The California Events Coalition is comprised of volunteers working together to lead our Coalition. We come from every corner of the industry and every level of our businesses. Our passion for creating events and experiences for our attendees unites us.
EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD
MARCIE BOOTH
Founding Board Member // Event Director at ThinkLA + President ILEA LA
Marcie Booth is the current Event Director at ThinkLA, a premier Marketing, Advertising, and Media trade association in Southern California. As a leader within the organization, Marcie has strategically helped to create and diversify all aspects of the event planning process. Before ThinkLA, she cultivated her talents and expertise in Event Operations and Logistics for companies including Wider Circle, sbe, and The GRAMMY Museum. Her passion for events has created opportunities to become an industry leader as the current President of the International Live Events Association of Los Angeles (ILEA LA) and member of the California Event Coalition (CEC) Board of Directors. Most recently, Marcie was included in the 2021 BizBash 500 List for Corporate Events and Strategy.
In her free time, you can catch Marcie teaching Kardio Krunk, a dance workout class; volunteering for her sorority, Chi Omega, on both a local and national level; spending quality time with her friends and family; and rooting for her favorite midwest football teams, THE Ohio State Buckeyes, Toledo Rockets, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
MARTHA HENDERSON
Founding Board Member // Board Member at San Diego Pride + Founder of the SD Events Coalition
Martha Henderson (she/her/hers) is a Board member at San Diego Pride and the Southern California Representative of the International Association of Venue Managers. She has been in the events industry for 15 years in Southern California.most recently at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. She is a dedicated, highly-motivated professional with experience in coordination and planning of large and small scale events.
KATE WHELAN
Founder // President of Kate Whelan Events
Kate Whelan is the President and Senior Event Consultant for Kate Whelan Events, a boutique special event planning and design firm based in Sacramento, California. Kate has been working in live events for over 20 years and is incredibly passionate about supporting her industry colleagues and statewide economy.
JULIA KENDRICK CONWAY
Founding Board Member // NACE Representative + Owner of Assaggiare Mendocino
Julia Kendrick Conway is the founder of Assaggiare Mendocino, Inc., a northern California catering and events company and joined CEC EAB as the NACE Representative. Julia spent 20 years as a sales executive in the tech industry before returning to food. She was seated as the Public Member of the Mendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission Board of Directors from 2008-2011 and was Vice Chair of the Mendocino County Promotional Alliance in 2007. Assaggiare Mendocino, founded in 1999, offers food and wine consulting services, event planning and catering in northern California's wine country and scenic north coast, and specializes in destination weddings.
HEIDI HUGHETT
Founder // Owner of Coastside Couture
Heidi is the owner of Coastside Couture, a full service planning and design company located in Carmel, California, Her background encompasses over 30 years in the Hospitality Industry, the past 14 of which were solely focused on producing epic weddings. Her love for her Event Community runs deep.
ALICIA FALANGO
Founder // Owner and Founder of Alicia K Designs
Alicia Falango is the owner and founder of Alicia K Designs, a full service event design and production company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Alicia was raised in the hospitality industry and has been producing events for over 20 years. Creating memorable experiences is not only her career but her passion and her love of the industry is now driving her to make a difference.
NATHANIEL NEUBAUER
Founding Board Member // CEO and Owner of Contemporary Catering
Nathaniel Neubauer is the CEO and Owner of Contemporary Catering, a Los Angeles based full service catering and culinary production company. Spending nearly two decades creating one of Southern California's industry leading, most iconic catering operations, Contemporary Catering now reaches nationwide. Focusing on the individuality of each client instead of developing pre-set menus and packages, the result is unparalleled service, logistics and culinary creativity. Contemporary Catering is committed to using local produce and in-season, organic produce, sustainable poultry, meat and seafood wherever possible. Beyond Contemporary Catering, Nathaniel consults for restaurants in Los Angeles and Maui and works in advisory roles for hospitality operations
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AMANDA MA
Founding Membership Chair // Chief Experience Officer of Innovate Marketing Group
Amanda Ma is the Founder and CEO of Innovate Marketing Group, an award-winning live & virtual experience agency that provides full-service event & activation for top brands. Innovate Marketing Group is known for producing remarkable corporate events by providing fresh ideas, infrastructure and logistics. Amanda has 15+ years of experience in the events & marketing industry. You probably have seen her on Inc, Bizbash, and Meetings Today. She is passionate about events and delighted to join this dynamic group looking to make a difference.
SUZY DRELL
Founding Guidelines Co-chair // Owner & Event Producer at Suzy Drell Creative Design
Known for her creativity and calm demeanor, Suzy has produced events in the Bay Area for over 20 years. With a Fine Arts background and the sole owner a small high-end design firm, producing décor, original design, product development and large outdoor installations, she has a reputation of taking an idea from inception to execution that creatively integrates events, environments, video production, digital media, decor and technical production. Now is the time to take experience to action with the California Events Coalition so we can all get back to the world that we love.
CAROLE GROGAN
Founding County Info Monitoring Committee, Los Angeles // Owner of Bright Blue Events
Carole Grogan is the owner and head event producer of Bright Blue Events, a social event planning and design company based in Los Angeles. Carole has been planning celebrations and been part of the Southern California Event and Hospitality Industry for over 20 years. She is passionate about the Event Industry and the framework of professionals that embody every part of it.
HEATHER FERRAI
Founding Guidelines Co-chair // Founder & Creative Director of All Set Events
Heather Ferrai is the Founder and Creative Director at All Set Events, an all-encompassing event design and production company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past ten years, Heather has had the opportunity to work throughout the Golden State, cultivating a tight knit community of vendors turned "friendors". Heather's devotion to the live events industry and love for her fellow community members is what drove her to jump to action and get involved with the California Events Coalition.
JILL REMY
Founding County Info Monitoring Committee, South Central Coast // Owner at Jill & Co. Events
Jill Remy is the owner and lead event planner for Santa Barbara based Jill & Co. Events, founded in 2012 after a decade in California's wine countries live event sectors, assisting clients with social, non-profit, corporate, festival and wedding planning. She believes in the essential work that events provide for fundraising, community engagement, branding implementation and quality of life.