Tim Altbaum is CEO of Vario, a premiere Event Production and Technology company servicing clients who are looking for a trusted and reliable resource to provide all pre-production planning, A/V, and event technology needs for both in-person and virtual events. He is currently the President-Elect for the DFW Chapter of MPI, and is a former board member of NACE .He was awarded Community Leader of the Year by MPI, and recently received a Catalyst Award for his contributions to the industry by Smart Meetings Magazine. He actively contributes to other professional organizations and holds CSEP, CMP, HMCC, and CMM designations. As a special event producer and technology junkie, he is constantly striving to bring new and innovative experiences to the meetings and events he manages. This includes staying ahead of the trends by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, partnering with tech-forward companies, and taking proven techniques and applying them in new ways. His diverse knowledge set includes expertise in AI, Experiential Marketing, Projection Mapping, Holograms, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, and Audio/Visual Design.

As the General Manager of Environmental Strategy at Maritz, Rachael Riggs, CMP, DES, SEPC, leverages nearly 25 years of dedicated leadership experience to pioneer and implement the Maritz Environmental Strategy. At the core of Rachael's role is the oversight of carbon accounting, reporting, and compliance across all business units.  Her forward-thinking approach includes the development of a bespoke carbon footprint measurement tool tailored for the events sector, fostering close collaboration with clients to implement design strategies aimed at minimizing environmental impact.  

Beyond her impactful work at Maritz, Rachael is an active contributor to industry publications and a respected presence in professional associations and committees. Her notable achievements, such as being recognized as one of MeetingsNet’s esteemed Trendsetters and her induction into the Smart Woman Hall of Fame, underscore her significant influence in shaping the events industry.

Embodying a holistic approach to wellbeing, Rachael's dedication to personal fitness and balance serves as a testament to her leadership philosophy of leading by example. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Rachael continues to carve pathways in sustainability, driven by her unwavering passion, expertise, and dedication to environmental stewardship.

Marc H. Matthews, President and CEO of Corporate Sport Incentives DBA Pulse Experiential Travel, has over forty five years experience in the incentive travel, special events and secondary ticket markets.  Primarily a strategic B-to-B service fulfillment partner, Pulse Experiential Travel specializes in providing sales incentive and customer relationship development programs based around group and individual sports and experiential vacation travel packages as well as premium ticket and ticket packages to all concerts, theatre and sports events worldwide. Marc graduated in 1987 from the University of Maryland College of Business with a Degree in Marketing and a Degree in Finance and also earned two Associate Degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering. Mr. Matthews currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Lisa Grimaldi is the editor, Incentives, for the Northstar Meetings Group. In addition to her editorial role at Northstar, she develops educational content for live and digital events, webcasts and podcasts, and organizes Incentive’s annual Motivation Masters Awards. She is a board member of the Incentive Federation, is a member of the Women in Incentives Network (WiiN) and serves on the meetings and incentive advisory board for Atout France. 

Mike Wallace is an internationally recognized expert with nearly 30 years of experience in sustainability, ESG reporting/compliance, and managing social and human capital issues. He currently serves as the Chief Decarbonization Officer at Persefoni, a carbon accounting technology company, where he oversees strategic partnerships to help with the integration and application of Persefoni’s climate accounting and management platform (CMAP). Prior to joining Persefoni, Wallace was a partner at the global sustainability consultancy, ERM where he counseled clients on corporate responsibility and sustainability solutions and helped shape several strategic partnerships for ERM. In that role, Wallace also served as the Interim Executive Director for the Social & Human Capital Coalition, a multi-stakeholder project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). His work included overseeing the establishment of the overall governance structure, technical council and global network that drove the creation of the Social & Human Capital Protocol, which was officially launched at GreenBiz 2019 by the founders WBCSD, Nasdaq, and Microsoft. Prior to ERM, Wallace was a director for the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), where he worked on foundational initiatives such as the International Integrated Reporting Council (IRRC), the European Commission proposal on corporate ESG reporting, and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative (SSEi) on ESG listing guidance.

As CEO of the Enterprise Engagement Alliance at TheEEA.org, Bruce Bolger is one of the founders of the field of Enterprise Engagement, an implementation process for what is increasingly known as stakeholder capitalism. Since 1988, he has combined a career in business publishing and content marketing with stakeholder management across the enterprise, human capital reporting, and investor relationships in all people aspects of ESG (environmental, social, governance) and corporate sustainability reporting.

Based on nine years of research conducted by the Forum for People Performance Management at the Medill School of School of Media, Journal, and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University starting in 2000, he founded the Enterprise Engagement Alliance (EEA) in 2009. There, he assembled academic and business experts in all aspects of engagement to create a formal framework for the practical implementation of stakeholder engagement practices across the enterprise. 

In his capacity as principal of the EEA, an agency specializing in stakeholder engagement implementation and reporting, he and his colleagues provide high-level and tactical advisory services for organizations seeking to develop, manage, measure and report on all aspects of the “S” or “social” of environmental, social, governance, increasingly known as stakeholder capitalism. He has unparalleled experience in the practical implementation of the people aspects of ESG, human capital, and diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience working in the investment community and universities, and is an early leader in content marketing, having founded one of the first agencies specializing in the field in 1996.

Bolger works with boards, CEOs, CHROs, CMOs, and investor relations at organizations seeking to profit from formal human capital management plans, metrics, and reporting strategies that enhance performance as well as stakeholder engagement, and with investors seeking to make sense of human capital management strategies and reporting.

Tim Altbaum is CEO of Vario, a premiere Event Production and Technology company servicing clients who are looking for a trusted and reliable resource to provide all pre-production planning, A/V, and event technology needs for both in-person and virtual events. He is currently the President-Elect for the DFW Chapter of MPI, and is a former board member of NACE .He was awarded Community Leader of the Year by MPI, and recently received a Catalyst Award for his contributions to the industry by Smart Meetings Magazine. He actively contributes to other professional organizations and holds CSEP, CMP, HMCC, and CMM designations. As a special event producer and technology junkie, he is constantly striving to bring new and innovative experiences to the meetings and events he manages. This includes staying ahead of the trends by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, partnering with tech-forward companies, and taking proven techniques and applying them in new ways. His diverse knowledge set includes expertise in AI, Experiential Marketing, Projection Mapping, Holograms, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, and Audio/Visual Design.

Denise Sutter is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with a passion for empowering customers and partners to accelerate their growth and success with event technology. As the Channel Marketing Manager at Cvent, she plays a pivotal role in driving successful partnerships with third-party agencies. With a focus on supporting events and strategic campaigns for agency partners, Denise excels in helping them adopt and leverage Cvent's innovative solutions to elevate their customers’ event experiences. Denise's expertise in product messaging and partner advocacy is matched by her passion for bringing people together and enabling partners to achieve their business goals.  

Carisa Bartelt, is an Industry Marketing Manager at Cvent. She is a dynamic and passionate marketer who values storytelling, brand building, and improving the customer experience. One of her driving passions is to bring balance to creativity and strategy to marketing, making everything purposeful, but still genuine. Carisa specializes in event marketing and demand gen tactics that drive business growth, brand affinity, and customer advocacy. In her free time, she loves any type of research, getting lost in a book and a really good pun.

With a graduate certificate in Special Event Management and 25 years of hospitality experience, Hayley worked in various roles in Niagara at the four-diamond Vintage Hotels properties, moving on to develop and grow the wine- and food-centric entertaining program at state-of-the-art winery, Stratus Vineyards. After planning an incentive dinner at Stratus for Wynford’s President’s Club, Hayley joined this “Best Place to Work” in 2015 as an Account Director, working alongside a project team to see each customized event element through to fruition.

She has remained actively involved in the industry, having begun her SITE career as a Young Leader and serving five years on the Canadian Board, as President (2015), and concluding her term as Immediate Past President the following year winning, with her fellow board members, the coveted SITE Chapter of the Year award each time. 

Hayley was also honoured as a Top 30 Under 30 Award recipient through the Ontario Hostelry Institute in 2008 and was inducted into the Meetings + Incentive Travel Hall of Fame as the 2016 Industry Volunteer winner, announced at IncentiveWorks (since renamed the Canadian Meetings & Events Expo). 

Now, in her capacity as a Senior Client Experience Director at Wynford, Hayley is a trusted advisor and strategist for the client and Wynford teams responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and executing immersive and engaging experiences for attendees over the lifecycle of the project.

Hayley lives in Toronto, Canada and around the world.

Caitlin has been in the hospitality and event industry for her entire career, with experience in Destination Management, Catering Sales, Venue Management and Marketing. She currently serves as the Director of Program Design at Hello! Arizona, where she manages a team as well as all supplier relationships and internal service data. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her husband Austin, and hike with their dog, Bueller. 

Driven by an insatiable passion for hospitality and the art of creating unforgettable experiences. With over a decade of dedicated service, I am honored to hold the esteemed position of Global Director of Sales for Southern Plains at AIC Hotel Group, representing renowned brands including AVA Resort Cancun, UNICO 20 87, All Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels, and NOBU Hotels. Join me on this exhilarating journey as we redefine luxury in the realm of travel and elevate every encounter to extraordinary heights.

A dedicated SITE member and former Young Leader, committed to empowering the new generation of professionals to thrive and make their voices heard.

Kainoa is currently the Senior Director, Brand for the Honolulu-based Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau. He has worked in Hawai‘i’s visitor industry for 20 years in various capacities in sales and marketing, integrating the importance of the Hawaiian culture.

He has served and continues to serve on many community and nonprofit boards; The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace, Judiciary History Center, the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, and the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association to name a few.

He is also an active member and officer of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, and serves as Chair of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission representing the Order.

Co-authoring ISLAND WISDOM with Annie Daly was truly a labor of love. They hope you find the traditional, native wisdom helpful in your modern lives.

Kainoa’s favorite day of the week is Sunday morning family time at Sandy Beach with his sweetheart, Leilani and their little girl, Nanea.

Frank Robinson, considered a “local” in Hawaii, has been in the luxury event and destination management business for over 35 years, 23 of them in Hawaii. Working for several luxury hotel and resort companies such as Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental, in every aspect of the events arena, led to him founding and directing Island Events, a luxury focused DMC in 2009. 

In 2021, in response to the changes brought about by the global pandemic to the Hawaiian events industry, Frank formed the event production company, Ulu Creative. 

He’s known by his teammates, colleagues, and clients as the creative force behind many of the high-end, distinctive incentive programs that happen throughout the Hawaiian islands. Frank’s ability to listen and desire to understand allows him to fully collaborate with his clients and team. His experience, insight, and creativity, empower him to deliver strategic and impactful luxury experiences.   

Frank is a member of SITE, MPI, ADMEI, HVCB, and volunteers often for Hawaii-based nonprofits and charities. When not at work, he lives on Maui with his husband and three puppies. He loves to cook, throw dinner parties, and take long walks on the beach. 

Lauren grew up in Lahaina, Maui, graduated from Lahainaluna High School and Oregon State University. She spent six years between Oregon and Southern California before she was recruited back home to Hawai’i where she worked for almost a decade at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows. At Mauna Lani she worked in wedding, catering, leisure and group sales before joining a local Hawai’i DMC. After six and a half years, she decided to join Whitney to make their dream of being successful business owners a reality. Lauren married a Kona boy and together, she and Leabert are proud parents of three energetic boys – Layne, Layden and Layke. In her free time, she loves to join her family at the beach for a day of fishing, visiting family on Maui and Oahu, practice cooking recipes, taking photos and sharing her love of hula with friends and family. In all of her extra free time, she also is passionate about supporting her community by serving on the Waikoloa Dry Forest volunteer committee, West Hawai’i Explorations Academy Governing Board and volunteers for the MPI Oregon/Aloha Chapter (she is the former MPI Aloha Chapter President).

Originally from New York, Lauren discovered her talent for creating extraordinary moments early in her career. Her background includes roles in food and beverage, operations, event planning, and sales. Each step has deepened her understanding of destination management. Lauren relocated to Hawai'i in the early 2000s to immerse herself in the vibrant hospitality industry. She has held key positions at the Blue Note Jazz Club, Outrigger Hotels, and MC&A. Her wealth of knowledge, creative vision, and commitment to excellence elevate the exceptional experiences she delivers to all of PRA Hawai'i's clients and guests.

As Grand Wailea’s Commercial Director, Ben Premack is responsible for designing and implementing the resort’s long-term commercial vision. His role encompasses leading the commercial side of major resort-wide projects, including his participation in Grand Wailea’s $350 million transformation in 2023, as well targeting and leveraging short- and medium-term incremental revenue opportunities. Among these are the resort’s 5,000-person membership program and its 50-villa residence program, both of which are led by Ben, who drives service initiatives, loyalty programming, and ancillary revenues using a combination of strategic thinking, tactical initiatives, and strong business acumen. In addition to these other responsibilities, Ben has direct oversight of Grand Wailea’s group and leisure sales, catering and events, and membership and residence ownership programs.

Before assuming his current role at Grand Wailea in 2021, Ben spent nearly two decades growing his hospitality career with a series of increasingly senior operational, sales, and commercial strategy roles at leading hotels across the United States. Ben holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management from Indiana University at Bloomington and completed the Hotel Management and Owners Relations certificate program at Cornell University.

Born and raised on the North Shore of O‘ahu, Spurrier is a proud graduate of Kahuku High School and holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i. Spurrier is an everyday dad as a father of five children and loves life alongside his beautiful wife, Brooke. He also loves everything sports, reading motivational books, serving in his church and community, is passionate about mentoring the younger generation, and takes great pride in growing local Hawai‘i talent for Hawai‘i.

As a Native Hawaiian, he has a long family history in Maui tracing back to his grandmother who was from Hana, and his grandfather who taught at Lahainaluna High School. As a thought leader, his Hōkūpaʻa or “true north” is to inspire millions just as Mr. Marriott did, beginning in his own home and community. One of his favorite quotes is, “he wa’a he moku; he moku he wa’a,” a Hawaiian proverb that translates to “the canoe is an island; the island is a canoe,” which emphasizes the need to take care of Hawai‘i’s unique culture and resources while recognizing everyone’s role in this effort. Spurrier has embraced this in his leadership and looks forward to continuing to perpetuate the culture with an understanding of his kuleana (responsibility) to share it authentically with others.

Spurrier brings a winning mentality and competitive mindset and throughout his career has consistently earned stellar leadership performance ratings and has been the recipient of various awards including Leader of the Quarter, Manager of the Year, Finalist for the Marriott International Global Elite Award, President’s Award for Sales Excellence, and Marriott President’s Circle Achiever.

Account Executive, Raysha Mamala, is a native Hawaiian who is no stranger to this business and the culture here in Hawai’i. She graduated from University of Hawaii a dynamic professional with strengths in planning and project management. Her work experience has provided her with the tools necessary to multitask effectively through excellent organizational skills and with the ability to make quick and accurate decisions under stressful conditions while maintaining a pleasant working environment. In her free time, you can find her chairing non-profit events, sitting on the board of directors of Maui Health Services, and leading non-profit fundraisers and initiatives, making a difference in the community here on Maui. She is a well-respected leader that finds pleasure in welcoming and hosting visitors here in Hawaii, creating an authentic and memorable experience.

Kainoa is currently the Senior Director, Brand for the Honolulu-based Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau. He has worked in Hawai‘i’s visitor industry for 20 years in various capacities in sales and marketing, integrating the importance of the Hawaiian culture.

He has served and continues to serve on many community and nonprofit boards; The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace, Judiciary History Center, the Hawai‘i State Art Museum, and the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association to name a few.

He is also an active member and officer of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, and serves as Chair of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission representing the Order.

Co-authoring ISLAND WISDOM with Annie Daly was truly a labor of love. They hope you find the traditional, native wisdom helpful in your modern lives.

Kainoa’s favorite day of the week is Sunday morning family time at Sandy Beach with his sweetheart, Leilani and their little girl, Nanea.