When considering who is making a significant impact on the meetings and events industry in Colorado, several influential people come to mind. At Colorado Meetings + Events, we dialed it in to feature the presidents and chairs of four key associations, whose commitments are focused on furthering the industry and engaging with the many people involved.
Daniel Stones, CMP, DES, senior director of industry relations for Denver’s Cogent Global Solutions and president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association (RMPCMA), fondly refers to Colorado’s unique grouping of professionals as the “Colorado meeting planner mafia.” He says, “Colorado may not have the largest collection of planners and suppliers in the country, but we are a very tight-knit and mighty community here. We’re super supportive of one another and really enjoy spending time together.”
The path to becoming involved in this cohesive network is as simple as picking up the phone or sending an email. Before long, you might become one of the Colorado meetings industry’s movers and shakers. “Take that first step of reaching out, even if you’re nervous to do so,” says Angela “Fig” Wirkler, CMP, director of sales for Visit Boulder and president of Meeting Professionals International Rocky Mountain Chapter (MPIRMC). “No matter what association you decide to be a part of, everyone is so welcoming and will support you in your growth.”
Blazing a Path
Stones joined RMPCMA 15 years ago and admits it took a long time before he began participating in chapter activities. He was elected to the RMPCMA board of directors in 2020, starting out as director of programs and becoming president three years later. “My very dear friends, Megan Finnell and Megan Martin, cornered me at an RMPCMA event in 2019 and asked if I’d be willing to join the board. We still joke about how their ‘ask’ sure didn’t include many question marks,” he says, laughing.
He admits it wasn’t great timing to take over his first board role in January 2020, because only two months later required “fumbling my way through some amazing pandemic events—socially distanced, hybrid, digital, multistate hybrid, metaverse, et cetera,” Stones recalls. “Those were events that almost nobody was doing at the time, and they really put our chapter in the global spotlight. It had an enormous impact on my approach to the next stages of my career.”
While being a chapter president is a big responsibility, Stones emphasizes that it is equally as rewarding as his membership with MPIRMC. “I get to work with the best and brightest people in our industry in service of something that is more than just us and our day jobs. We are champions of this industry and get to help advance individual careers, as well as impact the business events economy.”
As senior director of industry relations of Cogent Global Solutions, an event production and audiovisual company, Stone finds volunteering to be a large part of his job. His meeting-planning career began in 2005 at Solution Tree in Bloomington, Indiana, and continued at Educause in Louisville, Colorado, in 2013. In late 2020, he and his friends established third-party planning company Coalesced Events in Denver to stay busy during the pandemic, and went on to coordinate webinars for Medical Group Management Association in Englewood before joining Maritz—headquartered in Fenton, Missouri—as a strategic account director.
Stones also stresses that getting involved is as easy as expressing interest. “Reach out to any of our local chapters and ask what spots are open,” he says. “Most have all sorts of needs from board seats and committee roles to micro-volunteer opportunities. Pick something that sounds interesting and jump in with both feet. You can always try other roles as you move along, and you never know what you’re going to love doing.”
Building Relationships
Wirkler began her career in travel and hospitality in 2013 and has held various sales roles at Visit Boulder since 2014. She is enthusiastic about sharing the city’s unique charm with groups and admits to being “a wanderlust-driven travel junkie.”
A guiding light for her career is building relationships with so many people. Wirkler says, “I cherish the opportunities I get to interact and connect with clients, partners, and attendees. Every event is unique, with different goals, attendees, and locations. This keeps things fresh and exciting—every day in the office is a little different.”
Initially, she was inspired to join MPIRMC in 2016 to network with other meeting professionals and attract group business to Boulder, but her involvement grew to filling various volunteer roles and becoming president of the chapter last year. She also is a member of RMPCMA, Destination Colorado Meetings, and Destinations International.
“I soon realized that my involvement offered much more than business opportunities,” Wirkler explains. “It allowed me to connect with the community, enhance my professional development, and foster personal growth. Being a part of these associations allows me to engage with like-minded professionals, stay informed about industry trends, and contribute to the advancement of the meetings and events industry, which we all cherish.”
Serving as president has been an honor, she emphasizes. “Being in a position where I can help others find their voice while leading the organization, guiding its strategic direction, and ensuring missions and goals are fulfilled is an incredible responsibility that I don’t take lightly. It involves collaborating with a dedicated team, making key decisions, and representing the organization to the community and industry.”
Beyond the amazing landscapes and outdoor adventures, she appreciates the spirit of collaboration and genuine hospitality in Colorado. “Communities understand the power of tourism and embrace visitors with open arms, ensuring everyone benefits from the industry’s success.”
Sharing Business Acumen
Desiree Kelly, CPCE, was a molecular biologist before establishing The Makery Cake Co. in 2006. While she’s no longer involved in day-to-day cake production, her key role as president is focused on operations and securing orders for the Centennial-based enterprise.
Kelly’s business coach suggested getting involved with an association where industry referrals happen and opportunities to serve on the board of directors existed. “She recommended building strength and credibility for my brand so we could hold a better position in the market,” Kelly recalls.
She found the National Association for Catering & Events Greater Denver Chapter to be the best fit and joined in 2017, filling a communications role on the board a year later. Serving as director of education was next as she noticed “a real need for my friends in the industry to get better business acumen,” she says. “Having a Master of Business Administration degree, I thought I could help.”
After assisting five members in earning Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) designations, she became president in 2021, has held the role ever since, and is fondly known as “Prez Dez.” She says, “I love how inclusive our organization is. If the whole industry prospers, the whole industry gets stronger.”
Kelly especially enjoys helping organize creative chapter events. “I really love making people happy,” she shares. “I’m a nurturer by nature. Throwing parties brings such a positive energy to everyone—people have a great time, they relax, they bond with their friends, and everything about it is positive.”
She joined the National Speakers Association (NSA) Colorado in 2019. “I joined NSA because I was talking publicly quite a bit and wanted to learn how to do it better,” Kelly says. “I speak mostly at high schools and colleges about entrepreneurship. I have spoken at Future Business Leaders of America’s conferences and gave a TED-type talk at Global Meetings Industry Day for the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado.”
Embracing Industry Collaboration
Sydney Rhea, CEM, became chair of the Meetings Industry Council (MIC) of Colorado in July and aims to attract more planners to the 25th annual MIC Conference and Trade Show, March 25-26 of next year in Denver. The council also will host the Serving Up Hope Luncheon on Nov. 14 of this year to benefit the nonprofit Food Bank of the Rockies.
“I love that MIC of Colorado consists of 12 diverse organizations within the hospitality and events industry,” she says. “Each organization has its own priorities, but coming together ensures that Colorado’s hospitality and meetings industry is well-supported and fostering future collaboration across all sectors.”
Rhea joined the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Rocky Mountain Chapter in 2015 while working for Penton Media, based in New York City (since acquired by Informa, based in London, England). “I got involved because my supervisor encouraged me to pursue further education in the trade show industry beyond what my company provided. She supported me in obtaining my Certificate in Exhibition Management (CEM) by attending 10 industry-relevant classes over three years,” she says.
Rhea’s involvement led to becoming IAEE’s representative to the MIC, director of communications, treasurer, and chair. “Serving as MIC chair is a privilege that aligns with my dedication to elevating Colorado’s hospitality and meetings industry,” she says. “It’s about stewarding a legacy of excellence and fostering collaboration that ensures our industry’s continued vitality.”
Today, she is the sustainability project delivery manager for Informa Markets North America, which has offices across the continent—including one in Boulder—leading sustainability initiatives for trade shows and conferences for this geographic division of the world’s largest trade show production company. “I advise over 70 conferences and trade shows on sustainable practices for their events and influence sustainable development within their industries,” she explains.
Previously, she worked in operations for Informa, organizing and executing trade shows with up to 14,000 attendees, and planned weddings and galas in New York City. “To me, the meetings and events industry is about collaborating to bring an individual’s or group’s vision to life,” Rhea says.
Investing in the future of the meetings and hospitality industry is a top priority for Rhea, and one way she accomplishes this is by paying it forward and mentoring others who are entering or expanding their roles in the industry. She says, “I encourage experienced professionals to do the same, as teaching often yields more learning and value than working in a vacuum.”
bouldercoloradousa.com
cogentglobalsolutions.com
iaee.com
informamarkets.com
themakery.com
mic-colorado.org
mpi.org
nace.net
nsaspeaker.org
pcma.org
