Lee Ali is Founder and Managing Director of Expo Stars Interactive, a global exhibition performance agency specializing in strategy, training, and staffing. With over 20years ofexperience in international sales and live events, he helpsorganizationsimprove trade show effectiveness through attendee journey design and high-performing teams. Creator of the TEO framework, Lee is a regular international speaker, UK Export Champion, and advocate for elevating exhibitor education through measurable, results-driven engagement.

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Amy Armstrong is a Global Event Manager with 27 years of experience as an event marketing Mary Poppins, logistics plate juggler, and creative curator; managing all aspects of her company's events, trade shows, and conferences; aligning with their messaging and heartfelt mission of delivering life-saving therapeutics to patients by helping clients solve for what's next. Deadlines are her friend; creativity and connections are her jam. She has been involved with EXHIBITORLIVE and the CTSM program for almost twenty years.

Marsha Bivins, CTSM Gold, is cofounder of Trade Show Savvy and a strategic leader in trade show marketing and event operations. With extensive experience managing 70+ trade shows and annual user conferences with a lean marketing team, specializes in exhibitor performance, lead generation, and results-driven event execution. Marsha actively contributes to the CTSM program as a mentor and exam development volunteer, helping strengthen curriculum standards and guiding professionals through certification.

Jay Blankenship is an independent revenue growth and event strategy executive with 20+ years of experience across exhibitions, live events, media, sponsorship, and association revenue strategy. He advises event, association, and brand partners on commercialization, go-to-market execution, sponsorship, exhibit sales, and customer engagement. Previously, Jay served as SVP of Sales at Shepard Exposition Services and SVP of Revenue Strategy & Operations at MCIUSA. He has contributed to IAEE, PCMA, ASAE, MPI, PAR, AM&P, and BizBash.

Vanessa Cox, CTSM, is Manager of Trade Show and Event Strategy at Worthington Enterprises, overseeing 65+ domestic and international events annually. Her career began in 2013 and evolved over a decade from administrative support into enterprise-wide strategy and cross-functional leadership. She serves on the NPGA Conventions Committee and the board of Kaleidoscope YouthCenter, and is the founding co-chair of Worthington's PRIDE ERG. A memory-maker at heart, she believes ordinary moments can become unforgettable.

Christopher French, CTSM, is a 23-year veteran at MGA Entertainment and iscurrently the Senior Manager of Events. He works directly with the integrated marketing, social media, and brand design teams to create worldwide showrooms, branded activations, and social media-drivenevents. Previously, Chris was a Graphic Designer and Production Manager, where he created brand-specific packaging, art-directed talent-driven photoshoots, and provided support materials for all events, activations, and sales-focusedmeetings.

Robin Gathman DES, CTSM Gold, is the president/owner of New Beginnings Tradeshow Advisors, LLC. Before starting her own company, Robin was a corporate exhibit manager. She has built relationships with show managers and has become involved in many committees and organizations, all to improve the trade show industry. Robin loves teaching trade shows, has presented at EXHIBITORLIVE, EXHIBITORFastTrak, IAEE local meetings, and looks forward to helping you learn more.

Erin Lease Hall, CTSM Diamond, is Director of Event Strategy and Experience at DrFirst, with 20+ years of experience turning trade show chaos into carefully crafted brand moments. A Certified Trade Show Marketer at the Diamond level, she brings a graphic design background, a love of logistics, and a healthy appreciation for AI to every event she leads. She is known as the "Director of Details” and it shows.

A CTSM Bronze with more than 30 years in the exhibition industry, Luciano has led multicultural teams and projects across 35 countries, specializing in creating memorable brand experiences and strategic marketing initiatives for exhibitions and corporate events. A thalassophile, active ecologist, and advocate for diversity, he views inclusion as one of the most enriching aspects of humanity and central to his life’s purpose.

Monica Myhill has over 20 years of experience developing, managing, and evaluating training programs and events across various industries. She has held leadership roles at the Colorado Hospital Association, California Water Environment Association, Berkeley Executive Education, and Meeting Professionals International. Monica has published articles and book chapters on meeting evaluation and ROI. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University.

Lynn Reves is EVP of Marketing & Results at Exhibitus and oversees corporate brand strategy, marketing initiatives, face-to-face events, and measurement strategies. Prior to Exhibitus, Lynn held executive positions in sales, business development, client and creative services for an international manufacturing company specializing in live events. She has been a featured speaker at both client-sponsored and industry conferences on topics that range from trade show and event strategy to connecting experience design to measurable results.

Jessica brings over 15 years of expertise in marketing, trade shows, and event management in the manufacturing sector. As a seasoned leader, she oversees a dynamic team responsible for executing nationwide events and managing a fleet of more than 100 highly technical demonstration assets. Her specialization in large-scale equipment, exhibit design, and end-to-end project management ensures the seamless delivery of complex, high-impact experiences. Jessica currently holds a CTSM Diamond-level designation.

With over 20 years in the exhibitions and events industry, Kevin Staples has built deep expertise working on both the client and supplier sides of the business. His experience includes supporting large-scale programs for organizations in aerospace, defense, construction, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Kevin is passionate about developing talent, sharing real-world lessons, and helping shape educational content that equips professionals with the tools needed to succeed in an increasingly complex industry.

Bob’s events journey began in 1999 when he dropped off giveaways at a company sales conference. Since then, Bob has been involved with event and trade show planning in the semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and cyber security industries. Over the last 11 years, his employers have increasingly asked him about the CTSM program, as they see the value and skill set he could bring to the table.

Kate Waldron is an experienced event and experiential marketing professional specializing in trade show strategy, execution, and industry engagement. She has led complex programs for organizations across the experiential landscape, bringing a blend of operational excellence, creative problem‑solving, and collaborative leadership. Kate is deeply involved in community and industry initiatives, contributing to education, member support, and the advancement of best practices within the trade show and events sector.

Laura Woginrich is an experienced event planner and trade show coordinator, specializing in domestic and international aerospace and defense trade shows. With more than eight years of experience, she brings a blend of strategic insight and practical skills to every event she supports. She is a recent CTSM graduate and a proud member of the Exhibitor community. Laura holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh.