(An archive of the Spotlight Profiles on the Home Page)

Karen Andreassen, HelmsBriscoe

Karen Andreassen has been a member of the KBCMPI Chapter since 1996. She joined HelmsBriscoe after 20 years in the hospitality industry. Her experience as a meeting planner, attractions sales associate, and hotel director of sales, offers a well rounded knowledge for clients in today's competitive marketplace. Karen enjoys combining her years of expertise, with HelmsBriscoe's cutting edge tools, to give clients a tremendous resource when planning meetings.

Walt Disney World launched Karen's career in hospitality with a fantastic college internship. Much of Karen's hospitality career was spent with leaders in the hotel industry including Wyndham, Starwood & Hilton brands. In addition, meeting planning for a national association, sales with a vintage 1940s dinner train & sales with a Lexington equestrian attraction gave some great insight to the daily challenge & fun that this industry has to offer. She currently resides just outside Lexington, KY with her husband and two children.

Alicia Ariatti, Leadership Louisville

Alicia Ariatti is the Meeting Planner at Leadership Louisville, responsible for supporting Leadership Louisville Center programs, events and other activities.  Alicia has ten years’ experience in event management.  She relocated to Louisville in 2009  from San Francisco, CA where she was most recently an Account Manager with Sparks Exhibits managing details of tradeshow booth production and execution. Before working for Sparks Exhibits,  Alicia worked in Destination Management in San Francisco for several years. Alicia received her B.A. in Communication from Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA.

Amy Gilbert, Republic Bank

Amy Gilbert is the Special Events Manager at locally owned Republic Bank. She has worked in this department for over 14 years and is responsible for event coordination and business development programs bank-wide. Additionally, she oversees the meeting space which is available to the community and is located at the Springhurst Banking Center in Louisville. Originally from New York, Amy has lived in Louisville for 18 years. She has been a member of MPI since 2009 and is becoming an active participant in the Chapter. Amy lives in the St. Matthews area with her husband and 3 children.

Gail Iwaniak, Presence Incorporated

Gail Iwaniak is President and Chief Stuffologist of Presence Incorporated, a promotional marketing company she started in 1989. Meeting Planners work with Gail on their ancillary meeting needs - badges, bags, portfolios, speaker gifts, awards and amenity gifts. Meeting Suppliers look to Gail for their trade show give-aways and sales call leave behinds.

Gail has been an active member of KBCMPI since she joined in 1993.  She served as President in 2000 and also worked with the Education, Community Relations and Sponsorship Committees.  Presently, Gail is the Director of Membership Retention and Recruitment. Besides, MPI, Gail is also active with the Advertsing Federation of Louisville.  She is a Past President and currently is the Board Treasurer. 

In addition, Gail does volunteer work for Christian Care Communities, a not-for-profit provider of affordable senior retirement living and long-term care for older adults.  She is married to Herb Bradley, has two step-sons, a spoiled dog named Nina and loves to roller blade when the weather permits.

Jody Mumley, Churchill Downs

• Originally from IN, moved to Phoenix after IU, began career in hospitality sales and event planning in Phoenix, previous AZ Sunbelt chapter member.

• 2000 moved back to Indy worked for the Indy Convention & Visitors Assn and The Westin Hotel – Indiana chapter member. While in Indy worked with corporate race sponsors and teams, prefer our bluegrass “Horsepower”!

• Moved to Louisville in 2003 for Churchill Downs and joined KBCMPI

• Met many great people through my MPI Chapter affiliations through the years – saw some old friends at WEC MPI in Orlando

• Sell corporate and social group events the other 363 days of the year to include off-season private events and race day groups to include Derby Week and Downs After Dark.

• First Derby: 2004

• First (and Last) Mint Julep: 2004

• When I travel whether far or near always amazed about how many people love the Derby!

Becky Trimble, Lexington Center

Becky Trimble is a Sr. Convention Sales Manager at Lexington Center, which collectively consists of Rupp Arena, Lexington Convention Center, Lexington Opera House, Lexpo Exhibition Services and a three level retail Mall and Food Court.  Becky has been a member of the KBCMPI Chapter since 1997 and her background was in hotel sales prior to being hired by LCC where she works with Corporate Meeting Planners and Public Show Promoters on their meeting and trade show needs. “My involvement with MPI is all about networking, representing the Lexington Center, and staying educated about the local business community.  The foundation of our business is built on partnerships, and the programs offered by MPI provide both education and opportunities to network with clients and business peers”.