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Board meetings are open to all ISES New England members.
Active committee involvement is strongly encouraged as a
way to strengthen the Chapter through personal leadership
and, in so doing, raise your and your company's visibility
within the organization. The annual installation of new
Board members occurs at the June monthly Chapter meeting.
2008-2009 ISES New England Board of Directors
President
Steven Way
President
ALPS/Advanced Lighting & Production Services, Inc.
65 Teed Drive
Randolph, MA 02368
Phone: (781) 961-3066
Fax: (781) 961-3256
Email: steven_way@alpsweb.com
Web: www.alpsweb.com
Steven Way is the President of ALPS/Advanced Lighting &
Production Services, a theatrical and entertainment lighting
company he started at age 17 in 1981. Then called BWA Lighting,
it began as a "basement business" based out of his parent's
home, providing lighting for local bands and theatres. By
the mid-80s, Steven saw a rise in special/corporate events,
which afforded him the opportunity to do what he enjoyed
most - create and enhance environments with lighting.
Steven decided to join ISES in 2002 in order to connect
and network with others in the industry he has enjoyed so
much. Joining the Board of Directors in June 2006 was his
next step in gaining more knowledge about and contributing
to the success of ISES New England and the special events
industry as a whole. As your President this year, he is
excited to connect with, learn from and serve you all.
Steven is a past recipient of the Merit Scholarship Award
from ISES New England which sent him to Eventworld in Hawaii.
He also has been recognized for outstanding performance
and contributions by Citizens Bank and the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. In addition to ISES, Steven is a member and
serves on the Board of Directors of ESTA (Entertainment
Services & Technology Association).
Steven lives in Norwood with his wife Kelly, their sons
Nicholas and Christopher, and a goofy yellow lab named Sandy.
He enjoys playing racquetball, and just relaxing and building
sandcastles on a beach… any beach!
President-Elect
Jessica Zirpolo
Owner
Just Your Style Events
11 Donnybrook Road
Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: (617) 782-1080
Fax: (617) 787-2460
Email: jysevents@verizon.net
Jessica Zirpolo began her career in the special event industry
in catering as a server in college and went full-time in
2004 with Crazy Chefs Catering where she learned the nuts
and bolts of the profession. In May, 2005 Jessica joined
Gourmet Caterers where she found new ways to apply her skills
in order to better serve her clients. In 2007, Jessica started
her event planning company called Just Your Style Events.
Jessica joined ISES New England in December, 2004. She
quickly became involved with the Membership and Programming
Committees as well as worked on Special Projects. In the
past, she has won the Merit Scholarship, Rising Star Award,
Spirit of ISES and Chapter Leader Award. Last year, Jessica
was co-chair of the 2008 Northeast REC planning committee.
Jessica looks forward to her new position as President-elect
and continuing her leadership next year.
After hours, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family
and friends, going to new restaurants, shopping, and having
fun!
Immediate Past President
A.C. Anders
Director of Corporate Sales
Fun Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 34
South Weymouth, MA 02190
Phone: (781) 340-0180
Fax: (781) 340-0193
Email: ac@funent.com
Web: www.funent.com
A.C. Anders has been an active member of ISES for over eight
years and is thrilled to serve this year as Immediate Past
President. It is rumored that she began her event planning
career in grade school where she started organizing fun
get-togethers during recess. Her formal career in event
planning and production started in college, in 1984, where
she worked on student activities and leadership development.
A.C. also produced client appreciation functions and employee
programs for her family's mechanical contracting business
during that same time.
Since 1992, A.C. has been the Director of Corporate Sales
for Fun Enterprises, Inc. Fun Enterprises specializes in
bringing interactive fun to any event and making the event
one that will be remembered long after it has ended. Always
eager to lend a hand, A.C. also is an active member of the
GBCVB (Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau) and
NEHRA (Northeast Human Resource Association). A.C. enjoys
traveling, cooking, playing card games, listening to music,
and spending time with her family, friends, and her cats
Ernie and Lili. For those who are curious, the "A.C." stands
for her given name, Anne-Celeste.
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V.P. Communications
Meredith Roser
Director of Special Events
Brandeis University
415 South Street
MS 122
Waltham, MA 02454
Phone: (781) 736-4143
Fax: (781) 736-8699
Email: mroser@brandeis.edu
Web: www.brandeis.edu
Meredith Roser is excited to serve the ISES New England
Chapter in her third year as VP of Communications. After
attending The Special Event conference in 2002, Meredith
found that the most valuable part of the conference was
networking with ISES members. Upon moving to Boston in early
2005, the first thing she did was join ISES New England
and immediately volunteered to work with the Programming
and Special Projects committees.
Meredith's work in the events industry began in 1998 when
her alma mater, Union College, hired her to fly around the
country to plan alumni events. After a whirlwind two years,
she decided that traveling almost every week wasn't all
it was cracked up to be. This led her to transition to planning
fundraising events for a variety of local hospitals in Albany,
NY. With a resume of planning some of upstate New York's
grandest special events, Meredith made the decision to return
to her roots in higher education and move to Boston.
In her position as the Director of Special Events at Brandeis
University, Meredith is responsible for planning both on-
and off-campus events for donors, alumni, and staff. Her
passion for her position and her involvement with ISES make
a perfect fit, and each provides her with a new experience
every day.
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V.P. Programs & Education
Julia Helene Clapper
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
VDA Productions
63 Inner Belt Road
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: (617) 628-1200 x24
Fax: (617) 628-1424
Email: julia@vdaproductions.com
Web: www.vdaproductions.com
With a decade of sales and marketing experience in the corporate
telecommunications arena, Julia Helene holds a victorious
track record of developing high performance teams and high
growth businesses. As VP of Sales & Marketing, Julia Helene
is responsible for the company's go-to market strategy and
for establishing, managing and driving the sales and channel
organization and programs, as well as strategic corporate,
customer and industry trade marketing initiatives.
An innovative sales and marketing leader, Ms. Clapper
is a graduate of the College of Saint Rose with a degree
in Business Marketing and Computer Information Systems.
Ms. Clapper is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of
Commerce Transportation and Workforce Development Committees,
served on the Committee for the Big Sister's 2006 Big in
Boston Event and also serves on the ISES Board of Directors
as VP Programs & Education, further proving her pledge for
the growth of the business economy. Ms. Clapper also has
been acknowledged by the Boston Business Journal as a "woman
on the move" in 2006 and was recently honored as a Manchester
Who's Who and the Global Who's Who registry of top USA executives.
Ms. Clapper is the proud recipient of the 2007 ISES Rising
Stars Award and the 2006 ISES Future Leaders Award, and
was a nominee for the prestigious 2007 Boston Chamber Pinnacle
Award for Emerging Executive.
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V.P. Membership
Katie Gold
Group & Events Coordinator
LTI Worldwide
32 Bow Street
Everett, MA 02149
Phone: (617) 381-0600
Fax: (617) 351-0180
Email: katieEgold@gmail.com
Web: www.ltilimo.com
While attending the University of New Hampshire, Katie Gold
majored in Tourism Planning and Development and gained a
passion for event planning. Katie went on to work as an
Event Manager at Echelon Events where she was responsible
for event development, management, and logistics for corporate
clients. Katie now has the honor of being the head of Sales
as well as the Meetings and Events Manager for LTI Worldwide,
a chauffeured limousine service.
She joined ISES New England in January, 2007 and immediately
joined the Programming Committee. She later decided to get
involved in the Membership Committee to get others involved
in this great organization. Katie served as Membership Director
from 07-08.
Katie is a proud recipient of the 2007 ISES New England
Merit Scholarship Award which sponsored her attendance at
Event World and was hosted in Montreal
She lives in Boston and is a huge Boston sports fan. During
her free time she enjoys being with her family and friends,
traveling, shopping, and playing in a women's softball league.
Director - Meeting Logistics
Jessica Pavao
Email: jessica.ises@gmail.com
Jessica joined NXTevent in 2006 and quickly grew into her
dual role as Account and Operations Manager. As a leading
destination management company in Boston and New England,
NXTevent has helped her build client, partner and vendor
relationships that are constantly being strengthened by
her involvement in ISES.
A member of the New England Chapter since 2006, Jessica
joined the Programming Committee a year later, and was thrilled
when asked to serve on the 2008-2009 Board. She strives
to bring her specialty in meeting and event logistics to
each and every ISES program.
Jessica earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and
Tourism Management at the Isenberg School of Management
at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Although she
entered the hospitality program later in her college career,
she didn't waste any time in getting involved. As the founding
president of Meeting and Event Managers Association (MEMA),
she led the members in their first year to organize, market
and execute fundraising events. In conjunction with MPI,
MEMA members continue to volunteer and learn at the annual
NEMICE conference. The club has since continued to produce
incoming hospitality talent for Greater Boston and beyond.
Director - Recruitment
Susan DiDonato
Hospitality Account Executive
VDA Productions
63 Inner Belt Rd.
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: (617) 628-1200 x 22
Fax: (617) 628-1424
E-mail: Susan@vdaproductions.com
Web: www.vdaproductions.com
Susie is thrilled to become part of the ISES New England
Board of Directors for 2008-2009! After attending Eventworld
in Montreal last August, Susie immediately jumpstarted her
Chapter involvement and signed up for the Membership and
Special Projects committees. Her commitment and enthusiasm
for the chapter over the last year has led her to become
the recipient of the Future Leaders, Spirit of ISES, and
“2008 Merit Scholarship awards, and she looks forward to
continuing the growth and success of the New England Chapter.
As the Hospitality Account Executive for VDA Productions,
Susie combines her theatrical background and event planning
expertise to create themed environments for meetings, trade
shows and events for clientele around the globe. Her previous
experience in the hospitality industry includes everything
from conceptualizing to executing all meetings, events,
summits, and conferences both domestically and abroad, for
international on-line gaming company, Gaming VC, as well
as working on large-scale events and productions for the
musical stage productions and celebrity concert series at
the North Shore Music Theatre.
Susie hails from sunny Florida where she holds a degree
in Business Administration with a focus on Global Business
and a minor in Theatre from the University of Florida in
Gainesville. She is extremely grateful to VDA Productions
and fellow Board member, Julia Clapper, for their continuous
support of her involvement within the ISES-NE Chapter and
thanks her Mom and Dad for their unconditional love and
support.
Director of Retention
John Zucco
Account Executive
Entertainment Specialists
60 State Street
Suite 700
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (800) 540-8157
Fax: (508) 238-5544
Email: jzucco@entertainmentspecialists.com
Web: www.entertainmentspecialists.com
John Zucco has been involved in the entertainment field since
1975. After receiving his Associates Degree from Mass Bay
Community College, he attended Boston State College to pursue
a career as an elementary school teacher. But as fate would
have it, he decided to grow his hair long, join a rock band,
and never look back.
Making the transition to weddings and special events in the
early 90s, John became involved with several event industry
networking organizations including ISES in the mid-90s. John
was named the NACE New England 2003 “Affiliate of the Year”
and earned a spot on the NACE National President’s List in
2004. Contributing his talents just as vigorously with ISES,
John was honored to receive the ISES New England Heart and
Soul President’s Award in 2007.
John has been involved as both an entertainer and event producer
for companies such as Microsoft, Compaq, Avaya, IBM, Houghton
Mifflin, Gillette, Dunkin’ Donuts, Boston Beer Works, Fidelity
Investments, Commonwealth Financial, Prudential Financial,
Liberty Mutual, Bain & Company, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Millennium
Pharmaceuticals, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. He performed
for events at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and
has appeared as a guest DJ on TV’s elimiDATE. John also appears
frequently on Kiss 108’s “Matty In The Morning” show in Boston
as guitarist and bandleader for Matty’s house band The Flounders.
John currently lives in Hanson with his wife Dianna and sons
Alex and Eric.
Director of Communications
Angela Giovine
Phone: (617) 504-3661
Email: Arangela@aol.com
A true Boston import, Angela Giovine moved to the area
from New Jersey in the mid 90s to study environmental engineering
at Wentworth Institute of Technology. During her first years
here in Boston, she fell in love with the local music scene
and quickly realized that a degree in engineering wasn't
going to get her too far in the rock n' roll world. A change
in majors brought her to Simmons College where she focused
on public relations and marketing. Through 2002 Angela worked
many music-related positions; event coordination for such
bands as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, radio production at
WBCN, managed nights at the historic Middle East night club
in Cambridge, production asstance for Mass Concerts, and
marketing for a local indie-rock record label.
She made the transition from bands to brides when she began
working for Rentals Unlimited in 2003. At Rentals Unlimited,
Angela held a wide array of responsibilities, always focusing
on customer satisfaction and exemplary marketing of the
company's products and services. In the summer of 2008,
Angela left to further her career in the special events
industry and decided to join the team at BBJ Linen. Angela
is proud to report that the power of ISES networking is
how she came to find the available position at BBJ Linen.
She is excited to "pay it forward" by linking
friends and colleagues to amazing professional and personal
opportunities.
Angela has lived in Randolph for the past four years. In
her free time she enjoys traveling, visiting family and
friends across the country / world, and taking trips to
parks and beaches with her dog Obi.
Director of Special Projects
Alison Rose
Phone: (781) 974-2533
Email: arose0922@verizon.net
Alison Rose began her professional career at the Marriott
Thruway Hotel after graduating from the Rochester Institute
of Technology in Rochester, NY. After beginning her career
as an administrative assistant, she moved into the role
of Banquet Manager within a few months. After a few years
of learning and working behind the scenes, Alison moved
into sales as an Event Manager.
In October 2001 Alison moved to Portland, Maine to become
Conference Services Manager at the historic Eastland Park
Hotel and to live on the ocean. The few years following
her move made her realize that she wanted to stay on the
east coast and be close to the water.
In March 2005 Alison made another move and landed in Boston,
where she joined Legal Sea Foods/Exchange Conference Center
as its Catering Sales Manager. Joining the Legal Sea Foods
team combined her love of catering with her love of seafood.
Being new to the city and wanting to make new business
connections, Alison joined ISES and got involved with the
"tiny tasks" committee with the Chapter. This was a perfect
way for Alison to meet others and still be able to fully
commit her time to Legal Sea Foods. Getting involved with
ISES has helped her connect with vendors as well as make
new friends.
Beginning her second year on the Board of Directors, Alison
is looking forward to getting members involved in more projects
and to be more excited as members of ISES.
Alison lives in Rockland, with her boyfriend and two cats.
In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, gardening,
shopping and traveling.
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Executive Director
Sherri L. Oken, CAE
Owner
The Association Advantage LLC
591 North Avenue
Suite 3-2
Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: (781) 245-4511
Fax: (781) 245-6487
Email: ises.newengland@verizon.net
Web: www.isesnewengland.com
Sherri L. Oken, CAE, founded The Association Advantage LLC
in 1992, a company offering customized management and creative
services to trade associations and professional societies.
Before forming The Association Advantage, Sherri was Director
of Public Affairs, Membership, and Education for the Builders
Association of Greater Boston, an association affiliated
with the National Association of Home Builders.
Sherri has extensive experience in just about every area
of association management, for a wide variety of associations.
Prior to her work with associations, she was a professional
educator involved in teaching and counseling students, and
in directing student support programs in secondary schools
and universities. Sherri has also worked as a marketing
and public relations consultant.
Sherri, her husband Reid, and two lively cats live in a
circa-1880 house in Wakefield, which they have been remodeling
(themselves) for several years. They dream of the day it
will be done so they can resume their weekend warrior activities
of rollerblading, biking, canoeing, and hiking. Sherri's
other interests include music, gardening, jewelry making,
all kinds of dancing, reading, and cooking really good food.
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