With a degree in organizational communication studies from James Madison University and roots in Hawaii, Abbey possesses an aloha spirit as well as a philosophy that obstacles are just opportunities in disguise. Abbey began her journey with the Freeman family, where she expanded her skills in event production and strategic brand management. Since joining mdg, Abbey’s innovative communication skills and passionate approach to account services consistently lead to client success. When she’s not working, you can find Abbey sipping coffee, traveling and SUPing off the coast of Oahu.

With experience working for a diverse range of brands, Angelique brings a well-versed knowledge of social media, print and digital marketing to mdg. Obtaining a bachelor’s in business administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School serves as one of many milestones in her career. She’s known for her on-point organizational skills, knack for problem-solving and passion for storytelling. While she’s a native Washingtonian, Angelique loves finding new ways to rediscover her city.

Annie leads client engagements for mdg’s advisory practice clients and brings over 20 years of experience advising leading corporations and organizations on strategy, organizational transformation, process improvement and performance management. Before mdg, Annie led corporate strategy execution and performance management at Mars Incorporated, where she designed and managed board meetings and strategy discussions, oversaw key global corporate initiatives on risk management and performance improvement and identified key internal communications regarding company strategy. Prior to Mars, Annie spent 12 years as a senior manager within Deloitte Consulting’s strategy and operations practice, managing teams in strategy, communications, human capital and technology initiatives. Annie has extensive experience spanning technology, healthcare, telecommunications, non-profit and governmental organizations.

Having lived around the world and visited over 20 countries, Binura leverages his cultural awareness and passion for people to develop innovative ideas that resonate with a variety of audiences. He cultivated his ability to simplify complex problems and effectively manage teams while earning his master’s in business degree with a marketing specialization in Sydney, before chasing the sun to San Diego and joining the mdg account services team. When he isn’t travelling, you can find him on a squash court enjoying the game he’s played competitively since he was young.

Cassandra has a nearly insatiable curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit where she is driven by those “aha!” moments, the feeling you get when you discover or execute new marketing methodologies that are truly epiphanic. This has led her to a mix of agency and in-house corporate marketing experiences, where she’s marketed everything from security and casino gaming to federal IT, pop culture, book publishing and more. Cassandra is a high-energy, passionate people person and believes that a flexible balance of creativity, attention to detail, collaboration and strategy is recipe in delivering the mdg brand promise to her clients. Originally from Connecticut, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, being outdoors and channeling her inner-Martha Stewart.

Chelsea’s extensive experience leading attendee acquisition campaigns in the B2B conference space has equipped her with the ability to think strategically and creatively. Leveraging those skills, her customer-first approach and digital marketing savvy, she has helped bring over 60 events to market across various industries. As an Upstate New Yorker transplanted in Chicago, Chelsea enjoys the hustle of city living — with a balance of nature and adventure.

Connor is a graduate of James Madison University and an experienced association marketer with a strong work ethic and passion for marketing. He is the ultimate people person, priding himself on getting to know the customer and providing them with a personal marketing strategy, customer experience and targeted campaign. Connor is passionate about association conferences, where he gets to meet unique communities of people and immerse himself within the industry. In his free time, he can be found watching football and cheering on the Los Angeles Rams.

Eli’s fascination with consumer behavior and communications led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing in from San Diego State University and an internship with mdg, where he demonstrated his incredible ability to stay flexible and efficient in the agency world. Now Eli puts his experience (as well as his natural talents) in social media management, tactical planning and the strategic execution of event marketing campaigns to work for mdg’s clients. When he’s not at the computer or on the phone, you’ll find him golfing, catching some rays at the beach, or watching Netflix with his adorable dachshunds, Rex and Zizi.

Emily is a strategic marketing leader and problem-solver who believes that a flexible balance of creativity, logic and innovation is key for delivering the mdg brand promise to her clients. Informed by data-driven insights and inspired by igniting emotional connections, she and her team of marketing aficionados develop marketing strategies that cut through the noise, breathe new life into established brands, uncover game-changing audience insights and execute flawless tactical campaigns to deliver on organizational goals.

With a passion for storytelling and a background in journalism, Glenda has a special flair for developing narratives that captivate audiences. She brings more than a decade of experience developing brand strategy, experiential marketing and creative content for NBC Sports and the NFL—plus the skills she honed while leading social media and women’s programming at Solar Power Events—to the mdg team. While Glenda will always be a proud Washington, D.C./Maryland native, she has an undeniable love for island life, which she developed while earning her bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Hawai’i.

Heather leads the Association segment for Freeman’s sponsorship strategy practice, where she partners with clients to create sponsorship strategy, drive growth of attendees, exhibitors and sponsors and create meaningful and memorable live experiences. Her focus is offering strategic guidance and identifying opportunities to enhance experiences, gain deeper engagement and achieve sustainable growth.

Ingrid has an extensive background in trade association marketing and communications. Her skillset includes creating streamlined and thought-provoking messaging, developing creative event promotions and managing overall brand identity and reputation. Ingrid brings years of experience to mdg. Her adventure began at the Roller Skating Association in Indianapolis, then the Professional Association of Innkeepers in Philadelphia and lastly the National Golf Course Owners Association in Charleston. Ingrid enjoys exploring the city parks with her Shiba Inu dog, Kobe, in her free time.

With a passion for keeping up with marketing trends and a determination that drives successful campaign results, JC approaches every challenge with the mindset of an invested partner. He comes to mdg with experience developing and leading omni-channel marketing initiatives for agency clients, associations and higher education. He earned his bachelor’s degree with a concentration in international marketing from American University and his master’s in international marketing from Boston University. When not watching, writing about or attending a soccer match, JC enjoys spending time with his family, going on hikes and planning movie nights.

Jennifer helps mdg’s association clients advance a broad range of organizational initiatives. Leveraging in-depth knowledge of industries and audiences, she and her team develop and execute communication and marketing plans to increase membership, promote professional certifications and development opportunities, spark engagement, build participation in events and support sales, sponsorship and revenue objectives. She’s a proud Certified Association Executive with two “Power of A” awards from The Center for Association Leadership adorning her bookshelf – along with pictures of her husband, two sons and adorable dog Griff. Her love for association marketing is matched only by her love of sunshine, adventure and dinner parties.

Jess is an experienced association marketer who strongly believes that putting the customer at the forefront of every effort is the key to long-term growth and loyalty. She is obsessed with marketing strategy, customer experience and creating relevant, targeted campaigns for each client. Jess is happiest while on-site at association conferences, where she gets to meet unique communities of people who unite with the specific goal of sharing and learning together. Jess also loves to put her strategy skills to work at board game night or when planning unusual vacations. In her free time, she can be found on a hike with her dog or cuddled up with her cat watching bad TV.

Julia excels at keeping campaigns organized and on track, thanks to her affinity for color-coded to-do lists. Having spent her entire career executing membership and event campaigns, she understands the value of a strong CTA and the nimbleness needed to execute a successful plan for non-profit organizations and associations. When she’s not crafting new marketing strategies and identifying opportunities for her mdg clients, you’ll find her wherever live music is playing and brussels sprouts are on the menu.

Kate found her career calling in marketing at the crossroads where words matter, images evoke, experiences transform and actions mean everything. With prior experience as an in-house Marketing Manager, Industry Association Committee Member and member of the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, her ability to recognize and navigate clients’ pain points and business objectives comes intuitively. An innovative thinker, driven by data and fueled by client success, Kate manages the execution of campaigns from conceptual to tactical. When not in the office she can be found at the local yoga studio, exploring around the globe or traveling the world of music as a performance reviewer. Kate is a fourth-generation Californian and settled in San Diego while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from San Diego State University.

Functioning at the intersection of creativity and strategy, Kate brings years of marketing, communications and public relations experience to mdg. Her passion for the field was affirmed by a fashion show during college in which she was selected to head communications efforts for the show. Over the following decade, Kate has grown her expertise while working with numerous nonprofit organizations, restaurants, events and media companies. Kate is a native of the Washington, D.C., area who enjoys soaking up the sun by the water and volunteering with a local animal rescue.

Having worked in the consumer goods and manufacturing industries, Katy has diverse experience marketing to retailers, engineers, and other business leaders and – most importantly – she understands how to adapt her approach accordingly.  She builds strong relationships with her clients by proactively managing expectations, timelines, and all the other details along the way. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising and a minor in Business from Auburn University.

Lindsay is a proven project manager for a variety of mediums, including public relations, direct mail, and relationship management. Prior to joining mdg, Lindsay worked primarily with federal and local government clients to execute integrated marketing campaigns and develop print collateral. Lindsay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Graphic Design from Longwood University.

With a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University and marketing and event planning experience, Liz is equipped to take on any client challenge and turn it into an opportunity. She finds joy in building relationships, executing multi-channel marketing plans and learning new things. Outside of work, Liz is a fitness enthusiast, reader, scrapbooker and avid watcher of Friends reruns.

Maggy comes to mdg through the nonprofit world, where she specialized in all things digital marketing — from strategy development to ad placement, email marketing and data analytics. She is a relentless optimizer, always looking for better ways to showcase her clients’ missions and impact. Outside of work, Maggy enjoys digital painting, overly complicated board games, geeking out about outer space and exploring Washington, D.C.

Meg comes to mdg with an extensive background in trade association marketing, member engagement and meeting planning. She prides herself on her attention to detail and loves diving deep into each campaign to discover creative ideas and tactics to deliver to her clients. A native Virginian, she is a proud VCU alumni with a passion for storytelling. In her spare time, you can catch her taking long walks around her neighborhood, catching up on her must-see movie list and writing her next screenplay.

By approaching campaigns from both the creative and strategic perspectives, Melanie helps mdg’s account and creative teams implement innovative campaigns that generate positive results. Her diverse background includes executing data-driven strategies in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, sports marketing and entertainment. When she’s not in the office, you can find her trying out different restaurants in the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) area, embarking on a new DIY project and listening to anything true crime.

Nicole has been in the trade show/events industry since 1997. Her background covers all disciplines related to events, including sales, marketing, operations and content programming. She has also run a digital business and worked as a consultant. Nicole’s goals are simple: produce results and form and maintain lasting relationships. Prior to mdg, Nicole managed sales and event experiences for Unbridled and served as marketing director for MCI USA. She has worked for organizations like Miller Freeman (now Emerald), Hanley Wood Exhibitions (now Informa Markets) and dmg events USA/Comexposium. Nicole lives in Texas with her family.

Before mdg, Paige attended the University of Virginia and got her master’s in Marketing and Management. There, she found her passion for brand development and marketing strategy, which she utilizes to create unique marketing solutions. She also relies on her ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment to efficiently deliver actionable results. When she is not in the office, she is catching up on her favorite reality TV shows, looking for the next group workout class to try, or attending a live concert with her friends.

Paula is known as an exceptional collaborator, among her clients and her colleagues. She brings her experience in a range of industries — including nonprofit leadership, hospitality, business travel and more — to mdg, where she thrives on developing data-driven strategies that get results (with a special flair). When she isn’t focusing on achieving program member excellence, you’ll find Paula at the hot new restaurant in town, creating her own culinary experiences or outside perfecting her beach volleyball skills.

Rachel likes to refer to herself as a “marketeer” because she combines her strategic thinking and creativity into the best campaigns for her clients (like a Disney Imagineer, but for marketing). She is fluent in multiple marketing languages including, but not limited to, SEO, paid search, paid social, paid media, creative campaign development, positioning and messaging, product marketing, content development and UX design. Outside of work, she likes to spend time running, doing yoga, reading, eating and being with friends and family but most of all she enjoys spending time with (or hiding from) her crazy orange cat, Lilleth James.

A New Jersey native, Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Maryland and earned a Master of Science in marketing from Johns Hopkins University. She loved the D.C. area so much, she decided to make it her adopted home. Rachel came to mdg with extensive agency experience after spending nearly 15 years honing her marketing skills at several associations. She has a knack for truly understanding the client’s needs and translating that to winning marketing strategies and successful campaigns. When she’s not busy running client campaigns, you can spot Rachel running trails, at Orangetheory classes, cheering on the Terps and Nats and posting about the D.C.-area food scene.

Rachel is a dynamic marketer with an eye for branding and design. Prior to joining mdg, she executed integrated marketing campaigns in the Public Relations and Communications events sector, where she honed her skills in social media, analytics, SEO and digital marketing. Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and minors in Graphic Design and Business from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

Rachel’s love of marketing, events and project management led her to the corporate and non-profit arenas, where she drove lead acquisition and pipeline advancement for numerous organizations through the use of email campaigns, multi-channel nurture programs and participation in large industry trade shows. She’s also played a significant role in organizing highly successful fundraising events. Rachel earned a BS in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Colorado and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. When she isn’t traveling, you’ll find her at the beach with her dog, Mousse, binge watching the latest crime documentary series while doing jigsaw puzzles or (attempting to) surf.

Rae has a proven ability to grow trusted relationships and understand client needs to achieve their business goals. She came to mdg with agency experience executing cross-channel strategy approaches for customer solutions, focusing on Search, Social, Display and SEO which has been a great addition to the event marketing landscape.

Rae graduated with a bachelor’s in Business Economics with a concentration on Marketing and minor in Business Communications, which provided the foundation for her account management career. Originally from New York, she enjoys live music, traveling, and getting engrossed in a good book.

Priding himself on his versatile skill set and outgoing personality, Sam is ready and willing to take on any challenge and find out what makes others tick. A graduate of the University of Virginia, where he majored in media studies and English, Sam’s invaluable energy, creativity and artistic prowess provide a welcome spark to marketing endeavors at mdg. Outside of work, you’ll likely find Sam searching for his next pair of sneakers, watching standup comedy or playing tennis.

Samantha comes to mdg with an extensive background in market research and insights, member engagement and strategic planning. She prides herself on her creative mindset and loves collaborating with her clients and diving deep into each campaign to discover new ideas. Samantha is a proud alum of Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!), lives in downtown Chicago and has a passion for adventure and trying new things. In her spare time, you can catch her playing with her corgi puppy, Marlin, solving The New York Times daily crossword and exploring all the exciting sights and sites in Chicago.

As both a dreamer and a doer, Sara is adept at distilling big-picture ideas into actionable solutions. Her strengths lie in creating bespoke strategies (both short and long-term) for her clients and shepherding them from conception to completion. After nearly three decades in Washington, D.C., Sara packed up her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a focus in Public Relations from the University of Maryland, and brought it to London, UK, where she can serve European clients’ needs.

Passionate about emotional engagement and awareness, Shanté has a wealth of knowledge in brand and experiential marketing. She obtained an MBA with a concentration in Marketing, which catalyzed her understanding of and stellar execution within account, logistics and event management roles. Shanté enjoys great food, fashion, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Stacey is an acclaimed marketing strategist and project manager with a talent for developing innovative concepts and turning complex ideas into actionable plans. After earning marketing degrees from the University of Michigan and the George Washington University, she spent more than a decade in the outdoor and cycling industries, bringing creative campaigns to life for renowned retailers and global brands. Now she applies her for passion for crafting engaging, comprehensive marketing solutions to her work at mdg, where she regularly exceeds her clients’ expectations.

Focused on delivering value through execution, Tan’s ambition aligned him with mdg. With a bachelor’s degree in marketing and sales management from San Diego State University and a passion for visual art, Tan combined his strategical analysis and creative conceptual abilities to drive growth across multiple industries within several agencies. Having spent years developing technical organization and management skills, he is an effective project coordinator determined to maximize efficiency and satisfaction for both teammates and clients.

A marketing and creative strategist with experience in nonprofit, corporate and agency environments, Tyler uses his broad skill set to carry ideas from concept to strategy to execution.

Evidenced by his long and winding academic journey—which includes three degrees and stops on all three coasts (hello, Chicago)—Tyler’s insatiable curiosity and pursuit of learning shaped a mindset that continually delivers new ideas to clients and colleagues to help overcome the most intractable challenges.

A writer at heart, Tyler’s free time is spent tinkering with two unfinished novels, seeing every new movie or show people tell you to see and chasing new experiences wherever they may come.

Tyler received his bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Illinois State University. He brings experience in project management, creative problem-solving and team synergy building to mdg. In his free time, Tyler likes to — regrettably — root for Chicago sports teams.

Whitney brings a multifaceted skill set to mdg. With a background in content creation, social media marketing and visual design, she supports campaigns from a strategic and creative standpoint. When she isn’t in the office, Whitney loves to relax, try new food spots with friends and travel.