Building the Future of the Events Industry  


The mission of the EDPA Future Leaders program is to identify the events industry’s brightest young professionals who are making a difference beyond their everyday roles and impacting change on behalf of this industry.  

These future leaders are disruptors advocating for changes in their company’s policies to embrace the digital age and incoming AI to help streamline operations; innovators, rethinking how we do things today and retooling them for a better tomorrow; and leaders, with their departments or even their peers, respected for their contributions and skills.

Through the EDPA Future Leaders program, we lift these individuals up and provide them with education, networking, and exclusive opportunities to meet and learn from today’s top leaders. Joining the future leaders means professional development, community, and empowerment for career growth.  

Do you have a future leader in your midst? It’s time to recognize them.

Who We Are 

Future Leaders Class of 2024 

All Future Leader Recipients 

  • Nolan Bratt 
    Caleb Brininger 
    Jenny Chang 
    Mark Condon 
    Michelle Davis 
    Joseph D’Alessandro 
    Vaughn Ellis 
    Jillian Fafard 
    Jessica Gifford-Diamantopoulos 
    Kayla Gott 
    Krystal Hanvold 
    Alec Pierson 
    Erika Plata 
    Carla Ramos 
    Sharla Robertson 
    Ethan Taylor 
    Jan van de Weijer 
    Joe Wilush
    Walt McCreary

  • Bobby Diehl 
    Sam Ogren 
    Vanessa Aguilar 
    Amanda Lembke 
    Sachel Josefson 
    Taylor Freckleton 
    Genna Fernandez 
    Emma Christen 
    Tyson Vasapoli 
    Kevin Nadolski 
    Lauren Wood 
    Amanda Heyse 
    Courtney Soice 
    Phoebe Mathius 
    Daniel Lamb 

  • Timothy Patchett 
    Nay Bielva 
    Lauren Wheeler 
    Amy Gattoni 
    Corey Allen 
    Destiney Mathis 
    Aric Furfaro 
    Dave Taylor 
    Jenny Koehn 
    Andy Homer  
    Alli Hughes 
    Arri Kladas 
    John Neil 
    Antonia Nuzzolo 

  • Matthew R. Beck 
    Luke Brown 
    Ashley Balassone 
    Sarah Mainhart 
    Katie McTammany 
    Kyle Miguel 
    Katina Rigall Zipay 
    Sarah Simon 
    Michael Vallone 
    Noelle Webster 

Current Committee Leaders

Bobby Diehl,
EDPA Future Leaders
Co–Chair President

Senior Account Director Genesis Exhibits
bdiehl@exhibitsbygenesis.com 

Liz Nacron
EDPA Future Leaders Advisor
 
Partner, Live Marketing
lnacron@livemarketing.com

Jillian Fafard
EDPA Future Leaders Marketing Officer
 
Director of Marketing, Aluvision
jillian@aluvision.com 

Michael Vallone,
EDPA Future Leaders
Co-Chair
 
VP, Creative & Brand Hill & Partners
mvallone@hillpartners.com 

Resources

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