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THE LIST
People. In. The Club.
In Club Ichi, we don't do things the normal way. We don't make lists that tag influencers so we can capture reach. We don't make lists full of prospects that we can cold call. We engage the people who want to engage with us and try to bring an air of playfulness and joy to everything we do. THE LIST is no different. We invited Club Ichi members to join the list, and these are the 51 intrepid Club members who raised their hands! We know them and you should too.
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Welcome to THE LIST.
(in no particular order)
Melissa Welch
Melissa Welch, CTSM, is an experienced Event and Tradeshow Strategist recognized for her collaborative leadership and focus on stakeholder success. She excels at designing and executing impactful events that align with organizational goals, delivering memorable experiences that drive business results.
Marsha Sharpe
Marsha Sharpe is the EVP of People, Culture, and Learning at SongDivision, leading initiatives that foster creativity and collaboration. She also serves as Board Chair of the Maui Food Bank and Board Member of IMUA Family Services, demonstrating her commitment to community service and well-being.
Heidi Hiller
Heidi Hiller is the Founder and Creative Director of Innovative Party Planners and Event Pros, an award-winning firm creating custom events and décor for nonprofits, corporations, and social celebrations. Recognized among BizBash’s Top People in the U.S. Event Industry, she also co-directs MitzvahPros and serves on the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce board.
Trisha Gouveia
​Trisha Gouveia is the an Integrated Events Marketing Unicorn, with 25+ years in marketing, events, and demand generation in the tech sector. She is recognized for leading large-scale campaigns, fostering teamwork, and sharing insights on marketing, events, and leadership.
Monica Birrenkott
Monica Birrenkott is the founder and president of Full Swing Productions, an LED video company in Minnesota. With an MFA in creative writing and 15+ years in the event industry, she blends storytelling with immersive technology and shares insights on entrepreneurship and creative innovation.
Kalina Sanchez
Kalina Sanchez is a field marketing and event strategy leader driving impactful campaigns and client experiences as Senior Field Marketing Manager at DISCO. With nearly a decade of experience at companies like Cobalt and Forcepoint, she blends creativity and strategy to deliver measurable business results.
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Wendy Porter
Wendy Porter, Founder of Wendy Porter Events, has produced 1,300+ events, including 13 years leading experiences for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. Recognized with the 2024 Smart Women in Meetings Visionary Award and named to EventEx’s 100 Most Influential People in U.S. Events, she also serves as Vice Chair of Government Affairs for the Live Events Coalition, advocating for the industry on Capitol Hill.
Phil Mershon
Phil Mershon is an event strategist, keynote speaker, and author of Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences. With 25+ years of experience, he designs transformative events, leads Social Media Examiner’s conferences, and hosts The Event Innovator Show podcast.
Pete Wilhelm
Pete Wilhelm is the Vice President of Event Acquisitions & Partnerships at The Experience Resorts in the Caribbean, responsible for securing strategic partnerships that elevate guest experiences; with a background curating large events for major brands—including NBC, NASCAR, and YouTube—he brings deep expertise in event marketing and partnerships to create unforgettable events.
Julie DeQuattro
Julie DeQuattro, MBA, CTSM, SHRM-PMQ, is an Experiential Marketing and Events Manager passionate about creating “WOW” moments. A tradeshow enthusiast and advocate for inclusion, she combines strategic expertise with creativity to deliver engaging experiences.
Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark
Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is the CEO and Founder of Influence Builder, a digital marketing agency helping entrepreneurs and brands amplify their online presence. A 4× LinkedIn Top Voice, award-winning podcast host, international speaker, and bestselling author, she specializes in AI-driven marketing, influencer campaigns, and LinkedIn strategies that fuel engagement and business growth.
Janice Cardinale VEMM
Heart-Centric Entrepreneur, Leader, Mentor, Wellness Advocate, Speaker, Writer, Human Sustainability Voice.
Founder of Event Minds Matter.
Angela Gargano
Angela Gargano is a 6x American Ninja Warrior, former biochemist, and dynamic keynote speaker who empowers individuals and organizations to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. She is the founder of the RIGHT™ Method, helping people build physical strength, mental resilience, and confidence.
Lori Crowe
Lori brings 30 years of corporate, nonprofit, and association experience, designing tailored marketing and communication strategies that boost event outcomes, strengthen brands, and bring client visions to life. She holds a master’s in Integrated Communications from the University of South Carolina and gives back through teaching, mentoring, and service to charitable organizations.
Janel Leatherman
Janel Leatherman is Senior Manager of Integrated Events at SimplePractice, where she designs and executes experiences that foster community and meaningful connections. She takes a strategic, collaborative approach to event planning, creating inclusive and innovative events that align with organizational goals and inspire growth.
Jenny Blaschke
Jenny Blaschke is a global event artist and award-winning luxury calligrapher, named a BIZBASH Top 10 Industry Innovator. As owner of Olive + Cedar Designs, she creates bespoke calligraphy and engraving experiences for brands like Cartier, Prada, and David Yurman, blending artistry with experiential marketing to leave lasting impressions.
Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, DES, WMEP
Anca P. Trifan, CMP, WMEP is a strategic event technology leader, Speaker, AI consultant, and AV production expert, dedicated to redefining the event experience through AI, AV, and #fit4events™ wellness-driven innovation.
Rachael Chesser
Rachael Chesser is an accomplished global event marketing leader and event strategist. She currently partners with Adobe as an Events Manager through the Crawford Group, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in campaign management, event technology, and developing strategies that drive results.
Dana Ellis
Dana Ellis is a meeting producer and event planner with 25+ years of experience managing corporate meetings, tradeshows, incentive programs, and special events worldwide. Known for her organizational expertise and global vendor relationships, she specializes in full-cycle event management—from logistics and budgeting to speaker support, AV, and VIP services.
Erica Hilgeman Moon
Experienced high tech business-to-business Marketing Leader. Solutions Marketing guru. Excel at simplifying complex technology concepts into customer benefit statements. Seasoned customer and event presenter. Trend spotter.
Matthew Laws
Matthew Laws is a wellness, safety, and technology innovator in the events industry. He created the VR Wellness & Meditation program, launched the Safe Expo Heartsaver Program, and develops custom tech solutions that streamline operations and elevate attendee experiences.
Cheryl Draper
Cheryl Draper is the Head of Events & Field Marketing at Inflection_io and Chief Experience Officer at Draper Creative Co. with over 20 years of experience in events, marketing and growth. She is passionate about bringing brands to life through impactful experiences, and a champion for continuous learning and innovation.
Marc Ghafoori
Marc Ghafoori is a leader at Alpha Tooth who helps event organizations solve business challenges through strategy, execution, and human-centered design. With expertise in operations, branding, and process optimization, he creates practical solutions that drive impact and build events that truly deliver results.
Heather Long
Heather Long is Co-Owner and Creative Director at EPS Live Events, specializing in design, art direction, and live event production. Her award-winning work blends creativity and precision to deliver seamless, high-impact corporate events worldwide.
Dave Green
Dave Green is the Chief Mysterious Officer at Mystery Trip, an award-winning company creating surprise corporate outings and team-building adventures. With a flair for creativity and connection, he designs one-of-a-kind experiences that spark bonding, break routines, and uncover the extraordinary.
Steph Couch
Steph Couch, CMP, is a seasoned Freelance Executive Producer, Event Producer, Stage Manager, and Show Caller with expertise in large-scale in-person and hybrid events. Known for her meticulous planning and adaptability, she partners with clients to deliver seamless, high-impact experiences across industries.
Brian Riha
Brian Riha is the Co-Founder and Executive Producer of 82 South, Inc., an Orlando-based event production company honored with multiple Telly Awards for virtual and immersive experiences. With 22+ years in the industry, he leads multi-stage project delivery with a focus on fresh, thoughtful design that forges emotional connections between audiences and brands.
Jennifer Rasco Smith
Jennifer Rasco Smith specializes in transforming event registration, websites, and mobile apps into seamless, user-friendly experiences. With expertise in design, functionality, and technology integration, she streamlines event processes to ensure engaging, intuitive platforms for attendees.
Krista Andersen
Krista Andersen, CMP, is an experienced event strategy and execution specialist at EagleView in the Denver metro area. Known for her detail-oriented approach, she leverages her expertise in planning, logistics, and attendee experience to deliver high-impact events that align with organizational goals.
Kyle Morris
Kyle Morris is the Vice President of Business Development at NMR Events and an avid event technologist with over a decade of leadership in growth and client partnerships. His career spans Pro Sho Productions and serving as Video Crew Chief for the hitRECord On the Road tour, bringing deep expertise in event production and technology.
Crissy Manwaring
Crissy Manwaring is a creative professional and global sourcing expert, focused on turning promotional products into sustainable, impactful brand experiences. She is also an engaging speaker, sharing insights on marketing, sustainability, and creating lasting impressions through thoughtful product selection.
Robin Shear
Robin Shear is a TEDx and global joy speaker, certified joy coach, and bestselling author of Messy Joy: How Joy Can Begin Before Your Difficulties End. She creates burnout-busting, interactive experiences that empower individuals and organizations to embrace joy as a choice, with her work featured in TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and Psychology Today.
Dallin Cooper
As an award-winning speaker, Dallin Cooper uses research-backed methods to help schools and organizations broaden their perspectives and develop emotional maturity to eliminate conflict and build relationships of trust.
Sarah Alvarez, CMP
Sarah Alvarez is a Senior Event Marketing Manager with 20+ years of experience creating events that boost brand visibility, generate leads, and drive sales. Managing 50+ events annually, she delivers seamless, high-impact experiences that showcase the strengths of her sales teams and partners.
Peggy H. Lamberton, CMP Emeritus
The 20+ years of experience managing on-site have prepared me to anticipate problems and avoid “hiccups.” Prior to this, I worked in hotels, in the banquets, restaurant, and rooms divisions.
Jennifer Phillips
Jennifer is an accomplished events and marketing leader known for attention to detail, executive presence, and the ability to exceed customer expectations. Skilled at leading teams in complex organizations, driving impactful outcomes without formal authority, and delivering results through strong project management expertise.
Tess Vismale
Tess is an event rescuer, technologist, and production expert with 25+ years of experience helping planners execute flawless events under pressure. As founder of iSocialExecution and longtime TEDxAtlanta Stage Manager, she specializes in last-minute event tech support, training, and execution—bringing calm, creativity, and confidence when it’s needed most.
Suzette Wilson Samuels
From Senior EP to VP on the agency side. Suzette brings 25+ years of global event strategy and execution to brands and leaders ready to create culture-forward, human-centric experiences. As founder of SWS (Strength, Wisdom, Soul) she create experiences that make people feel seen and connected. Her work blends corporate precision with Caribbean soul, fueled by a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and building trust that delivers results.
Tamar Beck
With 15 years of event experience, Tamar Beck has led everything from individual projects to full portfolio management, including sales, marketing, operations, finance, launches, and acquisitions. Skilled in strategy, financial management, and relationship building, she specializes in driving event growth through #CommunityMarketing with Gleanin.
Joe Federbush
Joe Federbush is the President of Evolio Marketing and an experienced event marketing leader with deep expertise in research, measurement, and strategy. With a background in analytics, storytelling, and business development, he helps organizations maximize the impact of face-to-face events and drive measurable ROI.
Erin Griss
Erin Griss is the Marketing Manager at Mobly with a background spanning marketing strategy, digital marketing, and events. Formerly Director of Marketing Operations at Bandwango, she also brings experience from the Winter Park & Fraser Chamber of Commerce and a unique history as the youngest athlete named to the U.S. Aerial Ski Team.
Heather Herrig
Heather Herrig, CMP, is an event strategist and hospitality advocate with over a decade of experience creating impactful in-person and virtual experiences. As founder of Every Last Detail and through Gather Media Network, she blends strategy, creativity, and hospitality to deliver conferences, incentives, and tradeshows that drive measurable ROI across multiple industries.
Jennafer Ross
Jennafer (Bloom) Ross, CMP, CED, is the Founder and CEO of JR Global Events with 20+ years of expertise in strategic meeting and event management. She leads a team that delivers conferences, trade shows, and global incentive programs, creating seamless experiences for groups of all sizes while aligning events with business goals and measurable value.
Liz Lathan
Liz Lathan is the co-founder of Club Ichi, the #1 community for B2B event marketers, and The Community Factory, helping companies design events that connect attendees year-round. A 20+ year event marketing veteran and former global event leader at Dell and IBM, she’s known as “The What If Girl” for sparking fresh ideas through her daily posts, newsletter The Engaged Attendee, and her passion for creating connection-driven experiences.
Noah Opolsky
Noah Opolsky is an Enterprise Account Manager at Swoogo, where he helps organizations streamline event operations and elevate attendee experiences through event technology and SaaS solutions. Known for his relationship-building skills and industry expertise, he is passionate about using technology to drive efficiency and innovation in event planning.
Nancy Albert
Nancy Albert is a Senior Program Manager at Cenetri Publishing Group, specializing in international medical conferences and scientific programs. She played a key role in the 2019 European Cardio Care conference in Budapest, bringing together leading healthcare professionals worldwide.
Jill Rasco
Jill Rasco, DES, CITP, is co-founder of Attendee Management, Inc., specializing in tech-driven registration and onsite support for events up to 5,000 attendees. Known for her calm, solutions-focused approach, she simplifies event management so planners can deliver seamless experiences.
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Eric Burns
Eric Burns designs high-impact experiential events that go far beyond cocktail kits and mixology classes. His hands-on sessions - ranging from Raspberry Pi builds to Cybersecurity and AI challenges - ignite curiosity and connection, often filling within hours and drawing Directors, VPs, and C-Suite leaders. Even beginners can build real devices, sparking conversations and collaboration that last well beyond the event.
Sarah Ramsden
Sarah (Brown) Ramsden, CMP, CVP, is a corporate talent buyer at Neste Live!, a Live Nation company, with over 15 years of experience in venue and event management. She is passionate about building connections and creating impactful, memorable experiences across the nonprofit, higher education, and corporate sectors.
Emee Pumarega
Emilynn (Emee) Pumarega, CMP, is an inclusive travel, events, and hospitality professional with 20+ years of experience creating meaningful experiences that connect people. As founder of EJP Events, she specializes in corporate, nonprofit, and social event planning with a focus on cultural competency and guest experience design.
Nicole Osibodu
Nicole Osibodu is a hug-addicted visionary and co-founder of Club Ichi, the private membership club for B2B event marketers, where she forges strategic partnerships and fuels a thriving community of 10,000+. She’s also the co-creator of the world’s first secret business trip and has produced unforgettable projects ranging from Christmas at the White House to Austin’s first women’s professional sports team, The Texas Smoke.
Jihan Donawa
With 18 years of experience in tech, pharma, and finance, she is an event strategist, community builder, and creative director known for turning big ideas into unforgettable experiences. From full-cycle event management to leading the Swoogo atelier, she brings creativity, connection, and a touch of wit to every project.