Ellen's Story
From backstage to the boardroom, my career has always been about bringing people, ideas, and experiences together.
My career began in technical theater.
As a kid, I loved going to Broadway shows—not because I wanted to be on stage, but because I was fascinated by what was happening behind it. I wanted to understand how everything worked: the lighting, the timing, and the choreography of people and technology that made the entire production come to life.
That curiosity eventually led me to work both on and off Broadway.
Over time, another stage began calling my name: meetings and events.
I discovered that conferences have a similar kind of magic. Behind every seamless attendee experience is an enormous amount of strategy, planning, coordination, problem-solving, and teamwork. And when all of those elements work together, an event can create powerful moments of learning, connection, and inspiration.
That connection between strategy and execution has shaped my career ever since.
I’ve led approximately 1,100 events across corporate, association, government, scientific, and professional-education environments.
Those experiences range from conferences and executive meetings to scientific programs, leadership events, and high-volume professional-development portfolios.
Along the way, I’ve worked across virtually every part of the event lifecycle: strategy, venue sourcing and contracting, budgeting, housing, registration, logistics, production, speakers and content, attendee experience, technology, vendors, and stakeholder management.
But the part of the work that has always interested me most is what happens when all of those pieces come together.
Beyond the Event
My work in professional education and certification added another dimension to how I think about events.
For more than 20 years, I’ve taught meeting professionals preparing for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification, helping more than 2,000 professionals prepare for an important milestone in their careers.
That experience taught me to think beyond what happens in a ballroom or breakout room. I became increasingly interested in how people learn, how experiences influence behavior, and how conferences, education, certification, technology, and engagement can work together rather than operate independently.
It’s one reason I approach events as more than logistical exercises. A well-designed meeting connects a business objective with the needs of its audience—and creates value that continues after attendees go home.
What Hasn't Changed
Outside of events, I’m also an author, lifelong theater enthusiast, and someone who remains endlessly curious about how people learn, connect, and experience the world around them.
The tools have changed considerably since my theater days. The fundamental challenge hasn’t.
There is a vision. Dozens—or hundreds—of moving parts. People with different responsibilities need to work toward the same outcome. Something unexpected will inevitably happen.
And when the doors open, it all has to work.
That’s still the part I love.