Speakers

Jason Belden

Mastering Crisis Management: A Case Study on the Impact of Effective Training and Preparedness

As CAHFs Director of Emergency Preparedness, Jason oversee the largest long-term care disaster preparedness program in the nation. He is responsible for developing, monitoring, and advocating Association policy about physical plant, life safety code, and disaster preparedness programs affecting long-term care. As well as developing most of the content for CAHFs Disaster Preparedness training programs throughout the State.

Through his work on multiple grants, he sets programmatic and exercise direction for long-term care facilities in their annual planning needs for the State of CA and Los Angeles County. While not a published author, Mr. Belden has developed many tools, templates, and training programs that are broadly used across the long-term care spectrum throughout the nation. Virtually every nursing facility in California uses tools, templates, or training programs developed under Mr. Belden’s direction.

Mariama Boney, LMSW, CAE, CPEC, CEO, Achieve More LLC

Inclusion Unbound:  Transforming Your Industry into a Lasting Legacy

Mariama believes we can all be better, achieve more and maximize results. She brings over 20 years of experience in pioneering STEM grants, DEI initiatives, and national leadership programs, as well as restructuring governance and volunteer systems. As the first to serve in many executive and volunteer leadership roles , she excels in advancing associations, non-profits, and corporations through transformative processes.

As President and CEO of Achieve More LLC, Mariama is an award-winning educational administrator and DEIA+A expert. Her expertise spans leadership, DEIA+A, and wellbeing. With numerous certifications and roles, including ASAE’s Immediate Past Chair of the Ethics Committee and Past Chair of the D&I Committee, she is a sought-after leader for transforming goals into successful solutions and profits.

 

Brittany Clifton, Senior Account Director, Feathr

Unlocking The Next Wave of Membership Growth for Associations

 Brittany Clifton is a Senior Account Director at Feathr, where she consults with nonprofits on the most impactful ways to do their best digital marketing to fuel their missions.

Brittany has worked with nonprofits for over 14 years, with the primary focus being on event planning and fundraising events. She has helped plan, promote and execute 100s of galas, golf tournaments and special events. She’s sat on the Board of Stop Children’s Cancer and been the Co-Chair of their largest fundraiser that had over 2000 people in attendance.

When she’s not combining her passion of fundraising and purposeful marketing, she’s trying new restaurants (like a foodie does) and taking golf cart rides around her neighbored with her husband in Winter Garden, FL.

Jeff Dougherty, Director - CA State Association Sales, Visit Sacramento

Boujee on a Budget - Event Design of the Future

Jeff Dougherty is the Director of California State Association Sales for Visit Sacramento and known by his clients as “Mr. Sacramento”. Jeff served four terms as a Board Member for the Society of Government Meeting Professionals Sacramento Chapter. He was awarded the SGMP Sacramento Chapter Supplier of the Year in 2008, Co-Presidents Award in 2009 and Co-National Presidents Award in 2011. Jeff is a Past President for the local chapter of Meeting Professionals International where he has been awarded Chapter Leader of the Year, President's Award, and Supplier of the Year. He is a past Industry Partner Vice Chair on the Board of Directors and currently on the Capital Region Council for the California Society of Association Executives where in 2015 was awarded Industry Partner of the Year.

Claire Enright, BSN, RN-BC, Executive Director, Quality Care Health Foundation

Mastering Crisis Management: A Case Study on the Impact of Effective Training and Preparedness

Claire Enright has been with the California Association of Health Facilities since 2017, focusing on workforce issues and as the executive director of the Quality Care Health Foundation, the association’s educational arm. 

With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, she kicked off her career in labor and delivery over 45 years ago. Her passion soon led her out of the hospital and into various nursing roles. It wasn’t until she found herself working with vulnerable populations that she truly discovered her calling. She has spent nearly 30 years dedicated to long-term care and skilled nursing, bringing a wealth of experience to her work at the association today. Her mission? To create workforce solutions and professional development opportunities for those in the long-term care sector.
A lifelong Californian, she enjoys gardening, painting, and photography. With frequent visits from her grandchildren, life is always in full bloom!

 

Rachel Hickerson, CMP, CMM, Association Executive, Senior Meeting, Exhibits and CME Manager, Advocacy and Management Group (AMG)

AI on a Dime: Making Association Life Easier for Free (or Almost!)

Rachel Hickerson, CMP, CMM is an Association Executive and Senior Meeting, Exhibits and CME Manager at Advocacy and Management Group (AMG) in Sacramento, Ca, where she has been for over 11 years.  In this role, she handles both Deputy director duties, along with managing all facets of the meeting planning for multiple associations.  Prior to working for AMG, she spent six years as a Convention Services Manager, where she managed group assignments and coordinated high-profile events at a busy convention center hotel. Community impact and volunteering is important to her, she has served as President of MPI Sacramento Sierra Nevada and is currently a board member and foster for multiple animal rescue organizations in the Sacramento region. Her work achievements include the Spirit of Ruth Alumni Award from Sigma Alpha National Sorority, and both Meeting Planner of the Year as well as the President's Award winner through the MPI Sacramento Sierra Nevada Chapter.  She holds a B.S. from California State University, Chico, along with her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) and Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) designations. 

Sean McDonald, VP, McDonald Association Management

AI on a Dime: Making Association Life Easier for Free (or Almost!) 

Sean has been a partner at McDonald AMC since 2010, bringing expertise in event planning, corporate development, trade show management, and insurance benefit program design. He serves as the lead for the Combined Claims Conference (CCC), which has grown significantly under his leadership. Sean also serves as Executive Director for the Alameda and San Joaquin Dental Societies. A Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate with a B.S. in Agricultural Business, Sean’s career spans roles in sports marketing and sales with the Los Angeles Clippers and Oakland Athletics. He is working toward his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. Sean is always looking ahead to new trends and technology, while keeping the historical importance of the association in place.

Deborah Pacyna

Mastering Crisis Management: A Case Study on the Impact of Effective Training and Preparedness

Deborah Pacyna is a veteran communications consultant with expertise that spans a career of more than three decades. As the former director of public affairs for the California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF), she was responsible for utilizing traditional and social media to promote the value of long-term care.

She was previously employed as a senior vice president of public affairs at Fleishman Hillard, where she represented energy, health and communications clients. Prior to that, she worked as communications director for former California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and was responsible for developing an overall media strategy, including public-private partnerships, message development, media outreach, editorial and political positioning.      

She’s the recipient of numerous national and statewide awards for her coverage of public policy issues and California’s natural disasters.

Emilie Perkins, CAE, CMP Fellow, CMM, PMP, CED, VP, Client & Conference Services, Raybourn Group International

Boujee on a Budget - Event Design of the Future

Emilie Perkins joined RGI in 2019 as Director of Client and Conference Services. With over 24 years of experience with strategic meeting management, marketing and design, she has extensive strength in collaboration, fiscal accountability, strategic planning and communication. Emilie has designed, executed and evaluated over 1000 meetings of all sizes and types. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University where she has co-facilitated the Nonprofit Meeting Management Course since 2017.

Emilie is a graduate of Marquette University where she specialized in Advertising and Marketing. She passionately believes in continual professional development and received a Certified Meeting Professional Designation (CMP) in 2009, a Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2014, a Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM) in 2016, her Project Management Professional (PMP) in 2020 and anticipates her Certified Event Designer (CED) designation in February 2021. She was also recognized as a CMP Fellow in the 2021 Inaugural Class. Emilie is involved at the committee level and is a member of the Meeting Professionals International, the Project Management Institute, and the American Society of Association Executives.

Troy Peters, Chief Experience Officer, SEAS Productions

Real World AV & Production Hacks for Live Events

Troy began in motion picture production working with 20th Century Fox, Paramount, and Disney in the late nineties before migrating to association show management with the Society for Optics & Photonics in 2007. Here he managed a dozen events from 500 to well over 20,000 attendees across the Unites States, Canada, and Europe and fell in love with the association event management winning several awards for event design and integrated experiences.

With his innate understanding of what it takes to design complete audience experiences, interlaced with the demands of the event life cycle, he loves to share the knowledge and has been a speaker, board member, educator, and mentor to others in the business over the past decade. As the Chief Experience Officer with SEAS Productions he is guiding his company to embrace change, step outside their comfort zone and immerse marketing and client relations as one and the same by sharing the “secret sauce” that makes their company unique in the audio visual and production space.

When not working he enjoys playing golf, reading, traveling, cooking, and searching for new adventures with his wife and ten-year old twins.

Stephanie Stephens, CAE, Executive Director, California Park and Recreation Society Inc

Workshop: Rules of the Road: A Roadmap for your Board and Staff Journey

After spending the vast majority of her life in Colorado, in 2014 Stephanie took the plunge and moved to beautiful California to serve as the Executive Director of the California Park and Recreation. Her passion for parks and recreation, coupled with her love of non-profit management shows in the heart she brings to the work she does. As a CAE, she brings a strong knowledge base on non-profit management.  Managing a $2.5 million dollar budget and working with a team of 6, she works to advance the profession of parks and recreation through strategic initiatives, legislative efforts, action planning, and leadership. When Stef isn’t busy in a meeting, developing a partnership or working on the next best resource for members, you can find her gardening, on her SUP, or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

 

Steve Swafford, PhD, IOM, Balance Warrior + CEO, Leadership Outfitters, LLC.

Workshop: Rules of the Road: A Roadmap for your Board and Staff Journey

Steve has worked more than 30 years for and with non-profit and education-focused organizations in areas of strategy, leadership, volunteer development, communication, and executive management. He brings a practical knowledge of strategy and executive leadership from past organizations. Steve is a 15-year faculty member for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute of Management and serves on their Curriculum Committee. He has a B.S. in journalism from Kansas State University; a M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary; and an Ed.D. from Pepperdine University. Steve also currently serves as Supporting Faculty for Pepperdine University’s MBA Programs.

 

Stan Szpytek, President, Fire and Life Safety, Inc.

Mastering Crisis Management: A Case Study on the Impact of Effective Training and Preparedness

Stan Szpytek, an expert in fire and life safety, is president of Fire and Life Safety, Inc. (FLS) specializing in providing tailored fire and life safety, risk control, and emergency preparedness programs for various clients, with a focus on public assembly venues, hospitality, healthcare, education, public entities, and congregate living communities.

​With 26 years of experience as a deputy fire chief and fire marshal in the Chicago area, Stan retired honorably in 2003. He now shares his expertise as the Life Safety/Disaster Planning Consultant for the Arizona Health Care Association (AzHCA), the California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF), and the Utah Health Care Association (UHCA). His most recent endeavor is co-founding GatherSafe, dedicated to teaching awareness in the conference and event industry.

 

Laura Thomas, Founder/Principal, GatherSafe 

Mastering Crisis Management: A Case Study on the Impact of Effective Training and Preparedness

With over 25 years of hands-on experience in event, meeting, and conference planning, Laura has excelled as both a manager and contractor. Her most recent role was as the Director of Meetings and Member Services at the CA Association of Health Facilities. Laura's expertise spans every aspect of successful event and program planning, from initial design to seamless execution. She has demonstrated her ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, including overseeing large-scale statewide conferences and numerous educational workshops. Laura's passion for emergency preparedness dates back to 2009 when she organized a "Really Ready" conference for CAHF, sparking her enduring commitment to excellence in event readiness.

 

Kevin Tuuaga, VP, Education, LeadingAge California

Boujee on a Budget - Event Design of the Future

 Kevin Tuuaga is the VP of Education at LeadingAge California, a distinguished non-profit advocating for senior living in the aging services sector. With expertise honed through diverse roles, Kevin excels in creating engaging experiences. His tenure as Events Manager for an alternative weekly newspaper included orchestrating one of its largest street festivals, showcasing his talent for community engagement.

Beginning in membership, Kevin's journey at LeadingAge California evolved into leading meetings and events, expanding sponsorships with strategic acumen. As VP of Education, he ensures seamless integration of events and educational content, including the prestigious EMERGE leadership program currently in its 14th cohort with over 250 alumni. With a Bachelor's degree in Communications from California State University, Sacramento, Kevin enhances senior living advocacy with his dynamic skill set.