284: EventProfs at IMEX Share Essential Tips on Managing Event F&B

Zoe (pronounced ZOH) Moore, founder of Grow with Zomo, is an independent Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion consultant who helps leaders in the hospitality, events, and tourism industries develop strategies to improve workplace culture and the hospitality ecosystem.

As Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Proshow Audiovisual, Gas provides visionary leadership and strategic direction, driving annual revenue growth of 980% over a 4-year period through extensive networking, new business development, and proactive brand recognition efforts. He is responsible for the entire sales cycle, from business development and client engagement to contract negotiation and closing deals, and excel at optimizing staff performance, capitalizing on new market opportunities, and maximizing revenue through effective key account management.

A hospitality veteran with over 22+ years of experience in sales and events, Kevin works with you to ensure all details are handled from beginning to end, allowing you to focus on the results. I pride myself on client services and the relationships I have formed.

Sophia is a passionate, creative, and service-oriented event professional who loves transforming spaces, creating experiences, and molding memories. While her daily activities focus on designing events from spatial flow to the linens and centerpieces on your tables, she is truly excited by planning events from start to finish that incorporate a cohesive and seamless message throughout the entire event. From food presentation and subtle ingredient infusions to the implied symbolism of design in the layout and color scheme of the event, my events tell stories of the company, the people, and the occasion for celebration.

Joe is a top-producing DIRECTOR OF SALES & GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, skilled in building and maintaining key stakeholder relationships, negotiating and managing multi-million dollar Fortune 500 / Fortune 1000 contracts, as well as planning and executing all phases of account and project management; Certified Incentive Specialist, recognized consistently for outstanding achievements in business-to-business sales, customer satisfaction, brand development, and team leadership within the highly-competitive international luxury hotel industry.

Anna is a concert-loving, foodie, passionate fundraiser, and travel enthusiast, and I’ve never met a Rubik’s cube I couldn’t solve.

She has always been proud to be part of the world’s largest and most dynamic industry, which constantly redefines what it means to be hospitable.

As my Director of Global Sales role for the DMC Network, she leverages its extensive network and serves as a single access point to connect you with unparalleled local knowledge and expertise in any of our 100+ destinations.

She loves to build long-term relationships with my clients and offer a tailored experience to each one.

Her 20+ years of experience in all aspects of tourism, including Food and beverage, Hotels, Destination Management, and CVBs, offer my clients a well-rounded representative with a strong appreciation for diversity and a global mindset.

As the Regional Director for North America at ICCA, Shawn is passionate about driving growth and fostering collaboration within the global meetings and events industry. ICCA has stood at the forefront of shaping the future of international association meetings since 1963, and he is honoured to be part of a team that champions innovation, sustainability, and advocacy on a global scale.

Over the years, he has had the privilege of strategizing, planning, and executing transformative events—from intimate gatherings to international conferences. My career has been built on an unwavering commitment to innovation, creative problem-solving, and a collaborative approach to ensure that every event exceeds expectations. Along the way, I've been fortunate to be recognized with honours such as "Planner of the Year" by Smart Meetings and a spot on the "40 Under 40" by Connect x BizBash.

As a Co-Founder of Olympian Meeting a Wellness Consulting firm for Events, Meetings, and Conferences, David helps clients create and execute impactful and memorable experiences that drive engagement, awareness, and revenue, while enhancing the well-being of attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff. He leverages his 20+ years of experience in the corporate event industry, as well as his credentials as a Delos Certified Wellness in Events, a COVID-19 Compliance Officer (CCO), and a Pandemic Meeting and Event Designer (PMED), to deliver innovative and meaningful solutions that align with the goals, values, and vision of each client.

Chef Thomas McKeown is a recognized leader in bringing quality, locally-sourced ingredients to hotel dining. He joined Hyatt Regency Atlanta as Executive Chef in 2015, and oversees all of the landmark hotel’s dining experiences, including Polaris, Sway, Twenty-Two Storys and Market, as well as in-room dining, special events and banquet operations.

Under his leadership, Hyatt Regency Atlanta partners with 70 local farms, dairies and independent purveyors to plate the freshest quality ingredients for his guests. Chef Thomas is a longtime partner of the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market, the largest producer-only Georgia’s largest vendor run farmers market, and an organizer of “The Good Taste Series,” Hyatt’s global chef’s competition.

Born and trained in Europe, McKeown began his culinary career at the prominent Limerick Golf Club in Ireland. He completed his culinary training on both sides of the Atlantic at the Limerick Institute of Technology in Ireland and Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, where he earned a Master’s degree in Food Service Education. Following his studies, McKeown refined his knowledge of contemporary American cuisine as Sous Chef at the exclusive Somerset Club in Boston and moved on to become Executive Chef at Atlanta’s Ellis Hotel. He joined Hyatt as Executive Chef at Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead in 2010.

Chef McKeown is a member of Hyatt’s Sustainable and Responsible Eating Team, a Hyatt initiative that promotes serving local, healthy and responsibly raised ingredients in all Hyatt dining experiences. In 2013, M… Read More

A member of the SongDivision team since the beginning, Marsha helps oversee the many elements of the business she’s helped build, from sales, to marketing and event production. She leverages her background in media and real estate sales, along with her degrees in psychology and social studies, to grow the company and shape its brand and culture.

As a global company with offices located throughout the world, Marsha’s greatest passion is to make sure every team member is happy and looked after, no matter where they are based. She accomplishes this via global meetings, annual retreats and fun initiatives that build relationships among team members and encourage sharing and an always positive esprit de corps. Outside of SongDivision, Marsha is passionate about her community. She serves on the board of the Maui Foodbank and IMUA Family Services.

Joanne Ireland, a 30+ year veteran of the meeting and event planning industry, is Founder and President of Ireland Presentations, a meeting, conference and event planning company. Ireland Presentations is a leading expert in the planning & management of corporate conferences, meetings & events. Their expertise includes project standards & strategy, conceptualization & design, project management, contract negotiations and on-site management. Joanne and her team of A-Plus players continue to produce successful internal company meetings and customer facing programs nationally and internationally

Emily Bell is an experienced professional in the event and hospitality industry, with nearly a decade of expertise spanning planning, coordinating, contract negotiation, and catering client meetings for both social and corporate events. Currently, she serves as Corporate, Meeting & Events Manager at Omni Hotels & Resorts, where she manages planning, logistics, and on-site coordination for meetings, training sessions, and special events within the Corporate Sales department.

Her career has included diverse roles in event planning, sales, and operations, as well as experience with tradeshows, conferences, and PR events. Emily’s passion for events, attention to detail, and dedication to creating exceptional experiences for clients have made her a trusted leader in the industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, Emily continues to bring her enthusiasm and expertise to every project she undertakes.

Tammy Moore is the Senior Director of Product Innovation at PCMA, where she leads professional development and educational initiatives across PCMA and the Event Leadership Institute. With over 20 years of experience in the events industry, Tammy has held leadership roles at organizations like KPMG US, overseeing the design and execution of over 1,000 events annually.

An accomplished educator and speaker, Tammy teaches advanced event design and strategy and shares her expertise in fostering collaboration, innovation, and strategic thinking. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and cheering on her daughter Olivia at tennis matches. Originally from Cincinnati, Tammy now resides in Fairfax, Virginia, and cherishes her ties to Northern Michigan.

Lynn Hochrine is a seasoned experiential planner and program manager with over 15 years of expertise in employee engagement, event marketing, and large-scale event production. She currently serves as REI's Senior Program Manager for events and Recognition.

Lynn’s diverse career spans the professional sports, hospitality, and retail industries. Her roles include Director of Catering and Conference Services for Kimpton Hotels and Senior Event Planner for REI’s Brand, Stewardship, and Impact team. Her skill set encompasses event strategy, program management, cross-functional collaboration, vendor management, and expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and KPIs.

Her ability to deliver impactful events has been recognized through notable accomplishments such as growing catering revenue by $900,000 at Kimpton’s Palomar San Diego and managing high-profile events, including Comic-Con activations and corporate conferences. Lynn’s passion for creating inclusive, collaborative, and meaningful experiences drives her work in fostering connection and culture through events.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Lynn is dedicated to bringing creativity, precision, and purpose to every project she leads.

Kate's passionate about running and has competed in several marathons.