About Meetings Northwest, Inc.

Meetings Northwest is a diverse team of certified event planners, association managers, and marketing professionals. With nearly two decades of experience, Meetings Northwest helps clients strengthen their associations through administrative support and engaging event/meeting planning (in-person, virtual and hybrid events).

Meetings Northwest works closely with clients throughout the United States on conferences, meetings, fundraisers and projects. Our flexibility and innovative approach to event planning elevates our client’s brands. Additionally, our association management services offer many of our clients a cost effective answer to maintaining and even growing their member base.

Do you need assistance with your annual meeting, a fundraising event, an improved website, or help managing you member database? Maybe all you need is someone on your team to help with everything you don’t have time or desire to do. Whatever the need, Meetings Northwest is dedicated to helping you focus on what matters most – your mission.

Who Is Meetings Northwest

Leave it to Meetings Northwest! Your next meeting or conference (whether it be in-person, virtual or a hybrid event) will be organized educational, and entertaining. We will make sure your members are not left to scramble for a hotel or wonder which session meets their needs best. For each event we provide an informative event website, marketing materials and a social media campaign to keep your attendees interested and knowledgeable of your event. We will assist you in everything from venue selection and event promotion to technological interfacing and attendee entertainment. Most of all, we pay attention to your budget. We are creative and know our industry. You let us do our job and your next meeting will bring the results your company or organization is looking for!  Learn more

Meetings Northwest has staff planners, designers, and bookkeepers to work with your association.

Meetings Northwest grew its association management section out of the success of its events. The associations we worked with were so thankful for our attention to detail we started offering other services to help them stay mission focused. Our administrative services team has nearly 20 years of experience in business management, event planning, graphics, marketing and financial services.

We offer a broad range of services from staff consultation to non-profit assistance. If you are unsure of your organization’s needs or what can be done to produce better results, let us help. We can help you determine how to move forward. Our staff understands the demands of an organization – we can help you grow, manage your budget, and let you stay focused on your mission.  Learn more

Services

Event Management 66
Association Management 34

I must say that I absolutely love working with Meetings Northwest! I could not (and would not even try) to pull off an event without them! Traci and Gen (and the rest of the MNW staff) are patient, reliable, hard-working, and organized. They always handle the late nights/early mornings and technical issues with such grace. Not only are they experts in event planning, but they were able to handle the crazy jump to virtual due to COVID flawlessly. They walked me through all of it, from making the decision to switch to virtual, to what platform to use, to how to adjust our agenda for virtual, to how to keep our event interactive in a virtual world! Thank you, thank you, thank you…I won’t ever be able to say it enough!

Jaime Sullivan, PE, Safety Summit - Director, National Center for Rural Road Safety

Traci & Gen – We couldn’t have pulled off this conference without you. You guys are amazing. Thank you for everything you do!

David Nguyen, ITS Washington

Meet Your MNW Team

Traci Ulberg, CMP, CAESr. Planner/Certified Association Executive/CEO
Building upon her past professional experience, Traci founded Meetings Northwest in 2000. Since that time, she has successfully guided the company through numerous events with attendance ranging from 20 to 1000 attendees. With her extensive knowledge of budgeting and strategic planning, as well as her attention to detail, Traci helps clients maximize the ROI for each event planned by Meetings Northwest. 
Genevieve Kulaski, CMP, VEMMPlanner II | Virtual Events
Genevieve brings a wide range of experience to Meetings Northwest having planned events while in the Air Force, annual meetings for national associations, and luxury weddings at a Forbes Five Star resort. By attentively listening, actively adapting and using her pre-planning processes, Genevieve takes our clients’ requirements to create customized programming and secure a smooth delivery that always exceeds expectations. She works with clients to create a personalized event strategy (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and build a program to provide ROI to key stakeholders while providing an engaging experience for attendees. Gen has her Virtual Event and Meeting Management Certification, through MPI.
Autumn Gilleard, CGMP (Certified Government Meeting Planner)Planner I
Autumn’s computer background and problem solving skills are a great asset to Meetings Northwest in handling the majority of our transportation logistics and project tracking modules. Her skill at designing each registration component to match the specific needs of each event provides a positive experience for individuals using the system and invaluable data for planning the event.

As a certified government meeting planner (CGMP), Autumn guides clients through the maze of government event regulation and etiquette. Her work with association groups that have multiple government members ensures that events not only run smoothly, but also do not violate ethics or gifting codes/laws.

Christine BonnellCreative Director
Christine is a talented artist who discovered her passion for graphic design while attending an all-arts charter school in high school. She pursued this interest by earning a bachelor’s degree in graphic/web design from the Art Institute in 2018. In 2009, while still in school, she started a freelance digital photography business, which exposed her to the world of wedding industry and event planning. Her diverse experiences have made her a versatile and adaptable problem-solver who is always ready for a challenge.
Lauren PettorutoCommunications Coordinator
Lauren is a communications professional with a passion for marketing. She graduated with a degree in Communications and has since gained experience working for such notable organizations as the PGA TOUR. Additional stints at event management companies, as well as working for a financial investment firm, honed her skills in marketing and communications.
Kelsey FaragoHelena Region Destination Manager
Making events memorable with Meetings Northwest! Kelsey brings creativity, problem-solving skills, a listening ear, and enthusiasm to every event she plans. Her versatile experience includes elementary education, marketing, and small business ownership.
She is passionate about making sure you get the best event possible. She is skilled at developing creative solutions for a variety of events and meeting needs. Kelsey is committed to providing excellent customer service, going above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction.
Jeri ThorsonPlanner I
Jeri Thorson joins Meetings Northwest as a Planner, with over 10 years of experience in Account Management and Sales. Her ability to connect with people and bring them together is unmatched, and she is constantly planning fun and memorable events for those around her. Her attention to detail and structured logistical event flow make her an expert in handling stressful event situations with grace.
Jenna BlakelyPlanner I
Jenna is a dedicated Meeting Planner at Meetings Northwest. A robust background in sales and marketing working for both small startups and large corporations. Jenna brings a unique blend of expertise to the world of event coordination. In her experience as a former small business owner and current non-profit board member has honed my skills in organization, communication and creating memorable experiences. She is passionate about crafting seamless events that leave a lasting impact on attendees. Let’s connect and make your next meeting extraordinary!
Susan PaddiePlanner I
Joining Meetings Northwest with nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and client relations, Susan has helped shape the image and plan events for organizations such as Big Sky Brewing Company and Killing Frost Farm. Her BA in Communications leads to her success in forming positive client experiences. As a senior partner in a burgeoning organic farm, she seamlessly moved between the roles of administrator, saleswoman and “hands in the dirt” farmer. Susans commitment to a product and ability to assimilate to new roles allows her to face new challenges with confidence.

Top-notch event management. I usually spend my September and October at conferences around the state and country and this was one of the best managed ones I’ve been to. Excellent work!

Meeting Attendee, Compete Smart Manufacturing Conference
Each and every person working for Meetings Northwest is very personable, can multi-task, and works very well under pressure. These qualities have been a big plus for our organization and ultimately have benefitted our bottom line.
Lloyd Straits, Board Member, Western Montana SCI

Professional Affiliations

Kasey - Thank you for everything you did to make the Compete Smart conference a success! You are an awesome graphic artist, and I really enjoyed working with you and getting to know you. I look forward to working with you again in the future!
Jenni West, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center