This month’s People News celebrates the power of women in the corporate events industry. Check out all these female event professionals who are moving up and assuming senior and leadership roles at event-related organizations across the country!

San Diego Tourism Authority 

Theresa Cunningham has joined the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) as director of diversity, equity and inclusion and community engagement. In this newly created role, Cunningham will work closely with SDTA departments to create key performance indicators aligned with organizational goals, represent SDTA on community boards and manage the organization’s award-winning Tourism Accelerator program, which helps San Diego-area businesses owned by women, veterans, people of color and LGBTQIA+ community members expand their operations and tap into the local tourism industry.

Previously, Cunningham served as vice president of strategic initiatives at San Diego nonprofit Reality Changers and worked for Teach for All, a global network that works to expand educational opportunities. She also held positions with UNESCO and Columbia University’s Office of International Affairs at Teachers College, as well as the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. 

The Broadmoor 

The Broadmoor, a resort in Colorado Springs, has appointed two new directors: Eva Prezenkowski as director of convention sales and April Flagg as director of national accounts, northeast and international sales. 

Prezenkowski comes to The Broadmoor from Charlotte, NC, where she served as the sales account manager for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and supported sales of the Charlotte Convention Center for conventions, meetings and citywide events. Besides working in sales at the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau and Convention Center for 10 years, she has held various trade show sales positions with AmericasMart and Merchandise Mart Properties in Atlanta and Los Angeles, respectively.    

Flagg joined The Broadmoor in 2023 after spending more than five years as a national sales manager at The Peabody hotel in Memphis, Tenn. Prior to that, she worked in hospitality sales, service and executive assistant roles at the Hilton Garden and Comfort Inn and Memphis Country Club, respectively.

VisitPITTSBURGH 

Communications and public affairs veteran Emily Hatfield has joined VisitPITTSBURGH as director, communications and public affairs, responsible for working with senior leadership to align marketing and communication efforts with the organization’s overall business goals. In her new role, she will also partner with key stakeholders throughout the organization to shape and execute business strategy and key initiatives, as well as continue to enhance and endorse VisitPITTSBURGH’s brand, voice and messaging.

Hatfield most recently served as director of marketing and communications at ChemDAQ, Inc., and prior to that, as deputy cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism, where she also served as director of brand marketing and director of public relations. Earlier in her career, Hatfield held public affairs and communications roles at the West Virginia Department of Commerce and was deputy press secretary for the Office of the Governor of West Virginia.

Meeting Priorities 

Meeting Priorities, a company that specializes in meetings, events and exhibit management, consultancy, contracted services and talent acquisition, has appointed leading hospitality industry professional Adriana Molina as its vice president of strategic partnerships.

Molina served as vice president of association sales at Teneo Hospitality Group for more than five years, managing a group of key accounts. She previously spent more than two decades at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, leading its global sales office in Washington, DC. 

VISIT Milwaukee 

VISIT Milwaukee recently announced four new hires: Shannon Richmond as senior event experience manager, Raymond Valles as national account executive and Maaike Rheinfrank and Shaylynn Libby as convention sales coordinators. Additionally, the organization made four promotions: Claire Koenig to senior director of communications and public affairs, Megan Husband to national account and tourism sales executive, Christina Fox to senior convention sales coordinator and Katie Pfankuch to account executive.

In her new role, Richmond consults with convention and meeting clients from their initial booking through the completion of an event. She previously served as senior event manager at F Street Hospitality and has prior experience at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Dynamic Events by David Caruso.

Based in Austin, Texas, Valles is responsible for lead generation and selling Greater Milwaukee. Prior to joining VISIT Milwaukee, Valles was senior convention sales manager for Destination El Paso and has previous experience at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Arbor Inn and Suites and the Walt Disney Company.

As convention sales coordinators, Rheinfrank and Libby support the convention sales department and national account executives. Rheinfrank is a recent graduate of Cardinal Stritch University and Libby previously worked as a wedding planner at Graceful Events.

Starting with VISIT Milwaukee as a communications manager in 2017, Koenig now oversees a team of communications and social media professionals who work to elevate the city’s reputation and increase visitation to Milwaukee.

Husband has been with VISIT Milwaukee since 2008, starting as a convention sales manager. In her new role, she focuses on lead generation and room night goals for national association, religious and corporate citywide conventions and works with partners to promote Milwaukee.

Fox joined VISIT Milwaukee in 2015, originally as a convention sales assistant and was promoted to convention sales coordinator in 2020. In her new role, she provides administrative assistance and support to the convention sales department and Sports Milwaukee division and is also responsible for training new staff members and new VISIT Milwaukee partners on the CRM/Partner Portal. 

Pfankuch joined VISIT Milwaukee in 2022 as a sales support specialist. As account executive, she continues to manage the rapidly expanding small group segment and assists the sales team with group tours as needed.

Associated Luxury Hotels International 

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) recently welcomed Dayna Robins as director of global sales – west region. Based in Boise, Idaho, she will hold key account relationships throughout the west region with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. 

Bringing nearly 20 years of experience within the luxury resort field to her new role, Robins boasts sales leadership experience at properties across the country, including at Terranea Resort as senior sales manager, Motiff Seattle as director of sales and Rancho Bernardo Inn as director of national accounts. 

Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) recently appointed Jennifer Nagle to the new position of vice president of special projects. Bringing more than 20 years of executive experience in marketing, tourism and hospitality, she will play a pivotal role in leading strategic initiatives related to the CVB’s focus on citywide conventions, sporting events and international tourism in the lead-up to and throughout the U.S.’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. She will begin her new role on Sept. 11.

In her new role, Nagle will collaborate with PHLCVB leadership to ensure alignment, engagement and facilitation of key projects on behalf of the PHLCVB and its closest partners, serving as an internal and external liaison throughout the planning and execution of projects and events and as the PHLCVB’s primary representative.  

She most recently served as interim president and CEO and executive vice president of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corp.

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