What makes your city a top meeting/convention destination?
Meeting planners consider Rosemont the smart choice for a number of reasons, starting with our fantastic location. Every hotel is less than five minutes from O'Hare International Airport. All our hotels are within five minutes of our expo center; most are across the street.

People, services, and world-class entertainment options are another important factor. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center offers exhibitor service rates that are far below those of Chicago's McCormick Place and in most categories, lower than the national average.
Tell us about a meeting you're thrilled to have just signed on or a recent meeting you're very pleased with.
We recently hosted Canon's Show National Manufacturing Week, one of the largest such events we have ever booked, a new one for us, and a fantastic success. This "mega show" combined 10 major manufacturer shows. Another recent, memorable event was the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) show, which attracted more than 5,000 qualified buyers.
What is your perspective on destination leadership?
I compare it to being the leader or conductor of an orchestra. A convention or expo is our opportunity to perform. We're a band of very experienced "players" so what we do appears effortless. This makes leadership very easy.
What is your city's roadmap for the future? We're client- and guest-focused. The Rosemont Walk entertainment center is being developed right across the street from the convention center in direct response to our meeting planners' feedback. Two hotels are also slated for the entertainment district.
How have destination marketing organizations (DMOs) evolved over the past 10 years, and how do you see the role of the bureau changing in the future?
DMOs have grown significantly into sophisticated marketing teams. We are an exception to that trend, by design. The Stephens Center is municipally owned. We need to operate it as economically as possible, in order to return revenues to our village and our state. While we're just as sophisticated as many centers, there aren't a lot of layers here. Clients have direct contact with their service providers, who are senior executives.

People used to say Rosemont was "the town that conventions built." That was never really the case. Rosemont is a town "built for conventions, not by conventions." Our convention bureau is very much the same. We were built for our customers. Because of that strategy, we'll continue to grow. How did you get into this career? How long have you been there, and where have you been in the past?
I've worked for the Village of Rosemont for more than 30 years, starting in the police department and rising through the ranks to become deputy superintendent of the Village's Public Safety Department. For the past two years, I had the honor and privilege of being Mayor Stephens' personal aide. I can now confidently help carry on his tradition of smart planning, growth, and prosperity.
What is it about working in this industry that grabs you?
Being part of the solution. Meeting planners have an endless set of details to work out. Helping to solve those problems is where the action is.