PCMA GMC Webinar: Sustainability Redefined: Pioneering Strategies for Impactful Events

Dive into the cutting-edge world of sustainable event planning with this eye-opening session. You’ll learn how to:

• Rethink traditional approaches to event sustainability
• Implement innovative eco-friendly practices that pack a punch
• Balance environmental responsibility with unforgettable experiences
• Create and implement social offsets to maximize positive community impact

From reducing carbon footprints to creating “Instagrammable” green moments, this session will equip you with the tools to make your events both planet-friendly and crowd leasing. You’ll also discover how to give back to local communities through strategic social offsets, turning your event into a force for good.

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Speaker: Beth Surmont, FASAE, CMP – Fellow

Beth Surmont is an event strategist who works with associations and non-profits to help them redesign, reinvent, and reinvigorate their events.  She is fascinated by the power that events hold to drive real change in the world. With on-the-ground event planning experience spanning more than 20 years in events, trade shows, corporate, and non-profit; and as the current Vice President of Event Strategy & Design at 360 Live Media, Beth is a leading designer in what the next era of events will be. Her approach of audience-centered design combined with purposeful intention is the secret to creating meaningful and impactful events. Beth was awarded the 2024 Groundbreaker award from PCMA. In 2023, Beth was a finalist for the Event Designer of the Year award from PCMA. Beth is both an ASAE Fellow and a CMP Fellow. She is a founding board member of SocialOffset, a nonprofit that encourages local donations instead of destination boycotts. She currently lives in New Jersey with her wife, dog, and cat.

Speaker: Ellie Hurley, SEPC

Ellie Hurley develops event strategies that ensure Smithbucklin’s client organizations can meet their goals and objectives. With over 25 years of
experience in the convention and trade show industry, Ellie creates and leads many of the Event Services training programs within Smithbucklin. She oversees strategic conference management for various  organizations, including event staff management, conference logistics, event budget management, supplier relations, and client relations.

Ellie brings specialized expertise in sustainable meetings. In 2024, she led a Smithbucklin client organization to earn Silver Level Certification from the Events Industry Council (EIC) Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact for its annual conference. Ellie is also skilled in project management, event risk management measures, and co-located meetings. Well-regarded for her creativity and expense-management experience, she maintains strong negotiating skills and has done extensive contract work with convention centers, decorators, hotels, and vendors.   Ellie holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Providence College and a Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) issued by the EIC.

Speaker: Patrick Macellaio

Experienced event professional beginning the next chapter of my career with the Obama Foundation. Through my position as Manager of Event for the Obama Presidential Center, I hope to develop an event program that reflects the core values of the Foundation: Inspire, Empower and Connect. Past experience includes developing an events and catering program at Boka Restaurant Group with Stephanie Izard as the Director of Catering and Events. After 8.5 years, I went on to develop and grow the events program for the east end of Navy Pier overseeing Offshore Rooftop, Lirica and the Sable Hotel. Outside of the events and hospitality industry of Chicago, I am a passionate member of the Arts community and on the volunteer board of Let It Be Us, an organization that increases permanency for foster youth here in Chicago.

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