Speakers

Ann Marie Kimble, Director, Master’s Program for Meetings and Events, San Diego State University 

The Why of People: Understanding Motivation, Stress, and Communication

Ann Marie serves as the Director of the master’s program in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Meeting and Event Management at San Diego State University. In this role, she focuses on developing the next generation of hospitality and meeting event leaders by teaching and building advanced leadership curriculum. 
Ann Marie is also an award-winning hospitality executive with over two decades of leadership experience, delivering a proven track record of operational and revenue growth. She has successfully overseen a portfolio of more than 80 hotels, including experience working with and for organizations such as Hilton and IHG corporate and franchise properties. Balancing life in Northern California, Ann Marie presides over a lively home with her husband, three kids, and a peaceful kingdom of two dogs, a cat, a hamster, and a turtle.

Christine Feenstra, Executive Director, CALIE

Resilient Leadership 2.0: Navigating Backlash with the SCARF Framework

Christine Feenstra is the Executive Director of CALIE (California Association for Leading Innovation in Education), formerly CUE. She leads the organization’s transformation into a modern association that inspires learning and empowers educators to embrace technology in ways that create dynamic, equitable classrooms.

Under Christine’s leadership, CALIE is rolling out a comprehensive rebrand, updated membership model, and new product portfolio. She has streamlined operations, implemented new technology systems, and repositioned CALIE as the leading community at the intersection of education and technology while elevating the flagship Spring CUE Conference as a national convening for thousands of educators and partners.

Before joining CALIE, Christine held senior leadership roles in nonprofit management, where she developed programs, built convenings, and engaged diverse member communities. Christine is passionate about advancing associations and believes in the transformative power of membership organizations.  

Emily Limon, Chief Communications Officer, Masons of California

Build Loyalty Through Ceremony: Transform Moments into Meaningful Member Bonds

Emily Limon has more than 25 years of experience in marketing and communications in a variety of fields, including finance, performing arts, and other non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the Masons of California, she served as the sales and marketing director of the San Francisco Symphony, driving millions of dollars in annual ticket sales. Limon has extensive senior level experience in all aspects of marketing, process development and implantation, project management and creative development. 

Jesse Geremia, Executive Vice President, California Hotel & Lodging Association

Breathing New Life into Association Programs

 Jesse Geremia, a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years in hotel and resort management, serves as the Executive Vice President of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA). Jesse is responsible for membership sales, events, partnerships, finance, and marketing for the association. Originally from Napa, California, Jesse began his hospitality career in 1998 at a local Italian restaurant. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from CSU Sacramento, he started at the Carneros Resort where he worked his way from entry-level positions to management roles. He later joined Timbers Resorts where, after serving as General Manager for several properties on the east coast, he accepted a corporate role as Senior Managing Director of Hospitality overseeing operations for the entire Timbers portfolio. In his current role with CHLA, Jesse remains committed to addressing the diverse challenges facing the California hotel industry, leveraging his extensive background to drive positive change and growth. Jesse lives in Fair Oaks, California with his wife Stephanie and their three daughters.

Jordan Yelinek, Director of Membership and Programs, Masons of California 

Build Loyalty Through Ceremony: Transform Moments into Meaningful Member Bonds

Jordan Yelinek has been a leader in the world of learning and development, event programming, and membership for over twenty years, in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In 2015, he joined the Masons of California and leads the member services, lodge services and events teams of the organization. His passion for freemasonry and its members is rooted in his belief that freemasonry can have a positive impact on an individual and the surrounding community. He is an advocate for the learning and development to ensure that all members of the Masons of California have access to the resources they need to grow the fraternity and their positive impact on communities. Jordan is dedicated to strengthening the internal systems and processes of the organization, while also making sure its external outreach efforts are effective in connecting with potential members and supporting the community.

Lenore McFerren, Associate Director, Hospitality and Tourism Management Programs, San Diego State University 

The Why of People: Understanding Motivation, Stress, and Communication

Lenore McFerren brings nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality and events industry, with expertise in convention services, global venue sourcing, and client relationship management. A San Diego State University alumna of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Master’s Cohort #4, she remains actively engaged as a mentor and coach for the 2024–2026 cohort.

Lenore launched her career at the San Diego Convention Center as a Convention Services Coordinator and advanced to Senior Event Manager over 15 years, where she oversaw logistics and client management for large-scale citywide conventions, collaborating with national associations and corporate partners to deliver seamless events. Today, she serves as Manager, Global Accounts at HelmsBriscoe, specializing in hotel sourcing and venue solutions for meetings and conferences worldwide.

She holds the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, completed IAVM’s Venue Management School, and volunteers with MPI San Diego. A native San Diegan, she enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and family time.

Sarah Michel, CSP, VP Professional Connexity, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

Architecting Serendipity: Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections 

Beyond the Booth: Reimagining Your Expo as the Ultimate Connection Hub 

Sarah is an Experience Architect who has been working in the meetings industry for over 20 years to create dynamic audience experiences. Her vast knowledge of next-generation learning and facilitation skills help design dynamic meetings that guarantee more participation, opportunities for connecting and peer-to-peer interactions to deliver on the networking promise of live events.

Sarah is Vice President of Professional Connexity for Velvet Chainsaw Consulting helping organizations design and execute can’t miss meetings. She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) awarded by the National Speakers Association and a nationally recognized expert on networking and the creator of the NetWORTHing® process. Sarah is a popular speaker, emcee and facilitator for audiences and organizations around the wo

 Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Principal,   Dennison & Associates

  Unleashing Your HI (human intelligence) on AI

 Vanessa Dennison, owner of Dennison &   Associates, is a Certified Association  Executive and Certified Business Analyst Professional. She has more than 20 years’ experience working with dozens of trade and professional associations and unions, both as a staff member and an industry vendor. She applies proven expertise, industry best practices, and a deep commitment to each client to deliver superior results. Vanessa leads a growing team of leading association consultants with a variety of skills.  Together, we share a singular focus on serving our clients and delivering value no matter your size, budget, or needs.