PRELIMINARY LIST OF SPEAKERS
JOHN
BELL, M.Ed., F.P.S.A.
Voted Best UK Conference Speaker of the Year on 4 separate occasions based on
evaluation scores from delegates for content and presentation.
In the past few years, John has emerged as a rising star of
conference and symposia platforms. Conference organisers, The Turner Agency
International voted John 'Best UK Conference Speaker of the Year' and in a
relatively short time he has gained an impressive portfolio of clients
worldwide. His clients rely on his top quality consistency to deliver
excellence.
John Bell's huge success is due to his extensive experience
and his level of knowledge. Quite simply, he is considered to be an expert in
his field.
John Bell's work as a human behaviour consultant over the last 22 years has put
him at the forefront of collating best practices in human relations in the UK
and throughout Europe. Integral to his on-going research, he annually interviews
hundreds of managers, engages in action research, and analyses the factors that
drive or impede business co-operation and responsiveness for his high-level
clients.
John's dedication and growing expertise has led him to conduct primary research
into staff behaviour such as managing change, motivation, problem solving and
achieving success.
For instance, his research and work on motivation revealed how managers can
unwittingly undermine their staff's resolve or collude with negative thinking.
His prominence in this field has been recognised and rewarded by invitations to
participate in corporate and public sector initiatives. By way of example he was
invited by GlaxoSmithKline to sit on a steering group looking at patient
expectations in relation to asthma. John was involved in news breaking research
into the attitudes of asthma sufferers. Those connected to healthcare were quick
to identify John's expertise in mind matters.
As a Master of Education and a Fellow and Vice President of the Professional
Speakers Association his presentation methods are based on sound,
person-centered learning.
http://www.johnbelltraining.com/
FRAN
B. CLOSE, Chairman and CEO of Orbisun International, Inc. and its
group of subsidiaries has devoted ten years to creating, growing, and
implementing the internationally renowned and respected OII philosophy. She was
picked by her peers in 1995 to develop an organization (ABWI) that would assist
women-owned companies and small and medium sized enterprises in opening up
markets outside local regions and create a doorway to global opportunities. Her
visionary leadership and collaborative business partnerships with communities,
women’s organizations, universities, economic development units, and foreign
governments helped ABWI accomplish all objectives of its mission statement in
less than one year. Past corporate experience has blended well with a commitment
to grass-root policies and people.
Ms Close has served on the president’s staff of three major
corporations, Sara Lee-Consolidated Foods Company Xerox and American Hospital
Supply Corporation. Presently she serves in executive, organizing, and marketing
capacities for numerous organizations in trade and commerce as well as
humanitarian causes and for these, she has received prestigious awards and
recognition from The White House, Members of Congress and State, Members of
British, Irish, Canadian, and Australian Parliament, the United Nations,
government agencies, charitable and humanitarian foundations. Her international
work has been supported by business and government leaders in Canada, Mexico,
U.S.Virgin Islands, Australia, Northern Ireland, Greece, the United Kingdom, and
of course China. Ms. Close is the internationally recognized champion of SMEs
through her supportive role in international summits and trade missions,
addressing trade opportunities between SMEs, minority owned businesses and women
owned companies. Visit www.theorbisgroup.com and www.abwi.org for additional
information.
-
KATHY
LOVELESS, MS, CSP
Kathy Loveless is an international speaker, author, and
President of Loveless Enterprises, Inc., a professional speaking and management
consulting firm. She has worked with corporations, government agencies,
universities, and associations for over 30 years. She works with managers,
boards of directors, and employees on developing excellent business systems,
coping with change, providing outstanding leadership, giving world class
customer service, managing crises, building effective teams, and more. She runs
an extensive mentoring program helping entrepreneurs begin new businesses and
has developed a program for international travelers, “Travel Like a Pro.”
Kathy’s international work began in the early 1970’s with the First
International Women’s Year Commission, sponsored by the United Nations. Some of
her recent clients include: the 3M Corporation, DuPont, and AT&T. She has worked
with over 100 U.S. federal agencies such as the CIA, Departments of Justice,
Army, Defense, Transportation, and Agriculture; and such universities as Boston
University, the University of Texas, and Clemson University. Kathy has published
nationally and internationally on the topics about which she speaks.
As a professional speaker, she has addressed hundreds of audiences in the U. S.,
Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Canada, and the Far East. She was selected to
represent the United States in Morocco, Africa, to speak to the 13th World
Congress, comprised of experts from 78 countries. She has spoken to business
leaders in Japan and Korea as part of a U.S. trade mission; and to audiences in
Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, and England.
As Miss Utah, her speaking skills won her a National Finalist
Scholarship at the Miss America Pageant. She is a member of the International
Brotherhood of Magicians. The National Speakers Association, Utah Chapter,
created the A Loveless Award to recognize her excellence in the professional
speaking industry. The awarding of it was the subject of an episode of The
Learning Channel's Makeover Story which has aired nationally and internationally
over 30 times.
http://www.lovelessenterprises.com/
MARGARET GONZALEZ
Founder
and president of GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc., The International
Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP) and the Certified
Diversity Meeting Professional (CDMP) program. Ms. Gonzalez is also the
publisher of Hispanic Meetings & Travel and MAES National Magazine.
Margaret has over 30 years of experience in working with diverse groups in the
United States and abroad. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of
Houston at Clear Lake with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies and
Political Science and has done graduate work in Urban Planning and Environmental
Studies. Margaret has also studied at the University of Chicago National Opinion
Research Center, was selected for The IBM Community Leaders Program and is a
graduate of Leadership Houston.
Margaret has been elected to the national boards of Common
Cause in Washington, DC; The Panel of American Women and the University of
Houston Alumni Board of Directors. She was also elected National Vice President
for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Her extensive
experience has prepared Ms.Gonzalez for her current leadership role in IAHMP and
the development of the industry's first Certified Diversity Meeting Professional
(CDMP) program.
Margaret is a native born fifth generation Texan and is married to Ralph
Gonzalez, a Texas A&M University aeronautical engineering graduate who spent
over thirty years in the nation's space program at the NASA Johnson Space Center
http:/www.hispanicmeetingprofessionals.com
CATHY
GONZALES
is Vice President, International Association of Hispanic Meeting
Professionals and Vice President of the Convention and Tourism Department of the
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. Cathy has been a board member and vice
president of the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals
since 1996. Cathy also finds the time for other organizations and is a current
board member of the New Mexico Tourism Association of New Mexico, board member
of the Central Region Association of New Mexico, past president of the Latin
American Winter Sports Marketing Council of New Mexico, Inc., past Board Member
as curriculum advisor to the International Business Council of the Technical
Vocational Institute, Member of the Women’s Albuquerque Chapter for the American
GI Forum, board member of CIMPA Chapter, National Representative for Committees
of various national organizations and volunteers her spare time to school
activities related to her twelve grandchildren.
She
recently received the Meeting Planner of the Year Award by IAHMP.
Cathy Gonzalez is a native of Santa Fe,
New Mexico, graduated from
Loretto
Academy and sang in the choir at the
famous Loreto Chapel. Cathy attended the
University of New Mexico
and has lived most of her life in Santa Fe and in
Albuquerque
where most of her family resides.
http://www.ahcnm.org
MARY
ANN SAAVEDRA-JONES is a certified meeting planner and certified tour
guide. In her role at the Chamber’s Convention and Tourism Department, she
connects with Hispanic and Native American Associations internationally. Mary
Ann came to work with 25 years of experience in meeting planning and travel
guiding, working for Public Service Company of New Mexico and Vantage Travel out
of Boston. During that time she also owned and managed one of two Le Peep
Restaurants in Albuquerque.
TAT
LEONG SWEETING is the Managing Director OF Eway Publishing, a state
of the art digital publishing company that helps planners and suppliers
distribute information quickly and effectively. Tat Leong, a Chinese
Singaporean, gained Sales & Marketing Management experience with the Holiday Inn
Hotel Group over a 15 year period. After living in Guilin, China as Holiday
Inn’s Sales and Marketing Director for 2 years, Ms. Toh managed the Chinese
Market from Hong Kong for a further 10 years before joining Training Services
Asia as Regional Director based in Singapore.
Tat Leong saw the potential of the ePage Publishing Technology and decided to
accept the challenge of marketing the revolutionary system. Her dynamism secured
contracts with reputable organizations such as Dell Computers, Rocco Forte
Hotels, DBS Bank, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Small Luxury Hotels and the Pacific Asia
Travel Association. Tat Leong implements the development plans of our Companies.
JANINE AMON
NICHOLAS OVADIAS
EMANUEL
PAYTON
LINDA
PEREIRA is the senior partner of CPL
Events. Linda is a qualified educator, professional congress organizer and
international speaker. Her PR, marketing and event experience was gained during
her time as a professional Interpreter and advisor whilst travelling all over
the world accompanying Members of Government and has been present in the most
important events which have marked our recent history. Her expertise in protocol
and business etiquette as well as cross-cultural communication have given her a
privileged status as a consultant in government circles and at the highest
corporate levels. Her work in the Meeting Industry led her to take a Master’s
Degree in Adult Education. She is proud to have been involved in countless
large-scale meetings at an international level and to have played an important
role in the two European Presidencies held by Portugal as well as EXPO’98, the
last World Exposition of the XXth century.
She is continuously called in as a consultant to International Hotel Groups on
staff training and has earned the nickname of the Destination Diva among her
peers for her expert knowledge on Meetings & incentive Destinations and her
focused attention to detail when it comes to quality service.
She is President of the Portuguese Chapter of CIMPA - Connected International
Meeting Professionals Association, Member of the Board of Directors of WECAI –
Women’s e-Commerce Association International, Vice-President of ADVP –
Portugal’s Sales & Marketing Association, President of the Iberian Chapter of
IAHMP – International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals and Member
of a Panel of International Experts for the Development of Business Travel in
Russia.
CHRISTINA
R. SEVILA, Ph.D.
Dr. Sevilla graduated from Harvard University with a Ph.D. in Political Science
and from Boston College, B.A. summa cum laude
She is currently Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for
Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR), Executive Office of the President in Washington, D.C. As
part of the White House, she is responsible for the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative’s consultation and outreach to the private sector, state and
local government, NGOs, academia, and Think Tanks regarding United States’
policy towards the World Trade Organization, North American Free Trade
Agreement, and other trade agreements.
She manages USTR’s statutory private sector advisory committee system created by
Congress, consisting of 27 committees representing industry, agriculture,
environment, labor, state and local government, consumer and other NGO
interests, in coordination with four federal agencies [Department of Commerce,
Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor, and the Environmental Protection
Agency]. Directly responsible for planning and implementing USTR meetings of the
Presidential Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, and the
Cabinet- appointed Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee and
Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee.
JUNE
SEVILLA
has held numerous positions in both private and public companies in the United
States and Asia, as President/CEO and Executive Management and has led, managed
or served as an executive consultant, entrepreneur, general manager, and senior
engineer. June lists among her former employers: Verizon, Bell Atlantic, AT&T,
Nuclear Research Associates, The San Miguel Corporation, and Philippine Air
Lines.
A
visionary, she is adept at transition planning and implementation of technical
concepts into business applications and opportunities for market entry. Her
corporate career of 25 years demonstrates a consistent track record of
designing, developing, and implementing successful strategies, programs, and
support systems resulting in work function efficiencies, revenue recovery, new
business sales, and competitive hedge. She has pioneered successful research,
development, and implementation of new technology applications in collaboration
with the Cambridge Institute (MIT/Harvard Associates), exceeding corporate
expectations and within planned timelines.
June
has led and written winning multi-billion dollar proposals and projects in the
commercial and government sectors for large multinational companies. She is the
founder of several successful businesses including Pollution Busters
International and Q-Makeda, Inc. a consulting company providing technical and
business know-how for startup and major corporations and winning competitive
proposals for a diverse client base; ranging from small to large
telecommunications, manufacturing, service, and biotech/biopharma companies
worldwide.
June
is a published poet and playwright and an accomplished public speaker. She is
active in the entertainment industry as an actor, TV and media personality,
having appeared in several commercial ads and PSA’s for TV and print. She
performs several mythical character roles at the Good Knight Theater (www.goodknight.org).
She is a recipient of the Bell Atlantic Chairman’s Citation Award, Spirit of
Excellence for Community Involvement and more recently, the U.S. Presidential
Medal of Service for her volunteer efforts in the community.
- RAY RIFE
Ray is trained as a Crisis Management and Threat of Violence Consultant with
eight years experience in organizational critical incidence responses,
including responses to Ground Zero after 9/11, numerous robberies of
commercial establishments, and to untimely worker deaths due to illness or
violence. He has led Critical Incident Responses in over 40 different
businesses during the past eight years.
Ray is a Certified Crisis Management Consultant, Certified Threat of
Violence Consultant, Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and a professional
member of the , National Speakers Association
- E.J.
SIWEK, CMP
President
and founder of FLASHpoint Technologies, LLC, and technology editor of Convene.
He is a frequent presenter on meeting industry technologies issues. Previously,
he was president and founder of SCLM Software, Inc., a designer of meeting
management software including Meeting Matrix, and director of operations for the
Juran Institute, where he was responsible for 150 annual meetings.
http://www.flashpointtech.com/
ANDREA SIGLER, PhD is
President of Connected International Meeting Professionals Association. She is
also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Asian Leaders Association, author
of several books including "How To Plan Meetings On The Internet" and
co-developer of the certification program for planners organizing meetings using
high-tech tools. She has organized meetings in 57 countries around the world.
In her former job as President of the International University for Independent
Studies, she developed learning materials for delivery to remote villages in
developing countries using a multi-media approach. The project became an
award-winning model for developing countries and earned millions of dollars in
replication funding from UNESCO, US_AID, UNICEF and other international
organizations. Dr. Sigler is recognized in the educational community as an
expert on educational measurement and curriculum development. She has written
several books and manuals on this subject.
Dr. Sigler is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the International
Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, World Children's Choir and the
International Network of Tourism Educators, Chairman of the Board, Asian Leaders
Association and Friendship Corps. She is also an award-winning journalist and
serves as Vice President of the Pacific Asia Travel Writers Association.
http://www.cimpa.org
