Jonathan Morse is the CEO and founder of Tripleseat, a catering and event management platform an event and sales web application platform for restaurants, hotels, and unique venues, used by more than 15,000 customers at restaurants, hotels, and unique venues in 30 different countries. Tripleseat also includes EventUp, the largest global venue directory with more than 15,000 restaurants, hotels, and unique spaces. Morse has been involved in the restaurant and hotel business for more than 30 years, with roles ranging from a busboy at Abadessa’s in Hingham, Mass., to line cook at Atlantic Cafe in Nantucket, to floor manager at Backbay Restaurant Group, to New England regional sales manager for Starwood Hotels. Before starting Tripleseat, Morse was a vice president of sales for a web startup that delivered business intelligence reporting to the restaurant industry.

Alicia Schiro is the industry expert in event production, planning, and management. She specializes in one-of-a-kind corporate experiences, conferences, galas, and retreats. Her client roster includes A-List celebrities, rock stars, top athletes, celebrity chefs, and Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Schiro started her career in event production at one of the largest advertising agencies in the world, where she created, planned, and executed branded experiences for global clients. Schiro was then recruited to help launch an event company startup, where she quickly became one of the nation’s leading experts in experiential marketing and led the company to exponential growth. She then went on to launch her own brand, Aced it Events, and was featured in Forbes for growing her company to a multimillion-dollar enterprise, as a solopreneur. Schiro was recently featured in BizBash Magazine’s Top 1000 Event Professionals in the U.S. She also previously won the prestigious BizBash People’s Choice Award for Corporate Event Planner of the Year and was interviewed by CNBC, sharing how she built her enterprise as well as Crain’s New York offering her insight into the meetings and events industry comeback. Schiro launched a video channel in 2020 to help others navigate the event industry, discuss trends, and interview experts in the world of hospitality and events.

Tirey Thomas oversees sales for Drive Shack Inc.'s three brands: American Golf, Puttery, and Drive Shack. With 20+ years of event sales experience, Thomas aims to make Drive Shack Inc. venues destinations for corporate events, weddings, and other celebrations.

Prior to joining DSI, Thomas served as Director of Marketing & Sales at Hard Rock International, VP of National Sales at City Winery, and VP of National Sales at Patina Restaurant Group. Throughout her career, Thomas has orchestrated high-profile events such as the Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball and the official GRAMMY Celebration and led national teams for iconic locations such as Rockefeller Center, The Metropolitan Opera, Empire State Building, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and countless others.

Natalie Thomas is the founder of MTG Hospitality, an events and customer service firm specializing in full-service venue management. MTG currently manages a wedding venue in northeast Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Arboretum — that was recently named the fourth most unique wedding venue in the U.S. by Brides; and a corporate meeting space in Dupont Circle owned by local realtor groups. Thomas first learned the fundamentals of customized VIP concierge service while working as a staffer in both Senate and House Congressional offices. Thomas' first events job was in 2004, coordinating Fox Entertainment Group’s D.C. events, including movie premieres for congressional members and CEOs and the American Idol party for congressional staff. Thomas recently served as VP of Membership for the largest MPI Chapter - Potomac.

On a mission to redefine corporate America and create something she wanted to be part of, Jessika Phillips founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision to give people with heart an upper hand. NOW Marketing Group was recognized as one of Inc.'s Best Places to Work 2022, is a Forbes recognized Agency Partner, is partnered with Facebook and Google, and is a certified inbound partner with HubSpot. NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across the United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell. Phillips lives by a personal mission of helping inspire people to love more, give more and be more through authentic relating and proving doing what’s right, not what’s easy, can turn a vision into a multi-million dollar agency that produces results.

Michelle O’Hala is living with intention. Joy, to her, is bringing people together, creating memories, and having a passion for connection. At The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, she oversees sales for all restaurants, lounges, resort pools, and other entertainment events. With more than 30 years of event sales experience, O'Hala leads with grace, integrity, hospitality, and heart. Before joining the Cosmopolitan in 2015, she worked for hospitality and nightlife powerhouse Tao Group as well as Morton’s Steakhouse for more than 19 years. During her time with Morton’s, she also found time to teach customer service, success skills, and leadership skills to a variety of companies and individuals. Throughout her tenure, she has had the pleasure of meeting and being of service to many A-list celebrities, headline entertainers, and elite corporate clients, all while participating in a Guinness World Record-breaking marketing initiative.

Ali O’Toole owns and operates Pizza Barbone alongside her husband and best friend, Chef Jason O’Toole. Together, over the past 12+ years, the two have built an ever-growing catering and restaurant business on Cape Cod. O'Toole started her career assisting high-level executives in the medical field in the Boston area. There she honed her skills in accommodating the needs of individuals with endless lists of tasks that require detail-oriented attention and with a “Yes, absolutely” attitude and smile on her face. O'Toole’s favorite part of the event industry is the feeling of satisfaction of being a positive and easy part of every customer’s event. She strives to bring relief and kindness to each and every person she works with, no matter the event or the need.

Kiran Pinto is a Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants Managing Partner with The Ivy Room, Gem Catering & Events, Lettuce Parties & Special Events, & The Restaurants at St. Regis Chicago.

For as long as she can remember, Pinto has been passionate about food and was culturally influenced by her Irish-German mother and Indian father while growing up in Peoria, Ill. After high school, Kiran attended Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration and spent her college years interning at local restaurants. It was in Boston that she began a focus on front-of-the-house operations. She studied abroad in London and Sydney to experience hospitality firsthand from a global perspective.

After her travels, Pinto established roots closer to home in Chicago, and that is where she first met Scott Barton of Lettuce Entertain You — a career encounter that changed her life. Pinto spent five years at Tru and then went on to L2O and M Burger. In 2011, Pinto worked on the hospitality company's openings of Paris Club, Studio Paris, RPM Italian, Ramen-San, and RPM Steak. In 2015, Pinto helped to establish Lettuce’s first events venue, The Ivy Room. Shortly thereafter, Pinto began managing the Lettuce Entertain You Parties & Special Events team and created Gem Catering & Events in response to guests’ requests to bring Lettuce quality food and service to venues, homes, and offices across the city. Pinto is most excited about partnering with Marriott International for the new Chicago St. Regis property.

With nearly two decades at Lettuce, Pinto has built a solid reputation for her commitment to the guest dining experience and leading an exceptional team. When she’s not restaurant hopping throughout the city with her husband Cory, and their children, Julien and Nora, you’ll find Pinto traveling in search of laughter and more places to eat.

Michael Cirino founded House of Attention to be able to speak simultaneously to global brands and agencies, as well as sought-after creators and IP holders. In the past year, he’s honed the group’s direction to focus on the cutting edge of the web3 creator community. 

Cirino’s ability to harness a singular imagination and translate it into significant, exciting cultural moments that play seamlessly with technology allows him to connect brands with their audiences in magical ways. 

Cirino leads the creative vision and development for all HTTN creative projects. By assembling an enviable group of creatives and strategists, he’s grown HTTN into a critically acclaimed creative force with world-renowned clients, including Pepsico, Hearst, Google, Avalanche, UNICEF, and Sotheby’s.

Over the past 15 years, Cirino blended digital storytelling with immersive and interactive experiences to create memorable brand experiences. It’s at the intersection of the real and imagined where Michael’s ability to engage our senses truly shines. He focuses on audience-first creative underpinned by unique drops, launch moments, and activations.