Don’t let the dulcet tones of her Texas drawl fool you; Patty Stern is a real contender. In fact, this industry leader won Planner of the Year three times and in three locations—Texas, New York City and New Jersey.
Five new team members have joined the ranks of The Special Event Company in Cary, N.C. These include program coordinators, Whitney Freberg, CMP, and Jayne Regan; business development managers, Lana Calloway and Monica M. Smith; and event designer, Caroline Sewell.
Running a town is a lot like running a convention, says Deb Bullwinkel, and she should know. As a full-time meeting planner in the nonprofit sector the past 20-plus years, Bullwinkel decided to extend her reach even farther in 2009 by becoming a trustee in her home village of Villa Park before eventually becoming mayor in 2013. She was a top vote getter in both races. “I enjoy serving the people and public service,” she says, speaking from her village office before heading to her home office for round two.
Boulder native and Destination Colorado President Lisa Lindgren takes helm of a classic Colorado hotel.
The Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau (FWCVB) recently unveiled a new services microsite for meeting planners due to increased meeting attendance and a high number of requests. FortWorth.com/Plan offers tools and tips that allow clients to plan and promote a meeting seamlessly.
“We wanted to create an online environment that is a one-stop shop for our customers,” said Nannette Eiland, FWCVB director of services. “The number of meetings serviced by the FWCVB has increased 28% in the past five years and we expect that number to continue to grow.”
For 21 years, Proprietor Tony Del Gatto has been sharing his love of vera cucina Italiana—true Italian cuisine, the way it’s found in Italy today—at Grissini, his swanky, stylish restaurant in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County. Old school in all the best ways, Grissini presents fresh, delicious food in a classy space. Enjoy a well-made cocktail at the restaurant’s convivial, buzzing bar or a glass of wine from the restaurant’s extensive list of fine Old World Wines while savoring a true taste of Italy.
