The Room Block

Are you starting to plan, or thinking about traveling to a live event in the near future? Desi Whitney, SVP of Sourcing Operations & Industry Relations for HPN Global and co-founder of Emergency Concierge International and John Ayo, Chief Balancing Officer of Travel Balance share the life experiences that taught them how to prepare for the safest and healthiest outcome, as well as the passion behind their purpose.

Desi Whitney is a multi-faceted leader in the industry. She brings almost 20 years of experience to her current role as SVP of Sourcing Operations & Industry Relations for HPN Global. In addition, Desi is co-founder of Emergency Concierge International, an All-Hazards Emergency Planning company dedicated to supporting safer meetings. In this role, she focuses on bridging the gap between emergency planning and meeting planning. At home she is proud to be called wife, mother, and dog mom and enjoys spending time with family, nature, and drinking wine.

hpnglobal.com

emergencyconcierge.net

John Ayo is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, wellness expert, sales specialist and author. He was a successful sales rep that survived in the super stressful technology sector for 19 years, then moved into sales training and meeting planning internationally for 12 years. His book, “Travel Balance” helps people stay energized and balanced while traveling. He has spoken to thousands of people in 26 countries sharing his secrets to staying sane and healthy in a crazy world.

ayolifebalance.com

travelbalance.net

Colleen Brzozowski, 2020 President of SITE Chicago and Rachael Riggs, 2020 President of the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA discuss the numerous challenges and unexpected rewards of being in a volunteer leadership role during a global pandemic. Their experiences with these organizations, both past and present, demonstrate the value of staying connected to and serving a community.

Colleen Brzozowski, CIS, is the 2020 President of SITE Chicago (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence – Chicago Chapter). She is a 25+ year veteran of the hospitality industry and spent the majority of her career in hotels/resorts. She had recently moved into national sales for a domestic DMC group before her position was permanently laid off due to the pandemic. You can connect with Colleen at linkedin.com/in/colleenbrzozowski.

Rachael Riggs is the 2020 PCMA – Greater Midwest Chapter President & Maritz Global Events – WellBeing Leader. Rachael is a 25+ year career veteran in the event industry who is passionate about integrating wellbeing into the event experience. Having spent time on both the planner and supplier side of the event industry, Rachael landed her ultimate job experience just prior to the pandemic as the WellBeing Leader for Maritz Global Events. You can connect with Rachael at linkedin.com/in/rachaelriggs.

About PCMA (pcma.org): PCMA has 7,000 members and an audience of 50,000 across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With 17 chapters and activities in 30 countries, PCMA members are business event strategists from corporations, associations, non-profits and all of the varied suppliers in the event industry. The Greater Midwest Chapter is comprised of  9 states with over 1200 members.

About SITE (siteglobal.com): The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) is the only Business Events association dedicated exclusively to the global incentive travel industry. SITE has 2500+ members in 90 countries with 29 local chapters.

Through their stories, Pam Nutting, Director of Strategic Sourcing with Maritz Global Events and Rick Nelson, Sr. Director, Worldwide Accounts with Hilton illustrate various examples of how the support they give and receive perpetuates a cycle resulting in growth and success. We examine the relationships and strategies that are important today and will continue to be, as we move into our industry’s recovery.

Hear from entrepreneurs Dahlia El Gazzar of the DAHLIA+Agency and Keri Kelly of SoulMining, Inc. as they discuss the introspection, honesty, and courage it takes to start living a more authentic life on your own terms. They share how a combination of marketable superpowers and the undying support of the events industry helped each of them take a life-changing leap of faith.

To reach Dahlia El Gazzar:

• dahliaplus.com
• linkedin.com/in/dahliaelgazzar
• instagram.com/delgazzar
• facebook.com/dahlia.elgazzar

To reach Keri Kelly:

• kerikellyphotography.com
• linkedin.com/in/kerikelly
• instagram.com/kerikellyphotography
• facebook.com/kerikellyphotography

Take a deep dive into the world of event accommodations with “work spouses” Richard Albrecht, Director of Client Relations and Suzanne Stigers, Sr. Hotel Industry Relations Manager, both from onPeak. They tell a tale of the inevitable changes that we encounter throughout our careers, personally and professionally, and the lasting bonds that form among team members who navigate both highs and lows together.

More information about Connect for Community can be found at connectforcommunity.org

roomblockpodcast.com

Rose Horcher, Vice President of Client Services with Choose Chicago, and Dan Traver, Business Development VP with Freeman share the traits that have earned them the trust and friendship of their clients. Join me for a heartwarming conversation with two individuals who exemplify the spirit of the events and hospitality industry and understand the power in staying positive.

www.roomblockpodcast.com

Travel from coast to coast with me as I chat with Kevin Boland, Hotel Manager at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA and Rick Ueno, General Manager of the W South Beach in Miami, FL. Kevin and Rick walk us through their careers from start to present, sharing what motivated them to get to where they are today, as well as potential obstacles they leaned how to overcome.

www.roomblockpodcast.com

Learn about me, your host Jen Salerno, why The Room Block was created, and what you can expect by listening in.