Keynotes And Speakers

STEVE BECK
Founder and President, Beck and Associates
V.P. of Membership, National Speakers Association, IL

Steve is recognized as an outstanding speaker, motivator, instructor, and consultant. His keynotes are lively, informative, funny and insightful.

Steve challenges his audiences to go for it 100% both in their personal life and at work. His message stays with his audience for a long time as he talks about how important the effect they have on others, the importance of setting goals, and being their BEST everyday!

Steve is the author of the book, ‘How to Have a Great Day Everyday!’ and has plenty of hands-on experience helping corporations reach and sustain excellence.

CASEY COOPER
Founder, Botanicals

Casey Cooper is the founder of Botanicals~a Branch of HM Designs. One of Chicago’s leading event design firms, Botanicals was established with one overriding objective: to produce florals and events of surpassing beauty for a discriminating clientele. Over the last fifteen years, at high-end weddings, social galas, and corporate events, Casey’s designs have graced Chicago’s finest hotels, event venues, and private homes. Casey has been described in the media as one of “six floral designers from across the country…pointing us in the right direction (Elle Décor)”, and the “favored florist of Chicago’s biggest party throwers (Chicago Social).” Casey partnered with Lifestyle Guru Colin Cowie to execute the on-air floral designs for ABC-TV and Oxygen‘s “Million Dollar Wedding Giveaway” for the Oprah Winfrey show, as well as “Fabulous Without A Fortune”. Casey also designed and produced the flowers for the most intimate of Oprah’s gala 50th birthday celebrations. Casey has appeared on television on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and Oxygen. Casey’s recently published book, What’s Your Bridal Style? was featured on Better.TV and Martha Stewart Radio. Casey has been featured in print in Elle Décor, Glamour, InStyle, Weddings InStyle, Bride’s, Modern Bride Chicago, Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style, Chicago Magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Social, Chicago Social Brides, Chicago Home and Garden, and Midwest Living.

CHAD KAYDO
Editor in Chief, BizBash Media

Chad Kaydo oversees all editorial content in BizBash's New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Florida and Washington products, including BizBash magazine, BizBash.com, the BizBash Media email newsletters, and the BizBash National Venue Guide. He leads a team of editors and freelance reporters who cover all types of events, watching for news about industry trends, leaders, and new ideas.

As an industry expert, Chad has spoken about special event trends for NY1, WB11, CBS 2 This Morning, Fox-5's Good Day New York, the Food Network's What's Hot, What's Cool, the RSVP show in London, the Council of Protocol Executives' Eventpower seminar, and the BizBash trade show.

Before joining BizBash in 2000 to help launch the original Web site, Chad was an associate editor at Sales & Marketing Management magazine, where he wrote about topics including event marketing, meetings, business travel, and incentives. He holds degrees in English and journalism from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

ERIN MCDONALD
Vice President of Design Sales, Heffernan Morgan

Erin has been in the event industry for more than 20 years. Working in great cities, like NY, Miami, and San Diego, Erin has come back to the city he loves the most, Chicago. He has worked with celebrities like Ivana Trump, Gloria Estephan and Oprah over the years and has designed some of the most beautiful weddings in Chicago, a lot of them winning top awards and have been feature in the the top wedding magazines across the globe! Recently he was promoted to Vice President of Design Sales for the Heffernan Morgan Ronsley Corporation. His passion is weddings, and creating timeless, sophisticated affairs for his clients is what he lives for.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM SPEAKERS

LEYLA ARSAN
Owner, Lotus Marketing Services

Leyla Arsan is a native Chicagoan, a blogger, event producer and lifestyle marketer. Leyla’s company, Lotus Marketing Services, builds custom events and online communities utilizing social media.

Leyla’s experience started at DDB Chicago where she worked on event marketing, promotional and music sponsorship campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. Leyla moved to the client side in 2002, and worked for Accenture on the Global Events Team. Projects included The Accenture MatchPlay and the Tiger Woods sponsorship.

Currently, Leyla manages marketing communications projects for small to mid sizes businesses. Leyla’s expertise in events and social media assist her clients in actualizing the value of their social networks.

This summer, Leyla is producing the FIJI Water Urban Hunt; a scavenger hunt for the social media enthusiast. http://www.theurbanhunt.com Leyla will work with sponsors on an event where 50 teams will recover items and post them to their social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare & YouTube).

JENNY BERG
Bureau Chief, BizBash Chicago

As bureau chief of BizBash Chicago, Jenny Berg oversees coverage of local events, venues, and industry trends. Berg joined BizBash at the inception of its Chicago office in 2008. Prior to joining BizBash, Jenny worked as freelance writer covering the bridal industry for CS Brides and social events for CS Magazine. Jenny also wrote about a variety of lifestyle topics and venue openings for DailyCandy and SunTimes.com.



 

KATIE ELLIS
Director of Marketing, EVENT ARCHITECTS. captivate. cultivate. elevate.

Katie oversees event communication and branding as well as marketing and digital efforts for Event Architects and its clients. She has an extensive background in theater and television production, in addition to experience with high-profile clients such as Target and The Walt Disney Company. Katie is able to lend her specialized expertise and critical eye to the branding and communication of an event marketing campaign.
 

 

SUSAN KATZ
Director, Corporate Events & Travel, True Value Company

Susan Katz is Director of Corporate Events & Travel for the True Value Company. True Value is hardware cooperative with 5,000 members throughout the United States. With her staff, she is responsible for the production and execution of three exhibits a year, two of which are in the list of the top 200 tradeshows in the country, and an additional 75 meetings. She has been in the industry for over 30 years and prior to joining True Value, she worked for several non-profit organizations including the National Safety Council and the American Dental Association.

Susan has sat on several industry advisory boards including the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, InterContinental Hotel Group, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau Advisory Council, Atlanta Customer Advisory Board, New Orleans, Orlando and Philadelphia Advisory Boards. She is also active in the Greater-Midwest Chapter of PCMA, has served on their board and was a member of the Community Service Committee. She was honored by PCMA with the Distinguished Meeting Professional Award at the PCMA Annual Meeting in 2009. In addition, Susan was on the PCMA Foundation Board prior to joining the PCMA Board of Directors and will chair the Board of Directors in 2011.

TOM KEHOE
President, Kehoe Designs

Tom Kehoe, one of the most well-regarded event specialists in the U.S., continually pushes the limits of unconventional, modern, and elegant event decor. Tom started his career early—in high school, working part time at a retail floral shop in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He graduated in 1989 from Florida International University with a bachelor of science in hospitality management with a minor in business. His first job out of school was at Checca Lodge Resort in a management training program. From there, Tom came back to Arlington Heights, purchased the floral shop he worked at as a teen, and developed his craft of designing successful events.

Tom’s inspiration comes from all over—fashion, interiors, nature, travel, art, textiles, and of course, people. He leads the Kehoe Designs staff of more than 200 with ease, maintaining a cool head and a warm smile that command the loyalty of clients and employees alike. He is a tremendously savvy businessman who upholds his generation’s reputation for transforming trend-forward thinking into enviable revenue. Most of all, he is the talent behind a portfolio of absolutely sensational designs, for which the company is locally and nationally renowned.
 

LINDA KINGSLEY
Director of Sales, Corporate and Private Events
Museum of Science and Industry

Linda has a unique and inspiring role overseeing the Special Events department at the world-famous Museum of Science and Industry. Linda brings her 18 years of industry experience to create some of the most memorable and customized experiences in Chicago.

Linda joined Sodexo Leisure Services 6 years ago and has been leading and inspiring a diverse team of sales, culinary and operations mangers to create cutting- edge events. Linda's most recent accomplishments, the 2010 Black Creativity Gala and C. Cretors and Company 125th Anniversary Gala, were featured in BizBash.

JOHN FEATHERSTONE
Principal, Lightswitch

Born and educated in the United Kingdom, John started his career as a concert touring lighting designer, working for artists including Van Halen, Janet Jackson, INXS & Bryan Adams.

In August of 1993 John founded Lightswitch with renowned designer Norm Schwab to focus on lighting and media design for business theater, environmental and architectural projects. John has designed projects for clients including Virgin Galactic, Boeing, Apple Inc, Honda, McDonalds, Kia, Ford, Nokia and Mercedes Benz to name but a few.

John is dedicated to designing dynamic, exciting, innovative & cost effective productions for today’s ever more demanding audiences.
 

RITA GUTEKANST
Co-Owner, Limelight

Born on Chicago’s South Side and raised on the North Shore, Rita Gutekanst has more than thirty years experience working in Chicago’s food industry, earning a reputation as a leader and innovator. Gutekanst’s restaurant career includes appointments at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Jerome's, and The Sausalito. In 1990, Gutekanst and her business partner Marguerite Lytle established their own business, Rita’s Catering, now LIMELIGHT. Gutekanst assisted in the production of the Academy Awards Governors Ball in Los Angeles in 2000, 2001, and 2004, has run the Green City Market Chef Event for the past ten years and is most proud of Limelight’s involvement with the Grant Park Election Night of President Obama. She has received numerous awards of recognition for contributions to the world of catering and the “ greening” of her business. Gutekanst and her composer husband reside in River Forest with their college bound daughter.

PJ MCGUIRE
Founder and President, Modet, Inc.
 

PJ McGuire is the Founder and President of Modet, Inc. (www.modetinc.com), a soft skills training firm that specializes in business etiquette & international protocol. She’s also a Certified Etiquette and Protocol Consultant and co-author of two books – 171 Tips to Get You Noticed for All the RIGHT Reasons and 171 Tips HR Wishes They Could Tell You (But Can’t). PJ has the pleasure of training senior and junior executives at Procter & Gamble, the Boston Consulting Group, Marriott Resorts, Kraft Foods and many other top organizations. During her interactive workshops and seminars, PJ teaches participants the soft skills they need to be confident and build strong, long lasting business relationships. In addition to group training, PJ also offers one-on-one coaching and event shadowing as well as self-study eLearning courses on Business Etiquette & Dining Skills and International Business Protocol & Cultural Awareness.
 

ROBERT H. NEUBERT, CMP
Director of Catering Sales, Hilton Chicago

A twenty year veteran of Chicago’s party and event planning scene, Robert is Director of Catering Sales for the Hilton Chicago, home to many of the city’s most celebrated bashes. His Windy City tenure began in 1989 as Senior Vice President of Operations for the American-European Express, sister train to Europe’s famed Orient Express. Other Chicago credits include George Jewell Catering and the Sheraton Chicago.

A native New Yorker whose hospitality career began as a spin off to working in professional theatre, he soon realized that the party scene was every bit as much of a theatrical performance as any stage show - just built around a different proscenium.

Inducted in to Biz Bash Magazine’s Hall of Fame in 2009, Robert is Chairman of the Board of the Catering Executive’s Club of America and serves on the Board of Directors of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Chicago Advisory Board of Biz Bash Magazine. A former board member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food, he is also active with Dance For Life, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and Equality Illinois.

MAUREEN O’BRIEN, CEO, MOF
O’Brien & Son, Inc. and Global Women’s Leadership Forum™
President—National Speakers Association, IL

With more than 30 years experience in sales and customer service, O’Brien is a business owner and expert who is also an in-demand speaker. She is the founder and CEO of The Global Women’s Leadership Forum™ and Celtic Connections, LLC; organizations vested in the personal and professional development of women.

Named “One of the Most Influential Women In Business” by the Business Ledger and NAWBO, Maureen was 2007 Humanitarian of the Year, and is currently the President of the National Speakers Association of IL. She is the author of“Get Your Big Girl Pants On and Sell Something”~ and “Oneness. Wellness. Wholeness. Four Ways To TakeCaraU®”.

AMANDA PUCK
EVP Public Relations, XA, THE EXPERIENTIAL AGENCY

As the EVP of Public Relations at XA, The Experiential Agency, Amanda oversees all retainer-based clients nationwide, as well special event and marketing initiatives on behalf of her clients. A Chicago resident since 1996, Amanda was the Managing Partner of Spago Restaurant and also the two-time Emmy Award winning host of “Check, Please” on WTTW Channel 11 for its first two seasons in 2001 and 2002. She is one the city’s foremost entertaining experts and girl about town.

MICHAEL REED
Director of Digital Printing, Rose Brand

Michael Reed is the Director of Rose Brand’s Digital Printing Department and also involved in new product development. Michael’s background in technical theatre informs his perspective on how materials are used and in finding new ways to use materials in non-traditional ways. His many years of problem solving and project management for New Jersey theatres (most recently The Paper Mill Playhouse), help him provide innovative solutions to Rose Brand’s customers.

JACK SCAFIDE
Midwest District Account Executive, CORT Event Furnishings

Jack is the Midwest District Account Executive for CORT Event Furnishings. CORT is the largest nationwide provider of event rental furniture for the meeting and events industry. With over 10 years of experience, Jack has helped clients from all over the world use furniture and lighting to achieve their corporate goals by creating functional and comfortable selling environments that provide the setting to do business. He regularly consults with clients on planning events that realize their unique design vision.

Jack has been recognized nationally in the meeting and events community in Special Events Magazine and Crain’s Chicago Business, and his role as Midwest Regional Vice President of ISES (International Special Events Society). Jack is a past president of the ISES Greater Chicago Chapter and very involved with the Chicago Chapter of MPI (Meeting Professionals International).

ANDREW SCHORR
President/Principal, In the Loop-Chicago (ITLC)

President and principal Andrew Schorr has been involved with ITLC since day one in October 2000. His career spans more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, with operational and sales experience for Hyatt Hotels and Landmark Incentive Travel, and ultimately led him to pursue ownership of ITLC in December 2007. His primary responsibilities for ITLC are strategic client/vendor partnerships, the creative mission of special events, destination services development, and establishing a company culture that allows the team to be a leader in the special events and D.M.C. arenas.
Schorr’s degree from Purdue University’s school of hospitality drives his passion to introduce students to the opportunities within the hospitality field through his participation in the Professional Convention Management Association Student Program, speaking at colleges and providing summer internships at ITLC. As a board member and past president of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s Illinois chapter, he believes in the importance of professional industry participation as a valuable way to share ideas, provide mutual support, and identify ways to market, manage, and grow our businesses and increase our management skills. Schorr leads the charge to actively participate and support the efforts of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. It’s his belief and his team’s passion for Chicago that continue to promote the city as a world-class destination for meetings and special events.

ROBERT SIVEK
Co-Owner, The Meetinghouse Companies, Inc.

Robert Sivek co-owns The Meetinghouse Companies, an event design & production firm. He is a Certified Special Events Professional as well as a Certified Event Rental Professional. He’s a past international president of the International Special Events Society, and was bestowed lifetime achievement awards by the ISES International Organization as well as the Chicago ISES and NACE chapters. He is in the Event Solutions Hall of Fame and his company has won numerous, Gala, Esprit and NICE Awards for production excellence.

JANET SPERSTAD, CMP
Program Director, Meeting and Event Management Degree, Madison Area Technical College

Janet Sperstad, CMP is founder and instructor of the nation’s first Meeting and Event Management Associate Degree program, exclusively designed for meeting planning, located at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI. She has over 20 years of experience planning meetings and events all across the United States.

She is an internationally recognized meeting professional, teacher, and trainer. She is a frequent lecturer at national and international association and convention industry events. Janet has served the meetings industry in many capacities most recently on the International Board of Directors for Green Meetings Industry Council, CIC APEX Leadership Council and the MPI Body of Knowledge Task Force. In addition to her current service she contributes her time to Professional Convention Management Association, and is a member of Meeting Architecture 2020.

Janet has received many industry awards and recognitions over the years including Meeting Professionals International 2007 International Planner of the Year, as well as being selected as the 2005 MATC Distinguished Teacher of the Year and 2009 Student Advisor of the Year.

ELAINA VAZQUEZ
Executive Chef and Owner, Boutique Bites

Elaina Vazquez is the chef and owner of Boutique Bites, Fine Catering. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Elaina honed her skills at some of the best restaurants in the United States including Tru, Avenues at the Peninsula Hotel, and the world renowned Joël Robuchon at the Mansion, MGM Grand. While working at this 3 Michelin Star restaurant in Las Vegas, Elaina began catering for select clients during her free time. In 2008, Elaina returned to Chicago to launch Boutique Bites. She has combined her fine dining background with her love of entertaining.

JODI WOLF
President, Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment, Inc.

Jodi Wolf is president of Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment, Inc., a cutting edge national firm renown for its unique combination of creative design, event management and entertainment production.

For over 35 years, PWEE has assisted corporations and individuals in reaching their objectives through extraordinary and complex events. The agency’s client list includes The Walt Disney Company, Edelman Worldwide, The Oprah Show, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Harrah’s Entertainment Group, Major League Baseball and The Federal Reserve.

More speakers to be announced