MMBC Elects Board of Directors and Appoints Executive Team
for 2022 and 2023
During its recent annual general meeting, Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) welcomed an updated Board of Directors and Executive Team for 2022 and 2023. As Canada’s meetings and business events industry moves forward, MMBC’s advocacy efforts will benefit immensely from the decades of executive experience offered by the leadership team and newly convened board.
Two-year terms for Board members as well as the Executive Team began immediately following MMBC’s annual general meeting, held in Ottawa on November 29, 2021.
Laura Pallotta takes on responsibility as Chair of the Executive Team after having served two years as Vice Chair. Clark Grue moves from Chair into the Past Chair position. Minto Schneider joins the Executive Team as Vice Chair, as does Jeff Nearing, who was appointed Secretary Treasurer. Grant Snider remains on the Executive Team in the newly created role of VP Membership & Engagement.
EXECUTIVE TEAM 2022 – 2023
Chair: Laura Pallotta, Regional Vice President, Sales and Distribution – Canada Region for Marriott International
Vice Chair: Minto Schneider, CEO, Explore Waterloo Region
Past Chair: Clark Grue, President & CEO, Rainmaker Global Business Development
Secretary Treasurer: Jeff Nearing, Vice President Sales, Discover Halifax
VP Membership & Engagement: Grant Snider, President & CEO, Meeting Escrow Inc.
“I’d like to offer our sincere appreciation and thanks to Clark Grue and former Vice Chair Heidi Welker, as well as to our outgoing directors for their dedication and strong leadership over the past 20 months,” Pallotta said. “Our industry has faced the most challenging time in its history. MMBC’s active leadership and united voice with our coalition partners ensured that elected officials and other government decision makers not only understood our challenges, but provided sector-specific support towards our industry’s overall recovery.”
“I would also like to welcome our incoming board to MMBC. Our industry is on the road to recovery and 2022 will be a pivotal year as we work with our partners to advocate on behalf of our hardest-hit businesses. There is still much advocacy work to be done to get our industry fully back on its feet and contributing to Canada’s overall growth,” Pallotta added.
MMBC Board of Directors, 2022 – 2023
Jennifer Allaby, Executive Director, Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM)
Scott Beck, President & CEO, Destination Toronto
David Campbell, Managing Director, Encore Canada
Lorenz Hassenstein, President & CEO, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Angie Pfeifer, Vice President, IGM Field and Corporate Event Marketing, IG Wealth Management
Laura Purdy, General Manager, Exhibition Place, Toronto
Barry Smith, Executive Director, Convention Centres Canada
Jennifer Spear, President & Creative Strategist, Clean Slate Strategies
Debbie van der Beek, President & Publisher, Ignite and ADRENALIN magazines
David Woodward, Executive Director, Meetings & Conventions, Tourism Calgary