Kim Gishler

Kim Gishler

CEO, CEMA

We’re beginning the countdown over here. I have a funny feeling you’ve all experienced this time and time again. The countdown to GO time!

For me, this is the countdown to one of the most important weeks of my 2019. The countdown to a week where all this hard work, all the sleepless nights and long hours, all the anticipation and excitement and nervousness comes to a screeching culmination of YESSSSSSS! After all the OH NOs and HOORAYs, CEMA Summit 2019 is just around the corner (cue the butterflies).

The awesome thing is that I know all of the exhilaration and drama will be worth every single moment. The moment we arrive in Las Vegas, it’ll be all about YOU. And because of YOU, everything we’ve worked for to bring you the most Exceptional Experience Ever will come to life. Your positive energy and optimistic spirit will lift us up and spread throughout the venue. We’ll hear from inspirational speakers, we’ll celebrate friendships both old and new, we’ll learn from our esteemed colleagues and we’ll get exposure to really fantastic new technologies that can make a huge difference in how we work and how we manage in the future.

The countdown has begun and I can’t tell you how excited I am to see you Las Vegas! Bring it on.

MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Polly Kruz

Patricia Beuadoux

Director, International Sales
Sands Asia: Marina Bay Sands/Singapore & Sands Resorts Maxao

Patricia is a long-time industry veteran, with 30 plus years of experience in the Hospitality Business. She has worked in The Alpine Resort Industry, which presented opportunities to work on events such as the Men’s World Cup Finals. During her tenure with Southwest Airlines, Patricia was fortunate enough to be a part of an amazing Marketing and Events Team. In Global Hotel Industry sales, Patricia focused her expertise on leisure, consortia, transient, and M&E. Currently Patricia is the Director, of International Sales for the Las Vegas Sands Corporation Asian Hotel Portfolio. Patricia works with The Marina Bay Sands, Singapore and Sands Resorts, Macao, and covers all of North America.

Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Patricia is always a southern girl at heart, and for the last 30 years has been lucky enough to call Northern California her home. Patricia is passionate about the outdoors, finding time to go mountain biking, skiing, and hiking whenever she can. She is even a certified Master Composter and Gardener! Patricia and her husband just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary, and they have a beautiful son, who is studying in Washington DC. Her goal is to travel to all of earth’s continents, having only Africa and Antarctica left to on the list!

Patricia feels honored by her ten-year involvement with CEMA and serves on the Content Committee. The caliber of professionalism, people, and camaraderie have made this journey joyful and intellectually rewarding.

CEMA Executive of the Month

Eric Medford

Eric Medford

Gaylord Hotels, Palms

I first got into the hospitality industry through corporate training as the Training manager for Gaylord Opryland. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that I sold the hotel to every new employee, every day. So I set my sites on moving over to the sales department since I knew it would be an easy transition. Boy, was I wrong. But it grew into the toughest job I’ve ever loved. Now “a few” years later, I feel blessed to still be living my best life as the Western Region Senior Sales Executive for Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.

Over the years I have learned a few key things about myself. First and foremost, I am an introvert in an extroverted job. I may be the guy in the back of the room as the wall flower, or come across as shy or aloof, but after a while I can break out of my shell, especially if pop music from the 80’s-90’s is playing somewhere in the back ground.

I also consider myself quirky and will never pass up the opportunity for a good “dad” joke.

When I am home you will find me working on a puzzle and enjoying my dog Ella.

My favorite thing about my job is creating experiences.

Whether it’s a unique site visit or a creative in market events, I love it when a customer walks away excited about their future program with Gaylord Palms.

Thank You! To our June CEMA e-Newsletter Sponsor
Platinum Member Caesars

Caesar's Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment is proud and excited to be partnering with CEMA. CEMA’s goals and vision align with our culture.

The meetings and events industry is a pillar for our company. We are fortunate to work with many customers across many industries, giving us a pulse on what is important and relevant. As a company we focus on delivering and meaningful experiences through the creativity and top-tier quality of our catering team. We also place great importance in our vendors aligning with the Caesars Entertainment values and beliefs, such as gender equity and sustainability. CAESARS FORUM, our newest addition, a 550,000 conference center opening March 20, 2020 will be LEED silver certified.

We believe that face-to-face meetings not only progress and elevate business but can change the world through the creation of personal connection and comradery. Our Chief Sales Officer, Michael Massari, is often heard talking about the value of meetings and events. The industry is often referred to as the invisible industry yet is bigger than fashion and automobile.

With 40 properties in 20 destinations, we host more than 17,000 meetings and events per year. Our goal is to elevate experiences for our customers. We recently announced a partnership with Event Design Collective GMBH. Using the Event Canvas, Caesars Entertainment has committed to fully sponsoring the certification of 1,000 executives with the three-day Event Design training by 2022. The three-day training course focuses on communication using a visual language that allows planners to articulate and facilitate each step of the design process.

By innovating new ways to design and plan events, we look forward to the future. Learn more about Caesars Entertainment meetings and events at caesarsmeansbusiness.com

Get Ready, Vegas, We are On Our Way!

Are you READY?! Are you ready to be inspired by some of the most outstanding speakers to grace a CEMA stage? Are you ready to learn from, experience with and enjoy the best week of the year with friends, colleagues and waiting-to-be-discovered new partners who lead the way in making an impact in our industry? We are ready for you. Can’t wait to see you in Las Vegas!

Be sure to check out the Agenda, and register HERE today.

NOTE: CEMA Summit 2019 has a wait list for IP members. Contact Stacey@CEMAonline.com to be added to the waitlist.

 


CEMA Summit 2019: The Inspiration You Need Today

We’re incredibly proud of the brilliant group of speakers we have the honor of presenting to you this year at CEMA Summit 2019. Their experience ranges from remarkable writers to savvy CEOs to strategic events managers. The one thing they all have in common is their dedication to bringing you valuable insights and inspiration to help you do an even better job – and be a better person– than you’d ever imagined possible.

Please take a moment to peruse the collection of speakers we’ve assembled. And one you definitely won’t want to miss…Shane Snow, Founder at Contently, presenting Looking at work a new way-Innovation and Human Behavior. Shane’s keynote performance will take place Monday, July 22nd at 9:10 a.m. and is sponsored by SpeakInc.

 


Matchmaking Technologies Highlighted, Sponsorships Available at CEMA Summit 2019

This year at CEMA Summit 2019, we are presenting great matchmaking technology:

Braindate is a knowledge-sharing platform that allows event participants to find and connect with other people while you’re at an event, based on your shared interests and learning goals. Create topics or join conversations with up to four people, and meet onsite at our Braindate Lounge!

Look for an email with details on how to participate in this interactive technology at Summit 2019.

CEMA Summit 2019 still has sponsorships available. Please contact Meg Fasy at Meg@fazefwd.com.

 

 


Calling All Leaders (You!)

We are currently seeking candidates for some incredibly important CEMA Board of Directors positions. You have what it takes. Or, you may know of a colleague who would rock the Board! Feel free to review the strategic plan and consider what an impact you or an associate can make on the Board. Review the details here.

 


CEMA Past Events

CEMA @ Google Grove, May 29, 2019

CEMA @ Are You Ready When a Crisis Strikes?- at The Grove, a Google Experience Center. Thank you to our all-star panelists, Dwight Lin, Lead, Strategic Event Security, Global Security & Resilience Services, Google; John Steinbeck, Deputy Fire Chief/Emergency Manager, Clark County Office of Emergency, Management & Homeland Security; Misty Richardson, Assistant Emergency Manager Clark County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security; Michael Deely, Director of Safety & Security, SF Travel, and moderator Julie Lynch, Senior Director, Pure Storage Events who shared perspectives, insight and professional experiences that provided the platform to dive deep into current trends and issues within the event security space. Attendees left with key takeaways and multiply strategies to proactively anticipate and stay ahead of the rapidly changing threat landscape. After the discussion we were treated to lunch and a tour of The Grove, Google Experience Center from our amazing partner, Erika Brunke from Google. Erika, a long time CEMA member, past Board Member and previous Executive Director, opened The Grove to CEMA to offer this incredibly important discussion. Thank you Erika! Video of this discussion will be available on the CEMA website. A shout out to Robin Valenta and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for sponsoring the incredible two speakers from Las Vegas!

 

CEMA @ CMA Festival, Nashville, TN, June 5-7, 2019

CEMA @ CMA Music Fest- ANOTHER priceless CEMA event. We just wrapped a behind-the-scenes Study Tour of the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, with amazing education from our friends- the CMA Events Team and great networking throughout the event. Lifetime memories were created by the private Song Writers Dinner hosted by the JW Nashville, a private (yes, private!) concert by Richie McDonald of Lonestar hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a personal backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. LOTS of information to take back to better your teams. Oh yeah, the CMA Music Fest Concert wasn’t too bad either… Rascal Flats, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown and the Florida Georgia Line. Thank you to our incredible CEMA partner the Nashville CVC!

Join the CEMA Virtual Book Club

What have your peers and colleagues read recently that have resonated with them – personally or professionally? Take a moment to check out the new CEMA Virtual Book Club on the CEMA Website. We have added recommended books to the CEMA site. If you have a book recommendation please send title, and author to Stacey@CEMAonline.com.

Perhaps the Job Opportunity of a Lifetime

We’ve received a number of sensational job opportunities, shared exclusively with our membership by your esteemed peers. Looking to explore something new? If you have a great new job opening, please share with stacey@cemaonline.com. Include a detailed description of the position, all contact information, as well as the location of the position. CEMA will post the job opportunity until the position is filled. Visit CEMA Careers for current job postings including:

CEMA Member in the News

Please join us in congratulating valued CEMA members. Andy Herman is now with Event Marketing Partners as Vice President, Sponsorship and Events. Kim Masters is now with Taylor Group as the Business Development Manager. Patricia Garner is starting a new position as Director – North American Marketing at OSIsoft.

A special congratulations to Gary Murkakami for MPI RISE award for meeting industry leader. Congrats to all!!

Hooray for the New Members!

Welcome to the CEMA family new members: Tres Morgan of Oculus; Vishal Goyal of Smart Source Rentals; Caroline Kinlin of Varonis; Maris McEdward and Amey Yong of Tableau; Ash Mathew of Cisco; Jackie Vowell of Amazon Web Services; Josh Jones of Hosts Global; Tracey Wood of Hosts Global; Angela King of Microsoft; Stephanie Harris of American Express Meetings and Events; Marissa Bonfiglio and May Martin of Gainsight; Karen Sweet of Workday; Kristen Timmers of Automation Anywhere, Inc.; Dawn Herscher of Elegant World; Gayle Strawn of Franchise Times and Lisa Mahan and Aisling Meehan of Sig Sauer, Katherine Speer of IBM.