Beyond Buzzwords: Real-World Data Strategies For Event Success

Zenus Director of Marketing, Nick Borelli, leverages his background in experience design, event tech and digital marketing to help event professionals reach their full potential. His background includes decades of contributions to live and digital communication helping to facilitate his mission: bringing the world together through intentionally designed experiences. To further this mission, he has presented on a wide range of topics internationally, volunteered with numerous industry associations and contributed to dozens of publications. He has also served as a board member for a decade with the meetings and events industry non-profit, the SEARCH Foundation. Nick has been named a Changemaker by MeetingsNet, awarded International Volunteer of the Year by ILEA, and has won numerous marketing awards. He has served as an advisor for associations, conferences, technology companies and event suppliers. Nick is the instructor of the Enhancing Events with AI course with the Event Leadership Institute.

Karen joined the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) at the end of 2017. As Director, Global Business Development, Karen works closely with new and existing partners, sponsors, and exhibitors on showcasing their brand to the exhibition and events industry globally.

Prior to joining IAEE, Karen was with Association Forum for two years, Destinations International for eight years in various leadership roles; most recently as Executive Vice President of Sales & Business Development. Ms. Gonzales has worked for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and started her career with Visit Denver as a senior city-wide sales manager.

Ms. Gonzales is past Chair for The Meetings’ Industry Fund, a past chair for the Events Industry Council’s Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Governance Committee and is active in several industry-related organizations. Karen has been accepted into the CMP Fellows Program and is a recognized tenured CMP who has made significant advancements in her career, as well as significant contributions through service and education to the meetings, exhibitions, and events industry.

Lauren San Martin is the Director of Marketing& Membership at the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society whereshe hustles to grow, and more importantly retain members through evaluation andevolution of a range of member benefits and engagement opportunities.Foundational to VECCS’ success is increased awareness and loyalty to the annualconference. In her 4 years with VECCS she, along with the awesome team, hasincreased membership by over 50% and contributed to increased annual conferenceattendance year-over-year through both traditional and digital marketinginitiatives.

Lauren keeps the overall VeterinaryProfessional and the struggles of the ECC team at the core of her efforts. Sherecognizes that an increasing number of members or attendees with a lowretention rate, does not equal true success in her role.

Fun fact! Lauren played Water Polo at ArizonaState University, while obtaining her degree in Graphic Design! When Laurencloses her laptop, her happy place is in the Guadalupe River with hersix-year-old son and husband and she recently started learning pickleball, sostay out of the kitchen!

 Diedra Crawford, CEM-AP, CMP, DES is the Senior Director, Industry Sales and Operations, Digestive Disease Week for the American Gastroenterological Association.