Cookie Walner, CMP, CMM, CEM

Cookie Walner, CMP, CMM, CEM, Director of Event Design, C2 Association Strategies

With over 20 years of experience in the meetings and events industry, Cookie brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every project she undertakes. Her professional journey spans both association and corporate sectors, where she has successfully orchestrated meetings, events, and international tradeshows ranging from intimate gatherings of 10 to large-scale events with up to 16,000 attendees.

Known for her strategic mindset, Cookie partners with clients to align event design with organizational goals, delivering meaningful and measurable results. When presented with the opportunity to pivot into tradeshow management, she embraced the challenge, pursuing best practices through the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). She earned her Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation in 2013 and quickly became a valued member of the CEM faculty in 2014.

An enthusiastic educator and lifelong learner, Cookie teaches CEM courses both virtually and in person across the U.S. and internationally. She is dedicated to sharing her insights while continually learning from the professionals she mentors. Her industry engagement is deep and ongoing—she has served on numerous IAEE national committees, chaired the CEM Commission in 2018, and was honored as IAEE’s 2018 Volunteer of the Year.