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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.