people profile

These experienced meeting makers are impacting the industry as individuals and business owners, and just happen to be married!

Franny Starkey reflects on her transition from the White House to Imprint Group COO.

Vail Valley Partnership President and CEO discusses work/life balance and the meetings and events outlook for his thriving area. 

Mad science experiments have garnered Steve Spangler 185 million views on YouTube as the guy who originated the Mentos and Coke geyser. He’s since licensed the product for use in education and toys, founded Steve Spangler Science to make science-related toys, created more than 1,300 online videos, and appeared on Denver’s KUSA-TV 9News more than 1,000 times as of May 2015.

Art is a univeral language. Nobody knows that better than Birgit Whitelaw, who speaks three—German, French and English—but knows that creativity supersedes them all. Whitelaw grew up in Germany, worked at her uncle’s hotel and earned her bachelor’s degree in hotel management. She worked at a number of European hotels, exploring other countries in the process.

Whether it’s weddings, events or life in general, the owners of Allée Photography are artists in sync.

Listening is not the only skill that Willie Ripple has transferred from her days in the salon to fabulous events. 

Scott Friedman's multifaceted speaking, writing and philanthropic career impacts the industry on an international level. 

Meet Carol Krugman, MEd, CMP, CMM

Books to Grapes-  As sommelier and wine director for St. Regis Aspen Resort, LeeAnn Kaufman knows how to handle a sword and snow. As sommelier and wine director for St. Regis Aspen Resort, LeeAnn Kaufman knows how to handle asword and snow.