For the most part, it depends entirely on the season. In summer, I love taking weekend trips to my family’s lake house in central Wisconsin. In fall, I love watching football and participating in multiple fantasy football leagues. In winter, nothing is better than cozying up on the couch with friends and a spiked coffee or a great vanilla porter. My favorite year round past-time is visiting brew-pubs and tap rooms of craft breweries both in and outside of Chicago.
Melissa Friedman, CMP
Consultant, Meeting Manager
The mighty meeting maven.
Melissa is a seasoned meeting professional with over 15 years of experience managing conferences and events of all sizes. Known for her attention to detail and ability to juggle complex logistics, she brings calm and clarity to even the most fast-paced programs. Her expertise spans everything from contracting and hotel logistics to travel coordination and on-site execution.
Outside of work, she’s an avid traveler with a goal of collecting a new passport stamp every year. She also enjoys time at home with her dog Penny, but you should only ask about her if you’re prepared to spend a long time looking through photos.
What's your favorite past-time?
Favorite city?
Domestic – Chicago truly is my kind of town. International – It’s a tie between Istanbul and Rome
Why do you love working in the events industry?
The tremendous opportunities. Since I love to experience new places, I cannot ignore how much I love and appreciate the travel that comes with the job. I also love that my job can change from one day to the next depending on the project or program. This keeps me sharp as well as strengthens so many different skill sets. As I grow as a meeting planner, I am excited for the various directions my career can take me. This is not a cookie cutter industry and I wouldn’t change that for anything!