Congratulations to the 2020 Helen Brett Scholarship Recipients
Danielle Bellettiere
Danielle Bellettiere is entering her third year at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. She is pursuing a double major in Hospitality Management and Event Management and she loves making people smile. She plans on obtaining a master’s degree after graduating in Spring 2022. She also serves as an outreach and research volunteer for the Gathering Guide, a global initiative founded by event planner Annie Lee, which compiles post-COVID event guidelines across the world. She says, “I am extremely grateful to IAEE for the opportunity that the Helen Brett™ Scholarship is giving me and am honored to receive an award in this role model’s name.”
Rachel Figiela
is a junior pursuing a degree in Event Management with a minor in Food and Beverage Management at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. with a projected graduation date of May 2021. She then plans to complete an internship to gain more experience within the event industry. Her dream is to own a wedding venue and event planning company. She says, “I am truly thankful to the Helen Brett™ Scholarship Committee for awarding me this scholarship in her name.”
Sarah Gurney
Sarah Gurney is a senior at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. She is majoring in Sports, Entertainment, Event Management with a specialization in Event Management. She was recently elected Director of Membership of the student chapter of the Live Events Association in addition to President of her IAEE student chapter. She is also a member of the student chapter of the International Association of Venue Managers. She says, “I am extremely grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of the Helen Brett™ Scholarship and the opportunity to attend Expo! Expo!. I look forward to networking with industry professionals.”
Alexandria LaRoche
Alexandria LaRoche is a junior at California State University East Bay studying Hospitality and Tourism with a concentration in Event Management. She has eight years in the bridal event industry and more than eight years of experience in the hospitality industry. As the Director of Sales and Marketing for her San Francisco Bay Area hotel, she led her team to receive the “Sales Team of The Year” award in 2017. She plans to continue on to the Master’s Program at Cal State East Bay after graduating. She says, “My deep passion for humanity easily translates to hospitality. You are either welcoming someone into your hotel or welcoming them into your heart; hospitality is just an extension of my passion for people.”
Isabella Matei
Isabella Matei is a rising Hospitality Management student with a focus on Sports, Entertainment and Event Management at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. With a passion for people and events, she enjoys planning, organizing and helping people create memories. She graduates in the Spring of 2021 and hopes to gain as much industry experience as she can to get herself ready for her dream job, which is to have her own event company based in Europe. She says, “I am very grateful for receiving the Helen Brett™ Scholarship, and I hope to be a role model to others just as she was.”
Lydia Moreno
Lydia Moreno is in her second year of studying Hospitality Management and Event Management at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen School of Hospitality Management. She continues to pursue her dreams with plans to volunteer at local conventions to experience every aspect of executing exhibitions, from planning them out to producing them. She says, “My goal in the exhibition management industry is to find a way to help others provide lasting relationships and incredible experiences for all the exhibitors and attendees. Growing up in South Florida, I have experienced the lack of social equality in today’s society, and I am determined to use my passion for events as a way of promoting diversity inclusion and social equality.”
Erica Nossaman
Erica Nossaman is a senior majoring in Event Management at Iowa State University. She has chosen to pursue the events industry because of its power to unite, educate, and ignite change in people and the world. After graduation in Fall 2020, she hopes to work in an event planning role within a non-profit. She has gained several professional work experiences during her time at Iowa State and enjoys volunteering at community events, including the Travel Federation of Iowa’s annual tourism expo. She says, “Helen Brett paved the way for women like me to pursue their passion in the event industry. I am extremely grateful to IAEE for investing in, and supporting, students in their education and careers. Thank you!”
Amber Pankey
Amber Pankey is a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in Meeting and Event Management at San Diego State University and expects to graduate in January 2022. In 2018, she received her bachelor’s degree from William Jessup University in Business Marketing. Her business background has allowed her to feel confident to start an event planning business one day, and her MEM masters will enable it to be even more successful. Having joined the industry not long ago, she was excited to find a community through industry associations where she has been able to connect and network. She says, “I am honored to have been awarded this scholarship and hope to live up to Helen’s legacy in the events industry.”
Summer Skyler Peggie
Summer Skyler Peggie is a first-generation college student finishing up the final semester of her bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University (CMU). She is majoring in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration, with a concentration in Recreation and Event Management, and minoring in Marketing. She believes that through her passion for environmental responsibility, she can help make the events and exhibitions industry a greener and more sustainable experience for participants. She says, “Thank you for this opportunity; it is truly an honor to be named a 2020 recipient of the Helen Brett™ Scholarship. I look forward to attending Expo! Expo! in December.”
Shiloh Schlauderaff
Shiloh Schlauderaff is a senior pursuing a degree in Event Management with a minor in Hospitality Management at Iowa State University. Her focus includes the coordination of exhibitions for trade shows and conventions, festivals, and human resource management. After she graduates in Spring 2021, she plans to pursue a career in coordination or the human resource department of event planning. She says, “I love the versatility that event planning offers. Each event varies in concept, theme, location and size. It takes both practical and creative thinking to create a memorable event for guests. Event planning is never stagnant; it’s constantly changing and evolving which feels really exciting to me.”
Sandra Serrant
Sandra Serrant is a meetings and events professional with more than 15 years of experience. She has planned, coordinated and executed a variety of events ranging from multi-day national conferences and weddings, to large fundraisers and other special events. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Westchester Community College and an online instructor at Ashworth College, where she teaches courses in meeting management, wedding planning and the hospitality industry. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Meeting and Events Management at San Diego State University’s Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and she expects to graduate at the end of this year. She says, “Passing on industry knowledge to my students brings me immense joy. But my greatest joy is raising my 3-year-old daughter, Sophie, who keeps me on my toes (literally!).”
Rose Margaret Stanas
Rose Margaret Stanas is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management with a double minor in Fashion Merchandising and Business at High Point University. She is extremely hopeful for the future and has created a plan to oversee her own event planning business and venue, using the space to organize a wide variety of events. One of her aspirations for this space is to coordinate events where nonprofit organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, will be the main beneficiaries. She says, “I want to create the same ecstasy for others that the events I have attended have brought me, because we may be divided by our past experiences, but we can all be brought together through our present.”
Linda Tong
Linda Tong is a senior at Iowa State University with a double major in Event Management and Vocal Music. She found her love for events when she grew into her knack for organization, creativity and entrepreneurship. She finds it to be a rewarding experience from the planning, to the execution, to the event evaluation. She has a diverse perspective in events with experience in concerts, guest speakers, fashion shows and trade shows. She also owns her own business called Linda Tong Planners, which has won several awards and attained a large following that supports her business journey. She says, “In the future, I hope to incorporate all types of events with my company and plan to incorporate trade shows, incentive travel and corporate meetings into my business.”
Congratulations to the 2020 Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund Grant Recipients
The mission of the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund (BDEF) is to support exhibition and event industry education and professional development by providing a challenging and engaging educational experience. The fund is designed for young professionals, professionals new to the exhibitions and events industry, those that are intellectually curious about trends and opportunities, and those that are interested in learning about the global marketplace.
Shannon Binger, CEM
Sr. Manager, Meeting Services
American Thoracic Society
“I am beyond grateful to be awarded funding from the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund. With this grant support, I am able to obtain my Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation which is an indispensable achievement for my career and work within the Industry. Thank you IAEE BDEF Task Force for selecting me to be a recipient!”
Dana Jasat, CEM
Manager, Exhibit Sales
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
“During these unprecedented times, where there is so much uncertainty, the Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund has provided me with an opportunity to continue expanding my knowledge-which will allow me to be a more successful leader within my profession.”
Farirai Nandipa Muregi
Events Director
Farirai Nandipa Events
“When I came across the CEM Learning Program, I was ecstatic as I had been searching for the right program to further my career in events and this was the perfect fit. Receiving the Bob Dallmeyer Grant means I am now able to study with peace of mind knowing that my journey has been fast tracked. I will finally be part of an elite group of exhibitions & events professionals and hopefully make a meaningful contribution to the industry in Zimbabwe.”
Congratulations to IAEE’s EVP/COO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM on being featured on the cover of May’s edition of Trade Show Executive! Read how Cathy is navigating both IAEE and CEIR through COVID-19, and her role in encouraging women in exhibitions to pursue leadership roles 
