A couple of years ago, we introduced our top 20 Changemakers to the meetings industry—20 individuals who gained visibility among senior management in their companies by initiating strategic meetings management programs and thereby maximizing savings. We call them “changemakers” for their ability to create positive change—both in their careers and in their industries. This year’s winners are, once again, shining examples of elevating the meetings role beyond logistics to focus on strategy and ROI. Cognizant of their ability to make a difference, they have also reached beyond their four walls to influence the profession as educators, mentors, and leaders. There’s much to learn from their stories

And the winners are:

Mary Keough-Anderson, CMP, CMM
manager, conference and meeting management
Liberty Mutual, Boston

Bill Brownson
assistant vice president, meeting management
John Hancock Financial Services, Boston

Rob Gingras, CMP, CTE
director, travel & meeting services, CIGNA, Hartford, Conn.

Jennifer Glynn
director, marketing communications
Boston Scientific
Neurovascular, Fremont, Calif.

Chris Hunnes
global category lead, travel and meetings
Accenture Procurement BPO Services, Chicago

Victoria Johnson CMP, CMM
manager, meeting services and global sourcing
Underwriters Laboratories, Northbrook, Ill.

Julie Larson
project manager, meetings and events
McDonald’s, Oak Brook, Ill.

Daniele Menache
managing director, global head of events
AllianceBernstein LP,
New York

Terry Miller
manager, travel and meetings
Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis

Shawn Radek
vice president, category manager, meetings and events
Deutsche Bank Securities,
Baltimore

Koleen Roach
director, meetings and conference management
Securian Financial Group,
St. Paul, Minn.

Wayne Robinson, CMP
head of conferences and events
The Guardian Life
Insurance Co., New York

Paul Salinger
vice president of marketing
Oracle,
Redwood Shores, Calif.

Jeff Singsaas
general manager, Microsoft Event Marketing
Microsoft, Redmond, Wa.

David Smart
director
Destinations (an affiliate of the Alfa Companies),
Montgomery,  Ala.

Patricia Stuhff, CMP
senior vice president, meetings and events
TCW,
Los Angeles

Nancy Teresa
manager, travel and event planning
Nestlé Business Services
North America,
Englewood, Colo.

John Touchette, CMP
director, meetings and special events
Raytheon, Waltham, Mass.

Karen Vander Ploeg
director, travel and meetings
Daiichi Sankyo, Parsippany, NJ

James Vachon
associate director
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Co.,
Cambridge, Mass.

HOW WE CHOSE OUR CHANGEMAKERS

In our third annual Changemakers issue, Corporate Meetings & Incentives reached out to fellow editors at MeetingsNet, a focus group of high-profile meeting-planner readers, and members of a specially created advisory board to develop a universe of nominees. We then worked with the advisory board to narrow the list to 20 honorees. Many thanks to our board members for their efforts:
LouAnn Cashill, CMP, CMM, meeting services manager, Toyota Motor Sales,
U.S.A. Inc.
Joan Eisenstodt, chief strategist, Eisenstodt Associates LLC
Tamara Gordon, global travel & meetings manager, Cargill
Kari Kesler, chief strategist, KK Strategic Solutions
Todd Zint, CMP, CMM, vice president, meetings and event marketing, National Financial Partners