Desi Whitney, Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations and Industry Relations, HPN Global
Inspiration: I am inspired daily by family, love, creativity, self-improvement, learning, gratitude and my accomplishments. More importantly, I draw inspiration from the appreciation I have learned to garner for all the incredible opportunities in life. From true appreciation comes heart-felt inspiration.
Superpower: Caring. Plain and simple, I care. I care about others more than myself. I care about the success of our industry and the success of the relationships we build. I care about others as human beings and friends. By caring for others, we foster a depth of health that paves the path for a brighter future.
Action Item: This truly is a pivotal time in the world. Many changes and divisions exist that are beyond our control. Threats, generational differences and technology are just a few examples of the ever-evolving environment we’re faced with. What will change the world for tomorrow are the relationships we build today. There is no way to forecast the future and what it may bring, but by building strong foundational relationships, we build a network of strength that is efficient and adaptable to handle any challenge that heads our way.
2018 Official Press Releases
Smart Meetings Announces 3rd Annual Smart Woman Summit
SAUSALITO, California — Smart Meetings, the most trusted resource for meeting professionals, is proud to announce its third annual conference for women in meetings. Smart Meetings Presents the Smart Woman Summit will take place on April 19, 2018 at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront.
The Smart Woman Summit has come to serve as a celebrated conference for its introduction of critical tools and resources. Attendees will discover effective business strategies, tools and techniques to advance their professional growth, share poignant stories of personal success and explore how women can overcome their own set of unique challenges in the workplace.
With education, leadership and camaraderie at the forefront of its agenda, the Smart Woman Summit is designed to advance the careers of women in meetings, cultivate an empowered community of female meeting ambassadors and foster growth. Now in its 3rd year, the signature conference will feature opportunities for professional development, dynamic speaking presentations and multiple networking sessions.
The meetings and events industry is a staggering 77.4% female, and yet, many critical leadership roles are filled by men. Led by a passionate, self-made female CEO, Smart Meetings is proud to be a women’s champion and support such a vital industry group.
“I am delighted to host this event for our incredible community of women in meetings.” said Smart Meetings founder and CEO, Marin Bright. “As a woman who has faced many challenges on my own entrepreneurial path, I’m heartened and humbled to share this opportunity with my fellow meetings peers. The Summit promises to educate, empower and inspire, and reaffirm our place in the meetings industry as an informed, passionate, united community.”
Smart Meetings is honored to partner with Fort Worth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, a premier travel destination that shares in the spirit of this influential and timely initiative.
“We are proud to sponsor the third annual Smart Woman Summit,” said John Cychol, vice president of meeting sales for the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Fort Worth is home to many strong women leaders including our mayor, Betsy Price, the trail boss for the Fort Worth Herd, Kristin Jaworksi and Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson. We are excited to showcase some of the women who lead in creativity and entrepreneurship at the Smart Woman Summit.”
The Smart Woman Summit will also feature an awards ceremony and dinner to honor winners of the 2018 Smart Women in Meetings Awards, an awards platform that recognizes top-performing women in the meetings industry. The 2018 categories include Visionaries, Innovators, Industry Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Trail Blazers and Rising Stars.
2018 Smart Women in Meetings Awards Winners
The conference will immediately follow Smart Meeting Midwest, a hosted-buyer event that connects high-quality meeting planners with premier hotels and destinations on April 18, also hosted at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront.
About Smart Meetings:
Smart Meetings is the premier partner for connecting quality meeting professionals with hotels and destinations. We cultivate powerful business relationships through robust, business-driven programs and services to ensure that planners and suppliers, alike, reach their goals. Providing best-in-class service, Smart Meetings publishes cutting-edge meetings content in print and digital magazines, offers world-class hosted-buyer networking events, CEU-accredited webinars, as well as myriad digital solutions.
Smart Meetings Media Contact:
Jennifer Harrington
Director of Marketing
jennifer@smartmeetings.com
415-339-9355
Fort Worth Media Contact:
Jessica Christopherson
Director of Marketing & Film Commissioner
Fort Worth CVB/Fort Worth Film Commission
817-698-7842 cell: 817-709-7601
