The Business of Meetings

The Business of Meetings – Episode 255 - 2025 Business Deals: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know with Ami Kassar We are delighted to welcome Ami Kassar, the founder and CEO of MultiFunding, as our guest today. Ami is a member of the EO and the president of the EO Philadelphia chapter, and he brings a wealth of expertise and experience.  With the shift in administration, most business owners are...

Eric addresses the devastating wildfires raging in Los Angeles in this special episode. He reflects on the unfolding crisis with compassion and concern, sharing his thoughts and offering a message of resilience. Join us as Eric speaks from the heart, acknowledging the widespread heartbreak for those who have lost their homes or had to evacuate while the situation remains far from resolved. Connect...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 253 - Leveraging Partnerships: ELX CEO Nicola Kastner on How Small Businesses Can Attract Big Clients We are thrilled to welcome Nicola Kastner as today's guest. Nicola is the CEO of Event Leaders Exchange, an exclusive global community connecting senior corporate event leaders from large companies across diverse industries.  She has had an impressive career with...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 252: From Conscious Leadership to Wellness: Kim Napolitano's Insights on Building Great Places to Work Welcome to our very first podcast for 2025!  We are thrilled to begin the new year with an inspiring conversation with an outstanding leader in our industry. Kim Napolitano is the Executive Director of Industry Relations and Intermediary Group Sales for Hilton W...

As 2024 draws to a close, Eric takes the opportunity to share a selection of books that profoundly influenced his thinking over the past year.  Each recommended book covers a different topic, from AI to pricing, financial psychology, and geopolitics. Eric carefully selected each book to inspire you to reflect on the past year and encourage your strategic preparation for 2025 in business and life....

The Business of Meetings – Episode 250: Revolutionizing Business Models: Insights for the Meetings and Events Industry with Alex Osterwalder We are delighted to welcome Alex Osterwalder as our guest today. Alex is the visionary behind the groundbreaking Business Model Canvas and the founder and CEO of Strategyzer.  Join us as Alex takes us through his journey, from presenting his doctoral disserta...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 249 – Amplify AI: Ronsley Seriojo Vaz on Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Business Growth  We are delighted to welcome Ronsley Seriojo Vaz as today's podcast guest. As the host and Executive Producer of the top-rated Amplify AI and We Are Podcasts, Ronsley is a leading voice in helping organizations master the art of AI integration. He is also the author of...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 248 Unlocking Success: The 5 Essentials You Need for 2025 with Eric Rozenberg  As the year draws toward a close, Eric shares five essential aspects you need to consider to set yourself up for success in the coming year.  Join us as Eric dives into a mix of visionary ideas and concrete steps that you can implement immediately to ensure next year is your best year...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 247 - Mastering Digital Presence: Strategies for Success with Leslie Carruthers We are excited to welcome Leslie Carruthers, Founder and President of The Search Guru, to the show today.  As a seasoned SEO specialist and an expert in integrating AI into marketing strategies, Leslie has vast knowledge about leveraging AI technologies for impactful business growth....

We are thrilled to have Geneviève Retzlaff join us today!  After having a fulfilling career with various organizations, including seven impactful years in HR at Cirque du Soleil, Geneviève founded Grow Better Together.  In this episode, we dive into her experience with Cirque du Soleil, her work with FIFA, and her insights on venues. We also explore how organizations can structure themselves more...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 245 – Inside the Mind of a Corporate Event Production Manager: Insights for Event Business Owners with Evan Babins We are delighted to have Evan Babins joining us on the show today. Evan is the newly appointed Manager of Event Production at Scotiabank. In this episode, Evan discusses his career path and shares practical insights for business owners on the best pr...

Today, we are excited to welcome Adi Klevit, the CEO and founder of the Business Success Consulting Group, as our guest. Adi's work is indispensable for any business owner. Join us to hear her story and learn from her impactful insights on the power of effective processes as she clarifies how to document each aspect of your work to allow effective delegation and support your business's growth. Jou...

We are delighted to have a true rock star in the events industry joining us today.  As the lead Events Manager of Altria, Carrie Davenport is the powerhouse behind their event management success. She has received numerous awards from various organizations in the events industry, and she also hosts a podcast called Like an #EventBoss.  Carrie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our conve...

We are delighted to have one of the foremost industry leaders joining us today! As the Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President of MGM Resorts International, Stephanie Glanzer holds one of the most prominent and visible sales positions imaginable. She is also involved with the U.S. Travel Association and is a member of Meeting Professionals International. Stay tuned as Stephanie shares her un...

Today, we are excited to welcome Stephen Revetria, the President of Giants Enterprises, as our guest. Stephen has had a remarkable career. He is a trustee at the University of San Francisco. He has chaired the San Francisco Travel Association and the MPI International Board of Directors, served on the advisory board of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and even been invited to the Vatican by Pope F...

We are thrilled to have the incredible Christine Duffy joining us today.  Christine is the president of Carnival Cruise Line. She is a remarkable industry leader with a wide range of impressive accomplishments who has mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of people throughout her career.  Stay tuned for the wisdom and the wealth of experience Christine shares today. Unconventional Path to the Trave...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 239: Chasing the American Dream: Julius Solaris on Entrepreneurship, Content Creation, and the Future of the Events Industry  We are honored and thrilled to welcome another true legend in the meetings and events industry as our guest today.  Julius Solaris is the CEO and Founder of Boldpush. As a successful entrepreneur who has built multiple businesses, he bring...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 238 - 7 Essential Questions to Close More Business with Kay Allison Today, we are excited to welcome Kay Allison as our guest. Kay is a marketing genius and talented speaker who specializes in helping creative individuals, companies, and entrepreneurs make tons of money. After enjoying a busy career in corporate America, she decided it was time for a change and b...

We are delighted to have Lisa Lutoff-Perlo joining us on the show today.  Lisa is the new FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee CEO. She is an exceptional leader who changed our industry, and she recently wrote a book called Making Waves.  Previously, Lisa was the Vice Chairman of External Affairs at Royal Caribbean Group and their first female leader. She also served as President and CEO of Ce...

Last month, the world lost a great man, John Ruhlin. John unexpectedly passed away and for the first time ever, I want to share a replay of an interview I did with John a while back. His message of giftology is so important to us personally and in our businesses and I know John would want us to keep sharing his message with others to make a greater impact on the world. Please feel free to share to...

We are excited to have another meeting and events industry icon joining us as our guest for this show.  Jeff Gold is a partner and senior sales manager at Event Service Group and the MPI President for South Florida. He is with us today to share his inspiring story of resilience, grit, and success within the industry. Stay tuned to learn from all the wisdom Jeff has gained throughout his impressive...

We are delighted to have Paul Van Deventer, the President and CEO of MPI, with us on the show today. As the leader of the largest association in our industry, Paul has been implementing many industry changes. Join us for a fascinating conversation where we explore the role of the MPI association and discuss the evolving workforce, the various challenges within the industry, and the impact of AI. C...

We are excited to welcome Heather Hansen O'Neill as our guest for today. She is an internationally recognized speaker and behavior expert who has delivered two TEDx talks and authored three books.  Heather thrives on adventure. She joins us today to discuss life and adventures, her program, The Element of Adventure, and dive into what it means to have vision, focus, and discipline. If you enjoy na...

The Business of Meetings – Episode 232 - Overcoming Fears: Pamela Schuller's Journey with Tourette Syndrome - Comedy and Embracing Differences  Pamela Schuller is truly a remarkable woman! Several weeks ago, she did a keynote presentation at the MPI World Education Conference in Louisville, where she told her incredible story of having Tourette syndrome, barking unexpectedly, and how she reframed...

Today, we are thrilled to welcome a distinguished leader in our industry as our guest on the show.  Marsha Flanagan, the newly appointed President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, has had an extraordinary career. She joins us to share her professional journey, provide insights into the current state of the exhibition industry, discuss workforce trends, and explor...