MIC Council

EVENT DESIGNER and PROJECT MANAGER — skilled in building relationships and collaborating with teams to create events and manage projects that set the bar high and surpass expectations.

With 17+ years’ experience in event design, managed marketing and operational logistics for events and projects ranging in size from 100 to 50,000 participants, negotiated new contracts, cleaned up existing contracts, built new teams and rebuilt fractured teams,  optimized budget spending to increase revenues and cut costs, and built tools to create data troves for future conferences reference and success.

Strategic Skills: Event design and Strategy; Project Management; Contract Negotiation; Budget Management; Vendor Sourcing. Highly skilled at creating event budget tools, sponsorships fulfillment tools and onsite deliverable tracking tools –all resulting in operational excellence for projects and conferences managed.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccagarthur/

Lindsey has worked in the events and festivals industry for over a decade. Originally hailing from Phoenix, Arizona and graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Tourism Management and Development, Lindsey has been enjoying all that Colorado has to offer since relocating in 2017. Lindsey currently works as an Event Coordinator at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center where she specializes in not only producing County signature events but also assisting her venue clients in making their events a success. Her love for planning events in and outside of work is matched only by her love for traveling, craft beer, and a good true crime drama.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-friend-denver

Patty Farmer
Director of Sales / Teaching Professional
Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management
Daniels College of Business
University of Denver
2044 E. Evans Ave.
Denver, CO 80208
(W) 303-871-4438
(F) 303-871-4994
pfarmer@du.edu

B. Jay Bliss
General Manager
Hyatt Place Colorado Springs / Garden of the Gods
503 W. Garden of the Gods Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719.265.9385
bjay.bliss@hyatt.com
hyattplacecoloradosprings.com

Stephanie joined the hospitality industry at a young age. She began in restaurants and evolved into the event and catering world. Stephanie’s first Sales and Catering management role were at Invesco Field at Mile High. Not only did she work like a horse on Bronco’s game days, but she planned all of their private events and worked on a little event you may have heard of, the Democratic National Convention. After leaving Invesco, she went on to work at several fantastic venues, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Oxford Hotel and The Curtis Hotel. Her eclectically well-rounded experience made her an expert in many facets of the industry was a Global Accounts Manager with HelmsBriscoe. She is currently the Director of Meetings and Events for the American Craft Spirits Association.

A member of MPI since 2012, Stephanie is entering her 9^th and final year on the Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President. Previous roles have been VP of Communications, VP of Membership, VP of Finance and VP of Education. Stephanie is in the Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame and has been awarded Smart Meetings Planner of the Year, and the MPI Rising Star Award.