Howard Givner is a serial entrepreneur, innovator and business strategist, specializing in the events and ed-tech industries. He advises corporate event teams, event agencies and other businesses on growth, innovation, measurement, strategy and M&A. He is a Senior Advisor at Oaklins | DeSilva + Phillips, a global mid-market investment bank, and CEO of the Heathcote Advisory Group, a consulting practice for business leaders. 

He has successfully built and sold three businesses in the events industry and has advised over a dozen other industry CEOs on M&A and growth strategies. He was the founder and CEO of the Event Leadership Institute, a provider of training and resources for meeting planning, event marketing and hospitality professionals, which was acquired by PCMA in 2023. He also led the U.S. division of Grass Roots Meetings & Events during its sale to BCD Meetings & Events in 2018, and he was the founder and President of Paint the Town Red, an event agency which he subsequently sold to Global Events.

Howard is a frequent industry speaker, writer and educator on a broad range of topics. He is an avid hiker, crossword solver, podcast junkie, fiction writer and cancer survivor.

Born into the business as son of the founders of an award-winning DMC, TMM (The Meeting Manager), Trevor grew up packing coolers and delivering props. After working as a trip director for several years, he returned in 1996 to run and expand TMM leading to the merger of TMM and Destination PROS in 2012 into 360 Destination Group. An avid surfer, turbo father of five girls, and stickler when it comes to how an old-fashioned is made, he loves to be active in several industry organizations, including FICP, SITE, and ADMEI, as well as several hospitality industry Advisory Boards.

Andrey is a Managing Director based in H.I.G. Capital’s Boston office where he is responsible for all aspects of the investment process including deal origination, structuring, execution, financing and post-close operational improvements and growth strategies.

Andrey has over ten years of public and private market investing experience across a variety of sectors including healthcare, IT services and business services. Prior to joining H.I.G., Andrey worked at Charlesbank Capital Partners and the Boston Consulting Group.

Andrey earned a B.A. in Economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kim Kopetz is President and CEO of The Opus Group, a global network of event agencies that creates experiences that drive action for the world’s most influential brands, including Google, Diageo, Microsoft, and Salesforce.

Kim started her career in events at the NBA and Nike, and joined Opus Agency in 1998 as a Senior Event Manager. She held several roles at Opus Agency, eventually as EVP Global Accounts. In 2012, Kim went brand-side, and held global leadership positions at Intel in sales and marketing, including Chief of Staff to the head of global sales and Senior Director of B2B Event Strategy.  She returned to Opus in 2017, becoming Chief Growth Officer and supporting the acquisition and integration of seven agencies in two years. Kim was promoted to President of The Opus Group in 2020, and in 2024 assumed the role of President and CEO.

Throughout a career spanning more than 25 years, Kim has been a leader in global experience and event marketing for both brands and agencies. She currently serves as a strategic partner to the Event Leaders Exchange (ELX) and as a member of the Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA). Her expertise has earned her many accolades over the years, including a spot on the list of the top 100 most influential people in the event industry.

Sunny was born and raised in Mexico and has called Los Cabos home since 1989. Growing up in the hospitality industry with a heavy emphasis on tour operations, Sunny has grown the family business to cover 10+ cities in 3 countries and is now responsible for over 500,000 people transitioning through one of the family companies. Graduating from the University of San Diego and having had the privilege of traveling to many corners of the world by motorcycle, plane and ship has given him a unique perspective on not only what clients are looking for but also of showing clients what they haven’t even thought to look for. Along with an amazing management team, as Managing Partner, Sunny has been able to solidify the brand of Terramar and grow it into now six destinations in three countries. 

Terramar is presently one of two accredited DMC’s in Mexico and the only one in Panama. Our highly seasoned sales and operations team now includes 7 DMCP’s that help maintain the highest level of service that Terramar has become known for. In his free time you will most likely find Sunny with his family. An avid athlete, Sunny has competed in long distance motorcycle off road rally races, competed in triathlons and other races. In college Sunny was a 4 year rower and at one point was the Pacific Coast Rowing Champion as well as the California State Champion.

With 25 years of experience in the MICE industry, including a decade in the all-inclusive market, John Iannini brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to Hilton All-Inclusive. His extensive career includes roles as Senior Director of Global Sales at Melia Hotels International and Global Sales Director for Incentive Travel at Wyndham Hotel Group. As a Past President of the SITE Foundation, John has been a key figure in shaping the future of incentive travel. 

Now at Hilton, John leverages his experience to drive growth and ensure seamless coordination between Hilton Worldwide Sales (HWS) and on-site sales teams, delivering exceptional service to clients. 

A passionate traveler, John has visited 94 countries, exploring the world with an intrepid spirit. He's also a devoted dog lover, sharing his life with his two beloved English Bulldogs, Matilda and Sirloin. 

John is based in Atlanta and is always excited to collaborate with clients to create extraordinary experiences in the incentive and meetings space 

As the Director of Purchasing and Design, I lead a dedicated team that is the frontline for all our in-person events, ensuring each project begins with strategic insight and flawless execution. With over 30 years in the travel and hospitality industry, I bring a depth of expertise across every facet of meetings, incentives, and event planning. My team and I are responsible for contracting and procuring over 300 meetings and events annually, aligning every step with client goals to achieve memorable, seamless experiences. 

Throughout my career, I've built a reputation for strategic thinking, precision, creativity, and commitment to results. My approach is proactive and client-focused, driving outcomes that are both efficient and impactful. With a robust background in team leadership and vendor relations, I prioritize effective communication, cost efficiency, and risk management, fostering trusted partnerships and delivering outstanding results every time. 

Ava Setzer is a Director of Sales, Worldwide Accounts for Hilton Worldwide with a rich tapestry of experience spanning 24 years with the company.  She’s had extensive experience in hotel operations and was a valuable hotel sales contributor across vibrant cities including San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland.  A seasoned expert in the hospitality industry, Ava joined Hilton’s enterprise sales in 2017 - enhancing sales strategies and steering global account management. Her passion is ignited by the magic of human connections sparked at live events. There is nothing better! 

The launch and growth of Hilton’s all-inclusive hotel collection piqued Ava’s interest, leading her to delve deep into the offerings tailored for meeting planners. She has since blossomed into an expert at showcasing the distinctive allure and advantages of All-Inclusive for gatherings of any scale—from intimate assemblies of 10 to grand exclusives of 1,000 in the idyllic settings of Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean.  In our fast moving environment, All-Inclusive makes deliver a premium on all components of meetings and events. 

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.

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.