Puget Sound Economic Summit

Interim Reality

Zoom. Teams. Hangout. This is the interim reality.

Join us as we discuss:

What we miss from live events and what we will do differently when we can hold them again
What we have learned from virtual events and what improvements we continue to make
How hybrid events will help shape the future of the meetings and events industry
What our crystal ball tells us about the timing of bringing back live events

Speakers

Leasa Mayer

Board Member, Opus Agency
Former CEO, CRG Events

Leasa Mayer is an experienced entrepreneur with strong leadership skills who grew CRG Events, one of the largest event agencies in the Pacific Northwest, from $1M to greater than $10M in revenue, and successfully sold CRG to Opus Agency in 2018.A decisive, innovative executive with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, she now brings her extensive experience and strong intuitive skills to the dynamic world of executive coaching and serving on the Boards of Directors for innovative, growing companies.

Emily Parkhurst

Publisher and Market President, Puget Sound Business Journal

Emily Parkhurst is Market President and Publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ). She joined the PSBJ in 2012 and served as a technology reporter, managing editor and editor-in-chief prior to being named publisher in October 2018. Prior to 2012, she was an education and government reporter in her home state of Maine.

Ms. Parkhurst is a national award-winning journalist. The PSBJ won the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi award for public service journalism in 2018 for its Price of Homelessness package, the 2018 SABEW award for real estate reporting, and her series of stories on restraint of school children in Maine won the Sigma Delta Chi award for investigative reporting in 2010. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing and an undergraduate degree in classical music performance.

Kelly Saling

Vice President of Convention Sales & Services, Visit Seattle

Kelly joined Visit Seattle in 2009 and has held a variety of roles selling and leading the citywide and single property Convention Sales and Services efforts on behalf of the Washington State Convention Center, city and region.

Previously, Kelly worked for Columbia Hospitality and Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Originally from the Denver area, she graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Communication, Spanish Literature and Business Administration.

Moderated By

Emily Cantrell

Director, World Trade Center Seattle

Emily Cantrell makes it her mission to bring our region’s leaders together. As Director of World Trade Center Seattle, Emily develops compelling programming, drives growth and diversification of WTCSE membership, and provides leaders the opportunity to participate in high-level, business-focused networking and advance economic development in the region.

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