The Special Event 2020 | The Special Event | 9 March 2020 | Mandalay Bay, 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA

The Special Event is the premier destination where you can network and connect with leaders and professionals in the events industry; learn and gain knowledge from industry experts in our events education program; experience and revel in the latest trends at exciting showcasing events; and browse and explore the latest products and services in the exhibit hall to incorporate into your next event.

The New 2020 Experience
In 2020, The Special Event, the premier conference, and tradeshow for event professionals, and Catersource, the world's premier educational resource and expansive network for the catering and events industry, come together in a co-located experience for event and catering professionals. The combined event will bring over 8,500 professionals and 500 suppliers together to provide an unmatched opportunity to source, network and learn in a one-sensory stimulating environment.

2020 Speakers

Molly Abernathy
Event Magician & Organizer Extraordinaire

Chris Adams
Mixologist, Forbes Industries

Jon Adcock
President, PTE Productions

Ingrid Adolphs
President and Chief Event Designer, Luv for Lux, Luminaccent, The Event

Christina Alvarado-Morales
Director of Venue Sales & Service, Pearl

Gaurav Anand
Restauranteur / Owner / Chef, Gaurav Anand

Shelby Anderson
Executive Pastry, Footers Catering

Donna Anello
CSEP, Owner, Donna Anello Signature Events

Christine Ash
Senior Event Director, Save the Date, LLC

Dwayne Atkins
Dining Coordinator, Duke University

Kristin Banta
CEO and Creative Director, Kristin Banta Events

Geoffrey Barker
Vice President and Director of Sales, Simply Fresh Events

Jocelyn Barker
Senior Event Production Manager, Simply Fresh Events

Kimberly Beaune
Event Storyteller, Creative Twist Inc

Reuben Bell
Owner/President, Blue Elephant Events and Catering

Ron Ben-Israel
Owner, Ron Ben-Israel Cakes

Alan Berg
CSP, Owner, Wedding Business Solutions, LLC

Brit Bertino
CSEP, Owner, Principle of Brit Bertino, event excellence, Totty Belt, Ceremonies Unveiled

Eileen Bistrisky
President & CEO, Effective Leadership Consulting

Lorenzo Boni
Executive Chef, Barilla America

Shannon Boudreau
Partner& Director of Sales of Events, The Lazy Gourmet

Andrew Bouley
Director of Growth, Caterease

Monique Boyd
Director of Special Events & Catering, Legends Hospitality, AT&T Stadium

Dan Braunstein
Founder, Grassfed

Erin Brazil
Director of Sales & Marketing, The Corporate Caterer

Nathan Breen
Partner, Howe & Hutton, Ltd.

Margaret Brower
Director of Sales, Bonura Hospitality

Clay Brunton
Executive Chef, Beets Hospitality Group

Dave Buckley
Northeast Regional Account Executive, Marbella Event Rental

Sara Buys
Director of Events, Denver Botanic Gardens

Colbért Callen
Director of Sales and Marketing, Footers Catering

Evie Caprel
Co-Owner

Tom Caprel
President, Co-Owner

Evan Carbotti
Partner/Designer, Perfect Surroundings, Int'l.

Jordan Carbotti
Owner, Perfect Surroundings Intl

Laura Cardo
Director of Client and Media Relations, Kristin Banta Events

Nicholas-Olivier Caron
Vice President, SENIK Events

Heather Carr
Executive Chef, Footers Catering

Greg Casella
CPCE, Founder, Catered Too!

Kathy Casey
President, Kathy Casey Food Studios - Liquid Kitchen

Michelle Casserly
Executive Director of Strategic Events, Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Health Foundation

Tiffany Chalk
Owner and Lead Planner, Tiffany Chalk Events

Pierre-Etienne Chamard
President

Indigo Charles
VIP Relations

Sarah Cissna
CSEP, Event Producer, The Side Lobby

Anna Coats
Editor and Founder, Marry Me Tampa Bay

Therese Cole-Hubbs
Owner / Creative Director, Electric Karma International

Lance Connolly
Assistant Vice President for Special Events, Purdue University

Jennie Cook
Owner, Jennie Cook's Catering & Plant Based Parties

Steve Cooper
CEO, Canyon Catering

Andrea Correale
President, Elegant Affairs Caterers

Carol Costello
Professor, University of Tennessee

Rhonda Couchigian
Founder, Rayce PR

Alicia Crosby
CPCE, Director of Events, The Baltimore Museum of Art

Anne Dalgaard
Event Experience Designer, EventAnne

Colja M. Dams
CEO, VOK DAMS Agency for Events & Live-Marketing

Sebastien David
President, SENIK Events

Ronnie Davis
Managing Director, Great Performances

Steve DeAngelo
President, DeAngelos Catering and Events

Taylor DeMartino
President, DeMartino Design Group

Kevin Dennis
Owner, Fantasy Sound Event Services/Wedding IQ

Lizzy Desibia
CSMO, Russell Morin Catering & Events

Christopher Donnelly
SVP, Managing Director, Allen & Gerritsen Brand Experience

Eric Drewry
Director of Protection Services, Detroit Institute of Art

Brittny Drye
Founder, Editor in Chief , Love Inc.

Abbey Duke
Owner, Sugarsnap

Kelly Early
Owner, Thomas Caterers of Distinction

Vince Early
Director of Sales, Thomas Caterers of Distinction

Katie Easley
Owner, Creative Director, Kate Ryan Design

Jerry Edwards
Corporate Chef and President Chef's, Expressions Catering and Events Design

Deborah Elias
President and Creative Director, President

Clint Elkins
VP of Sales, SB Value

Julie Ellis
Co-Owner, The Chef's Table

Mark Ellis
Co-Owner/Executive Chef, The Chef's Table

Meghan Ely
Principal, OFD Consulting

Andrea Eppolito
Wedding Planner, Andrea Eppolito Events

Michel Ernots
Pastry Chef, The Pastry Academy

David Everett
Event Design Manager, metroConnections

Kelley Fechner
Director of Customer Solutions, Datassential

Zohe Felici
Manager

James Filtz
CPCE, CMP, Director of Meetings and Special Events, The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Hotel

Cheryl Fish
Vice President Event Design Services, High Rise Events - Someone's in the Kitchen

Tami Forero
CEO, Forte Events

Margaux Fraise
Owner & Creative Director

Scott Frankel
President, Animatic Media, LLC

Joshua Fraser
Sous Chef, The Chef's Table

Marc Friedland
Founder + Creative Director, Marc Friedland Couture Communications

Robert Frungillo
CEO, Frungillo Caterers

Megan Gillikin
Wedding/Event Planner, A Southern Soiree

Jennifer Gilman
President, Flourish&Co

Dan Gingiss
Chief Experience Officer, Winning Customer Experience, LLC

Kate Goddard
Owner, Wild Sky Events

Vijay Goel
owner, Bite Catering Couture

Patti Golden
Director of Sales, Evelyn Hill Inc.

Ruben Gomez
VP of Creative Services, Interior Design, AOO Events, Inc.

Adam Gooch
Corporate Executive Chef, Commonplea Catering

Michele Gott
CEO / Creative Director / Dream Maker

Daniela Grafman
CSEP, Chief Amazement Officer/Partner, Vision Event Company

Tomer Grassiany
Founder, Grassfed

Eric Gray
Senior Associate - Technology, Innovation and Strategic Alliances, Waste Management

Larry Green
President, Rentals Unlimited

Sylvain Gregoire
Associate, General Manager, SENIK Events

Jeff Guberman
CEO, McVeigh Global Meetins and Events

Sandy Hammer
CMO and Co-Founder, AllSeated

Kellie Hanley
Owner/Partner, Sktch Events

Bill Hansen
CEO, Bill Hansen Luxury Catering

Aleya Harris
Business Growth Strategist, GROWTH/The Social Media Pantry

Barb Harris
CSEP, DMCP, Vice President, CTC Destination Management

Matt Heikkila
Chef, By Design Collective

Gwen Helbush
President, Where to Start, Wedding Management

Jacqueline Hill
Owner, Jacqueline Events & Design

Michael Hodge
Global Security Management Consultant/Expert

Tisha Holman
Founder and CEO, Digital Marketing Strategist, Mind Your Business LLC

Jim Hooker
President and CEO, Stratelyst Creative

Michelle Joy Howard
Owner, Flora Couture

Amberlee Huggins
President and CMO, CSI DMC

Robert Hulsmeyer
Senior Partner

Ijaz Jamal
Event Management Professor and Festival Owner, George Brown College

Jamie Pritscher
CEO, Nuphoriq

Jonathan Jennings
Executive Vice President, CT Wedding Group

Melissa Jurcan
Director of Marketing, Eventions at Microsoft

Greg Karl
Managing Director, People Stretch Solutions

Alan Katz
Owner, Great Officiants

Aaron Kaufman
President, Fifth Element Group

Peggy Kelley
Chief Creative Officer, Timeless Celebrations

Barbara Khozam
Professional Speaker, Barbara Khozam Inc.

Claudia Koehler
Corporate Vice President, VOK DAMS Agency for Events and Live-Marketing

Sandy Korem
CEO, Owner , The Festive Kitchen

Andy Kushner
Founder and Host, The Wedding Biz

Eric La Brecque
Principal & Founder, Applied Storytelling

Anthony Lambatos
Co-owner & CEO, Footers Catering

April Lambatos
Co-owner & COO, Footers Catering

Lon Lane
Owner, Lon Lane's Inspired Occasions

Carla Lawrence
President

Marianne Leblanc
Chief Creative Guru and Experiential Evangelist

Matt Lee
Author, The Lee Brothers

Ted Lee
Author, The Lee Brothers

Jim Leighton
Fundraising Consultant and Event Producer, Rain Impact

Peter Lentz
General manager/Partner, Elegant Affairs

Michael Levin
Keynote Speaker & CEO, Custom Solutions Inc.

Mellysa Levy
Director of Operations, Sasha Souza Events

Dona Liston
Owner, Lambermont Events

David Lombardo
General Manager, Lombardo's To Go

Francesca Lombardo
Creative Marketing Director, Lombardo's To Go

Mark Lopez
CFO (Chef/Farmer/Owner), Crave Catering

Keith Lord
Owner, Stratəjē Fourteen

Luscombe, CSEM, CSEP, CMP
Lead Event Architect, Eclectic Events International

Mary Beth Maggio
Special Events Coordinator, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Emily Malaya
General Manager, The RK Group

Alexi Mandolini
Chef of Creative Development, Catering By Design

Albert Manzo
President, The Brownstone

Lisa Marks
Owner & Founder, Brand Alive Inc.

Arona Martin
President, Oh, Arona! Experiences

Nico Martini
Founder, Bar Draught

Aris Marton
Associate Director of Retail Operations, Duke University

Jeremy Martorano
Creative Event Architect

Nicole Matthews
Founder, The Henley Company, LLC

Mary-Beth McDowell
Director of Wedding Planning, Connecticut Wedding Group

Thomas McDowell
CEO, Connecticut Wedding Group

Kelly McKeon
Photographer, Digital Designer and Owner Art of Capture Las Vegas

John McLallen
Sous Chef, The Chef's Table

Holly Mechsner
CEO

Sumir Meghani
Co-founder, CEO, Instawork

David Merrell
President, AOO Events, Inc.

Debbie Meyers-Shock
President/CEO, BRAVO! Entertainment

Brady Miller
Executive Producer, AEP

Natasha Miller
Owner, Entire Productions

Joe Mineo
Owner Creative Director, Joe Mineo Creative

Jeremy Miner
Director of Operations, Empyrean Events

Renee Miner
President | Chief Event Designer, Empyrean Events and Catering

Kevin Molesworth
President, Brass Tacks Events

Morgan Montgomery
CPCE, CMP, Co-Owner, Paisley & Jade

Morgan Montgomery
Co-Owner, Paisley & Jade

Jesse Moreno
Chef, US Foods

Russell Morin
CEO, Russell Morin Catering & Events

Suzanne Morrell
Owner, STM enterprises and Founder DC Event Food Waste Coalition and Events2030.org

Melissa Murray
CEO - Chief Encouragement Officer, Mosaix Group

Nathaniel Neubauer
Owner and Executive Chef, Contemporary Catering

Vagn Nielsen
Corporate Executive Chef, Proof of the Pudding

Julie Novack
CEO & Co-Founder, PartySlate

Meagan O'Flaherty
Strategic Events Officer, Hackensack Meridian Health Meridian Health Foundation

Shaun O'Neale
Private Chef, My Modern American Table

Karen OConnor
Executive Chef, Daniel et Daniel Catering and Event Planning

Angie Ogren
Account Supervisor, One10

Delanie Olsen
Marketing Specialist, Total Event Resources

Jessica Olson
Director of Events and Programs, Davidson College

Christie Osborne
Founder & Owner, Mountainside Media

Joann Oseary
President, Someones in the Kitchen

Bob Pacanovsky
Chief Hospitality Officer, The Black Tie Experience

Steve Palmer
Managing Partner, Founder, The Indigo Road Hospitality Group

Pauline Parry
Founder & President, Good Gracious! Events

Kate Patay
Chief Strategy Officer, Kate Patay Consulting

Susie Perelman
Owner, Mosaic, inc.

Jennifer Perna
Owner and Founder, Fulton Market Consulting

David Scott Peters
Restaurant consultant, speaker, CEO, Owner

Millie Phillips
Director of Catering Sales, Southern Exchange Ballrooms

Stacey Phillips
Client Relationship Manager, TSEC

Fausto Pifferrer
Vice President/Owner, Blue Elephant Events and Catering

Roy Porter
Activities Director, Engage-Works Inc.

Jen Poyer
CSEP, Sr. Special Events Manager, Catalina Island Conservancy

Wendy Price
Safety Compliance & Training, Mandalay Bay Resort Casino

Angela Proffitt
Event & Productivity Consultant, Angela Proffitt, LLC

Joanne Purnell
VP Chef de Cuisine, Good Gracious Events!

Jamie Quickert
Director of Catering, Detroit Institute of Arts

William Ragsdale
Executive Chef / VP Culinary, The RK Group

Jose Ramirez
Director of Marketing, AFR Furniture Rental

John Reed
Owner, Customized Culinary Solutions

Tessa Reuber
Sous Chef, Footers Catering

India Rhodes
Partner, Wilkinson Rhodes

Timothy Riedel
VP of Marketing & Ops, ezCater

Joshua Riggs
CPCE, Associate Director of Private Events, Denver Botanic Gardens

Keith Roberson
Business Development & Project Manager, Epting Events

Liza Roeser Atwood
CEO & Founder, FiftyFlowers

Jose Rolon
Pwner, Jose Rolon Events

Eric Romero
Event Planner Specialist

Rich Rosendale
Certified Master Chef and Owner, Rosendale Events

Michael Rosman
President/Owner, The Corporate Caterer

Julie Roth Novack
CEO & Co-founder, PartySlate

Roy Porter
Activities Director, Engage-Works Inc.

Ryan Hanson
CSEP, Chief Creative Offier/Princple, BeEvents

Carl Sacks
Senior Consultant, Managing Director, Certified Catering Consultants

David Sandler
Executive Vice President, Catering by Michaels

Tanya Scagnol
Creative Director, Fifth Element Group

Heath Schecter
Chef / Owner, Hey Chef Heath

Kelsey Schwarz
General Manager, Rayce PR

Alicia Seifert
Event Visionary

Jeffrey Selden
Managing Partner, Marcia Selden Catering & Events

Robin Selden
Managing Partner/Executive Chef, Marcia Selden Catering & Events

Greg Shapiro
Chef/Owner, Tastebuds Custom Catering

Rachel Sheerin
Speaker and Team Trainer, RachelSheerin.com

Kelsey Shoefsky
Founder, Shelter Co

Dana Siles
New England Coordinator, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine

Trish Simitakos
Founder

Adam Sloyer
Chief Executive Officer, Sequence

Morgan Smith
Diector of Events, Curtis Stone Events

Meryl Snow
Owner, Snowstorm Solutions

Jorge Soto
Chef de Partie, Soto Brothers

Juan Soto
Chef de Partie, Soto Brothers

Sasha Souza
Event Planner, Sasha Souza Events

Cyndie Spiegel
Author & Inclusion Specialist, CyndieSpiegel.com

Stavros
Director of Business Development, M Culinary Concepts

Kathleen Stoehr
Director of Community & Content Strategy, Catersource

Callie Stringer
CMP, Catering Manager, Mandalay Bay Resort

Emily Sullivan
Owner, Emily Sullivan Events

Mary Swaffield CSEP
Wedding Planner & Business Strategist, The Wedpreneur: Smart Business for Wedding Pros

Lenny Talarico
CSEP, CHE, Director of Sales, Blueprint Studios

Lenny Talarico
Director of Sales, Blueprint Studios

Jude Tauzin
Corporate Chef, Tony Chachere's Creole Foods

Leah Taylor
Vice President, LEO Events

Terrica
Owner, Cocktails & Details® / Terrica Inc.

Ginger Timms
Co-owner, A&G Timms

Kelly Treadway
Owner & Lead Strategist, EventCurious

Quiana Tyson
CMP, Director of Special Event, Duke University

Clint Upchurch
Senior Experience Designer, Allied PRA

Laura Vaughn
Pastry Chef, US Foods

Adrian Verdin
Chief Business Development Officer, Hospitality Alliance

Alisa Walsh
Director of Business Development, Eventworks

Jamie Pritscher
CEO, Nuphoriq

Tom Walter
Chief Culture Officer , Tasty Catering

Jeff Ward
President, No Salt Laser Light Shows

Jeff Ware
Director of Operations, Catering by Michaels

Lisa Ware
Director of Business Development & Special Projects, Catering by Michaels

Lauren Warner
Director of Sales and Events, The Chef's Table

Sally Webb
Chair, Academic Event Professional Program

Nicholas Weber
Executive Chef, 24 Carrots Catering

Leah Weinberg
Owner, Creative Director, Color Pop Events

Cara Weiss
Owner, President, SAVE The DATE, LLC events and promotions your way

Mark Wells
Senior Vice President, Creative Services, Hello! Destination Management

Dylan Westfall
Chef de Tournant, Footers Catering

Dustin Westling
Managing Partner, OneWest Event Design

Tyler White
Culinary Program Manager, UT Culinary Institute

Jessica Woford
Owner and Leader Planner, Refined Events

Elgin Woodman
Executive chef, Joy Wallace Catering and Design

2020 Sponsors and Partners

PLATINUM:
• Cambro
• Nowsta
• Sterno
• U.S. Foods

GOLD:
• Barilla
• Front of the House
• Staffmate Online

SILVER:
• Instawork
• Waring

CRYSTAL:
• Caterease
• CORT
• Forbes
• Fresh Origins

SHOW SPONSOR:
• 3M Stationery and Office Supplies Division
• American Lamb Board
• American Metalcraft
• Caffe Di Artisan
• Chef Rubber
• Cres Cor
• Dell
• Essity
• Global Event Supply
• H&H Products Company
• Modular Backdrops
• Oregon Fruit Products
• pc/nametag
• Professional Programs
• Qwick
• Sabert
• The Cocktail Chemist
• Tony Chachere's Creole Foods
• Veloxity

SUPPORTING ASSOCIATIONS:
• ILEA
• NACE

INDUSTRY PARTNERS:
• AEP
• AfWPi
vSEARCH Foundation
• The Student Event Planners Association (SEPA)
• SPIN
• WIPA