Emerging Leaders

Emerging Leaders is dedicated to connecting the next generation of leading meeting and incentive planners with the suppliers they'll rely on throughout their careers.

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ABOUT EMERGING LEADERS

Emerging Leaders is dedicated to connecting the next generation of meeting and incentive planners and sellers. Buyers will be qualified based on their involvement in current meeting/incentive programs for their organizations as well as nominations from their senior management teams. Emerging Leaders will build authentic relationships between buyers and suppliers through collaborative content sessions, marketplace activities and social events full of local flair. The content is strategically focused on professional development and will provide insights on how these new leaders will influence the future of our industry. Attendees will leave Emerging Leaders with both new ideas for conducting business and professional relationships for life.

Qualified buyers should be approximately 22-37 years old with a minimum of two years experience in the meetings industry, and have a passion for helping to shape the meetings and events of tomorrow.

Nominate Emerging Leaders here.

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Learn

Learn

Learn from, and be inspired by, our guest speakers who will provide targeted education specific to your needs as a meeting and incentive planner.

Connect

Connect

Connect with premier suppliers from helping you with your successful during pre-scheduled one-on-one business appointments and unique experiential activities.

Enjoy

Enjoy

All qualified buyers will be fully hosted by Northstar Meetings Group, including airfare allowance, accommodation, meals and planned activities.

Cindy Y. Lo

Cindy Y. Lo

CEO and Chief Event Strategist, Red Velvet

When Cindy Lo started Red Velvet 20 years ago, she did so with the mission to outplan, outplay and outparty! Red Velvet is an international award-winning experiential agency that creates compelling human connections through design and collaboration for brands on the cusp of disruption. In her book "Behind the Red Velvet Curtain," Cindy openly shares how she built the company with just $8,000 and no formal hospitality experience. Cindy calls Austin, Texas, home with her husband of 18 years, their two children and their Frenchie, Darwin.

Bruce McIndoe

Bruce McIndoe

President and Founder, McIndoe Risk Advisory LLC

Bruce is a recognized leader in risk management, technology and intelligence. He was a co-founder of iJET International in 1999, which was rebranded as WorldAware in 2018. The company quickly became a leader in global intelligence and business resiliency with the development of the Worldcue Global Control Center (GCC). 

Prior to joining WorldAware, Bruce was founder and CEO of CSSi, an Inc. 500 company that developed systems for the intelligence community. He has also served as a lead architect on intelligence programs for the US government.

Bruce is a former trustee of Allegheny College, where he received a BS in Physics, and holds an MS in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University. He is an adjunct professor at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) where he teaches in the Criminal Justice division covering intelligence, security management and cyber security courses.

Michael Dominguez

Michael Dominguez

President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International

Michael Dominguez is president & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International, a member-based organization that provides global sales services for independent hotels and independent hotel brands. Prior to joining ALHI in 2019, he held executive sales positions with MGM Resorts, Loews Hotels, Hyatt Hyatt, Starwood, and many others. An active leader in the meetings and events industry, Mike serves on executive committees for U.S. Travel Association, Meetings Mean Business Coalition and other organizations. He speaks often on topics of disruption, the state of the industry, the economy and human behavior.

Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson

Founder and CEO, Limitless Minds

Harry Wilson is cofounder and CEO of Limitless Minds, a mental fitness company providing transformational coaching and on-demand mindset training to help people perform better, longer. Harry is the brother of NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, and is a former Division 1 athlete himself. He is responsible for corporate strategy and operations for Limitless Minds. His experience includes 12 years in the biotech industry as a sales specialist and corporate trainer.

Angela Cox

Angela Cox

Vice President of Events, Northstar Meetings Group

Angela's passion for meeting planning is deeply rooted. She's the daughter of the first president of Society of Government Meeting Professionals and grew up traveling cross country doing site inspections with her father. At the age of 13, she declared she was going to be a meeting planner and has never looked back. She's worked for associations, large trade show companies, orchestrated the 50th anniversary of the CLIO awards and she says she’s the "planner for planners." As vice president of events at Northstar Meetings Group, she and her team manage hosted-buyer events for planners and suppliers in the hospitality and sports industries, and aim to demonstrate best practices along the way for all that attend.

Todd Taranto

Todd Taranto

President, Cadre

Todd is the president of Cadre, an online marketplace connecting event freelancers with companies looking to hire them, and meetingjobs.com, the meeting and events largest full-time placement firm and job board. After serving in the U.S. Army, Todd’s business career in the travel industry started as president of Gant Travel Management, a Chicago-based travel management company. This experience led to the acquisition of more than 20 niche event and experiential staffing companies that laid the groundwork for Cadre, which formally launched in 2019. Todd lives in Boise, Idaho.

ALL QUALIFIED BUYERS WILL BE FULLY HOSTED BY NORTHSTAR MEETINGS GROUP, INCLUDING AIRFARE ALLOWANCE, ACCOMMODATION, MEALS, AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES.

INFORMATION

Those who are selected to attend will participate in:

  • Spending time with others in the industry (planners and suppliers) who are at a similar stage in their careers 
  • Insightful educational presentations from inspiring speakers
  • Locally flavored meals and activities to enhance their experience and grow their peer network

 

How to participate

All participants must be based in North America and should be approximately 22-37 years old with a minimum of two years experience in the meetings industry. Qualified attendees will have a passion for helping to shape the meetings and events of tomorrow.

There are two ways to participate.

The first way to participate is for planner representatives to be nominated by their organizations to be hosted based on their career objectives and their current and future involvement in sourcing meetings and/or incentive programs for their organizations. Organizations can nominate their rising stars for participation in Emerging Leaders, here.

The second way to participate is for planner participants to apply here and they will be qualified based on their past experience, current position, career aspirations and their involvement in supporting their organization’s current meeting/incentive programs. Planner participants may submit their qualifications directly to Emerging Leaders for consideration, here

Suppliers can expect to spend two days networking with qualified planners who are at a similar stage in their careers, many of whom will be new to them. It's a great way to add incremental contacts to your CRM and to build relationships with planners who are establishing the partners they will work with in the future. 

Supplier registration includes Business Marketplace, all event networking activities and education.

Please contact your business development director or Shalise DeMott for pricing and sponsorship opportunities.

Request Info Destination West

 

Thursday, April 20, 2023

11:00am – 3:00pm
Registration Lounge Open
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Industry Outlook

Presented by Michael Dominguez, CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)

4:00pm 4:15pm
Break
4:15pm – 5:00pm
How to Think Like a Winner

Presented by Harry Wilson, CEO, Limitless Minds

More Detail

Elite athletes don’t just train their bodies, they train their minds for success. In sports, business and life, winners can connect their thoughts with actions that drive positive outcomes. Are you mentally fit to handle adversity? Mindset trainer Harry Wilson will share actionable ways to use your thoughts as a competitive advantage.
 
Participants will learn to:

  • Assess their tolerance for adversity
  • Consider the power of positive language
  • Put pressure in perspective
  • Approach adversity as an opportunity
5:00pm – 5:15pm
What to Look for on a Site Tour

Presented by Angela Cox, Vice President, Events, Northstar Meetings Group

5:15pm – 6:00pm
Site Tour for Buyers
5:15pm 6:00pm
Supplier Appreciation
6:00pm 8:00pm
Opening Reception

Friday, April 21, 2023

7:45am – 8:30am
Breakfast Mixer
8:30am – 9:15am
Building Your Personal Brand

Q&A with Cindy Y. Lo, CEO and Chief Event Strategist, Red Velvet
Moderated by Loren Edelstein, Northstar Meetings Group

More Detail

With no formal hospitality experience and $8,000, Cindy Lo created an award-winning experiential event planning agency that quickly became a widely respected and recognized brand. How did she fast-track her success in this complex and fast-changing industry? In this moderated discussion, Cindy will answer participants questions and share advice for:

  • Creating your brand identify
  • Getting your name known
  • Plotting your career growth
  • Pushing past your comfort zone
9:00am – 9:45am
Management Skills for Future Leaders

Q&A with Bruce McIndoe, President, McIndoe Risk Advisory LLC
Moderated by Loren Edelstein, Northstar Meetings Group

More Detail

Effective leadership looks very different today than it did in previous generations. Managers need to recognize and strategize for a rapid shift in how we work and live. Futurist and risk-management expert Bruce McIndoe, president of McIndoe Risk Advisory, LLC, discusses the business and personal ramifications of change in this enlightening discussion with Northstar’s Loren Edelstein. 
 
This participatory discussion will cover:

  • How AI and other developments will redefine "reality"
  • What remote workforces need for optimal engagement and performance
  • Why gig workers will be more prevalent than career professionals
  • Where and when robots will support — and sometimes replace — humans
  • How to build a culture that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of employees
9:45am – 10:00am
Break
10:00am – 12:00pm
Marketplace
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Ask the Recruiter: Career Advice for Planners and Suppliers

Presented by Todd Taranto, President, Cadre

More Detail

How’s the current job market for meeting and event professionals? Which market segments are hot — and not? What are some best practices for job candidates? What skills are most important today? Are salaries increasing enough to offset inflation? Todd Taranto, president of the largest recruiting firm in the hospitality and meetings business, will answer these questions and more in this enlightening discussion and group Q&A.

1:00pm
Walk/Transfer to Lunch
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Lunch and Site Tour at Offsite Venue
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Optional Activities, Free Time
6:30pm
Transfer to Dinner
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Offsite Dinner

Saturday, April 22, 2023

7:45am – 8:30am
Breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am
Ask the Planner/Ask the Supplier
9:30am – 10:00am
Peer-to-Peer Idea Swap
Departures

The Galt House Hotel
140 N. Fourth St.
Louisville, Ky., 40202

Buyers: We will make your reservations for you.
Suppliers: Preferred rates for supplier accommodations are available.


Advisory Notice Regarding Outside Solicitations

Please be advised that numerous companies have been emailing and calling our attendees attempting to book them into hotels for Northstar events. Here are the companies and their representatives that we have been made aware of:

• ExpoSite
• CBS International
• Corporate Booking Services
• EHRS
• Exhibition Housing Services
• Global Housing Corporation
• World Wide Travel

Be advised that these companies and individuals have no relationship with our events. Our attendees are encouraged to disregard any communication received from these companies or any others that are not affiliated with Northstar Meetings Group.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR:

Suppliers Contact:

Shalise DeMott

Vice President, Sales

sdemott@ntmllc.com

Buyers Contact:

Cindy Binder

Director of Buyer Development

cbinder@ntmllc.com

Event Logistics Contact:

Rita Bergman

Events and Tradeshows Manager

rbergman@ntmllc.com