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Kathlene Stakely has served as VP, Events & Operations for PTTOW!, a private community for today's most creative and inspiring CEOs and CMOs from Fortune 200 companies, since December 2017. In January 2021, she oversaw the launch of the WORLDZ Collective, a 9-month digital program connecting and educating tomorrow's leaders from culture shaping brands. Kathlene has more than 15 years of experience in the live events space. Past companies include Viejas Arena, formerly Cox Arena, in San Diego and Paramount Pictures. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration and German from the University of Florida.
Shelli Vasser Gilliam works with the AMC Institute, a trade association for the association management company (AMC) community. Prior to the AMC Institute, Shelli held several fulfilling roles as a meeting & events planner, supplier, as well as business owner/principal consultant working with philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and other groups. Shelli currently serves as the MPI Potomac Chapter’s President-Elect. One of her greatest accomplishments is having formed and led an ecumenical community food distribution program that serves more than 5,000 people annually. In 2020, Shelli received the Carpenter’s Shelter’s Wall of Honor Award for her commitment to support vulnerable populations. Shelli received Smart Meetings’ Smart Women in Meetings Entrepreneur Award in 2019.
Phil Rappoport founded Virlybird to help meeting planners manage their virtual meetings and make the attendee experience soar. He also represents event solutions such as Piccles. Prior to Virlybird, he served as VP and General Manager of the AgendaPop mobile event app. Phil is the VP, Communications for the MPI Potomac Chapter, and is a member of PCMA, ASAE, SGMP, AMPs, and CSAE. He has held management positions at AOL, Surefire Local, Sony, Fox Television, Tribune Broadcasting, and he produced a late-night program for the ABC television network.
Raised as a coal miner’s daughter in western Kentucky, Vinnu stays true to her southern roots by valuing community in both her personal and professional lives. She obtained a Bachelors of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Masters of Public Administration.
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