IAEE Hosts Successful Women’s Leadership Forum, Celebrates 2022 Woman of Achievement Award Winner

April 19, 2022

As an annual education and networking event for female exhibitions and events industry professionals at all stages of their careers, IAEE’s signature Women’s Leadership Forum convened 184 attendees for two days of knowledge, inspiration, resources and strategies for career success. Held March 23-24 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., the 10th annual conference also celebrated the 2022 Woman of Achievement Award winner, Lenay Gore, former senior director of meetings and trade shows with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). 

“The energy, enthusiasm and engagement among the attendees at this year’s program was exciting to experience,” said IAEE Executive Vice President and COO Cathy Breden. “This program provides attendees with a broad range of impactful information that can be applied immediately to their career, regardless of where they may be in their career path.” 

Sessions presented, along with “Afterthought” roundtable discussions on each subject, included the following: 

  • From Frustrated to Focused: Mindset Strategies for Career and Business Growth, presented by Debbie Peterson, president and keynote speaker, Getting to Clarity
  • Navigating Behaviors & Emotions in Uncertain Times: Tips and Tools for Improving Interactions and Emotional Wellbeing, presented by Claudia St. John, founder and president, Affinity HR Group
  • Come Alive: The Power of Purpose and Reinvention, presented by Yvette R. Simpson, Esq., founder and CEO, Yvette Simpson, executive strategist, consultant and media contributor
  • Ignite Your Shift: Overcoming the Discomfort of Change, presented by Anne Bonney, speaker, author and podcaster, Different Shoe Enterprises 

IAEE Women's Leadership Forum

“What a great lineup [of speakers], and the way you complimented each other and wove other pieces of earlier presentations into your own was fantastic,” said Mary Becton, an attendee and founder and principal consultant with Dogwood Event Strategies. “My cup is filled today after listening to the four [speakers] yesterday!” 

At the luncheon on the second day of the lively event, IAEE announced Gore as the recipient of the 2022 Woman of Achievement Award, which recognizes a woman who has led the way in the advancement of women in the exhibitions and events industry, exhibited outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to the industry and her community. 

“I am honored and humbled to receive the IAEE Woman of Achievement Award,” Gore said. “I have been fortunate to have an extraordinary career, and I am grateful for the involvement with this wonderful industry. To my friends and colleagues in the trade show industry, I thank you all and IAEE for the support over the years. What a great way to start my retirement!” 

After serving on the supplier side of the events industry for more than 25 years, the 30-year industry veteran started at APTA in 2008 as the director of meetings and conventions, where she led a team responsible for six major meetings with exhibits and more than 35 smaller meetings annually (APTA’s triennial EXPO and annual meeting attracts more than 15,000 attendees spanning more than 285,000 net square feet of exhibit space). Prior to APTA, she worked for the San Diego Convention Center, IEP (now PRG), GES, the Washington D.C. Convention and Tourism Corporation and both Renaissance and Hilton Hotels. 

A dedicated IAEE member for 25 years, Gore has served on almost every committee the association has to offer on both the national and chapter levels, and also served on the IAEE Services Board of Directors for many years, including a term as chairperson, according to IAEE officials. She is also in the HSMAI DC Hall of Fame and won IAEE’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009. 

Lenay Gore

“I’ve worked with Lenay in her volunteer leadership roles over the past 20 years and have always been impressed with how she can hone in on what’s being discussed and provide her perspective,” Breden said. “When she agrees to do something, she is all-in. She is deserving of this award and I wish her all the best as she transitions into retirement.” 

Besides empowering educational sessions and plentiful peer-to-peer networking opportunities, each year, the event also features a social giving activity to help the local community. This year, the women of IAEE came together to raise $2,600 for The SOFEI Group (Starting Over for Economic Independence), a nonprofit organization committed to helping women throughout the Washington, D.C., region emerge from economic instability through education, training and development. 

“This year’s [Women’s Leadership Forum focused] on clarity of purpose and taking ownership of the role we play in our own success and delivered a palpable energy among participants and an amazing synergy from our speakers,” said IAEE Women’s Leadership Committee Chairperson Shauna Peters, vice president and marketing strategist for mdg, A Freeman Company. “I am grateful to IAEE and the Women’s Leadership Committee for their time and thoughtful intention in developing this program.”

Check out a CNTV video recap of the 2022 IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum here

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.