Board of Directors

With over 15 years of event planning experience, Stephanie continues to develop innovative event management solutions. She has expertise in many different areas, from creating and executing personalized and sophisticated wedding packages to designing and producing live and corporate events that drive growth, marketability, and profitability in challenging and competitive markets.

She has handled everything from live event productions with 250,000+ attendees, corporate events, and intimate social affairs. No matter the size of the event, her commitment to conscientious and professional service remains unchanged.

I look forward to working with all of you to ensure that our organization continues to thrive and make a positive impact. Whether you are the next rising star, a seasoned industry veteran, or someone transitioning to the events industry, I want to remind you all that "You Belong Here!" as a part of the MPI family. 

Tim Altbaum is CEO of Vario, a premiere Event Production, Virtual Platform and Technology company servicing clients who are looking for a trusted and reliable resource to provide all pre‐production planning, in-person and hybrid A/V, and event technology needs. He is a former board member of NACE, current board member of MPI D/FW, and was awarded Community Leader of the Year by MPI and Supplier of the Year by NACE. He actively contributes to other professional organizations, as well as holds CSEP, CMP, HMCC, and CMM designations. 

As a special event producer and technology junkie, he is constantly striving to bring new and innovative experiences to the meetings and events his company Vario manages. His diverse knowledge set includes extensive expertise in Hybrid/Virtual Meetings, Experiential Marketing, Projection Mapping, Holograms, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Paola Bowman is currently the Director of Client Services and Events at the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau. As an experienced hospitality and events professional, Bowman has worked in numerous positions, from front of the house to sales and services. Prior to her current role she worked with the Grapevine CVB leading the Destination Services team. Her previous roles include Visit Fort Worth for over nine years, where she succeeded in a variety of roles from tourism to convention services. 

As an events and destination services professional, Bowman has worked with event planners to build attendance, select partner services, assist with marketing efforts to promote, and welcome the group, and overall help design a successful event and destination experience. In her current role, Paola enthusiastically oversees the destination services offered and to enhance the planner and visitor experience in Arlington, Texas.

Bowman holds the CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation from the Events Industry Council and earned her CMM (Certificate in Meeting Management) from Meeting Professionals International. She was named to the Smart Meetings Magazine “100 Women Who Inspire Us” list in 2018 and was recognized in the Connect Association 40 under 40 group of 2019.

She is active in the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) currently serving as President, and on the conference, DEI, & continuing education committees, as well as remaining engaged through the mentorship program and the webinar series. Paola is also involved in the local DFW MPI Chapter and was recently re-elected to the Board of Directors, for the 2022-2023 term. Her passion for the hospitality and events industry drives her to remain engaged with industry organizations. 

Samantha is a strategic and creative thinker with a background in creating and curating experiential events and sponsorships. She is also skilled at leading multi-faceted communication teams, as well as building and scaling global corporate communication strategies. She has a strong focus on internal and external stakeholder relations with an ability to positively influence at all levels of management, as well as work collaboratively to bring unique and unexpected stories and experiences to life. She is detail and results oriented with a passion for creating connection. She has an in-depth understanding of internal and external communications, event & exhibition management, sponsorship & sales management, project management, a passion for learning and a determination to share her talents with others.

Shakara Shelton has spent 15+ years specializing in property sales and catering. With 11 of those years selling directly on property, most notable at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. With the last 4 years as a team leader with Hilton Worldwide Sales, partnering on various intermediary, corporate and association accounts.

Currently she is a Regional Account Manager with Hilton Worldwide Sales managing a diverse roster of accounts based in the Southern US Region. She is passionately dedicated to collaborating to provide solutions that fit our industries business objectives and helping others unlock their full potential by guiding them to grow into the best versions of themselves.

She is a non-traditional graduate of Texas Woman's University and currently holds a seat on the Pioneer Alumni Association Board of Directors where she passionately supports underserved students at TWU. She married her high school sweetheart, they have two young children (12 and 3) and an 8 year old Maltipoo that keeps them busy. In her free time, she considers herself a travel enthusiast, audible addict and an occasional binge watcher. Her favorite pastime is basking in the sun with a good book.

As VP of Leadership for the MPI DFW Chapter, her goal is to be accessible, responsive, and consultative to assist our members in achieving their hospitality goals. Shakara is looking forward to partnering with the members of MPI DFW Chapter.

In addition to her work she enjoys volunteering as a planner for most any organization she stumbles across, currently for her church and MPI’s Dallas chapter.

A member of the MPI D/FW chapter for 4 years, Cheryl learned about the chapter through M.T. Hickman’s Hospitality and Event Planning Program at Dallas College. Cheryl immediately joined the chapter and the Membership committee, where she has served from day one. She’s excited to be a part of the 2023-2024 Board as the VP of Membership and spread the great news about our chapter.

Cheryl grew up near White Rock Lake in Dallas and married a Yankee who was transplanted in Dallas temporarily. They live in Richardson and travel to upstate NY every chance they get to hang out at the family dairy farm. In her spare time Cheryl can be found having coffee with friends, exercising, hiking with her husband, or volunteering at her church or for the American Heart Association.

One of the greatest joys in Marieke’s career and personal life is creating bonds with people, connecting with friends and clients globally, and building lasting relationships.

Marieke speaks multiple languages, loves her dog, is active in her children’s school community and their activities and loves being active herself. She enjoys spending time with her family in New Orleans and back home in the Netherlands.

Award-winning executive administrative assistant, highly skilled at multitasking and scheduling, planning meetings, events, travel, and office administration.  My motto is to choose joy in every circumstance.  Setbacks are set ups for comebacks.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to shine in my role at Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc, where we actively pursue scientific discoveries to advance medicine.

Emily Wales is an Account Executive for Destination Concepts, inc., a destination management company. Her focus is developing new sales accounts, nurturing relationships with local vendors, and continually researching the best experiences Texas has to offer.

Prior to this role, her career spans over a decade in luxury hospitality. Most notable was her time spent at The St. Regis Aspen, St. Regis San Francisco, and Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, in Event Manager & Catering Sales positions. Her diverse hotel background equips her to manage events across varied settings, leveraging unique advantages and addressing challenges adeptly. Her strength resides in her ability to nimbly anticipate and successfully plan for her client’s needs, saving them time and resources.

Outside of professional life, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband, their toddler daughter, and their three dogs. Her passions are camping, hiking, and paddleboarding.

Emily moved with her family to Texas in April 2023. After settling into the area, she joined the Destination Concepts team in November 2023. She eagerly sought a community that would be both professionally and personally rewarding, and found that within the MPI DFW Chapter. Emily attended local chapter events, traveled to the MPI WEC 2024 conference in Louisville, and served on the Planning Committee for the MPI Gala. She is honored and delighted to be part of the Board for 2024 and looks forward to the chance to serve the Dallas chapter.

Michele is a highly accomplished association executive known for her dynamic approach to leadership within organizations. She has a proven track record of enhancing operational excellence and achieving concrete results. Michele excels in building strong stakeholder relationships, managing complex projects, and implementing innovative strategies to enhance member engagement.

In 2023, Michele founded Catalyst Management Solutions with the goal of providing comprehensive association management, event planning, and consultancy services to chapter, national, and corporate clients.

At MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, Michele serves in an executive capacity, collaborating closely with the Board of Directors and organizational leaders to implement strategic plans that align with the association’s mission and vision. Her responsibilities include overseeing chapter programs and services such as membership growth, education and training, special events, leadership development, and communications. Michele also ensures financial stability and effective resource management.

Michele earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and holds several professional certifications including Certified Association Executive (CAE), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Digital Event Strategist (DES), and Healthcare Meetings Compliance Certificate (HMCC).