Strategic Development, Maritz
• Cathy Schlosberg, Senior Vice President Marketing, PSAV
• Peter Scialla, President and COO, Delos
• Bita Seow, Executive Director, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS)
• Julie Smith, CEM, CTA, Senior Vice President of Exhibition Sales, Global Experience Specialists
• Scott Solombrino, CEO, Global Business Travel Association
• Yen Tsutsumi, Senior Vice President of Operations, George P Johnson Experience Marketing
• Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO, Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
• Liz Warwick, Vice President of Meeting Management and Event Strategy, Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Brad Weaber, Principal, Brad Weaber Consulting Group, LLC
• Johnnie White, CEO, American Society of Appraisers
Co-chair Michael Dominguez said the task force’s work will be guided by a roadmap to accepted practices.
“The sub-groups will follow a process that looks at resources, gaps, stakeholders, policies and procedures, the 360-degree attendee/customer experience, and risk management guidelines,” Dominguez said. “This comprehensive and global work will result in a resource that will be invaluable across all sectors.”
The task force will meet bi-weekly and share updates as its work progresses.
“We are a global industry of 26 million professionals who fundamentally believe in the value of face-to-face meetings,” said Amy Calvert, CEO, Events Industry Council. “We will offer our collective leadership through these necessary adaptations and leverage this moment to transform so that our industry is better understood, supported and relevant now and into the future.”
Anyone interested in contributing should send an email to [email protected].
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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