Laurie Amigo
Director, branding programs and customer activations, HALO
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? I approach every partnership with a foundation of mutual respect—because great work begins with great relationships. I also believe creativity is a shared spark, and when we collaborate with openness and integrity, we unlock ideas that truly resonate.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
At the heart of my career is a deep passion for inclusivity, creativity and joy. Every experience should make people feel seen, celebrated and uplifted. A value also shared by my productions manager, Annette Bentley-Pintor.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
Success is felt in the spark of connection, the joy of creativity and the moments that make people smile. It’s about experiences that resonate, inspire and leave a lasting impression.
Rachel Bird
senior manager, client engagement, Visit Newport Beach
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? I like to build partnerships rooted in trust, collaboration and a shared passion for showcasing the best of Newport Beach. Working with like-minded partners ensures we create authentic, memorable experiences that highlight the destination and bring real value to our clients.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
A personal passion of mine is creating meaningful connections with people, whether that’s with friends, family or new acquaintances. That passion carries into my professional life because I approach every client interaction with the goal of building authentic relationships. For me, it’s not just about the logistics of planning. It’s about understanding people, anticipating their needs and creating experiences that feel personal and memorable.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
Success to me is when clients walk away feeling inspired, supported and excited to work with Visit Newport Beach. It’s about creating experiences that spark genuine connections, leave lasting impressions and showcase the destination in a way that makes people want to come back.
Adam Burke
president & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? Helen Keller noted that, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” We strive to develop long-term partnerships built on authenticity, innovation and trust that lift up our industry.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
In an increasingly polarized world, our industry has the remarkable power to bring people together to create shared understanding, foster mutual respect and build bridges that unite communities.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
True success requires a commitment to doing our work responsibly, equitably and sustainably. By consistently using these criteria, we can meaningfully improve the quality of life for our community.
Rebecca DeLuca, CMP
vice president of destination sales, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? The partnerships I choose to build are guided by trust, transparency and collaboration. I believe strong relationships are never transactional—they are built on shared goals and mutual respect. In my role, that means investing time to truly understand a partner’s priorities and aligning them with ours, so together we can create outcomes that deliver value for everyone involved. Accountability is also key; I look for partners who are committed to showing up, following through and innovating alongside us. When each side contributes its best, we’re able to design experiences that elevate not just the event itself but also the industry and community it touches.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
I am deeply passionate about the transformative power of hospitality—how a well-designed meeting or event can create belonging, spark inspiration and change how people see the world. That passion shows up in my work every day, whether it’s mentoring emerging professionals, leading my team or collaborating with global partners. It’s also why I dedicate time to the MPI Foundation, where I see firsthand how grants and scholarships open doors and help careers flourish. That commitment to giving back and uplifting others guides how I lead—with purpose, empathy and a focus on creating impact that lasts long after the event is over.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
While numbers measure impact, true success is about people and lasting impressions. For me, success is when attendees leave an event inspired, when partners feel heard and valued, and when local communities benefit from the business we bring. It’s when we create moments that spark FOMO, strengthen relationships and keep people coming back year after year. Success also means growth—watching my team gain confidence, expand their skills and embrace new challenges. At its core, success is when an initiative creates ripple effects beyond the metrics: stronger partnerships, a stronger industry and experiences that people will remember long after the numbers fade.
Elliott Falcione
executive director, Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? The simplest way to build lasting partnerships is by earning respect and trust. Too often, titles lead us to expect respect, creating obstacles instead of meaningful collaboration.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
I’m energized when I see leaders hire individuals with unique traits: hunger, humility and an unselfish drive to serve. Great leaders equip them with tools, education and vision, empowering them to succeed while still holding them accountable.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
Success comes from showing residents how tourism strengthens the economy and enhances quality of life through clear and consistent education.
Maria Jaimes-Contreras
partner, Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? I am very intentional with partnerships and value integrity, adaptability and cultural alignment. These businesses must share the same vision as the Wichita Falls Chamber and operate on the same level of excellence as we do. Whether it is a small meeting of 10 or our Leaderfest event of 500 attendees, we want our guests to leave and rave to those around them about the memorable experience they had with us. When this is done correctly, the door to future partnership opportunities opens organically. In return, we foster long-term collaboration that is built on a strong foundation of purpose and innovation, all the while delivering the highest level of hospitality to our guests.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
I want others to feel seen and heard. It is important for me to create a sense of belonging by producing events where inclusion, diversity and cultural differences are in the room. I want to offer guests the opportunity to contribute to the conversation because we all want to feel like we’re a part of something that’s bigger than us. When you create a platform where diversity is accepted, you foster connection and deeper engagement within your community. To move forward, we must do it together. I strive for our guests to leave our Chamber events feeling inspired to make bold moves and become better leaders amongst their peers.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
It looks like doing something I’m genuinely passionate about and calling it work. I pride myself on operating with authenticity and purpose in everything I do. As a first-generation student, I place a lot of pressure on myself to create a legacy my family can be proud of. I am constantly challenging and changing my best and raising the bar on my own standards. I want to continue to connect with others and help them get to where they want to be. When you do something you really love, you create magic for others.
Beth Olson, CDME
director of sales, Visit Santa Barbara
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? Authenticity in everything we do is paramount in our business relationships. We need to deliver on what we promise and authentically present all the attributes of our beautiful city.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
I love to travel! Travel introduces people, places and ideas that spark creativity and happiness and brings personal rejuvenation. The world is full of new adventures.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
When a meeting or event concludes and we exceed the expectations of our clients and their meeting attendees, that is the ultimate success and our goal for every event we bring to Santa Barbara.
Kristen Reynolds, CDME
president & CEO, Choose Chicago
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? The partnerships I seek and value most are grounded in a shared commitment to excellence, innovation and purpose. I believe that the most impactful collaborations are built on trust, transparency and a mutual drive to achieve something greater than any one individual could accomplish alone. When partners are aligned around a common goal—whether it’s delivering transformative outcomes, pushing creative boundaries or solving complex challenges—the work becomes more meaningful and the results more powerful.
I prioritize partnerships where personal agendas are set aside in favor of collective success. This requires humility, open-mindedness and the ability to engage in honest dialogue. I’m drawn to people and organizations that lead with integrity, value progress over ego and are willing to take smart risks in pursuit of long-term impact. Ultimately, I believe that the foundation of any great partnership is a shared sense of responsibility—not just to each other, but to the communities and causes we serve. When values align and vision is shared, collaboration becomes not just easier, but energizing. These are the relationships I invest in, nurture and protect—because they not only drive results, but also elevate everyone involved.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
My personal passion is my family. As the mom of a blended family with five young adults between the ages of 18 and 21, I’ve dedicated myself to raising good humans—individuals who are self-sufficient, outspoken yet open-minded, strong but kind, and thoughtful while remaining decisive. This personal mission has profoundly influenced how I lead professionally. The same principles I rely on at home—clear communication, transparent expectations, accountability and love—are the foundation of how I build teams, structure organizations and cultivate meaningful partnerships.
Whether managing a complex initiative or aligning stakeholders around a shared goal, I lead with empathy, hold space for diverse perspectives and remain focused on collective growth and shared success. Raising a family of five uniquely independent voices has taught me how to navigate complexity with grace, adapt quickly and find common ground without sacrificing individual strengths. It’s a daily exercise in leadership, patience and purpose. Just as at home, I aim to create environments at work where people feel supported, empowered and inspired to show up as their best selves. For me, family isn’t just a personal priority—it’s the lens through which I view leadership and define success.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
Success beyond the numbers is when your impact endures. It’s when people speak highly of you in rooms you’re not in, when customers come back not just for the product but for the experience and when former employees reflect on their time with you as formative, inspiring and meaningful—years after the fact. It’s about trust earned, relationships built and the kind of leadership that leaves a lasting, positive mark on people’s lives.
Andrea Schmidt
convention sales manager, Visit Anchorage
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? Transparency, honesty, compassion.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
Listening. By listening, you will not only continue to learn what is needed for a successful outcome to a situation, but you will also continue to grow and expand as a human.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
The excitement in a person’s voice when all you have done to help them curate a memorable experience for their organization comes to fruition. They recognize you have made them a rock star.
Alison Staley
sales manager, Tourism Whistler
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? I feel very fortunate to have been raised by parents who truly believed that kindness mattered on a daily basis. It’s what I hold as a key value to any healthy relationship that is made through authentic and caring interaction. Being able to listen to people, whether it be at work or in personal partnerships (friendships), can only help to truly understand another person’s needs and build trust. Trust fosters relationships that enable incredible collaborations to happen and creates a respectful bond built on genuine care and open communication. For the relationships that I have, which include these key values, I feel an extreme sense of gratitude and joy to have amazing people in my life.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
Whether it’s work or personally, I enjoy meeting new people simply by saying “hello.” I’ve always said, “You never know where a hello will go”. It may lead to the next big piece of business, it may lead to meeting a new contact, or even friend, it may just brighten someone’s day, or possibly just cause someone to look up from their phone for a second. Either way, “hello” is something that connects people for even a simple moment, or perhaps longer. Through the relationships I’ve formed, I also enjoy connecting people to one another and extending a chain of contact to foster inclusivity and help build meaningful experiences that enrich both individuals and communities. This enables opportunities that elevate their professional and personal journeys. Once again, the first words are generally “hello”, and from there, who knows where that newly formed relationship goes. Just say “hello,” even when you don’t know if you should!
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
The relationships I make are always a key indicator of a successful outcome. I believe that true relationship building, both professionally and personally, stems from heartfelt interactions and by inspiring a positive attitude and environment of collaboration, shared insights and support for one another that will help lead to the successful outcome for everyone. The feeling I get from all the different touch points of building relationships, from when I first meet a person, the first time they experience the destination and seeing the joy in reactions, knowing that I may have helped in some way for them to experience something beyond their expectations is beyond measurement in many ways. By fostering these connections, I feel committed to helping enhance individual experiences, and trying to cultivate a vibrant network around me for what I can do to make an aspect of someone’s day special and/or unexpected. Success to me is being purposeful in my interactions with others as much as possible, and learning personally each day how to live this purpose the best way I can.
Bradley Styba, CEM, CIS, PDM
manager, business development, Tourism Burnaby
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? The partnerships I choose to build are guided by values that foster trust, growth and meaningful impact. At the core is collaboration and mutual benefit—ensuring that every relationship creates shared value and delivers results for all involved. I prioritize community support and inclusion, working to strengthen regions and ensure opportunities extend beyond the obvious centers. I believe in sustained relationships built on trust and respect, where connections are nurtured long after the first meeting.
Partnerships should also support education and growth, encouraging innovation and professional development that elevate everyone. Above all, I value integrity and reliability, choosing partners who stand by their commitments and operate with transparency. And, because experiences bring people together, I seek partnerships that embrace celebration and connection, creating moments that inspire and unite communities. These values guide every collaboration I pursue, ensuring that partnerships are not just transactions, but lasting contributions to people, organizations and the industry as a whole.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
My professional approach is deeply influenced by a personal passion for bringing people together to connect, learn and grow. I believe that meaningful experiences—whether through education, networking or celebration—have the power to strengthen communities and create lasting impact. This passion drives me to design events and build partnerships that are more than transactions; they are opportunities to foster collaboration, inclusivity and long-term relationships. I value creating spaces where people feel supported, where ideas can be exchanged and where opportunities extend beyond traditional boundaries.
By weaving education into social experiences, supporting diverse regions and prioritizing genuine connections, I ensure my work not only advances organizations but also leaves people with stronger networks and shared memories. At the heart of my professional approach is the belief that when people come together with purpose, both communities and industries thrive.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
To me, success goes far beyond numbers or metrics. It is measured in the quality of the relationships built, the impact made on people and the sense of community created. True success is when an event or initiative leaves participants feeling more connected, supported and inspired than when they arrived. It’s about creating experiences that people remember not only for what they learned, but for how they felt—welcomed, included and part of something larger than themselves. Success is also knowing that the partnerships I’ve nurtured are built on trust and will continue to thrive long into the future. Ultimately, success means leaving behind a positive legacy: stronger communities, lasting connections and a culture of collaboration that continues to grow beyond my direct involvement.
Leigh Velez
regional sales manager, Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau
What values guide the partnerships you choose to build? Collaboration is key. I work closely with planners to bring their goals and ideas to life, ensuring each event is both successful and memorable. As a hospitality professional at heart, I measure my success by the long-standing relationships I build and the shared achievements they produce.
What’s a personal passion that influences your professional approach?
My personal passion is service, and it really started early in my career. I learned how powerful it is to build trust by anticipating clients’ needs. My focus is always on delivering exceptional experiences for groups sourcing our destination and creating value that lasts well beyond a single program.
What does success look like to you beyond the numbers?
For me, success is about the relationships I build and the experiences we create together so attendees can walk away with great memories about the Pocono Mountains.
