A veteran of the hospitality and meetings industry since 1972, Dave has held various positions in conference and catering services and account sales, moving from Conference Services Manager to Sales Manager, Director and VP Sales and Marketing in four and five star resorts. 

In 1996 he started Meeting Connections, Inc. and began working as a buyer of hotel space rather than a seller. Expert in meeting contract negotiations, cost containment strategies and risk mitigation, Dave travels extensively to ensure that clients are buying space at properties that definitely meet their needs, in addition to purchasing their space for the lowest cost and least risk.

He earned his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 1999 and his Certified Hotel Marketing Executive (CHME) certificate in 1992.  A graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia with a B. A. in English, Dave is active in the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI), with over 1,000 members and has served on its Board since 2005, the last two years as Vice President of Membership.  He was named Chapter Leader of the Year 2005-2006 and Shining Star in 1999 and 2001.

Click here to read Dave's Profiles in Excellence article.

Carolyn’s years of leading the eastern North America sales and marketing efforts for Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts brings specialized market knowledge, contacts, and negotiating experience to clients.  Respected for her “no task is too difficult” attitude and vast experience in cross-cultural communications, Carolyn's dealings with a broad range of organizations including The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund (IMF), The Asia Society, and The China Institute (in addition to top financial and pharmaceutical institutions and multi-national associations), offer clients a true global perspective.

Prior to joining Shangri-La, Carolyn was vice president of Premier Properties, sister company to The Krisam Group where she worked closely with clients in defining suitable domestic meeting destinations.

Carolyn was named Supplier of the Year for MPI in 1997 and tapped as the first Supplier-member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) International Section Council.  She has served on the board of directors for Meeting Professionals Greater New York chapter (MPIGNY).  She has appeared as guest speaker for National Business Travel Association (NBTA), MPI, ASAE, and Beyond Borders, and New York University (NYU).

Natalie specializes in association management, event management, marketing and information design. With her background in hotel sales, director of events for the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA) and management of numerous associations including American Salvage Pool Association (ASPA), Georgia School Counselors Association (GSCA), and extensive work for  BACnet International, among others, Natalie’s experience is invaluable in projects with multiple decision-makers, departments and volunteers. 

Her accomplishments could fill the page, but a few highlights are:
• Recipient of Meeting Professional International’s (MPI) Tomorrow’s Leader 2006 Award
• 2006 Planner of the Year Award, Georgia Chapter Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI)
• Rising Star of the Year Award, GaMPI, 2003
• Meeting Planner to Watch in 2004, Convention South Magazine, 2003
• Chair, 2003 Automotive Trade Executives Association (ATEA) Education & Training  Conference.

She is or has been active in American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) and has served on the Boards of Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter (GaMPI) and Southern Polytechnic State University TCOM Board.  She is also involved with Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association Georgia Chapter and  donates her time to the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA), which holds a special place in her heart.

Since 1990, Stacey has been building a wealth of marketing and meeting experience for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to rapidly growing mid-size companies. In addition to developing a remarkable portfolio focused on business to business meetings and marketing, Stacey has continued to add to her credentials and grow her skill-set; in 2006, she became a certified ROI professional – one of only a handful of such experts nationwide who focuses exclusively on meetings and events.

Early in her career, she created design teams for Ray Bloch Productions and Caribiner Communications, where she was involved in a number of projects that generated as much as $10 million in business. Stacey discovered first-hand how experiential marketing could change audience attitudes and behaviors, while at the same time building brands and strengthening loyalty. Ruth has assembled a team of experienced producers, designers, directors, writers, and technical talent. Together, this team has a remarkable ability to harness the energy of meetings and marketing.

In her role as industry leader, Stacey Krizan has been published in numerous national and local publications including The Meeting Professional, Event Solutions and The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Stacey has been elected Director of Communications of the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI) Board of Directors. She has served a year as Chair of GaMPI’s BreakOut Committee, which drives the chapter’s quarterly magazine; she has been a member of the committee since 2003. Additionally, Stacey has served on the communications committee of the Georgia Executive Women's Network, where she also acted as editor of its newsletter. She has also been appointed to the board of the Atlanta chapter of the Business Marketers Association. Additionally, Ruth has been named one of Atlanta's Top 50 Entrepreneurs by Catalyst Magazine, and in 2008, named to Event Marketer Magazine’s It List of the Top 100 Event Marketing Agencies, and is one of Convention South’s Event Planners to Watch for 2007 and again for 2008.

With more than 18 years in event marketing, Kate is a well seasoned corporate strategist. During her many years working with and in corporate meeting departments she identified a need for consulting services aimed at the successful purchase and implementation of Strategic Meetings Management. Her experience brings you a unique perspective into the day to day operations that make Strategic Meetings Management programs that work.

Currently providing a literal translation of meeting consolidation offerings, Kate supports both corporate clientele and the providers of services and technology in coming together to build successful programs that bring results. She has worked with several corporations including Xerox, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, SunTrust, the Coca-Cola Company, MCI, and T-Mobile.

Kate is proud to serve as the 2009-2010 President for Meeting Professionals International, Georgia Chapter. She is also a recent recipient of the 2009 Meeting Professionals to watch by Convention South Magazine. She currently instructs courses in Meetings & Events at Kennesaw State University and guest lectures at Georgia State University. In addition to structured teaching, she also speaks at many industry conferences. Her articles on Strategic Meetings Management are in print in several industry publications.