Market Transformation Series: EVENT AGENCIES (Recorded June 25, 2020)

Since launching FIRST in the Americas in 2004, Maureen has made massive strides for the brand, positioning FIRST as an industry leader. Prior to FIRST, Maureen was the Director of Events at Billboard Magazine and The New York Stock Exchange. She then opened her own firm, Ryan-Fable Productions, which laid the groundwork for what would become the FIRST New York office.

In recognition of her professional achievements, Maureen was inducted into the ILEA Hall of Legends and featured on the ‘Top 50 Smart Women in Meetings 2017’ list. In addition to being CEO, Group & CEO, Americas, Maureen found time to run the New York City Marathon in 2018 with the support of her FIRST family, a playlist of pop tunes, and a healthy jolt of diet cola to keep her going.

Rebecca is a leader and an innovator. Her focus has always been on the goal of providing unmatched customer service. That, and her commitment to organizational and production excellence, has led Linder Global Events to the top of the event planning business, producing national and international events for many of the world’s largest and most prestigious non-profit institutions, corporations, government agencies, and membership associations.

Under her leadership, Linder has planned and executed high profile and complex events such as the opening of the Reynolds Center and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the USA Science and Engineering Festival, and the Smithsonian NationalAir and Space Museum and NASA’s Apollo 50 Festival and Celebration on the National Mall.

In 2018, Rebecca was honored by the Washington Business Journal as a Woman Who Means Business. She also believes strongly in the importance of giving back and building up her community. She serves as Chairman of the board for Generation Hope and is a partner to many non-profits, including LearnServe, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, and the 11th Street Bridge Project. Additionally, Rebecca is a member of Leadership of Greater Washington and Les Dames d’Escoffier

Rick, 46, oversees the growth strategy of Smyle Group, a 100 strong team based in London. It owns leading creative agency Smyle, that delivers live and video projects for some of the top global brands in a range of sectors including IT, Telco and Media. It has won the UK Event Agency of the Year award a record 6 times in last 12 years – in2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 & 2019.

Smyle has also been recognised as the fastest growing leading agency in the UK Events industry through its entry in The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 in December 2018 and The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 in February 2019.

Also, as the founder of The Global Sustainable Events Summit, its new format came from Rick’s belief in engaging with the full spectrum of the events and live communication industries for improved sustainable best practice, as well as building on Smyle’s ISO 20121 certification.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Howard is a widely recognized expert and innovator in the field of special events, meetings, and small business growth strategy.

Most recently, Howard served as SVP of Knowledge & Innovation with PCMA. Prior to joining PCMA, Howard was the Founder & CEO of the Event Leadership Institute, a leading provider of best-in-class training and education for the events industry through online, on-demand video professional development classes, interviews with industry leaders, white papers, webinars, and live events. In addition, Howard also was the CEO and Founder of Paint The Town Red, Inc., and the former CEO of North America for Global Events Group, the 13th largest event agency in the world, which acquired Paint The Town Red in 2008. During his tenure, the company won over 30 industry awards. He is a Past President of the ILEA (International Live Events Associate) NY Metro Chapter; has served on the board of directors of MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Greater NY Chapter as VP of Education; has served on the Advisory Board of Special Events Magazine; been a judge of the Gala Awards & HSMAI’s Adrian Awards.

He as been a frequent speaker at industry conferences on a wide range of topics. He has been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, National Public Radio, ABC News, The Apprentice, and USA Today, in addition to numerous trade media.

Jeff is the CEO of McVeigh Global Meetings and Events, a full service corporate meetings and events company catering to Fortune 1000 clientele. MGME focuses on pharmaceutical meetings, corporate events and international conferences and was created by merging three event companies into one in 2018, backed by private equity firm Infocommerce Partners.

Jeff is a serial entrepreneur. Prior to MGME, he founded Fourth Wall Events, Dynamic Drape and Décor, and Formset. Jeff acquired Discover New York and combined it with Beyond Times Square, a company he is still the president of. Jeff is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Jeff has a beautiful wife, three kids and a dog named Stanley.