MPI San Diego Board of Directors
President
Tina Marie Honor
Live Nation Special Events
Tina Marie Honor’s love for the Meeting and Event industry started at the age of 12 when she joined the student body leadership group as class president. After years focusing on wedding venue sales, she joined the Live Nation team at House of Blues San Diego in 2018. Tina Marie now thrives as National Account Manager for Live Nation Special Events, representing 150+ venues!
President Elect
Nathan Medina
Vario
Nathan joined the meetings and events industry in 2013 with a role at a meeting management company. Landing an AV production sales position in 2015 at Vario, his passion for meeting new people and developing relationships, led him to become a member of SDMPI. Immediately looking to be more than just a member, he has now served 6 years on the board and will be moving into the President Elect role for his 7th year of service.
Immediate Past President
Carrie Shen, CMM, CMP, CED
Asian Real Estate Association of America
Carrie is the manager, event planning for the Asian Real Estate Association of America with their national office in Old Town, San Diego, serving 17,000 members. Prior to her current role, she spent nearly 10 years at Zovio, Inc., (formerly Bridgepoint Education) planning company and employee events.
Vice President, Membership
Marc Lehman
Ashley Media Productions
Marc, a US Navy veteran and former Nuclear Power Engineer, and his Wife Lorelei, a former, actress and on-air radio personality, started Ashley Productions at the inception of the Event Video industry. The forces driving their entrepreneurship were their passion for creating video that moved, inspired and entertained people, and their affinity for the event and service industries.
Vice President, Marketing
Kristen Elgo, CMP
MC&A DMC
As a seasoned event producer in Southern California, Kristen has a track record of successful events and establishing solid relationships with other suppliers. After graduating from SDSU with a BS in Hospitality & Tourism Management, she went on to work for a well-established Event Production Company based in San Diego. Following that she was a National Event Manager for Luxury Brand Retailer managing events across the US. She was with a well-established Audio-Visual company following that. She merged all her knowledge and experience when she joined MC&A DMC as their Senior Account Executive in their California office.
When she’s not doing events, she’s busy raising 2 teenagers with her husband and they enjoy traveling, camping and exploring the great outdoors. She’s been involved with MPI San Diego for many years. Formerly the VP of Membership and now VP of Marketing.
Vice President, Professional Development
Megan Powers, MA
Powers of Marketing / VGS
Megan Powers is a creator and strategist who thrives on helping to create remarkable experiences. She has spent the majority of her career in meetings and events, primarily serving in planning, marketing, and sales roles. Working for software companies, in a venue, in event production, and then running her own marketing agency all served as a foundation for her latest venture with a technology company called VGS as Director of Events & Field Marketing.
Director of Membership Recruitment and Retention
Alan Simpson
House of Blues San Diego
It was almost 20 years ago when Alan Simpson started his events industry career as an AV tech at Pala Casino in January 2005. Through this role, his passion grew for the industry and craft quickly leading him to various roles handling larger and more complex events. After years of event management Alan took on a new challenge, selling events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Post COVID, his experience landed him at the San Diego House of Blues as the Director of Sales and Special Events, continuing a long passion for events and the events industry.
Director of Special Events
Jacqueline Coligan
BrickHouse Dance Productions
Jacqueline started her hospitality & events career in 2005 as the Assistant to the Director of Catering at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. From there, she continued to grow in her knowledge with consistent steps forward in her career. From Catering Sales Manager to the Rancho Bernardo Inn, to Sr. Wedding Sales Manager at Paradise Point Resort to Director of Sales & Events for San Diego Dining Group. Along the way, she began moonlighting as a dance instructor and eventually married her passion for dance with her love for the events industry by founding BrickHouse Dance Productions in 2006. She is currently the Restaurant Event Sales Manager at the Intercontinental Hotel and continues to service our industry with her entertainment group.
Director of Education Programs
Emily Amezcua
West End Entertainment
Having been involved in the entertainment world from a very young age, Emily has a multi-dimensional background in her field. From acting and singing, to event production and planning, to gigging with a band or two throughout the years, she is no stranger to the stage or working behind the scenes. Cultivating a career in event entertainment was a natural evolution that began in 2015. Emily primarily works with musical entertainment, as well as specialized and unique acts for the corporate and private event world.
Chapter Administrator
Erin Scholes, CMP, CSEP, CMM,DES
Phone: (858) 270-2103
Erin Scholes is a past MPISD Chapter President and currently Chapter Administrator. During Scholes' 16 year tenure with MPISD she has served seven years on the MPISD board of directors and three years as a committee chair.
Chapter Administrator Assistant
Kayla Taliaferro
Phone: (626) 529-4577
Kayla Taliaferro is a recent graduate from San Diego State University with a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Meetings and Events. Kayla’s passion for working with people & creating memorable experiences started at her first job at 16 and led her to focus on a career in Hospitality.