Gareth Parkin

Gareth Parkin, CEO and founder of GoPromotional, an online leader of marketing and promotional products in the UK. Gareth possesses keen insights in the world of marketing, branding, and sales through his own company’s growth from the ground up. He routinely shares ideas and input in both directions with GoPromotional’s client base as well, a wealth of industry knowledge.

John D’Adamo

John D’Adamo is head of U.S. sales at VenuIQBased in Florida, he boasts more than 10 years of experience within the events industry and has built long-standing relationships with some of the world’s most respected brands. His appointment and goal of establishing VenuIQ’s American entity mark a pivotal moment in the company’s development.

Cathy Song Novelli

Cathy Song Novelli is Senior Vice President, Marketing + Communications at Hubilo, the all-in-one hybrid event platform designed to drive deep engagement.

Lori Tenny

Lori Tenny

 

Lori Tenny is Editorial Director for TSNN. She is an award-winning editor, writer and strategist who has worked in publishing for more than 25 years, 16 of which have been spent covering the meetings and events industry. Contact her at ltenny@tsnn.com. 

Randy Frisch

Randy Frisch is the co-founder and CMO of Uberflip, a content experience platform that empowers marketers to create content experiences at every stage of the buyer’s journey. He is also a well-known speaker, podcast host and author of F#ck Content Marketing: Focus on Content Experience.
 

Muhammad Younas

Muhammad Younas is the CEO at vFairs, a leading global virtual events platform. With over 13 years of experience in the software space, Younas has conceptualized and grown multiple highly profitable B2B SaaS businesses reaching millions of users around the world.

Kevin Padden

As an Executive Creative Director at Impact XM, a global event and experiential marketing agency, Kevin Padden develops creative insights and guidance for design teams focused on events, meetings and exhibits, as well as immersive online experiences and hybrid events. Kevin has been instrumental in the company’s growth in experiential marketing and message integration in live environments, including meeting venues, tours, conferences and conventions around the world.

Jon Conelias

Jon Conelias is the CEO of ReElivate. He has been a CFO and Operator for the past 15 years of marketplace companies focused on both B2B and B2C channels.

Heather Russell

Heather Russell is the Event Operations Director at Seven Events Ltd, a leading online event platform offering corporate event management and venue finding services in the UK. She has been with the company since its formation, helping to build and lead our fantastic team ever since.

Ryan Costello

Ryan Costello is the co-founder of Event Farm and Chief Strategy Officer of MemberSuite. Hehas been an event producer and experiential marketer for more than 15, years, workingwith some of the largest brands and agencies in the world including Nike, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Adobe, JP Morgan Chase and dozens more. 

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact