CMPs Among 2015 CSMs of the Year Awardees

CVB
Vikki Valencia Kelly, CMP
Convention Director, Visit Denver

Talk about longevity. Vikki Valencia Kelly has been with Visit Denver for 30 years, nearly 27 of those as director of convention services. Kelly works with 13 convention sales managers and oversees eight full-time convention services staff, including a convention housing department.

There was no grand plan to become a convention services director -- she fell into this industry. "I planned on being a hairdresser and owning my own salon. New to Denver, after my husband was transferred, it was tough to make a living as a hairdresser with no clientele. So, as an interim fix, I went back to my hospitality experience and interviewed with, at the time, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. I had no idea what a CVB was, but it was a perfect match for me," she says.

As a CSM at a CVB, Kelly says it's important to be a Jack-of-all-trades. She enjoys the fact that every day and every group she works with is different.

"It's exciting to be able to be a part of a major convention that brings an economic benefit to a city that I love. It's rewarding to be part of their team, be a problem solver, a liaison to your community, and provide an outstanding experience for the organization and its attendees," says Kelly.

HOTEL
Joe O'Donnell, CMP
Associate Director of Event
Management, Walt Disney World
Swan and Dolphin Resort

It's amazing how quickly Joe went from being a total stranger to a member of our team," says Jessica Schade Tamasi, manager of conferences and exhibits for Metal Powder Industries, based in Princeton, NJ. "It was evident he had reviewed the contracted space and walked into our first planning meeting having read everything that had been previously sent in preparation of the meeting. He was ready to go. He's one of those people who you know loves what he does and you know as his client he's there for you 100 percent."

O'Donnell has been with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort for more than 12 years. These properties were built with meetings in mind, boasting over 329,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting space with 110,500 square feet of convention/exhibit space. The hotels are currently getting the largest makeover in their history. A multi-phase, $125 million redesign is underway that will transform every guest room in the 758-room Swan Hotel and the 1,509-room Dolphin Hotel -- and will keep O'Donnell busy.

"It really is a special place and the success of our events is a result of the dedication and passion that flows from the heart of the house and throughout the entire cast," says O'Donnell. "Much of what we do in events on a daily basis seems to include major accomplishments, if not miracles, but somehow at the end of the day it's hard to put in to words what was accomplished."

From Successful Meetings Read the full article here.

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
program of the Convention Industry Council

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