J.J. Wills, senior vice president, marketing programs and business development, with ConferenceDirect

The Meeting Professionals International Foundation has announced its 2025 slate of Global Board of Trustees — including one of ConferenceDirect’s senior vice presidents.

The Meeting Professionals International Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising arm of Meeting Professionals International, one of the world’s largest meeting and events industry associations, has announced its approved slate for the 2025 MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees. This board governs the MPI Foundation, including the foundation’s governance, strategic planning, financial oversight and the raising and distribution of funds.

Among those new to the board is J.J. Wills, senior vice president, marketing programs and business development, with ConferenceDirect. “The executive committee has made their selections from a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates, each aligning with the MPI Foundation’s mission and values. I am confident in the future contributions and extend my sincere congratulations to the new trustees,” said Jennifer Beatty, the board’s immediate past chair

“I am honored to have been selected to serve on the MPI Global Board of Trustees,” said Wills. “This opportunity allows me to contribute to an organization that has been instrumental in advancing the meetings and events industry. I look forward to working alongside my fellow Trustees to drive meaningful initiatives, particularly in fundraising efforts that will sustain and enhance MPI’s mission. Giving back to this industry that has given me so much is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I am committed to supporting its growth and success.”

“We continue to build a roster of trustees that add to our ability to make an impact to our MPI community across the globe”, said Kevin Kirby, Executive Director, The MPI Foundation. He offered, “As we wrap our year-long 40th anniversary, we’ve set the framework for increased fundraising efforts that will yield more funding to our industry, chapters, and members. Since 1984, we have directly benefited over 25,000 individuals representing over $14 million in distributions. Having these passionate industry leaders complement our efforts is critical!”

Trustees will take office effective January 1, 2025, for the term from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.

The full slate of officers includes:

Chair (previously selected)
Rebecca DeLuca, CMP 
Vice President of Destination Sales
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Chair-Elect
Richard Allchild, CMP 
Head of Sales
IMEX Group
Brighton, UK

Immediate Past Chair
Susie Townsend 
Chief Destination Experience Officer
Visit Indy
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Vice Chair – Finance
Antonio Ducceschi, CMM, CHBA 
Chief Commercial Officer
Starhotels Group
Florence, Italy

Vice Chair – Chapters
Darlene Kelly-Stewart 
Owner
Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services
Richmond, Ontario, Canada

Vice Chair – Business Development
Julie Krueger (new term)
Vice President Global Business Development
Freeman Company
Dallas, Texas, United States

Vice Chair – Programs
Valeria Serrano Suzán, PCS (new term) 
Managing Director
CTA Event Designer & DMC
Cancún, México

The slate for 2025 Global Board of Trustees:

Alice Harrington-Caravello 
Vice President, Account Sales & National Group Sales
Marriott International
Holtsville, New York, United States

Angie Ahrens, CMP, CMM 
Director, Global Events
MRI Software
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Brad Dean 
CEO
Discover Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Brent Hill 
Group Vice President
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Orange Park, Florida, USA

Brian Crumby, CED 
Director of Sales – Key Accounts & Strategic Partnerships
Caesars Entertainment
Houston, Texas, United States

Darren Temple (new term)
Chief Growth Officer
The Expo Group
Dallas, Texas, United States

Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP, CMM, DES 
Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations
Teno Hospitality Group
San Francisco, California USA

Heather Dow, CPhT, CAE, CPC (HC), HPDE, HMCC 
Senior Manager
Events & Management Plus, Inc.
Kingston, Ontario, Canada

J.J. Wills (new term)
SVP, Marketing Programs and Business Development
ConferenceDirect
Long Beach, California, United States

Joe Marcy, CMP-Fellow, CITP, CMM 
Director, Business Development
See Monterey
Manhattan Beach, California, USA

John Ehlenfeldt, CDME, CMP 
Regional Director of Sales
Business Events Montreal
Long Beach, California, USA

Karin Davis (new term)
Vice President of Sales
The Venetian Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Kimberly Napolitano, CASE
Executive Director, Industry Relations, and Intermediary Group Sales
Hilton Worldwide
McLean, Virginia, USA

Dr. Krzysztof Celuch, CMM, CITE, CIS, HMCC, CED 
Vice-Rector / Professor
Vistula School of Hospitality
Warsaw, Poland

Megan Archambeault (new term)
Vice President of Sales
MGM Grand/MGM Resorts
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nicole Newman (new term)
Global Head of Destinations
SearchWide Global
Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Rich Reasons (new term)
President
Simpleview Inc.
Boulder, Colorado, USA

Telesa Via  
Head of Sales
IHG
Washington D.C., United States