Key Players

President/Owner
valerie@thekeyeventgroup.com

Valerie is one of the co-founders of the company. She's a big picture person who provides vision and direction for the company. She loves to build relationships with people and cares passionately about this business thus having served in numerous industry leadership positions. Valerie has worked in special events and destination management since 1992. Prior to starting the company, she worked in special events for Macy's Department Stores in New York City and as Director of Gaylord Opryland Hotel Resort & Convention Center's Special Events Department.

Vice President of Meeting Services/Owner
mears@thekeyeventgroup.com

Mears is one of the co-founders of The Key Event Group. She's our logistical guru. She loves the challenge of making the logistics of an event, which seems impossible, possible. She oversees the daily operation of the company and ensures the company's standards for excellence in service, value, integrity and creativity are met for all our clients. Mears has been working in the destination management industry since 1993. Prior to starting the company she worked for Gaylord Opryland's Hotel Resort & Convention Center's Special Events Department.

Executive Vice President
helen@thekeyeventgroup.com

As Executive Vice President of The Key Event Group, Helen provides valuable input into all areas of the company. Helen is well known in the hospitality industry due to her long-standing relationships but also from her numerous leadership positions with many industry organizations. Helen has been a professional meeting planner since 1976. She has received some of the industry's highest awards including, MPI's Lifetime Achievement Award. She was one of the first in the country to earn The Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designation. She was named one of the 25 most influential people in the hospitality industry.

Senior Director of Sales & Marketing
nyla@thekeyeventgroup.com

Nyla is our Senior Director of Sales & Marketing. Nyla offers a wealth of information when it comes to producing events. Her responsibilities include marketing the company's services in addition to creating new and unique programs for clients based on their needs. She knows the ins and outs of this business and she creates the wow factor for her clients' events. Our clients love Nyla! Her personal goal is to exceed her clients' expectations. Nyla, who has worked for three of the leading DMC's in the country, is the recipient of three Special Event Gala Awards, which are commonly referred to as the "Oscars of the meeting industry." Nyla has been working in special events and destination management since 1990.

Executive Sales
lee@thekeyeventgroup.com

As a Sales Executive, Lee works with clients and the sales team to provide personalized attention and cost effective, quality programs. Lee's vast experience in event planning and her extensive knowledge of Nashville make her a wonderful asset to our team. Lee's first job out of college was with this company in 1990.

Production Manager
shay@thekeyeventgroup.com

As Production Manager, Shay works daily with suppliers to ensure our high standards are met and to exceed our clients' expectations. She assures each client the best possible service and value. Shay is a hard working, highly motivated member of our team. She understands the importance of organization and strives to always present herself as a professional.

Shay was able to learn the values of our company as an intern during her final semester in college. She has provided esteemed service to many of our clients including SkillSoft, Hunt Brothers' Pizza, International Institute of Loss Adjusters, TASBO, Sherwin Williams, American Trucking Association, GM, and more.

Shay is a graduate of The University of Alabama. She obtained her degree of B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences, with a major in Restaurant and Hospitality Management and a minor concentration in Event Management. She excelled in her studies and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars throughout her entire college career. Shay received her Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) designation in March 2008, for having met the highest standards of achievement and competence as hospitality professional.

Production Manager
maryellen@thekeyeventgroup.com

As a Production Manager, MaryEllen works on a daily basis to produce creative proposals for clients, and to maintain a high level of excellence when providing customer care. Paying close attention to even the smallest of details, MaryEllen works to ensure that all programs are flawlessly executed. Always willing to jump in where needed, MaryEllen is easy to work with, reliable and hard working. Whether it be organizing the office resource room, a closet space, or a client's event, MaryEllen finds joy in the logistical planning that goes into accepting a challenge, and takes it by storm. Prior to joining the company, MaryEllen worked as a full time Nanny as she put herself through school for a degree in Organizational Management.

Production Manager
michelle@thekeyeventgroup.com

Michelle works on a daily basis with suppliers ensuring that our company's high standards are met and each of our clients receives the best possible service and value. She is extremely detailed, organized, flexible and professional. Prior to joining our team she completed an Advanced Internship with the Walt Disney Company. In addition, Michelle gained valuable event planning experience through her experiences planning philanthropic events and banquets as a member of Pi Beta Phi while serving as Chapter President, Philanthropy Chair and Social Chair.