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2020 | Nilufer Saltuk
Nilufer ("Nil") Saltuk has over 14 years of event industry experience. Starting out as an event planner, she launched Two Doves Weddings. A few years later, reflecting on the extraordinary hospitality of her homeland of Turkey, she was inspired to found Weather or Not. Weather or Not is an event rental business that helps people celebrate comfortably. With an extensive selection of umbrellas, blankets, shawls, ponchos, and other accessories, Weather or Not is committed to providing resourceful solutions delivered with integrity.
Six months after joining International Live Events Association (ILEA), Nil joined the Board of Directors. She worked with the Membership team, which was a perfect fit with her passion of connecting with people. With other Board members, she started the ILEA Denver Presidential Advisory Council (lovingly referred to as the "Wolf PAC"). This group of Past Presidents provides the current Board with valuable guidance and input to pave the future of the chapter. At the culmination of her seven years on the Board, Nil served as President of ILEA Denver and then represented ILEA on the Meetings Industry Council (MIC).
Nil is committed to the success of her industry peers and through ILEA, she has been able to give the world a hug, one event at a time.
Nil was born in Istanbul, Turkey and grew up in a waterfront town in Rhode Island. After studying at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, she moved to Denver. When she's not working or connecting with ILEA friends, Nil is enjoying time with her family, developing her cooking skills, fiddling with a jigsaw puzzle, cultivating a growing plant collection, or sipping on a nice Malbec.
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2019 | Karen Tucker, CPCE
Karen Tucker, CPCE has been in the catering and hospitality industry for over 20 years. Karen along with her husband, Brett Tucker, are the owners of Relish Catering & Events. After working for the company for a combined 20 years, they purchased it together in 2012 and have been able to grow it into one of Denver’s Top Catering Companies.
Prior to moving to Colorado in 2015, Karen was born and raised in Dallas, Texas then moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas (Hook ‘Em) where she started her career in hospitality. Working with full event production companies, country clubs, and caterers she grew a vast knowledge of the events industry and found her true passion in the food and beverage sector of the industry. Through years of hard work and determination, Karen grew as a leader of her team, continued to learn from her peers and mentors, to then be promoted to Director of Sales for the company.
In addition to owning Relish Catering & Events, Karen has served on the board for the Greater Denver NACE Chapter since 2009 and is the current Immediate Past President. She has also been a member of ILEA since 2001. Karen was named the 2017 NACE National Member of the Year. She has been involved at the local level of both organizations, is currently the NACE National CLC Vice-Chair and completed her term as the National Awards Chair in 2018. She is looking forward to joining the NACE National Board as the CLC Chair in January of 2020.
Karen & Brett live in Lakewood, CO with their sons Gannon and Andrew that are both in high school, and Will, their oldest when he is home from college. When Karen is not working or attending events you can find her cheering on Gannon and the Lakewood Tigers football and lacrosse teams, traveling to discover new places (as well as some old favorites), and enjoying time with her friends porch sitting, usually with a glass of wine and cheese.
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2018 | Tera Greenwood
Tera Greenwood is the Director of Business Development for SSA, an award winning visitor amenities company serving more than 60 cultural attractions across the U.S. She has over 15 years’ experience in the event industry and has been a member of ILEA since 2008. She has served many roles within ILEA such as the Denver Chapter Board (including Chapter President), Western Regional Vice President, 2018 ILEA Live Conference Chair and currently serving on the International Membership Committee.
Tera grew up in Alabama and attended Lee University in Cleveland TN, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. When Tera is not working or fulfilling her duties as the PTO President at Adventure Montessori, she enjoys family time with her husband and four year old son, entertaining guests and traveling around the world.
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2017 | Tami Forero
Tami Forero is a strategic event planner and CEO of successful, Colorado Springs-based company, Forté Events, Inc. With twenty-four years of event planning experience, Tami helps clients meet goals using experiential events and is a sought-after speaker nationwide, on subjects of sales, work life balance, and profitability. Forté Events has created unique training and leadership development programs that have earned international recognition and awards. Tami has helped companies significantly increase their profits in record time, attract and retain employees, and successfully launch products and community programs. Over the past ten years, Forero’s company has doubled or tripled sales each year, even during economic recession. The Forté Events team not only plans and executes corporate, non-profit, and social events worldwide, but also enjoys working together for their “perfect” clientele.
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2016 | Syd Sexton
Syd Sexton brings an extensive background in hotel and catering management. She spent 13 years with the Hyatt Corporation as Director of Catering and Conference Services where she participated on the corporate team to launch Hyatt’s off premise division, Regency Caterers. She eventually opened her own Denver catering company, Alex Brooks Fine Catering which she operated successfully for 15 years. She sold to business partners when she returned to the hotel industry and joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company as the Colorado Area Director of Catering. Syd’s wealth of business acumen, along with her people management expertise, made her the perfect fit to guide the team at By Design Collective, a family of brands consisting of Catering by Design, Décor by Design, Picnics by Design and the restaurants at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Sexton has been in the role of General Manager since early 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Sexton moved to Denver in 1987, is a past president and Hall of Fame member of the Denver ILEA chapter and has been an active community member and volunteer with many organizations, including, but not limited to the Kempe foundation, American Transplant Foundation, and First Descents. She currently sits on the board of the International Caterers Association.
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2014 | Karl Heitz, CSEP, DMCP
Karl Heitz, CSEP brings over 16 years of direct event management experience to Prologis. He achieved his Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designation in 2006 and earned his Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) certification in 2012. During his tenure he has produced 10’s of millions of dollars in events, some of which have been awarded for their creativity, execution, and logistical complexity. Karl is a Past President of the Denver ILEA Chapter has chaired and been a part of numerous ILEA International committees. In 2015 Karl was named one of 25 Young Event Pros to Watch by Special Event Magazine. He is currently on the SEARCH Foundation Board of Directors, the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board and ILEA International Industry Engagement Committee. Karl’s education includes a BS from Colorado State University in Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism with a concentration in Commercial Tourism Enterprises. In his free time, Karl enjoys skiing, soccer and the outdoors. He has a passion for travel, great food and excellent wine.
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2013 | Danny Findley
Danny has over 25 years of experience in the event and meeting management and planning industry. His experience covers a wide variety of areas including off-site catering, special event venues, restaurants, destination management, non-profits, design and décor. From corporate events, association planning to social events and conferences. Danny has been successful in all areas of the hospitality industry.
He is very active in the event community serving as Past President of the Denver Chapter of International Live Events Association (ILEA) and Past President of the Meeting Professional International Rocky Mountain Chapter (MPIRMC). Danny was the recipient of the 2009 Rising Star Award for the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter, the 2011 Planner of the Year Award for the MPI Rocky Mountain Chapter and was inducted into the ILEA Denver Chapter Hall of Fame in 2013.
Danny was born and raised in Colorado, he went to school in Chicago where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and has traveled extensively. His passion is being creative in all things especially in special events! Creating the WOW factor is his joy!
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2012 | Dawn Abbott, CSEP
Dawn Abbott, CSEP is CEO and Owner of Fun Productions, Inc. which she began in 1991 with her husband after working in the catering industry majority of her life. She is also the owner & the chief creative officer of Colorado Teambuilding Events and VIE Events which are the sister companies to Fun Productions, Inc.
Dawn has been a part of the special event industry for longer than she can remember. Growing up in Aspen, Colorado her Father was Food & Beverage Manager of a major hotel and a Master Chef. Her mother owned a catering company. The event business and the entrepreneurial spirit was instilled in Dawn her entire life.
Dawn Abbott, CSEP served for 2 years as the Western Regional Vice-President for ILEA and has served 6 years on the ILEA Denver Board of Directors. Last year she was inducted into the ILEA Denver Hall of Fame as well as Colorado Meeting and Events Magazine Hall of Fame. Dawn has also served on the Meetings Industry Council Board and currently serves on the Denver Small Business Development Center advisory board and The Colorado Meetings and Events magazine Advisory Board.
Dawn has grown her small business from a tiny start up out of her home to a multi-office, 12,000 square foot warehouse and showroom with 40+ employees and multi-million dollar revenues. She credits her lack of creativity but very strong skills in business planning and logistics for her success.
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2011 | Ingrid Nagy, CSEP
Ingrid Nagy, CSEP, brings over 25 years of experience in the catering and events industry. Ingrid and her Executive Chef husband, Cade Nagy, currently own and operate Catering by Design, By Design Event Décor and Denver’s Picnic Company – three brand divisions under Four Five One Events, a full service event company specializing in executing highly customized event experiences.
Together Ingrid & Cade have grown their small start-up catering firm to a multi-million dollar company, with over 300 employees. As CEO of the company, she oversees day to day operations and administrative functions, including financial management. Ingrid’s fiscal, strategic and management skills balance the creative genius of her husband. They are celebrating 20 years together in business!
Ingrid is an active member of International Live Events Association (ILEA) representing the Denver Chapter. She has served on the local board (including chapter President) as well as on the International Board of Governors. She is currently serving as International Treasurer of the Board of Governors and will be ILEA International President in 2017-18.
Ingrid holds a BS in Foods Merchandising from Valparaiso University. She and Cade live in Greenwood Village with their two children, Trae & Breck. In her free time, she values yoga, fitness, gardening…and wine!
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2010 | Jerry Barnett
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