“It’s a true blessing to wake up each morning loving what I do for a living. Crafting and managing targeted, thoughtful events that drive home a message and satisfy all the senses is an amazing thing to do day in and day out! I am in awe of the things my talented team accomplishes for our clients.”

Alison is the Owner and CEO, Chief Event Officer, at The Event Lounge where she is constantly encouraging her team to exceed client expectations … all the while having a great time! She was inspired to open TEL because she wanted to assemble a “Dream Team” of staff members that were creative, resourceful and fun!! Her tremendous sense for logistical details and her keen eye for design ensure that every project TEL handles is targeted, thoughtful and crowd-pleasing!

Alison is also the Founder of SIP, an annual gathering of business professionals striving to make their mark by taking a stand, inspiring others to do the same, and providing aid to those in need in their community. At the 2015 inaugural event, SIP raised over $11,000 for Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry. At the 2016 event, an additional $20,000 was raised for the same charity.

Alison is a 21-year veteran of the special event and meeting production industry. After obtaining a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communications in 1996 from The University of San Diego, she immediately dove into the hospitality industry, and it has been her passion ever since!

Alison’s industry experience runs the full spectrum as she has served as a Meeting Planner, Event Producer, Creative Director, Project Manager and Account Executive. Alison has managed all segments of corporate events and production including travel logistics, destination management, food and beverage, special event décor, audio-visual production, and name and local entertainment. She was instrumental in launching the on-property supplier-partner relationship with the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona, managing their Event Production office for three plus years. In that three-year period alone, she personally produced over 1500 events – an amazing accomplishment by any standard!

Alison’s industry accomplishments are well recognized. She is currently a finalist for the 2017 Planner Of The Year Award for the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. She was honored as one of Collaborate Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2013. She was also the proud recipient of the Mentor of the Year Award at the June 2010 Awards Dinner; a President’s Award for 2012-2013; and two Member Choice Awards for the Chapter at the June 2009 Awards Dinner: Outstanding Chapter Special Event of the Year and Outstanding Chapter Committee of the Year.

Away from the office, Alison is highly involved in Meeting Professionals International (MPI). She is the past president of the MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. Other past positions held include two terms as VP of Education and Events, VP of Membership, Co-Chair of the Chapter Charity Relations Committee and serving on the Chapter’s Corporate Social Responsibilities Committee and as the Co-Chair of the February 2009 Sustainable Event.

Specialties: Creative Event Design and Theming, Logistics Management, Contract Negotiation, Leadership

Passions: Family, Friends, Celebrating Women in Business

Most Memorable Event Moment: I will never forget being on the field, managing the props that were used in the pre-game show during Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.

“I am motivated and inspired by being a part of the dynamic team at The Event Lounge. This talented group of people brings their best every day to exceed our clients’ expectations and make their dreams a reality. Whether your event is in person or virtual, I look forward to making “it” happen.” She is also highly regarded by her fellow team members as the Ambassador of Cheer and Positivity.”

Deana has proudly worked in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Event industries over the last 20 years.  Prior to joining The Event Lounge, Deana served in marketing and sales leadership roles for NASCAR, Landry’s Restaurants, international convention and visitors bureaus, and IBM.

Deana received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Fordham University, graduated from Leadership Daytona, and serves on the Advertising Advisory Committee for the Halifax Area Advertising Authority, and is the Marketing Chair for the Advent Health Daytona Beach Foundation Board.

In her spare time Deana enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and walking on the beach. She loves to travel and has never met a stranger.

Specialties: Creative design work, impactful event marketing, leadership, and client needs assessments

Passions: Traveling to Portugal, her motherland.  Volunteering in her community. Adventures big and small, especially those that provide an adrenaline rush.

Most Memorable Event Moment: Each event has that moment when everything comes together and you can stand back and feel a rush of emotions. Seeing the smiles on guests’ faces and a client that is beaming with pride – THAT is why I do what I do.  My most memorable moment was the first large music event I produced. The venue was packed, the band was playing, and I saw the client standing on a table rocking out! All the hiccups, all the last minute changes, a small permit issue, it all faded to the background I smiled and then proceeded to rock out too!

“I am still excited after 7 years with The Event Lounge family! To work with creative and inspiring individuals every day, makes this job not only fun but rewarding. Don’t get me wrong it is hard work and long hours but with teamwork we do awesome events! I am proud of the work ethic and family values we have.”

Teresa has over 35 years of experience, between all aspects of office positions, various warehouse work, her own business and life adventures. She is a detail and organized individual who is passionate about her job, coworkers and family.

Teresa handles everything and anything that pertains to our warehouse; inventory, shipping and receiving, fulfillment, event setup/strike. In her spare time Teresa loves being outdoors, whether it is working in the yard, reading a book or going to a lake/beach to play in the water. To disconnect and relax and enjoy life.

Specialties: Prop and Fulfillment Transportation, Inventory Management and Prop Construction

Passions: To be able to see all the beaches and meet people and to discover their little towns (around the world) is what life is about. Be adventurous! But to help other’s and animals is also something I try to do every day.

Most Memorable Event Moment: Of course, it would have to be our event that took place in Hawaii! Wow says it all.

“Nothing gives me greater pleasure than exceeding client expectations as I navigate the management of details and logistics for our client projects. I just love that it’s never the same things twice so we’re always crafting custom solutions to meet client needs.”

Donna thrives on details. She ensures every event is a success and listens to our client’s goals and expectations. She is determined to execute every event flawlessly.  Since being in the meetings and events industry for the last 9 years, Donna has managed over 120 national events. These events range from conferences, auto and trade shows, dealer meetings to special events like SXSW and Special Olympics Summer Games 2015.

Previously, Donna has overseen events ranging from 50 to 1000 attendees and managed road tours for several years while meeting thousands of people. Donna earned her Master in Business Administration at the University of Windsor with a focus on Marketing.

She has 3 handsome boys that keep her very active. She loves to travel and enjoys all the people she meets along the way.

Specialties: Logistics Management, Tradeshow Management,  Traveling Roadshows and Activations

Passions: Travel (especially to Italy), her three boys, and being active in the outdoors

Most Memorable Event Moment: When we were hired at the last minute to replace a failing meeting management company and I was able to orchestrate a tradeshow with over a hundred booths without a single issue.

“I am blessed to have a wonderful career where I get to make people happy. I enjoy creating unforgettable meetings, events, and incentive programs that reflect the client’s vision and exceed expectations.”  

Renée is a passionate and strategic meeting professional that enjoys designing, developing, planning, and executing extraordinary, memorable meetings and events that drive business value and are client specific. Renée considers client preferences, company culture, audience, and expected outcomes when selecting the right venue and designing content flow, agenda, activities, and evening functions. What sets her programs apart is designing the right atmosphere and attitude with a strong emphasis on customer service and hyper focus on details.   

Renée stays connected with the meetings and events industry by regularly attending association meetings and serving on the SITE Texas (Society Incentive Travel Executives) Board of Directors in 2021 as the Director of Events.    

Renée enjoys cooking, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends in her spare time. Renée has been in the Houston area since 1990 and is a proud “Aggie Mom.”   

Specialties: Account Management, Strategic Development, Logistics Management, Budget Management, Vendor Sourcing, Contract Negotiations, Coaching, and Mentoring

Passions: Family, beach vacations, tailgating, and holiday decorating, especially Halloween!

Most Memorable Event Moment: Watching five helicopters land simultaneously on the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. The look on everyone’s faces as they stepped out on the glacier was priceless. It was a proud moment to know I had helped create a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Esmeralda is an experienced corporate event coordinator with a passion for creating memorable and impactful events. With 17 years in the industry, she has orchestrated a wide range of successful events, from small team-building retreats to large-scale conferences and product launches. Spearheading numerous successful experiential marketing campaigns for leading brands across the country .

Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple tasks under pressure, Esmeralda thrives in fast-paced environments, ensuring that every aspect of an event is flawlessly executed. She excels in managing budgets, negotiating contracts with vendors, and coordinating logistics to ensure that each event exceeds expectations.

Esmeralda takes a collaborative approach, working closely with clients to understand their vision and goals, and then executing them with creativity and precision. With a focus on customer satisfaction, she consistently receives rave reviews for her professionalism, creativity, and ability to deliver exceptional results.

Specialties:

Whether it’s a corporate gala, team-building workshop, or industry conference, Esmeralda brings a wealth of experience and dedication to every project, ensuring that each event leaves a lasting impression on attendees.

Passions:

When not immersed in the world of event management; Esmeralda enjoys creating memorable experiences with her family and friends through adventurous activities, traveling and trying new things together while cherishing the moments spent bonding. She also volunteers in the local community throughout the year.

Most Memorable Event Moment:

Esmeralda had the incredible opportunity to help a financial firm celebrate their success with the iconic bell-ringing ceremony at Nasdaq. Executing all the events surrounding the epic moment in some of New York’s iconic venues.

With over three decades of expertise in the produce industry and sales, Laurie recently emerged from a three-year retirement to pursue a part-time role at The Event Lounge.  Laurie now divides her time between work and savoring moments at her ranch in the country.

Known for her keen attention to detail and precision, Laurie enjoys ensuring that all of our client assets are available where, when, and in the quantity the client expected.  Laurie delivers on the promise of exceeding expectations daily and always with a smile.

Specialties:

Whether for a board meeting or National conference, Laurie approaches each project with both fresh eyes and the benefit of years of experience.

Passions:

Laurie enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, hiking and spending time with her beloved family and friends.

Most Memorable Event Moment:

The first time Laurie saw a semi-truck packed full of client inventory get delivered and realizing that she was leading the team that would count all of the items on the pallets being delivered.

Chewy has been with The Event Lounge for 8 years. He greets every visitor at the door with barks and cuddles, and he is an expert snack scavenger, keeping the warehouse floor tidy and clean!