MPINENY Leadership

business and loving to drink, Mike’s first job out of college was at an Executive Conference Center as a bartender. Seventeen years later after working for Marriott Conference Centers for IBM, GE and other high- end clients, Mike left the corporate world to enter the political world.

Politics always was a part of Mike’s life, serving on many local Boards, holding elected positions in his community and even serving as his Town chairman. Blending the world of Meeting Planning and politics in his position at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center was part passionate\part professional. Mike has attained his certification as a Certified Meeting Professional.

Moving to Voorheesville in 2003, re-unites his wife (Patty) and her family. Patty and Mike were college sweethearts and to this day everyone wonders how she did it?

The family time is now occupied with school sports, school events courtesy of two teenagers Jennifer and Mikey, and a fat cat named Cuddles (borne and raised on Cape Cod ).

Always being involved in his community, the chance to be part of the creation of a new MPI Chapter was an opportunity not to turn down. After cooking the books for 2 years he moves on to President elect.

Judy lives in Latham with her husband Brian, and two daughters, Jessica and Katie. She is active in their busy lives and wishes for more hours in the day.

Gina is the Director of Sales of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For the last 10 years, Gina has directed a sales and services staff of 5 working with all the Albany County hotels and the entire hospitality community to bring meeting and convention business to Albany. Some highlights of her role have been working on major sporting events held at the times Union Center including: NCAA Frozen Four Hockey; NCAA Men’s Wrestling Championships; NCAA Basketball East Regional Championships; national conventions in conjunction with the

Vanessa is the Membership Services & Events Coordinator for the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY) and has been with the trade association for the past seven years. A native of the Adirondacks, Vanessa was born in the small town of Ellenburg, NY and moved to Chateaugay Lake, NY at age 14.

Cindy grew up in New Lebanon, NY and started her college years planning to become an architect. After 2 years of frequently changing majors she transferred to Paul Smith’s College to get her Associates degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. After a fun filled summer internship on campus working with the Convention Services Department, she decided that hotel sales sounded like the way to go. So she transferred

to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, to get her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Sales & Meeting Management. Cindy’s first MPI membership was as a student at JWU, back when it was still called Meeting Planners International.

After graduation, she moved to Glens Falls and started at the Sagamore Resort in the food & beverage department. She eventually switched to sales and worked her way from Account Executive to National Sales Manager, working the Western New York market as well as the Southeastern US. After nine years at the resort she moved to a position in Saratoga Springs and is currently a Sales Manager at The Saratoga Hotel & Conference Center. She works primarily with NYS Association groups.

Cindy has been on the Education Committee with MPI NENY since the beginning and loves being involved in planning our monthly events. She earned her CMP designation in July 2005 with the first group of our members that attended study groups set up by the new chapter. This had been a long standing goal of hers that she’s thrilled to have finally accomplished.

Doug McPhee has worked with Experient (formerly Conferon) since April 2000. After teaching for 20 years he started working with schools and organizations on improving the instructional process. He has extensive meeting planning experience and was an Experient client prior to working as a National Account Manager. As executive for two organizations he gained important knowledge about the meeting planning industry from the client

perspective. As a professional speaker, trainer, coach, and consultant, he has traveled widely and presented to groups in the US and abroad for over 35 years. He works with companies and organizations to increase productivity and performance through their meetings. His business is based on the meetings industry and he is adding a new service of coaching meeting professionals.

Doug was an active member of San Diego MPI and served on MPI’s Professional Development Strategy Group for 4 years. He received his CMP in 2000. He is a Platinum speaker for MPI. San Diego Meeting Professionals International honored him as Planner of the Year in 2006.

Doug grew up as a Navy Brat and traveled widely with his parents including duty in Cuba and France. He and his wife Cecelia are renovating an old farmhouse (1828) in Duanesburg, New York. They have owned the house since 2004 when they bought it on a weekend visit to the area.



		Our Leadership


			President Carrie Hillenbrandt , CMP 518-437-6333 Carrie.Hillenbrandt@marriott.com

		Carrie Hillenbrandt, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Albany Marriott Hotel was born and raised in rural Schodack, New York. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Siena College in Loudonville, New York while beginning her career in the hospitality industry working at the Albany Marriott as a Reservation Agent. After having the opportunity to complete a Graduate in Development Program with Marriott,
		Carrie moved on to work in both Revenue Management and Group Sales at various properties including the Hutchinson Island Marriott Resort in Stuart, FL. Loving the warm weather, but looking to return to the Albany area, Carrie ultimately landed full circle back at the Albany Marriott where she first began her career as a college student Carrie also participates in local community non-profits as she serves on the board of Community Maternity Services as well as Sunshine DayCare Center. MPI has also given her the opportunity to co-chair the CMP study classes and develop some wonderful friendships. Carrie resides in East Greenbush, NY with her husband Joe and two daughters, Sydney and Lyndsey. In her free time, Carrie enjoys hanging out with her daughters at the horse farm and riding her 5 year old retired race horse, Wizzard.



			Past President Michael J. Snyder, CMP 518-474-0538 Michael.Snyder@ogs.state.ny.us

		Michael was born a middle child in a family of six, five brothers and one sister. Raised in a party atmosphere, Mike’s dad was a chef and mom opened an off-premise catering business to keep the kids out of trouble and fed. Education and training were drilled into Mike’s head at an early age; Mike attained a Bachelor’s Degree from Siena College and Master’s Degree from Pace University before starting a career. Knowing the food
		business and loving to drink, Mike’s first job out of college was at an Executive Conference Center as a bartender. Seventeen years later after working for Marriott Conference Centers for IBM, GE and other high- end clients, Mike left the corporate world to enter the political world. Politics always was a part of Mike’s life, serving on many local Boards, holding elected positions in his community and even serving as his Town chairman. Blending the world of Meeting Planning and politics in his position at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center was part passionate\part professional. Mike has attained his certification as a Certified Meeting Professional. Moving to Voorheesville in 2003, re-unites his wife (Patty) and her family. Patty and Mike were college sweethearts and to this day everyone wonders how she did it? The family time is now occupied with school sports, school events courtesy of two teenagers Jennifer and Mikey, and a fat cat named Cuddles (borne and raised on Cape Cod ). Always being involved in his community, the chance to be part of the creation of a new MPI Chapter was an opportunity not to turn down. After cooking the books for 2 years he moves on to President elect. Judy lives in Latham with her husband Brian, and two daughters, Jessica and Katie. She is active in their busy lives and wishes for more hours in the day.



			President Elect Jack Roddy - -







			VP Membership Gina Mintzer, CMP 518-434-1217 ext. 301 gmintzer@albany.org

		Gina is the Director of Sales of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For the last 10 years, Gina has directed a sales and services staff of 5 working with all the Albany County hotels and the entire hospitality community to bring meeting and convention business to Albany. Some highlights of her role have been working on major sporting events held at the times Union Center including: NCAA Frozen Four Hockey; NCAA Men’s Wrestling Championships; NCAA Basketball East Regional Championships; national conventions in conjunction with the
		Empire State Plaza Convention Center while working on day to day administrative tasks. If there’s anything you need to know about Albany Gina’s your go-to girl! She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2005, a Convention Industry Council recognition for passing the international certification examination. In 2006, she was recognized by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce as a Woman of Excellence, Excellence in Sales. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Gina came to upstate New York in 1988 having met her future husband on a plane and literally landed in Albany. After a year of odd jobs: waitressing, selling advertising for guest services directories, flagging on construction sites, substitute teaching, she landed a job with The Pyramid Companies in Plattsburgh, NY and spent her first winter battling the cold and snow of the Lake Champlain region. Gina worked in the shopping center industry for Pyramid (owners of Crossgates Mall) marketing 6 different malls throughout New York and Massachusetts for 9 years. In 1998, After opening a large shopping center in Rockland County, New York, Gina and her husband thought it might be time to move on when she found out there was an opening at the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. After a few meetings with Michele Vennard, CEO/President, and select board members, they offered her the opportunity to represent the Bureau as the Director of Sales. She is active in many local business, charitable and industry organizations. She lives in Amsterdam with her husband Dave, 13 year old son Morgan and their spice cats, Pepper and Clover and Spaniel mix dog, Cookie




			VP Communications Vanessa LaClair, CMP 518-436-3749 vanessa@ippny.org

		Vanessa is the Membership Services & Events Coordinator for the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY) and has been with the trade association for the past seven years. A native of the Adirondacks, Vanessa was born in the small town of Ellenburg, NY and moved to Chateaugay Lake, NY at age 14.
		Vanessa graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in May 1998 with a Criminal Justice degree and dreams of working in some type of law enforcement career. Her father, a Superintendent for Corrections, inspired her to take this path in her college career after transferring to SUNY. But as any college kid will tell you after graduation, you never know what you want until you start real life. After a brief stint as an Ophthalmologic Assistant for an Ophthalmologist in Plattsburgh NY, Vanessa relocated to Albany in 1999 and began her first “real” job with a trade association as the Administrative and Financial Assistant. Learning quickly to network the Albany way, Vanessa found herself in her current position with IPPNY and made it a point to take control of her career. Realizing the desire for meeting planning had been her true life’s passion, Vanessa took over the role as the events coordinator for the association. In March 2007, Vanessa joined MPI and quickly became a very active member of the Northeastern New York chapter. She joined the Communications Team after meeting with Mike Snyder and Gina Mintzer at the Equinox Hotel for a site tour. In addition to MPI, Vanessa is also a member of the Empire State Society of Association Executives, Albany Chamber Women’s Business Council and the Capital Alliance of Young Professionals. Vanessa currently resides in Albany, NY and in her free time enjoys hiking, mountain biking and downhill skiing.


			VP of Administration Cindy Sullivan , CMP 518-693-1002 csullivan@luxuryresorts.com

		Cindy grew up in New Lebanon, NY and started her college years planning to become an architect. After 2 years of frequently changing majors she transferred to Paul Smith’s College to get her Associates degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. After a fun filled summer internship on campus working with the Convention Services Department, she decided that hotel sales sounded like the way to go. So she transferred
		to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, to get her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Sales & Meeting Management. Cindy’s first MPI membership was as a student at JWU, back when it was still called Meeting Planners International. After graduation, she moved to Glens Falls and started at the Sagamore Resort in the food & beverage department. She eventually switched to sales and worked her way from Account Executive to National Sales Manager, working the Western New York market as well as the Southeastern US. After nine years at the resort she moved to a position in Saratoga Springs and is currently a Sales Manager at The Saratoga Hotel & Conference Center. She works primarily with NYS Association groups. Cindy has been on the Education Committee with MPI NENY since the beginning and loves being involved in planning our monthly events. She earned her CMP designation in July 2005 with the first group of our members that attended study groups set up by the new chapter. This had been a long standing goal of hers that she’s thrilled to have finally accomplished.


			Director of Strategic Alliances Doug McPhee, CMP 518-391-0170 doug.mcphee@experient-inc.com

		Doug McPhee has worked with Experient (formerly Conferon) since April 2000. After teaching for 20 years he started working with schools and organizations on improving the instructional process. He has extensive meeting planning experience and was an Experient client prior to working as a National Account Manager. As executive for two organizations he gained important knowledge about the meeting planning industry from the client
		perspective. As a professional speaker, trainer, coach, and consultant, he has traveled widely and presented to groups in the US and abroad for over 35 years. He works with companies and organizations to increase productivity and performance through their meetings. His business is based on the meetings industry and he is adding a new service of coaching meeting professionals. Doug was an active member of San Diego MPI and served on MPI’s Professional Development Strategy Group for 4 years. He received his CMP in 2000. He is a Platinum speaker for MPI. San Diego Meeting Professionals International honored him as Planner of the Year in 2006. Doug grew up as a Navy Brat and traveled widely with his parents including duty in Cuba and France. He and his wife Cecelia are renovating an old farmhouse (1828) in Duanesburg, New York. They have owned the house since 2004 when they bought it on a weekend visit to the area.

			VP of Finance Adelynne Waldie - -






			VP of Education Julie Ann Price , CMP 518-213-6000 ext. 6625 jprice@nysutmail.org
		Julie Ann Price is the Manager of Travel & Conference Services for New York State United Teachers in Latham. She has been a member of MPI since 1998 and played a role in the formation of the Northeastern NY chapter. She served as the first chapter President in 2004. Currently Julie Ann serves on the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.
		She has also launched her own skin care business called Beauty with a Cause (www.beautywithacause.com) which donates 10% of its profits to cancer and scleroderma research.