How Do We Captivate the Next Generation of Event Professionals?

This Skift Meetings Forum 2024 session titled "How Do We Captivate the Next Generation of Event Professionals?" features Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President Strategy at Freeman, Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, and Sherrif Karamat, President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA.
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Ken Holsinger has over 25 years of experience in technology, media and event production as a lead executive, consultant, and speaker. He has served on the executive team in various roles for several different organizations. In addition, he has a background in event management, facility design, and start-up operations.

Ken is a leader in the Strategy Practice for Freeman bringing together teams that are building innovative data tools for integration and business intelligence, with data consulting, research, and industry benchmarking. These teams work with clients all over the world to drive decisions, improve results and measure their marketing efforts.

Ken has been named on multiple hardware, software and process patents. Ken is a frequent presenter on numerous topics in the events, technology, and data-science space. Ken is also actively involved in his local community in Boise, Idaho as a startup mentor and tech workforce development leader.
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Carina is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and mentoring the leaders of tomorrow. Carina also takes a keen interest in leadership development, and organizational best practice and culture.

Throughout her career, Carina has been an active member of the meetings industry. She’s Past Chair of the AEO Council (2021-2023) and the EIA (2021-2022), and Past President of the SITE Foundation (2020). She has previously served on the Board of the MPI UK Chapter and on global committees for MPI and PCMA.

Carina is the proud recipient of a number of industry awards including the SITE Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award (2022), PCMA Wayfinder Award (2021) and ICCA Inspirational Women Awards (2018).

Appointed CEO of IMEX Group in 2009 following the expansion of IMEX into America, Carina has been part of the IMEX team since the very beginning, joining in 2002 as marketing and operations director with the original launch team.

She enjoys spending time with her family (she’s a mother to two boys) and traveling for work and pleasure. She is an adventure sports enthusiast with a particular love for climbing and skiing. In her spare time, Carina works with a variety of local charities and is Chair of the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation—using the power of football to help people get active, learn and stay well throughout Sussex.
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Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA, the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry.

Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. He is a prominent business architect, enabling communities to become a catalyst for economic and social progress, organizational success, and personal and professional development.

PCMA’s vision and purpose is to drive global economic and social transformation through business events. Central to this are expanding PCMA’s reach, enhancing its educational offerings, empowering more people, providing additional personal and professional development, and actively welcoming everyone, regardless of their ideas, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Karamat also emphasizes the need for a fundamental change in the ways meetings and events are approached. He is Chair of the 2023 Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Board of Directors and serves on the Boards for Destinations International, Tourism Diversity Matters, and the US Travel Association. Additionally, Karamat is a member of the George Washington University’s Leadership Council for its Masters in Tourism Administration program.

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Skift Meetings Forum is the premier gathering of event professionals that brings together the brightest minds and industry pioneers for one unmissable day. With groundbreaking insights and creative discussion opportunities, Skift Meetings Forum is where the future of events is made.
More info: https://live.skift.com/skift-meetings...
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