2021 Smart Women in Meetings Rising Star Awardees

In honor of International Women’s Day, Smart Meetings announced their 2021 Smart Women in Meetings Awards. Soundings is excited to announce Heather Black Cosgrave, Director of Operations & Customer Engagement, has received the Rising Star Award!

The quest to be our highest and best selves is never an escalator ride straight to the top. As women work to elevate their careers, their peers and the industry as a whole, the path often requires detours, taking a step back, evaluating obstacles in the way and calling on others to help chart a new course.

- JT Long, Smart Meetings

Congratulations to all of the Smart Women who have been recognized with the Rising Star award, and congratulations to all of the women in each of the Smart Women categories! Read about all of the Smart Women in Meetings on the Smart Meetings website.

Winners listed from left to right, top to bottom

• Heather Black Cosgrave

  Director of Customer Engagement & Operations, Soundings

• Harpeet Atwal

  Event Manager, Executive Platforms, Inc. and Member of the Board, Social Media Strategist, Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking (MPAHT)

• Dana Fier, CIS, CITP

  Senior Conference Planner, Pacific Life Insurance Co

• Melissa Friedman

  Senior Manager of Meetings and Events, NHS Global Events

• Dallas Marudas

  Sales Manager, Hilton Denver Inverness

• Jenny Ng, CMP

  Event Planning Senior Manager, National Co+op Grocers

• Christine Ricci, MBA

  Strategic Partner, INNOV8 Meetings + Events

• Rachael Romig

  Senior Director, Events and Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

• Melanie Smith, CMP

  Marketing Events & Programs Executive, Amadeus