Emerging Leaders

In celebration of Emerging Leaders within SGMP, SGMP set out on a search for the Emerging Leaders that volunteer across SGMP. The program recognizes individuals with less than 5 years of membership, proven leadership skills and a dedication to the betterment and sustainability of SGMP. 

Nominate an Emerging Leader

Fill out the nomination form linked below to nominate an individual for the Emerging Leaders Award. Nominations are due by December 20. Note that once you have completed the nomination form, you must have your nominee fill out the Nominee Information Form to complete the nomination process. This form will be linked at the end of the application & sent to you by confirmation email. 

• Nominee must have been an SGMP member for 5 years or fewer as of the final application date of December 20
• Nominee must be employed as a Planner or Supplier within the government meeting industry.
• Nominee must be an active SGMP member and nominated by an SGMP member in good standing.
• Nominee must have displayed leadership skills in their chapter.
• Nominee must have contributed to the growth and support of their community.

Submit Your Nomination

Members were nominated by their peers and honorees were selected by a panel of industry professionals. Congratulations to the Emerging Leaders for 2022, 2023, and 2024! Let’s learn about their stories of accomplishments within the government meetings industry.

2025 Honorees

Who or what influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
I am passionate about providing meeting planners with the most up-to-date information.  I enjoy being a part of the Michigan SGMP chapter and continuing to expand my knowledge.

Who or what influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
Government travel and meetings play a vital role in the hospitality industry. Early in my sales career, I was introduced to this sector by a superior who had a highly positive experience with the California chapters of the organization. This introduction sparked my interest and shaped my path forward. As I gained experience organizing events, I quickly realized the profound impact meetings have on fostering collaboration and transparency. I developed a deep understanding of the unique requirements of government meetings, such as adhering to strict budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations, and delivering seamless coordination. I earned my CGMP in 2014 and retained it till the pandemic; it's time for a redo! was inspired by the opportunity to leverage my skills in relationship-building and problem-solving to provide venues and services that align with these specialized needs. The challenge of aligning hotel offerings with the mission-driven goals of government clients and planners continues to drive my passion for this dynamic industry.

Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of OR share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.
I'm proud of going back to school and earning a master's degree 15 years after earning my undergraduate. I'm also very proud of the Government Services Award I was given for my volunteer work in law enforcement.

Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of OR share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.
My CGMP certification training provided me with the necessary skills and knowledge to support a wide range of international and domestic DoD events. I am responsible for managing approximately 50 events per quarter, each requiring meticulous planning and coordination. These events typically involve 50 to 200 senior military personnel, 3-4 guest speakers and trainers, 10-12 meeting spaces, audio-visual, lodging, meals, transportation, and training supplies.  Each event is unique with mission objectives, location, budget, and participants. Each successful event, along with positive client feedback, I consider to be an accomplishment.

Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of OR share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.
After the Covid layoffs in the hospitality industry, I was not sure if I could jump back into the industry or if there would even be an industry left. Who would want to travel much less have meetings in cities away from home? Fortunately, I took the leap and captured the position of Director of Sales at my hotel. Once again meeting and greeting people with a warm smile and firm handshake. Things are back to our new normal and yes. People are once again traveling and meeting in large groups. Never be afraid to take chances and overcoming stumbling blocks. I did it!

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
I believe that ongoing networking and continuous learning are key. By actively engaging with industry professionals, attending relevant conferences like SGMP, and staying updated on government policies and trends, I can deepen my understanding of the unique needs and expectations within this sector. Building strong relationships with stakeholders, while expanding my knowledge through training and educational opportunities, will ensure that I remain a valuable resource for our hotels and effectively support government meetings moving forward.

Who or what influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
At the beginning of my career, I joined SGMP because it was my market.  After attending my very first NEC I got it, these were the kind of professionals I wanted to be with.  I saw how leaders in SGMP all were involved and active and that inspired me to get involved as well.  That was 20 years ago.

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
Preparing for the future of government meetings by staying connected with my peers and colleagues in the government meeting industry, participating in NEC annually and supporting local chapters wherever I can, including member recruitment, educating government meeting planners about SGMP and the benefits of SGMP for both your career and development.

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
Continue to learn and grow by participating in various courses, trainings, meetings, and continue to attend the education conference.

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
I'd prepare for future success by obtaining industry designations and continuing my education. Recently, I've also tried to be more active in my community and volunteer. Volunteering allows you to experience different settings but also gives you an opportunity to observe and learn. I'd also like to incorporate some type of local community effort in our future meetings as well. Mainly, I feel that incorporating new elements in my meeting will increase my learning curve, which I think will ultimately contribute to future success.

2024 Honorees

Van Leo Strickland

NASA/MSFC
Rocket City Alabama Chapter

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
Continue to be innovative in programming (offer attendees new and creative ways to do what they're currently doing), remove a lot of the touch points (via the registration process, food functions and meetings) to ensure we're providing a safe environment for our attendees, and continuing to learn through training and reading industry recommendations.

Ms. Amy Rossi CMP

Hyatt Hotels
National Capital Chapter

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
Continuous involvement and education are key!  In order to continue to learn and grow and develop best practices in this industry, I know that these are two critical areas that I need to focus on.  I plan to continue to be involved on the Membership Committee for the NATCAP chapter, and also on the national SGMP Membership committee.  Participating in webinars and in-person meetings will further my education, and I'm excited to sit for the CGMP exam at the 2024 NEC!  Building strong relationships will also help me develop a network that is available for questions and guidance.  In my time in the industry and with SGMP so far, I have found my customers and counterparts alike extremely welcoming and willing to answer questions.  I'm excited for the future!

Jack Pewitt

Texas Workforce Commission
Texas Lonestar Capital Chapter 

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
As an inventory specialist with the Texas Workforce Commission, I troubleshoot meetings. In my position, I get to see the problems and pitfalls we all face in our work. Sometimes success is luck, but earnest, diligent hard work can promote success. You have to be honest about your mistakes, own up to them, and take the initiative to make them right. And even more, you have to make sure they don’t happen again. Success is built with time, candor, and experience – and luck. Work hard. Get lucky. Be honest.

Kim Olsen

Visit Alexandria
National Capital Chapter 

How would you prepare for future success in the government meeting industry?
Preparing for success in the government meeting industry requires being nimble and informed when it comes to industry knowledge, networking, and adaptability.

Industry knowledge: Attending SGMP webinars, in-person chapter events, and of course NEC provides the opportunity to hear first-hand about changes in the government meeting industry, particularly concerning policies, regulations, and the procurement processes.

Networking: I actively coordinate networking events with Visit Alexandria, where local planners can mingle and catch up in a casual environment, often a happy hour. These events lend just enough intimacy to have a more relaxed conversation with planners about topics outside of daily work, like family, travel, birthdays, even something as innocuous as sharing a recipe. I feel that these events build a kind of trust that’s hard to create over email, but can lead to lasting partnerships and new opportunities.

Adaptability: Finally, I try to swiftly adapt to changes in the government meeting industry, from obvious things like per diem rates to the invisible factors beyond my control, like budget approvals and leadership changes. Communication and trust are paramount to staying ahead of the curve. We all must adapt to stay relevant.

2023 Honorees

Tim Aylsworth

How would you prepare for the future success of the government meeting industry? 

The hotel industry has to become better educated on the benefits of doing government business. Hotels have to make it easier to do government business. Make sure you have a current SAM registration. Are you a part of the PIEE network? Do you know how the government contracting process works? 

Pamela Brown

Who/what influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry? 

Chris Hellvig (ConferenceDirect) first mentioned SGMP to me after I opened the Residence Inn Marriott Breckenridge. We had worked together for several years before this and she is such a respected government planner by her customers and peers. After I saw how our property benefitted from government business, it was a no-brainer. Once I joined, Lynette Schick and Chele Clark took me under their wing and became valuable mentors to me.

Dorothy Dean

How would you prepare for the future success of the government meeting industry? 

I think the best way to strengthen our industry is by bringing like-minded people together. SGMP is the perfect environment to form partnerships and exchange knowledge with peers and industry leaders. Sharing the knowledge with our colleagues helps us all perform better and find solutions.

Stephanie Moore-Doman

Who/what influenced you to become involved in the government meetings industry? 

I've worked for the Federal government for 20 years. One thing we do the most is have meetings. However, it usually carries quite a negative connotation to it. I think we can all relate to attending meetings where we wish we could just get back that time. However, my innate drive to truly help others and the desire to make sure that they get the most out of how they spend their time is really what pushed me toward the government meeting industry. I was fortunate about 4-5 years into my career to be in a position to join both my drive and desire into one force that has helped propel me to where I am today. 

Johnita Romine

How would you prepare for the future success of the government meeting industry? 

I consider myself a lifelong learner and being part of an organization like SGMP allows me to continue to grow personally and professionally. I feel observing colleagues, trends, and customers is vital for success.

2022 Honorees

Jennifer Graffeo, CGMP - Team Dynamics, LLC (Louisiana Chapter)

Who/What influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
I was looking for a career change that challenged me in a different way. I was a Pre-K teacher and wanted to learn more about how the meeting industry worked. I learned from my boss Susan Shaffette, CGMP all about this organization and it felt right to me. I found what I was looking for.

Willma Harvey, CGMP - Louisiana River Parishes (Louisiana Chapter)

Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of …OR…Share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.  
I am very proud of securing the movie, One Night in Miami, filmed in LaPlace, Louisiana. I successfully promoted the city, local venues, and the St. John the Baptist Parish Community Center, the film site for the movie. In addition, I was thrilled to be involved in every facet of the film production, which included adding incentives to the standard government contract, working directly with the vital movie producers, and setting up numerous meetings with the parish government and the film production team. As a result, the movie received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award, and I am proud of taking part in making the movie.

Travis Swanson - Courtyard Bloomington By Mall of America/Residence Inn Bloomington By Mall of America (Northern Lights Chapter)

How would you prepare for the future success of the government meeting industry?
I think that staying current on industry trends, as well as being up-to-date on hybrid technology, is going to be very important for their future success of the government meetings industry."

Narimel Tarver - Visit Sacramento (Golden State Chapter)

Who/What influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
Visit Sacramento encouraged participation for the government segment, particularly Sacramento based agencies, as the capitol for our State.
 
Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of …OR…Share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.  
Advancements in my career, starting in the hotel industry in reservations, then revenue management, catering, sales and now holding the position of Director of Convention Sales with Visit Sacramento.

Jessup Thomas - Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (Oklahoma Chapter)

Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of …OR…Share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.  
One of the most unique experiences of my meeting professional career was helping with Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Guests included local government officials, the owner of The Oklahoma City Thunder, all Thunder players and coaching staff, and Michael Jordan. Being a basketball fanatic, I was thrilled about the opportunity to help with this event. After helping set up the hospitality room, I was asked to help escort special guests through the previous OKC Convention Center. This was an experience that ended up being educational and helped ignite my passion for the meeting industry. 

Wendy Whitaker, CGMP - Wyndham Orlando Resort (National Capital Chapter and Central Florida Chapter)

Who/What influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
My prior Associate Director of Sales, Frankie Stua. When my position became available within our team, Frankie was the one who encouraged me. She felt my meticulous nature and attention to detail would prove to be an asset when working government planners. She also believed that the relationships I held with my clients at the time would prove invaluable with the new relationships I would encounter my role.  

I am grateful for Frankie’s belief in me and her support as I initially made my way into the Society and navigated my way in to learning the nuances of government planning.

Melissa Woodruff, CGMP, CMP - Tech Trans International (National Capital Chapter and Chapter Alliance - Northern Lights Chapter)

Who/What influenced you to become involved in the government meeting industry?
Marie Arighi!  I met Marie though my time at the Association of the US Army.  Marie convinced me to join the BEST meeting planning organization due to its networking and education. Since becoming a member of SGMP, it's opened up my eyes to the vast world of government meetings. 
 
Share an accomplishment that you are very proud of …OR…Share your most unique experience as a meeting professional.  
My most unique experience as a meeting professional was planning several inaugural events during the 2008 inauguration of President Barak Obama.  It was a lot of blood, sweat and even more tears, but so worth the experience. Not many people can say they helped plan inauguration events for a president!