CEMA Newsletter: November 2026

Member spotlight: Julia Ross, CMP

Director, Events Marketing Tyler Technologies CEMA Member Since: 2022

Meet Julia:

Julia is the Director of Events Marketing for Tyler Technologies, based in Plano, Texas. She has built her career around creating experiences that bring people together, spark meaningful conversations, and deliver lasting business impact. With experience spanning both association and corporate environments, she has led events of every scale, from executive leadership gatherings to large industry trade shows and user conferences.

Today, Julia leads Tyler Technologies’ strategic event initiatives, including Tyler Connect, the company’s flagship annual user conference. Bringing together thousands of customers, partners, industry leaders, and Tyler team members, Tyler Connect serves as a powerful platform for education, collaboration, innovation, and community-building. Julia is passionate about using events like Connect to strengthen customer relationships, elevate thought leadership, and create opportunities for customers to learn from one another while shaping the future of technology solutions.

A collaborative leader and firm believer in the power of face-to-face experiences, Julia is passionate about thought leadership, customer engagement, and designing events that leave attendees informed, inspired, and excited for what’s next.

What first drew you to CEMA, and how has being part of the community shaped your professional journey?

I was first introduced to CEMA through Paul Coulter, who at the time was one of our hotel partners. He spoke so highly of CEMA that it encouraged me to attend the CEMA sessions at Convening leaders in 2022. I’ll never forget how fruitful those sessions were in the conversations we had and topics that were covered. I felt like for the first time in a while I was in the right room with the right people who could relate to the issues me and my team faced daily. Since then, I’ve been turning to CEMA and its members to see best practices, ask questions, and help my team improve how we show up for our company.

Can you share a moment or connection through CEMA that made a lasting impact: a collaboration, insight, or opportunity that stands out?

Attending my first CEMA Study Tour was a game changer. I was fortunate to join the study tour of Atlassian’s TEAM conference in April 2025. It was such an incredible opportunity to see in person what other event marketers are producing, see how they are facing the same challenges we face, and meet so many other CEMA members and talk shop. Since then, we have hosted our own CEMA Study Tour and I’m encouraging my team to attend them if they are able to. We often get to see industry events, but it’s a rarer opportunity to see with your own eyes what your peers are executing.

What’s something you’re currently working on or exploring that excites you, whether it’s a project, a new skill, or an emerging trend?

Professionally I am really taking a look at our event portfolio, and specifically our flagship event to ensure it’s serving the business and where we are headed in the future. We have great success with the event as it stands but that doesn’t mean it will always serve us, especially as the tech landscape is shifting so quickly. The human element of business and real in-person connection is only going to become more important as AI dominates our lives and so I’ve been excited to take on reimagining our portfolio and how we can better serve our business.

Personally, I learned how to crochet this year so making holiday gifts has been a great way to take a break away from doomscrolling. I’m hoping to start learning more complex stitches during some quiet holiday time.

What outside interests or passions help you show up stronger in your work?

I think my passion for travel helps me show up stronger in my work, and not just because we are on the road so often! Travel, especially internationally, opens you up to new experiences, cultures, people, and food. It expands your perspective and helps you realize that there is so much more out there to consider. Travel keeps me grounded in asking for others’ feedback and perspective to bring to the table. It also is the constant in keeping calm under pressure (who hasn’t had delays?), and compassion when things get tough.

What advice, mindset, or mantra has guided you in your career?

Take advantage of opportunities that arise, especially if they scare you. Growth comes from discomfort and challenging yourself. As I tell my three-year-old, you can do hard things, and so I try to live by that.

• Favorite event destination: Hawaii
• Go-to productivity hack: Turning on some great 90’s music to get me hyped and focused
• Event-day essential: Liquid IV
• Someone in the CEMA community who inspires you: Richard Steinau