We Create 

Human Live Hybrid Virtual Connections

Carvie Gillikin, HMCC

President & CEO

Carvie brings 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry to McVeigh Global Meetings and Events. He began his career as a sales manager in southeastern North Carolina for an oceanfront resort. He then worked for properties such as Sheraton, Westin and W Hotels. In 2005 Carvie left the hotel world to join the event industry. It was during that time that he worked in Washington, DC for an audiovisual and production company where he gained invaluable experience in the industry. In 2007, Carvie joined MGME as the Director of Sales and Marketing and later became a Vice President/ Partner overseeing the company’s sales, marketing and operations. Currently, Carvie is the President & CEO of for MGME.

Carvie remains active in the industry with MPI and enjoys speaking on a variety of panels at industry wide conferences.

Renee Jacobs, HMCC

Chief Operating Officer

Renee Jacobs has been actively involved in the meeting and event industry for 20+ years. Previously COO & Partner of WorldTEK Events she managed the International Air Transportation Association account which includes the annual World Cargo Symposium, Slots Conference and the World Financial Symposium. She has produced events all over the globe including Singapore, Doha, Shanghai, Dubai & Cape Town.

Prior to WorldTEK, Renée was Conference Director for The Journal of Commerce for nine years. As Conference Director of the JoC, Renée was responsible for producing a number of maritime conferences and exhibitions. She assisted greatly in the expansion of the division into the European and Asian conference market. In 2008, the Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference won Bronze Medal from Folio Magazine for Best Conference. Renée was nominated as a 2008 finalist in the 5th Annual Stevie Awards for Best Executive Women in Business Category: Service Businesses – up to 2,500 Employees.

Prior to 2000, Renée was a meeting planner at The Compass Group, a meeting planning company specializing in the pharmaceutical industry.

Currently as Executive Vice President for McVeigh, she oversees and manages the Conferences & Exhibitions department.

Renee received a BS in Commercial Recreation and Tourism at Montclair State University.

Catherine Anta

Chief Accounting Officer

Coming soon.

Rachel Bandarenko

EVP of Creative & Strategic Growth

Rachel is a meeting and event industry veteran with over twenty years of experience in event design and production, project management and creative services. She is a student of Design Theory and has adapted its principles to meeting and event design. Rachel believes great experience design puts the attendees and client’s needs and desires first and foremost. And that a great designer is an empathetic designer.

Her experience in the meeting and event industry includes producing events for a long list of clients, including Teva Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Adweek, Bayer, HBO, Choice Hotels, Gordon Food Service, SoCalGas, Western Union, Disney, Morgan Stanley, and the New York Yankees. Rachel is known for her personal tagline “I create goosebumps”.

Professional Accomplishments:

Connect Corporate 15 Over 50
Outstanding Leadership, Association of Jr Leagues International
Drama Desk Unique Theatrical Experience
Bucknell University Young Alumni Award

Education:

Bucknell University
DesignLab, UX Academy

Jim Grove

EVP, Internal Operations

Joanne Iannacone

Director of Human Resources

Joanne joins MGME with over 25 years of Corporate Business and Human Resources experience. She has worked in a variety of industries, encompassing every aspect of HR. Throughout her career, Joanne has always been passionate about helping businesses and people reach their goals. Listening and understanding needs, solving problems, and developing strategic action plans are her top priorities.

Joanne holds a BS degree in Business Management from St. John’s University and is a SPHR – Senior Professional Human Resources.