AI Idea Exchange: Sharing Use Cases in Event Planning

Fatima Sy leads the development of thought leadership, content and programming for a C-Suite audience at Salesforce. She has a background in mission driven work, having developed strategy, content and campaigns as a founding member of a social impact agency prior to joining Salesforce. She’s a big believer in the power of narrative and is driven by helping organizations lead with empathy, intention and curiosity.

Scott Marko has been the Meetings and Events Manager for the Society of Plastics Engineers(SPE) since July of 2016. Before that he worked for SPE as an event coordinator. Scott got his CMP in November of 2017 and is currently the President of NYPCMA.

He holds a J.D. from Western New England University and currently lives in New Milford, CT with his wife and two children.

With over a decade of experience in the meeting planning industry, Cori is a seasoned event professional dedicated to orchestrating seamless and impactful events across a variety of industries. She started her career in exhibit hall management and sponsored experiences in the association space, then transitioned to planning pharmaceutical meetings and incentive trips. She is currently Associate Director of Event Operations at Canvas Meetings + Incentives, a full-service conference, meeting & incentive planning company.  

Named one of Smart Meetings’ “Meeting Professionals of the Year” in 2022, Cori is dedicated to discovering innovative ways to improve processes in the planning lifecycle and educating others on how to automate and streamline to encourage efficiency. She has extensive knowledge of Google Suite, Zoom, and other web-based technology platforms. She is excited to continue to explore how AI can make life easier for the meeting planning industry!

Rostana Wardak, a dynamic meetings & events leader and an avid AI enthusiast from New York, is at the forefront of merging hospitality with innovative technologies. As the Director of the Western Region for NYC Tourism + Conventions, Rostana has played a pivotal role in integrating AI into sales. Her expertise spans a wide range of AI applications, including predictive analytics, leveraging market intelligence, extracting customer insights, enhancing personalized communication, and improving sales forecasting and reporting. Her innovative approach has also been applied to curated events and trade show preparations. With over a decade of rich experience in hospitality management combined with her educational background—a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management and an MBA in Management from San Diego State University — Rostana has a unique vantage point on the transformative role of AI in hospitality. Rostana’s passion for AI is deeply rooted in practical applications as she applies her knowledge to real-world scenarios. Her insights are drawn from hands-on experiences, making her contributions invaluable in discussions about AI’s future role in elevating customer experiences and boosting operational efficiency in the hospitality sector. This blend of practical expertise and visionary foresight positions Rostana as a leading voice in the evolving landscape of AI-driven hospitality.

Matt Murnane is the co-founder of SLATE Event Management, a B2B conference and events strategy firm. He is passionate about creating immersive experiences that unite individuals through creative and innovative ways to move industries forward. He loves integrating cutting-edge technologies into building programs for the future with a keen understanding that each experience is unique. Prior to launching SLATE in 2023, Matt has worked with a variety of event production and hospitality groups and has traveled extensively through 40 countries where he’s gained a deeper understanding of human connection and the moments that bring us all together. Matt is an active member of the PCMA community and is currently the incoming president for the New York chapter.

Janette Roush is the Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, for New York City Tourism + Conventions, New York City’s official destination marketing organization.  She oversees the organization’s paid media strategy, digital initiatives and media insights to raise the profile of NYC and to inspire visitation to the five boroughs.  A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Roush holds an MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College.  Prior to joining NYC Tourism, she spent more than two decades marketing Broadway at organizations such as Broadway.com and AKA, a global leader in entertainment advertising and strategy.  She is a two-time Ironman, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and an adjunct assistant professor of Arts Marketing at Hunter College.

Alexa is one of the co-founders of Reposite an AI powered marketplace connecting group meeting & event planners and suppliers, with built-in productivity tools to streamline workflows and maximize efficiency. Alexa continues to lead Reposite to new heights and provide value to our members by educating and sharing her wealth of knowledge of the meeting and events industry. Her expertise in scaling sales organizations, building cutting edge technology and fostering partnerships between planners and suppliers has helped modernize the industry bringing thousands of businesses around the world online to Reposite. The Forbes 30 under 30 powerhouse is passionate about building a community of members that are equipped with Reposite’s cutting-edge tools and resources to grow their business

Stuart Ruff-Lyon is the Chief Events and Sales Officer at RIMS where he leads a team of event and sales professionals. Stuart has worked in the hospitality and events industry for more than 20 years, with experience in planning international events and global citywide conventions.

Stuart is very active in the events industry and is a passionate advocate that business events drive community, commerce, and connection. He served as the Chairman of the Board for PCMA (2020). A frequent speaker at industry events, Stuart has presented at local PCMA chapter events and at ASAE, PCMA, CEIR Predict, and IAEE. Stuart serves as an advisory board member for Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Anaheim, Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver, the Georgia World Congress Center, and Omni Hotels.

Stuart was named a Meeting Planner of the Year by Smart Meetings magazine (2022). Other accolades include Meetings Professional of the Year from the New York Society of Association Executives (2020), Show Manager of the Year from the Expo Group (2017), Meetings Trendsetter from Meetings.net (2016), Industry Change Maker from Meetings and Conventions Magazine (2015), and a Top 40 Under 40 Event Professional by Collinson Media (2011).

Stuart will serve as the Executive in Residence for the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University for the 2024 Spring Semester.