June Lunch & Learn: Get Selected, Not Sidelined: How Suppliers Can Improve RFP Success

Join us for a candid panel discussion featuring experienced event planners who will share what they need from industry suppliers to ensure success.

This session is tailored to hotels, venues, DMCs, AV partners, and other event suppliers looking to strengthen relationships and remain competitive. Panelists will discuss evolving planner priorities, decision‑making pressures, expectations around pricing transparency, flexibility, sustainability, and how suppliers can become trusted partners rather than transactional vendors.

Attendees will gain practical insights on streamlining processes as it relates to planners requirements while differentiating themselves. Additionally, showcasing how collaboration, creativity, and proactive problem‑solving can directly influence decisions in challenging times.

If you want to better understand planner realities and position your organization as a go‑to partner in a value‑driven market, this conversation is not to be missed.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Assess key planner decision‑making criteria within the RFP process by identifying common supplier errors that lead to proposal rejection, recognizing areas where suppliers unintentionally create friction, and outlining the critical information planners expect to receive upfront.
2. Understand economic, operational, and organizational pressures faced by planners that could influence supplier offerings – including budgets, approval structures, and timelines – and evaluating where supplier approaches have not kept pace with these changes.
3. Implement value‑driven strategies that strengthen supplier‑planner partnerships by applying creative solutions that align with planner priorities while maintaining financial sustainability for suppliers.

Speakers: 

Jillian Lovejoy, CMP – Senior Meeting Event Manager at Maritz

Jillian Lovejoy, CMP, is a Senior Meeting Event Manager at Maritz, bringing nearly a decade of experience delivering complex, high-impact meetings and events. Her career began at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in D.C., where she built a strong foundation supporting government, corporate, and social programs. She later expanded her expertise at a national association, managing logistics for the organization’s largest annual trade show and collaborating with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

At Maritz, Jillian partners closely with clients to translate strategic objectives into seamless attendee experiences. Her expertise spans food and beverage, registration, housing, supplier sourcing and management, audio visual, transportation, security, and more. Jillian is known for her energy, attention to detail, and commitment to bringing each client’s vision to life while creating engaging, memorable events for attendees.

Tanika Coates, CDE – Director of Professional Development at The American Society for Cell Biology

Tanika Coates, CDE is the Director of Professional Development at the American Society for Cell Biology, overseeing learning design for the cell biology community of faculty, researchers, and professionals. Tanika is a seasoned association executive with over 10 years of experience leading high-impact learning design strategy and global education initiatives. Throughout her career, Tanika has specialized in scaling learning product portfolios and transforming virtual and in-person events into significant revenue drivers for organizations.

Tanika’s expertise is centered around crafting inclusive, accessible and innovative experiences that build future-ready workforces. Tanika has a proven record of cultivating strategic partnerships to ensure learning initiatives are aligned with high-level strategic priorities.

Tanika holds an undergraduate degree in Communication from George Mason University and a Master of Science in Administration in Organizational Development from Trinity Washington University. Tanika has also obtained an Event Management Graduate Certificate from George Washington University and is a Certified Diversity Executive by the Institute for Diversity Certification.

Tanika served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Professional Development Advisory Council at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Tanika was also recognized as a 2025-2027 ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) scholar and a past recipient of the Association Forum/USAE Forty Under 40 award – Class of 2015.

Eric Sanders – Founder at Inflection Partners at LLC

Eric Sanders is an accomplished event strategist and experiential leader with 20+ years of experience designing high-impact conferences, executive events, sponsorship activations, and leadership experiences across healthcare, financial services, sports, and beyond. He is the founder of Inflection Partners LLC, a full-service event management company, and serves as a Global Project Manager with ConferenceDirect. Throughout his career, Eric has led large-scale event portfolios, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and partnered with C-suite leadership to create experiences that drive engagement, deepen relationships, and deliver measurable business results. Known for his authentic leadership style and strategic approach to experience design, he brings a compelling perspective on how events can foster meaningful connection, elevate brands, and move communities. Eric challenges audiences across the country and abroad with one enduring message: Change Management from Within.

Moderator: Becky Fowkes – Director Meetings & Events at American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

Becky has extensive experience in marketing, project management, and operations in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Prior to her career in events, Becky worked as a professional musician in the DC Metro area and was the Business Manager for an Inc. 5000 swim school. She received a Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music in Horn Performance. In her role at AACRAO, Becky leads and manages logistics related to the execution of meetings and events, including contracting and sourcing, program management, registration, systems design, marketing, and vendor management. A California native who now calls Northern Virginia home, Becky enjoys reading, long-distance road trips, volunteering as a meet official for USA Swimming, and spending time with her family.

Continuing Education 

The PCMA Capital Chapter is a CMP Preferred Provider.  To ensure that you receive proper credit for attending this event, please be sure that you have opened a free account at (https://eic.learningbuilder.com/account/login) with the Events Industry Council BEFORE the event.

This event is included in the 2026 All Access Pass

Thank You to Our 2026 Lunch & Learn Sponsor!

Registration Rates

• Planner Member – $20
• Planner Non Member – $30
• Supplier Member – $20
• Supplier Non Member – $30

Cancellation Policy: Registrants may cancel up to 7 days before the event for a full refund, minus a $10 administration fee. No refunds will be made after this date. A request for cancellation must be submitted in writing via email request to [email protected]. Refunds will not be given for no-shows or missed travel logistics. Substitutions for this event are encouraged in lieu of cancellations. If you do substitute, please include the following information: Email Address, First Name, Last Name, Designations, Job Title, Preferred/Badge Name, Company Name, Address, and Phone.