Veteran Toronto entertainer Jody Litvack began his professional career in the entertainment industry as a DJ in the 90s and then as a host for Much Music in the early 2000s. Over the next decade, he quickly became one of Toronto’s most recognized live event entertainers and MCs. In 2009 he launched Jet Entertainment, an event production and multimedia company that has delivered a wide variety of special events with world-class entertainment. According to Litvack, entertainment is a central…
Terri Russell has been interested in hospitality and tourism since high school. After graduating from the BCIT Tourism and Hospitality program in Vancouver, her career began onboard cruise ships and then to a variety of hotels sales and operation positions. She spent more than a decade involved with global sales for Starwood Hotels before becoming director, global accounts, for Omni Hotels and Resorts in 2017. Making connections and creating memorable experiences for others has made for a rewarding career.…
Passion, creativity and dedication are some of the hallmarks of the best event planners. And one of the best is Sharon Bonner, founder and CEO of Bright Ideas Events in Vancouver – a 30 year industry veteran who loves what she does. “I love two things about the event industry. Number one, I love this event community and the event professionals in it, who are hard-working, dedicated people, putting their heart and soul into every one of their event projects,”…
When Dawn Eisenberg was in university, she made money by promoting her own events and working as a children’s entertainer. After graduating she was hired to help open an events division for a company which lead to more similar contracts before she decided to strike out on her own in 2005 with Jodi Lieff. “For as long as I remember I was always deeply passionate about events,” says Esienberg, owner and CEO of Pop! Events Group. “I love that…
Alissa Hurley’s first job shared office space with a company that produced technology conferences and trade shows. They were producing a large trade show and needed additional support for the event and the next thing she knew, Hurley was the conference coordinator for the largest technology show in Canada. “It was an incredible experience that combined my organizational skills, creativity and passion for technology. I decided that this was the career for me and continued to look for future…
Edmonton event planner Caitlin McElhone is passionate about events. While studying clothing and textile design at the University of Alberta, she was introduced to the events industry and never looked back. “I hadn’t even considered event planning as a profession – nor did I understand that it could be a career option, but I was naturally suited for the work and loved the rush of set up and putting on something so special for someone,” says McElhone, who began…
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on many businesses – forcing closures and layoffs around the world. The restrictions on our social interaction have been dramatic with stay-at-home orders, isolation, quarantine, and social distancing. Naturally, these restrictions have hit the events industry the hardest. But event planning businesses have found different and innovative ways to still bring people together to share experiences. The adoption of technology and the steady rise in the number of virtual events have…
For Lyndsay Munholland, the best aspect of event planning is finally getting to execute an event that she has “poured her heart and soul” into for months and sometimes years. “There’s nothing like seeing and hearing reactions from attendees, especially about little details that are often overlooked. Most people won’t notice that the striped linens are all laid on the tables at a perfect 45 degree angle or that you splurged and went with the safety snap-away lanyards. But…
A new global network for black professionals working in the events industry is set to make its official debut at its first-ever virtual event. On Aug. 19, from 12:00-1:45 p.m. EST, Black in Events will host ‘Accelerating Change in the Business of Events.’ The group’s mission is to bring awareness and opportunities to a growing and underrepresented group in the billion-dollar sector. “Black people are consistently marginalized in events industry roles and it’s not because we’re not here; rather, we’re…
Present: HelmsBriscoe Expertise: Site Selection Specialty: Research, Strategic Meetings Management, Social Media, Corporate Meetings Network: Tell us about yourself. Leanne Calderwood: I’m a busy-body go-getter and I love projects, whether at work or in my home. I have a hard time sitting and doing nothing. I thrive on connecting people to resources that help them in their work and their career, and I love seeing people reach their full potential. An early adopter of social media in events, I actively share…
