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National Standing Committees

NACE national committees are representative groups of NACE members working together to offer the NACE National Board guidance on programs and policies pertaining to strategic initiatives. Committee members serve at the discretion of the board and may review and suggest policies and programs if they are aligned with the organization’s strategic direction. National committee efforts are led by committee chairs who bring the committees’ suggestions to the board for review and approval. Committees meet at least once a month as well as at the NACE Experience Conference. The time and commitment volunteers spend on national endeavors create an invaluable network of knowledge and expertise to help cultivate an environment of learning and growth for our members and the organization as a whole.

Interested in serving on a NACE national committee? Be on the lookout for our call for volunteers this fall. Contact info@nace.net if you have any additional questions.

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee makes recommendations to NACE leadership on advocacy awareness and education opportunities and resources for members. Members of this committee have a passion for monitoring regulatory and legislative issues with direct or indirect effects on catering and events and being a resource to local chapter leaders seeking advice and resources for local advocacy. 

Committee Chair: Megan Estrada
Board Liaison: Michelle Dunnick, MBA, CPCE

Committee Members:
Jamie Adams, CPCE
Kimberly Adams
Nicole Benvenutti
Bobbi Brinkman
Julia Conway
Doug Quattrini, CPCE

This committee meets once a month or as needed.

Black Caucus Committee

Chair: Aleya Harris CPCE

black caucus networking receptionblack caucus committeeBlack Caucus Committee 2022

The Black Caucus Committee facilitates networking and the exchange of ideas among Black members of NACE. The Caucus provides recommendations to the NACE National board to advance the Black Community within NACE. Members of this committee must be a NACE member in good standing.

Interested in joining us? Click here to access our zoom calls. In order to join, your membership must be in good standing. We meet monthly for one-hour calls.

Chair: Marlene Faulkner

 

Apply for a scholarship to earn your CPCE credentials!

The Foundation of NACE and Black Caucus Committee have partnered together to offer a Black CPCE scholarship program. This program is funded by donations from individual NACE members  This program was created so that Black NACE members have more opportunities to be in positions of leadership within the vibrant community of NACE. Applications are now open and we encourage you to apply! Click here.

Interested in donating toward our scholarship? We currently have a fundraiser to raise the money needed for our scholarship program. If you'd like to donate toward the scholarship, click here. 

 

Chapter Leaders Council (CLC)

The Chapter Leaders’ Council Mentors (CLC) support leaders of NACE chapters. The committee plays a vital role in the development and support of chapter leaders and in connecting chapter leaders with the national organization. Members of this committee may hold the CPCE credential and have served as a NACE Chapter President. 

Council Chair: Sarah James, CPCE
Vice Chair: Dana Kadwell, CPCE

Committee Members:
Lynn Graham, CPCE
Erin Kenyan, CHE
Tom Kokinakos
Stephanie Olivares, CPCE
Adam Rineer, CPCE
Joshua Riggs, CPCE

Conference Advisory Committee

The Conference Advisory Committee consults and provides feedback for the future planning, themes, trends and goals for the Experience conference. They enjoy monitoring and identifying industry trends and supporting local chapter volunteers in order to provide recommendations for a framework for the planning of the conference. This is a fun group of NACE members! This committee begins in July and ends in July because of the conference planning cycle.

Committee Chair: Steve Kemble
Board Liaison: Michelle Stansfield, CPCE

Committee Members:
Andy Bomberger, CPCE
Heather Chambers
Gabrielle Mourino, CPCE
Selina Mullenax, CPCE
Stefana Welker
Indya Willis, CPCE

This committee will meet once a month or as needed.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee provides guidance and information to NACE leadership and staff on DEI opportunities that are beneficial to NACE members. They also help NACE collect, create and share information, education, and resources on DEI in the catering and events industry. This committee fosters collaboration and collects feedback from member-organized affinity groups.

Board Liaison: James Filtz, CPCE, CHE, CMP
 

Committee Members:
Devon Burnfield
Allison Cochran
Ken Collins
Elena Dong
Lynn Graham, CPCE
Emily McCormick
Jamie Quickert
Kymbrah Williams
 

This committee will meet once a month or as needed.

Member Recognition Committee

The Member Recognition (previously Awards) Committee contributes to the increased recognition of the innovation and creativity of catering and event professionals through the NACE One Awards program and identifies other ways to recognize members and contributors. Work on this committee includes writing awards criteria, testing application systems, creating marketing plans, and recruiting judges. The committee also helps identify key trends and creative elements and creates content that educates and inspires catering and event professionals.

Committee Chair: Jamie Adams, CPCE
Board Liaison: Kelly Dalisa, CPCE

Committee Members:
Lyndsey Bunn, CPCE
Linwood Campbell, CPCE
Larissa Esposito
Alecia Huynh
Cindy Marshall, CPCE

This committee meets once a month or as needed.

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee thinks strategically and big picture to help create ideas that benefit members at a national level and support membership recruitment and retention across the organization. The work of this committee helps to improve engagement with members nationwide. 

Committee Chair: Christie Osborne
Board Liaison: Michelle Dunnick, MBA, CPCE

Committee Members:
Kristine Kapica
Mary Kate Knight
Kay Kolbo
Rose Pope
Josh Smith
Kristan Williams

This committee will meet once a month or as needed.

Nominations and Elections Committee

The Nominations and Elections Committee is a representative of the NACE members on a broad level. They enjoy encouraging other members to volunteer and plan and execute the national elections. This committee helps NACE plan and execute the annual nominations and elections process while learning more about governance and elections.

Committee Chair: Morgan Montgomery, CPCE, CMP
Board Liaison: James Filtz, CPCE, CHE, CMP

Committee Members:
Gary Baumann, CPCE
Sandy Maurin, CPCE
Stephanie Olivares, CPCE
Karen Tucker, CPCE

This committee will meet once a month or as needed.

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development (previously Certification and Education) Committee shares its ideas and knowledge about how to grow and develop the certification program and its policies and procedures. Members develop a high-quality and diverse education program as well as identify topics and select top-notch speakers. Members of this committee have a direct impact on the NACE's national Experience conference education, online education programming, and webinars by brainstorming content ideas and themes and reviewing speaker proposals and presentations. 

Chair: Robin Denny, CPCE, CERP, MBA
Board Liaison: Michelle Stansfield, CPCE

Committee Members:
Nicole Benvenutti
Melissa Darisay
Mary Jane Guerra
Desiree Kelly, MBA, CPCE
Stacey Messina, CPCE
Deanna Powers

 

This committee will meet once a month or as needed.