Dr. Kristin Malek has over ten years in event management experience to include third-party, corporate, hotels, food service, and retail. She had the honor of being named a Hilton Merit Scholar and MGM Resorts International Scholar and went on to receive her Master’s Degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of South Carolina and her Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, Kristin served as the Executive Director of Events for a third-party planning company where she was in charge of the medical association meeting market. In this role, she managed association events greater than one million dollars and led a team of staff and interns. She was recognized by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as a Hospitality Hero during National Travel and Tourism week for both 2014 and 2015, by Meetings TodayMagazine as a Top 20 Meetings Industry Trendsetter for 2016, served as the PCMA faculty chair for 2017 and 2018, was recognized as an Emerging Leader of the Year for PCMA Heartland Chapter in 2018, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the PCMA Heartland Chapter. She has achieved designations as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Digital Event Strategist (DES), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), and has completed the training to be a Certified Event Designer (CED).