Steve Bova, CAE
Executive Director, FICP
A Two-Way Conversation: Ethics for Event Professionals
Steve Bova is Executive Director for Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP). His core responsibilities are to drive growth through strategic leadership, relationship building, forward looking programming and solid financial performance. He has 30+ years of senior level experience managing and leading associations.
Prior to joining FICP in 2004, Steve served as executive director of the Warehousing Education and Research Council, and as deputy executive director of DBSA – a philanthropic organization that advocates for the research and treatment of mood disorders. He also served as director of communications of the Association Forum of Chicagoland – a professional society for association executives – where he researched and wrote hundreds of articles on the business of running non-profit organizations
Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institutes for Organization Management at the University of Notre Dame and holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation – a credential that tests core competencies in the management, operation and leadership of nonprofit organizations.
Dianne Budion Devitt
Founder and Chief Experience Officer, The DND Group
Meeting Design and Theatrical Thinking: How to Think and Plan Creatively
Dianne is an industry visionary and personality with global experience as a producer, events director, author, and speaker. She is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University, and is the founder of The DND Group, Inc. Passionate about the power of creativity and live experiences, she is an expert on providing creative inspiration and sharing her innate gift of seeing solutions to achieve corporate and business objectives with business leaders who influence and lead to inspire people to be the best version of themselves.
As the former president of the International Live Events Association and Meeting Professionals International in New York City, Dianne has also served on national boards and been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. Dianne has produced or been part of the planning team for prestigious events including the Apollo 11 Moon Landing Anniversary, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Vietnam 50th Commemorative Presidential, the first European games in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Joe Fijol
Managing Partner, 360 Destinations Group
Mitigating Risk in a Volatile World
With more than 20 years in the industry, Joe experienced planning from the incentive, cruise, resort, and DMC perspectives prior to opening 360's Florida offices. This broad range of experience, combined with his well-established relationships in the Florida market, ensure clients receive the highest level of expert service. Joe and his 360 Florida team cover all five markets in the state, as well as unique and lesser-known locations, like Amelia Island. His penchant for organization and hyperawareness of every little detail (combined with his abundant energy) make working with Joe an experience you won't soon forget.
Dana Keeler, CMP
Meeting & Event Manager, Liberty Mutual
Mitigating Risk in a Volatile World
Dana Keeler is a Meeting & Event Manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Boston, MA. She is part of the Meeting Management & Event Strategy department responsible for planning Leadership and Sponsorship Events. Dana joined Liberty Mutual in 2008. She was previously a Senior Manager, Meetings & Client Events at Fidelity Investments and Manager of Conventions at The Gillette Company. She earned her CMP designation in 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Originally from Hingham, MA, Dana currently resides in Boston.
Isabel Mahon
Director of Sales Incentive/Insurance, Fiarmont Hotels & Resorts
Mitigating Risk in a Volatile World
Isabel Mahon has been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years. She started her career on the DMC side with Cantrav in Vancouver, BC. Her first role was in operations and then moved into sales before opening the Banff Alberta office in 1995 where she took on the role of General Manager as well as keeping her sales responsibilities.
In 1998 she joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver as Director of Group Sales, Corporate. She was transferred to Chicago as the Director of Insurance Market Development and is currently the Director of Sales, Insurance & Incentive for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts one of the Accor Hotel brands. She has been a hospitality partner with FICP since 1993 and has served two terms on the HPAC and chair in both 2001 and 2016.
Roger Rickard
Founder and President, Voices in Advocacy®
Ripped from the Headlines!
Mitigating Risk in a Volatile World
Roger is the Founder & President of Voices in Advocacy® and author of 7 Actions of Highly Effective Advocates. He has more than 30 years of experience as an advocacy professional, speaker, trainer, consultant, and author. As a recognized expert in advocacy engagement and grassroots activation, Roger works with a wide cross-section of organizations from diverse industries. His vibrant personality and a good sense of humor make for engaging and interactive programming that is packaged and delivered in an easy to understand, easy to apply format combining his education, experience, and enthusiasm to drive advocacy success.
He is often interviewed by radio, print and television media, highlighted by the MSNBC show Your Business. Smart Meetings Magazine did a cover story on Roger, entitled Passion & Purpose, Roger Rickard’s Call to Action. Successful Meetings Magazine named Roger one of the Six People Worth Watching in the Meetings Industry. Meetings Focus Magazine named him to their inaugural list of Meetings Trendsetters.