2017 September Education Event

Learn from Experts on How to Plan an Unconventional Event

 

Date: 
Tuesday, September 19, 2017  

Time: 
5:30pm – 6:00pm        Registration
6:00pm – 7:00pm        Program
7:15pm                        The Big E                 

Location:
Hospitality Pavilion @ The Big E (located next to the XFINITY Arena)                           
1305 Memorial Ave                             
West Springfield, MA, 01089

Parking Information:
Parking is at your own discretion.  Best Gate for Entry: Gate 1
Use 1761 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA as your destination address.
Please see map below for directions to the Hospitality Pavilion where the event will be held. 

Event Overview:
We are familiar with planning the typical conference, tradeshow or board meeting. But what about those unique events like fairs, expositions, concerts, charity benefits, and the sort? Have you ever wondered what it takes to pull off something of that scope? From event design, vendor management, safety and risk management, crowd control, talent bookings, etc., there are many things that go into pulling these “unconventional events” together. Hear from our panel of event planners and suppliers who have all had a hand in making these types of events a success!

Speaker Information: 

 

The Big E

Gillian Palmer

Business Development, Group Tour & Event Coordinator

Eastern States Exposition

BIO: In August 2013, Gillian Palmer began her career as the Business Development Coordinator at Eastern States Exposition, Home of The Big E.  Prior to joining the Exposition, Gillian enjoyed a ten year career with MassMutual Financial Group which concluded as a Relationship Manager for the Blue Chip Circle, a concierge program supporting the finest producers in the company. 

Gillian received a Masters of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Studies from Bay Path University and is an active member of the community. She currently serves as Vice President of the Professional Women’s Chamber of Commerce board, Vice President of Finance of the Meeting Professionals International CT River Valley chapter, Special Events Chair of the Rotary Club of Springfield and a Bay Path University Alumni Council member.

Gillian is an award recipient of Business West’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2017.  She enjoys volunteering for local community organizations such as the United Way of Pioneer Valley and the National MS Society. She presently resides in Chicopee, MA and in her free time, is enjoying planning her upcoming nuptials to fiancé Alexander. 

Event Description: The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State Fair”. It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the seventh-largest fair in the nation. The Big E is inclusive of all six of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair.

 

Travelers Championship

Victoria Tarabelli  

Operations 

PGA TOUR Championship

BIO: Victoria provides operational support to the PGA TOUR at the Dell Technologies Championship as part of the Championship Management team. Victoria is a native of Massachusetts and has worked three PGA TOUR tournaments. She received a BS in Exercise Science from Keene State College and an MS in Sports Management from Springfield College. During her time at Springfield College, Victoria interned with the Travelers Championship in Hartford, CT serving as the Volunteers and Operations Intern. Assisting the Director of Operations and the Volunteer Coordinator during the 2016 and 2017 Travelers Championship provided the experience in mobile sporting event operations that drives her passion for working in a fast-paced and hands-on field that is often described as organized chaos. Now back in the Boston area, Victoria continues to grow in her career in operations at the Dell Technologies Championship and with the PGA TOUR.           

Event Description: The Travelers Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in Cromwell, CT, a suburb south of Hartford. Since 1991 the tournament has been held at TPC River Highlands. It is managed by The Greater Hartford Community Foundation. It is the second-most-attended PGA Tour even annually, only behind the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The tournament attracts nearly 300,000 fans. 

 

Corporate Holiday Party on a Budget

Mandi Vagnini

Senior Director of Operations

Powerstation Events

BIO: Mandi graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2005 with a Communication Degree with a concentration in Public Relations and Promotions.  After graduation, she took a job with Powerstation Events as receptionist.  With her real passion being Event Design and Planning, Mandi launched the Design and Decor division of the company in 2010.  Since then, the department has grown to include two full-time designers and multiple part-time assistants and exclusively provides decor to three wedding venues while working closely with many others throughout the state. Today, Mandi is the Senior Director of Operations for Powerstation Events and while helping to oversee the company as a whole, she is still actively involved in design, decor and production for large-scale and high-profile corporate and wedding clients.  

Mandi actively volunteers for many charities, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, The United Way and the American Cancer Society.  In addition to this Mandi and several of her relatives host a third-party gala fundraiser with all proceeds going to ACS. With Mandi’s expertise, the event has grown exponentially over the last ten years. The event is always one of the top fundraising events in that community.  

In her spare time, which isn’t much…she and her husband Chris, enjoy taking their husky fur babies to the dog park and are excited to welcome their human baby in December. 

Event Description: Corporate holiday party for 500 employees that Powerstation Events’ Design and Décor Division is tasked with making a wow each year with a limited budget.     

CinemaCon

Leigh Libero

National Sales Manager

Caesars Entertainment

BIO: Leigh currently works as the In-Market National Sales Manager for Caesars Entertainment representing Caesars’ 8 hotels in Las Vegas and 3 hotels located in Atlantic City.  Her career in hotel sales began in Las Vegas where she lived for 10 years prior to moving back to the east coast to represent Caesars Entertainment in-market based in Newtown, CT back in 2011. 

Leigh Libero holds a BS in Hospitality Management from Boston University and began her career in the industry with the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge as a CMT, from there she move to NYC and worked in HR at the Grand Hyatt and then opened the Bryant Park Hotel.   In 2002 she moved to Las Vegas where she made the shift into corporate sales and worked for Mandalay Bay, The Venetian, and the Fontainebleau Las Vegas project prior to joining the Caesars Sales team in 2009.

Leigh is an active member of the MPI CRV and Westfield chapters and served on the Board of Donate Life CT.  She also is very involved her local community serving as Secretary of the Board for Newtown Babe Ruth Softball for 3 years, and league director and coach for their Newtown Youth Basketball Program.   

Event Description: CinemaCon is the largest and most important gathering of movie theater owners from around the world. Since taking its first step in 2011, CinemaCon has evolved and grown to become the largest and most important gathering for the worldwide motion picture theater industry. CinemaCon is truly a global event attracting attendees from more than 80 countries. 

 

Event Registration

The first 40 people to register will receive a ticket to The Big E to be used at any time on Tuesday, September 19th. A ticket to the Big E is required to enter the fairgrounds and Hospitality Pavilion and will be mailed to you. If you have not pre-registered by September 12th, you will have to pay for your ticket on-site at the gate and then register for the event upon arrival at the Hospitality Pavilion.  Re-entry to the fairgrounds is allowed with a hand stamp.

 
Pre-Registration Pricing (Includes Admission to The Big E)
Member:                             $35.00  
Non-Member:                     $45.00  
Past President:                   $20.00
Student:                              $20.00  

On-Site Pricing (Admission to The Big E NOT Included)
Member:                            $40.00
Non-Member:                    $50.00
Past President:                  $25.00
Student:                             $25.00

MeetingPlanners:

Interested in attending but haven’t registered yet?

 

 

 **MPI Connecticut River Valley Chapter Attendance Policy: 
All Essential Level members or non-members are limited to no more than two events in one fiscal year and must pay the Essential Level/Non-member rate. MPI Preferred or Premier Level members are welcome to attend all chapter events at the Member Price.**

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Our Venue Host Sponsor:

 

Our A/V Sponsor:

Our Food & Beverage Sponsors: