Register for Tuesday, October 24, 2017
“Time Management for the Meeting and Event Professional – Can It Be Done?”
Melanie Clifford
Thomas Jones
Avi McCullah
Please Register ASAP, but no later than Friday, October 20 by replying to jimjohnson1949@att.net
Hosted by Rebecca Williams and sponsored by Knoxville Convention Center
Location – Knoxville Convention Center
701 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Schedule
10:00 a.m. Board Meeting (All Members Welcome)
11:30 a.m. Registration/Networking
12:00 Noon
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. “Time Management for the Event Professional – Can It Be Done?”
Cost to Attend:
Planner Members $ 15.00
First Time Planner Non-Members No Charge
Supplier Members $ 30.00
Supplier Non-Members $ 35.00
Program
This will be a great meeting for Meeting and Event Professionals to learn and compare strategies of time management and how to be more productive in our jam packed, high pressure world. The format will be awesome and built on a previous successful format where the audience is entertained with several short TED Talks videos followed by a panel discussion.
Our Panelists have a wealth of experience and knowledge and have been chosen because of their success and their diversity in their segment of the hospitality industry.
Our Panelists
Melanie Clifford
Area Director of Sales
Gibson Hotels
Melanie has been in the meetings, hospitality and tourism industry for over 25 years. She is the Area Director of Sales for M. Gibson Hotels handling all their properties in Sevier County. She is a ten-time award winner with Meeting Professionals International. She just won the Women in Tourism and Hospitality Leader of the Year for the Sevier County Hospitality Association and won the coveted Isaac Love Legacy award with the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. She is a past president of MPI: TN Chapter. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce and the Pigeon Forge Hospitality & Tourism Association. She is chairman of Meeting Professionals International Chapter Facilitators Program and is a member of MPI’s Chapter & Member Advisory Council. She is a trainer/coach for Marriott’s Access Edge Sales Program with M. Gibson Hotels Marriott Hotels. Melanie has a true passion for this industry. She continually strives to build the importance of the meetings industry and tourism to East Tennessee on the local, national and international levels.
Thomas Jones
President & CEO
Integrated Solutions & Services Inc.
Mr. Jones is the President/CEO of Integrated Solutions & Services, Inc (ISS). He founded the company in 2001 and is responsible for overall operations of the firm serving both governmental and commercial clients. ISS provides travel, event planning, research and promotional products to clients domestically and internationally. He leads the executive management team and is responsible for strategic and financial planning, profit and loss responsibility, banking and other professional relationships, key hire programs and oversight and management of corporate programs. Mr. Jones has extensive experience overseeing operations relating event planning and meeting management services in support of federal agencies having supported more than 1500 national and international conferences, meetings, and events. His firm also successfully manages the coordination of 100-150 meetings annually in support of agency-specific peer and technical review programs which includes oversight of in-house research associates and maintenance of contractual relationships with over 30 contract research associates. He has a BS. in Accounting and a BS. in Finance from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA TECH) along with a Master Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University. He is a past President and Board Member of East TN Meeting Planners, a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), a member of East TN Energy, Technology and Environmental Business Association (ETEBA) and the current Commodore of Fort Loudon Yacht Club
Avi McCullah
Social Media & Marketing Manager
SMG Knoxville
Avi McCullah joined SMG Knoxville in April 2017 and has 10 years of experience in sales and marketing. She is responsible for all social media content creation and engagement for three SMG-managed facilities: Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum, and Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center. She also manages the websites, creates ads, and assists with marketing events at all three venues.
McCullah previously worked in hospitality, non-profit, and in television. Her wide range of experience is a tremendous asset to the SMG Knoxville team.