Meet our Board of Directors

Paul Salinger has over seventeen years of experience in sustainable events, notably leading event sustainability efforts as Vice President of Marketing at Oracle and co-founding the Green Meeting Industry Council's Northern California Chapter. He is a former President of the Green Meeting Industry Council. He is the current President of the Board of the Society for Sustainable Events (formerly GMIC Northern California). As a retired individual, he remains committed to education and advocacy for event sustainability. Paul was inducted into the Event Marketer Hall of Fame in 2023 for his career contributions to the experiential event industry and for his leadership and work on event sustainability.

Donna Rogers is a seasoned hospitality sales professional with deep experience representing luxury hotels, resorts, and destination organizations. Based in Northern California, she currently represents Visit Salt Lake as Director of West Coast Sales, working closely with clients across California, Oregon, and Washington to bring meetings and events to a dynamic, well-connected destination. Born and raised in Central and South America, Donna brings a multicultural perspective that has shaped her global approach to sales, client service, and relationship building throughout her career. Her background includes leadership and global sales roles with some of the industry’s most recognized luxury brands, including Hyatt, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, The Venetian | The Palazzo, and Canyon Ranch. Across these roles, she’s built lasting partnerships, secured high-impact group business, and served as a trusted advisor to corporate, association, and third-party clients. Outside of sales, Donna has led a sustainability-focused hospitality start-up and was recognized as PCMA’s 2020 Sustainability Champion for her ongoing contributions to responsible event practices. She remains actively engaged in the industry through local and national associations, contributing to conversations that shape the future of meetings and events. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her hiking a Marin trail, on the tennis court, or cooking and baking up holiday cookies.

 Yvonne brings extensive experience in hospitality and event management through various leadership roles at Marriott International and the Presidio Trust. She currently serves as Associate Director of Sales & Marketing at the Presidio Trust, a federal agency that manages a 1,500-acre national park site, where she supports its mission to preserve and activate the park through meaningful guest experiences and events.As Director of Community Engagement for San Francisco Sustainability Events (SFSE), Yvonne fosters conversations and connections around sustainable practices in the meetings and events industry. Passionate about creating gatherings that inspire while minimizing environmental impact, she blends her professional expertise with her commitment to advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry.Outside of work, Yvonne enjoys gardening, floral arranging, and spending time with her family—pursuits that fuel her creativity.     

Jody Brandes, CMM, CTSM, CMP-Fellow, HMCC has over 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry as both a planner and supplier. She is Associate Director, Internal Meetings & Strategy at Gilead Sciences, Inc managing a team of four meeting professionals. She has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical space including at Genentech, Novartis and Chiron Corporation.

 Missy Castro brings over a decade of experience in the global events industry, with a focus on creating meaningful and memorable experiences for attendees. As a Senior Experience Marketing Manager at Workday, she leads Immersive Experiences for major conferences like Workday Rising and DevCon, where she is responsible for integrating purpose-driven initiatives into every aspect of the events.Missy's expertise lies in transforming core company values into tangible event moments. She is a champion for corporate social responsibility (CSR), weaving sustainability, accessibility, and social impact into the event fabric. Missy's team is focused on implementing industry-leading sustainability standards and showcasing Workday's advocacy for social impact, positioning the company as a thought leader in the events space. A testament to her impact, she is most proud to have secured the Event Industry Council (EIC) Platinum certification for Workday Rising in 2024 and the IMEX award for sustainability innovation for the global Workday Rising program.Her work extends beyond CSR, encompassing customer activations and special experiences that drive business impact and attendee engagement. Missy designs compelling experiences that align with Workday's brand campaigns and media sponsorships, creating a sense of community and strengthening relationships among attendees. She also spearheads social media engagement strategies to create buzz and reinforce brand messaging.A graduate of Chico State with a degree in Communication Design, Missy's background in both creativity and strategic execution allows her to deliver innovative and effective event programs. She is dedicated to the idea that the future of events is immersive , and she is passionate about humanizing the workday by showcasing how Workday's products and values are making a positive impact on the world. 

Julie is currently a consultant with experience in strategic event and corporate travel management and a passion for infusing sustainability into all aspects of work and life Formerly Senior Director of Global Events and Travel at Gap Inc. Julie ran teams that delivered exemplary employee experiences for Gap Inc.’s diverse portfolio of brands and corporate functions. Prior to Gap Inc., Julie led a team at Oracle that focused on global sales incentives, SKOs, and internal meetings and events. Outside of work, interests include global travel, cooking resourcefully, appreciating wine from all over the world, scuba diving and scary movies.

 David Fiss is the founder of Monarch Group, where he advises corporate sustainability leaders on building community and achieving business goals through events, marketing, and strategic stakeholder engagement. He works at the intersection of sustainability, social impact, and climate, helping mission-driven organizations activate purpose, deepen relationships, and drive business development.  

  Bennett Smith brings a decade of event expertise to the board of the Society for Sustainable Events. As Director of Strategy at Entire Productions, Inc., she has orchestrated high-impact corporate events for industry leaders in biotech, venture capital, and innovative technologies, proving that memorable experiences and environmental responsibility aren't mutually exclusive.Her journey into sustainable event production began during her college years organizing Relay for Life, securing over $180k in donations for the American Cancer Society. Armed with an English Literature degree and an eye for storytelling, Bennett discovered that the most compelling narratives often involve reimagining what's possible. Today, she leads Entire Productions' sustainability initiatives, championing innovative approaches that transform industry standards.Bennett practices what she preaches; 90% of her wardrobe consists of upcycled or pre-loved pieces, because sustainability should be as stylish as it is smart. A skilled seamstress, she's been sharing this craft with children since she was 13, proving that sustainability expertise often starts with knowing how things are truly made. She joins the SFSE board with a mission to infuse current trends and fresh ideation into sustainable practices, not just for events, but for every application where creativity meets environmental stewardship.   

 Jeanette Hrnyak is a proven events and operations professional with broad experience across hospitality, corporate, tech, sports, and luxury sectors. She is known for building trusted connections, driving results, and delivering excellence in stakeholder engagement, training, and service infused with a bit of whimsy.As the Conference and Education Assistant in the Office of the Circuit Executive at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Jeanette manages administrative and event operations for the Public Information, Conference, and Education Unit, including conferences, trainings, virtual events, along staffing several business committees.Committed to community and sustainable practices, she serves on the board of the Society for Sustainable Events and the Huntington’s Disease Society of America - San Francisco Chapter and engages fans as a 50/50 Raffle Team Member for the San Francisco Giants, combining service with meaningful outreach.