Nick Borelli, Marketing Director, Zenus AI
Nick Borelli, Zenus director of marketing leverages his background in experience design, event tech and digital marketing to help event professionals reach their full potential. His background includes decades of contributions to live and digital communication, helping to facilitate his mission: bringing the world together through intentionally designed experiences.
To further this mission, he has presented a wide range of topics internationally, volunteered with numerous industry associations and contributed to dozens of publications. He has also served as a board member for a decade with the meetings and events industry non-profit, The SEARCH Foundation.
Nick has been named a Changemaker by MeetingsNet, awarded International Volunteer of the Year by International Live Events Association and has won numerous marketing awards. He has served as an advisor for associations, conferences, technology companies and event suppliers. Nick is the instructor of the Enhancing Events with AI course with the PCMA Institute.
Micayla Diener, CMP, CSEP, Global Experiential Lead, Global Business Solutions, TikTok
Micayla Diener, CMP, CSEP is an award-winning experiential leader and alumna of Widener University’s Hospitality School of Management. With a career spanning audiovisual production, destination management and brand marketing, she brings an end-to-end perspective to building high-impact experiences. Micayla is part of the founding Global Events team at TikTok, helping shape the platform’s global event marketing strategy. She currently serves as a Board Member of MPI GNY.
Michela Giovannotto, Vice President, BizBash
Michela Giovannotto is the vice president of BizBash, part of Informa, where she leads the brand’s overall strategy, programming and event portfolio. With a background in sales, event production and marketing, she brings a multi-disciplinary approach to experiential marketing. Giovannotto is recognized for creating events that amplify BizBash’s role as a thought leader in event innovation. Her leadership includes building communities through content driven experiences that highlight creativity, technology and best practice. Known for her ability to balance strategy with execution, she plays a key role in shaping BizBash’s brand as a hub for event professionals worldwide.
Tim Hines, Founder, Marketing Starter Group
Tim Hines is an award-winning global keynote speaker, business coach and four-time entrepreneur who empowers professionals and organizations to accelerate growth through collaboration, innovation and influence. With a career spanning work with industry leaders such as Accor, Air France, IMEX, Northstar Media and even the CIA, Tim brings a bold, energetic perspective to navigating change and sparking success.
He’s the author of "The Marketing Starter: How an Entrepreneurial Spirit Will Make You a More Savvy Marketer" and host of The Marketing Starter Podcast, where he champions the idea of thinking like a founder, no matter your role.
Passionate about giving back, Tim served on the Community Advisory Board for the Future Founders Foundation, helping underserved youth explore entrepreneurship and taught marketing and entrepreneurship with the University of Illinois Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies. He’s also a graduate of the Startup Leadership Program.
Taylor Laws, CMP, DMCP, Regional Director of Sales, Destination South Meetings and Events
Taylor Laws, CMP, DMCP, is the embodiment of the saying, “do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.” Taylor has long been deeply invested in the future of the hospitality industry and is a vocal advocate for the vital role destination management companies play in shaping innovative, impactful live events. A trusted leader on the Destination South Meetings and Events team, she plays an integral role in supporting the growth of the Atlanta and coastal offices while strengthening partnerships throughout the region.
Widely recognized within the Southern hospitality community, Taylor is known not only for her professional accolades, but for her genuine approach to building lasting relationships and creating meaningful connections.
Taylor is actively involved in many industry organizations, including serving on the Oklahoma State University Hospitality and Tourism Management Board of Advisors, her alma mater, where her passion for shaping the next generation of event professionals is reflected.
When she is not working, Taylor enjoys life with her husband and two daughters. She looks forward to planting her garden every spring, supporting local farmers markets and staying connected to her Atlanta community.
Courtney Bryson O'Malley, CMP, MPA, CMM, Senior Associate, Corporate Events, New York Life Insurance Company
Courtney Bryson O’Malley brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate meetings and events, including large-scale conferences, executive-level meetings and enterprise programs within the financial services industry. She is a senior associate in the corporate events department at New York Life, where she supports executive-level meetings.
Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in public administration from Seton Hall University. A Jersey girl through and through, she currently calls New York home.
Lily Zhang, Senior Event Planner, MetLife
Lily Zhang is a seasoned event professional with 25 years of experience across the hospitality and events industry, bringing a diverse background in hotels, restaurants, sports venues, destination management and conference rooms. Over the past decade, she has applied this wide array of expertise to her role as a senior planner within MetLife’s Global Event Operations team, where she leads high-profile executive programs and global initiatives. Lily oversees complex event architectures, financial governance and cross-functional stakeholder alignment to deliver seamless experiences.
Beyond her corporate work, Lily is passionate about service and community. She volunteers with America’s VetDogs and Guide Dog Foundation, supporting fundraising and awareness efforts. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, photography, fantasy football and golf. Lily holds a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from New York University, speaks four languages and is on the search for the next language to learn.