Director, Logistics and Client Services

Bachelors of Business Administration in Hotel/Restaurant Management, James Madison University

Prior to establishing Meeting Solutions, Inc., Melissa was employed by Stouffer Hotels and Resorts (and subsequently Renaissance Hotels and Resorts) for 6 years.  While with Stouffer, Melissa held positions as a Management Trainee, Front Office Manager and Corporate Sales Manager.   

Because of her background, experience, and knowledge of highly complex and innovative events, Melissa provides exceptional communication and leadership skills to all of her clients.  She uses her expertise in visualizing the end goal and budget management as the link between logistical management and execution of every project she produces.

Melissa enjoys playing with her three children and when she isn't chasing them around, Melissa oversees the management of accounts including all project management, planning, logistics and marketing for MSI.

If you could be any animal what would you be?
A cat.  I love the 9 lives thing.

What television character do you simply adore? 
Dr. House - Sad but true.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life? 
Cayman Islands 2008, it was a gift from Santa and our best family vacation ever.  The second best ever trip we’ve taken is to Napa Valley.

What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
I had a HUGE (15 foot) inflatable Mardi Gras man delivered to someone’s hotel room – along with a lot of food on a stick! The recipient – almost couldn’t get into his room due to the large man and of course the blower supporting it.

What is your astrological sign? 
Cancer.

Executive Director, Sales and Business Development

Bachelor of Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Minor in Tourism (Cum Laude), University of Wisconsin-Stout

Jennifer has 15 plus years of experience in hospitality service and sales. Jennifer holds a BA in Hotel and Sales Management with a minor in Tourism from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.  Prior to joining MSI, she was hired by Stouffer Hotels and Resorts (and subsequently Renaissance Hotels and Resorts) and held positions as a Management Trainee, Front Office Manager for 7 years and held a position as their Senior Sales Manager for 6 years focusing on the Corporate and Association sales for the Northeast district.  Jennifer also managed the sports market which included the baseball and football teams visiting the Baltimore area.

Presently Jennifer provides extensive event coordination services to national and international corporations and associations.  She manages and is responsible for cultivating and establishing new business relationships for MSI.  Jennifer works closely with and leverages the company's professional memberships.  She has been active in MPI and PCMA and served on the Executive Board of the local Professional Convention Management Association chapter and is a Past President of the Chesapeake Chapter.   Jenn  taught  meeting planning classes at Goucher College in Maryland for 2 semesters.

She enjoys  playing softball and basketball in her free time and is on the local Towson woman’s league. One of Jenn’s accomplishments is running the Baltimore marathon. Now she runs on the relay team for the Baltimore Marathon. She likes traveling to fun places and exploring different destinations. Jennifer is married, has two children and resides in Towson, Maryland.

If you could be any animal what would you be?
A Tiger.  The tiger is the emblem of the great aristocratic warriors famously known as the samurai. The tiger represents the virtue of courage. Tiger reminds us of the impossible, triumphs, and the beauty of freedom.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands in 1999.

What is your astrological sign?
Aquarius.

Manager, Logistics and Client Services

Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Public Relations & Advertising, Loyola College in Maryland

Sara began her career with a marketing and event group who produced such events as the Taste of Wilmington, Taste of Baltimore and fund raising events for the Ray Lewis Foundation and various local radio stations. Prior to Meeting Solutions, Inc., Sara also acquired over 3 years of experience in the hospitality and event industry lending to her expertise in planning and executing corporate, association, non-profit, government, and social events. 

As part of the event planning team, Sara plays a role in orchestrating the many events of MSI’s clients.  She directs her energy toward various aspects of event planning including creation and execution of concepts, budgeting, marketing, logistics, and vendor relations, making her an essential part of the team. 

In her spare time, Sara loves trying and visiting new places to eat, drink and explore.  She is also trying to attend a game at every baseball stadium in the United States. 

If you could be any animal what would you be? 
A bottlenose dolphin named Flipper - Who wouldn't want to be the "aquatic Lassie"?

What television character do you simply adore? 
He's not really a character but Geoff (Ace of Cakes) because he makes me laugh.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life? 
It's a tie between my adventure vacation in Costa Rica and studying abroad in London which was basically a six month vacation.

What is the funniest prank played by you or on you? 
In round three of a college prank war, I removed all of a friend's stuff from their room - clothes, computer, life size Larry Bird cut out, etc. - and finished off with the unsuspecting lights out and dumping cold water over their shower stall. 

What is your astrological sign?
Scorpio but you would never guess.

Event Manager

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing, University of Baltimore

Kelly worked for three years in fundraising and event planning at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. Currently, Kelly assists with all event registration, on-site support, pre and post-event procedures and oversees coordination for all associated event collateral.  She also coordinates and oversees the day-to-day office operations.

In addition, Kelly loves Latin dancing and is a over-analyzer.  Did she mention that she also hates hotel turn-down service?

What is your astrological sign?
Sagittarius

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?
Sister’s Wedding on Cruise to Caribbean – We had several Birthdays, Anniversaries & Reunited with friend in Puerto Rico – the Margaritas weren’t bad either!!

If you could be any animal what would you be? 
Oprah’s Dog

Event Manager

Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Pepperdine University

Before joining the MSI team, Colleen worked for The Boeing Company/ Boeing Airplane Services in Business Management, where business was dedicated to providing customer-focused service solutions for commercial airplanes.  The wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, offered a diverse portfolio of products and services, including spare parts sales, engineering services, maintenance, and commercial airplane conversions. Colleen worked in cooperation with teams in engineering, sales, and marketing; across sites from Long Beach to Wichita and Seattle to bring customers the ideas and proposals necessary to improve their business.  The key to her position was customer service, and continually tracking, analyzing, and managing this using metrics.  She also assisted in creating and maintaining the tools and databases used to manage the data.

After working on the commercial side of Boeing, she went on to work in business management on Boeing’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems contracts.  Her main focus was to provide budget tracking, analysis, and forecasting the for the Minuteman and Peacekeeper contracts. Due to a military move Colleen had to leave the beautiful southern California coast for the east coast with her soldier husband.  She spent the next few years in Information Technology marketing. 

Colleen has enjoyed working for Meeting Solutions since 2004 and serves as a manager of our on-site registration team, which focuses on supplying the best possible on-site experience for attendees.

If you could be any animal what would you be and why?
My dog…he eats when he wants sleeps when he wants, and plays whenever he wants.  He even has designer accessories.  What a life!

What television character that you simply adore?
Judge Judy – you just don’t mess with her!

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?
Not exactly a vacation… Traveling throughout Mexico to study cultural anthropology.  Traveling from Mexico City and down the Yucatan peninsula studying the indigenous people and ancient ruins.

What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
I put shaving cream in my husband’s combat boots, and he ran out the front door  to his car to go to work.  It took him a few minutes to realize what I had done, and another few years before he realized it really was funny.

What is your astrological sign?
Aries