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About Us

Connecting Point Marketing Group (CPMG) believes in forging genuine connections that yield real results. Our hosted-buyer events serve as the ideal platform for executives and retailers to form meaningful connections with suppliers and vendors who truly understand and cater to their unique needs. With 15 tailored events across industries such as retail, restaurant, healthcare, senior living, multifamily, and hospitality, we create an engaging environment where attendees will share ideas, tackle challenges, and discover lasting opportunities over three meaningful days.

CPMG provides a unique networking experience with invite-only access to carefully selected attendees. Our format emphasizes one-on-one meetings, enabling executives to gain insights into industry trends and build valuable relationships. Suppliers benefit from guaranteed meetings with key decision-makers. We dedicate ourselves to energizing participants and inspiring growth, ensuring each Event sparks new ideas and progress. Discover how CPMG can enhance your networking and business opportunities.

“The number of connections and contacts that you can make in the 2.5 days of this conference is outstanding. It would take months to have as many meetings as possible and conversations that this event allows. It is truly wonderful.”

Senior Manager | Purchasing and Store Development
Barnes & Noble

Lori Allen

Lori Allen

Director | Executive Accounts

Back image of Lori Allen
Director | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Tie between '18 SPFa or '20 SPFa Closing Dinner with Bag of Donuts.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Starbucks Ice Americano
SECRET TALENT | Strangers spill their life stories within minutes of meeting me.
FAV HOBBY | Music/live music. Any outdoor activity. Rollerblading. Biking.
Stacy Allen

Stacy Allen

Event Experience Executive

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Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | RPW '25—Serving as MC for 80s Trivia Night
FUEL OF CHOICE | Cold brew coffee with sweet cream foam
SECRET TALENT | Artist
FAV HOBBY | Card making/paper crafting
Susan Anderson

Susan Anderson

Event Experience Executive

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Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | RPW '24 in San Diego was unforgettable—great energy, pier walks, casino night, and pure joy all around.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Music of most genres
SECRET TALENT | If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret.
FAV HOBBY | My hobbies rotate like my Spotify playlists. For now, sewing.
John Benner

John Benner

Sales Manager

Back image of John Benner
Sales Manager
FAV EVENT MEMORY | The standout is always the genuine exec-supplier interactions—something no trade show can match.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Coffee, and lots of it.
SECRET TALENT | Although I'm deathly afraid of clowns, I can juggle.
FAV HOBBY | Reading and listening to classical music.
Lisa Boisvert

Lisa Boisvert

Event Planner

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Event Planner
FAV EVENT MEMORY |
FUEL OF CHOICE |
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL |
FAV HOBBY |
Rachel DeForge

Rachel DeForge

Director | Executive Accounts

Back image of Rachel DeForge
Director | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | HPt's '25 Sweet Caroline battle of the loudest sides.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Iced coffee with a shot of espresso
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | Parallel parking
FAV HOBBY | Reading
Katherine DiBrigida

Katherine DiBrigida

Event Planner

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Event Planner
FAV EVENT MEMORY |
FUEL OF CHOICE |
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL |
FAV HOBBY |
Anne Dyment

Anne Dyment

Manager | Executive Accounts

Back image of Anne Dyment
Manager | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | (more to come)
FUEL OF CHOICE | Arbonne Fizz
SECRET TALENT | I wish I had one. I don't.
HOBBIES | Spending time with my two kids and two golden retrievers. I love trying new restaurants and foods.
Vanessa Fillip

Vanessa Fillip

Manager | Executive Accounts

Back image of Vanessa Fillip
Manager | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | RPE '24 opening kickoff with hypnotist Boris Cherniak
FUEL OF CHOICE | Espresso
SECRET TALENT | Impersonations
FAV HOBBY | Hiking
Gail Garrison

Gail Garrison

Director | Event Experience

Back image of Gail Garrison
Director | Event Experience
FAV EVENT MEMORY |
FUEL OF CHOICE |
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL |
FAV HOBBY |
Claire Greensmith

Claire Greensmith

Event Planner

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Event Planner
FAV EVENT MEMORY | StorePoint 2009 at Hotel Del Coronado—my first Event.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Chardonnay
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I can drive stick shift
FAV HOBBY | Mountain biking and ocean swimming
John Hurley

John Hurley

Director | Sales

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Director | Sales
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Always a fan of fireworks on the beach!
FUEL OF CHOICE | Almonds
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I can talk with a duck voice.
FAV HOBBY | Kayaking
Julia Kebanli

Julia Kebanli

Event Experience Executive

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Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | The feeling of wonder and awe as I walked into the Sunday night welcome dinner of the first CPMG Event I ever attended. It was so grand!
FUEL OF CHOICE | Beef jerky and potato chips
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I'm ambidextrous
FAV HOBBY | Gardening
Ellen Kelly

Ellen Kelly

Manager | Event Technology

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Manager | Event Technology
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Ordering Starbucks with Frank and learning about the "Snickerdoodle Mocha"
FUEL OF CHOICE | Sugar-free Red Bull
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | Speaking German
FAV HOBBY | Silversmithing
Holly McFarland

Holly McFarland

Event Planner

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Event Planner
FAV EVENT MEMORY | My first Event (SPR) with CPMG.  I attended weeks after starting. Everyone was warm and welcoming.
FUEL OF CHOICE | A good London Fog Latte
SECRET TALENT |
FAV HOBBY | Traveling with my family.
Rob Mear

Rob Mear

Senior Director | Operations

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Senior Director | Operations
FAV EVENT MEMORY | SPFr's 10th anniversary fireworks
FUEL OF CHOICE | Donuts
WEIRD SKILL | I'm good at packing things up. I can get a lot of stuff into a small space.
FAV HOBBY | Classic cars
Dina Mitchell-Ellis

Dina Mitchell-Ellis

Manager | Executive Accounts

Back image of Dina Mitchell-Ellis
Manager | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Too many to count. Although riding a mechanical bull at C-Build ’24 is near the top.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Chocolate. Lots of chocolate!
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | Dog/animal whisperer
FAV HOBBY | Gardening and petting every dog I see. Tell your dog I said, "Hi."
Ben Morse

Ben Morse

Group Vice President

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Group Vice President
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Monday afternoon when the one-on-ones begin. The energy and buzz from the room is my favorite part of each Event.
FUEL OF CHOICE | I run on Dunkin' and laughter.
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I am oddly good at Tetris/packing a car trunk to maximize space.
FAV HOBBY | Boating and skiing with my family.
Lisa Muñoz

Lisa Muñoz

Project Manager

Back image of Lisa Muñoz
Project Manager
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Dancing to Bag of Donuts with staff and attendees in New Orleans
FUEL OF CHOICE | Coffee and ice cream
SECRET TALENT | Doing random math without a calculator and sleuthing on people online
FAV HOBBY | Anything to do with water, being on my boat, swimming, kayaking, etc.
Bryce Nethery

Bryce Nethery

Event Experience Executive

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Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | SPFa '24 skateboard giveback. Lots of energy from attendees building skateboards for the community!
FUEL OF CHOICE | Vibes, or coffee if the vibes are low.
WEIRD SKILL | I can name every Survivor winner and who they beat.
FAV HOBBY | Pickleball or any board game.
Skylar Noyd

Skylar Noyd

Event Experience Executive

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Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | CSP Houston Space Center tour, then Buc-ee’s for merch & snacks.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Sauvignon Blanc w/ jalapeños. Double-stuffed Oreos
SECRET TALENT | Hula hooping. Yodeling.
FAV HOBBY | Crafting with my Cricut. Trying new restaurants. Binge-watching reality TV! 
Doug Perilli

Doug Perilli

Vice President | Sales and Marketing

Back image of Doug Perilli
Vice President | Sales and Marketing
FAV EVENT MEMORY | HP '24 racoon fire pit pizza party
FUEL OF CHOICE | Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | Taking humor to another level that most will never understand.
FAV HOBBY | Snowmobiling
Juli Poteet

Juli Poteet

Manager | Sales

Back image of Juli Poteet
Manager | Sales
FAV EVENT MEMORY | The first time I met Andi. She's truly changed my life.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Marg on the rocks and Starbucks coffee
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I can juggle bottles
FAV HOBBY | Sunning myself on a Florida beach
Sandy Roginski

Sandy Roginski

Senior Director | Executive Accounts

Back image of Sandy Roginski
Senior Director | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Seeing everyone at the first Event, post-pandemic
FUEL OF CHOICE | Soup, Seacoast soups!
SECRET TALENT | Changing out a leaky kitchen faucet.
FAV HOBBY | Hiking here, there, and everywhere!
Jenny Sisson

Jenny Sisson

Manager | Executive Accounts

Back image of Jenny Sisson
Manager | Executive Accounts
FAV EVENT MEMORY | MFP '24—high energy & the relationships made (best MFP, ever!)
FUEL OF CHOICE | Popcorn, pretzels, & Diet Coke
WEIRD SKILL | I count everything.
FAV HOBBY | Day beach trips with my pups, Romeo & Gracie. Casinos by night with my honey.
Colby Taylor

Colby Taylor

Manager | Business Development

Back image of Colby Taylor
Manager | Business Development
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Sea kayaking in La Jolla (Hotel Del Coronado, Oct '22), salsa contest at SCP '25, kayaking in Bonita Springs for NextPoint '24—with my mom joining!
FUEL OF CHOICE | Starbucks iced coffee
SECRET TALENT | Legit don't have one
FAV HOBBY | Volleyball
Ann Wheeler

Ann Wheeler

Event Planner

Back image of Ann Wheeler
Event Planner
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Monday night at SPFa '20—a night at the Orpheum in New Orleans. Amazing food & entertainment!
FUEL OF CHOICE | Ice cream!
WEIRD SKILL | I can drive a 40' bus!
FAV HOBBY | Needlepoint. It's incredibly relaxing and meditative.
Andi Wilson

Andi Wilson

Event Marketing Manager

Back image of Andi Wilson
Event Marketing Manager
FAV EVENT MEMORY | HealthPoint 2024—awesome teamwork and first time seeing Tom Pescé.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Cheese. Chocolate. Coffee.
WEIRD SKILL | I can do a crow pose and I cry at good desserts.
FAV HOBBY | Working out. Raising plants. Overthinking my life choices.
Jason Wood

Jason Wood

Manager | Sales

Back image of Jason Wood
Manager | Sales
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Suspiciously carrying a mannequin covered in a sheet at StorePoint Fashion
FUEL OF CHOICE | Black coffee and chicken tenders (not at the same time)
SECRET TALENT/WEIRD SKILL | I know how to build holiday parade floats
FAV HOBBY | Boating
Alexys Zaine

Alexys Zaine

Event Experience Executive

Back image of Alexys Zaine
Event Experience Executive
FAV EVENT MEMORY | Playing extreme ping pong with a colleague during a football night.
FUEL OF CHOICE | Chocolate and coffee
SECRET TALENT | I can make any kid under 5 fall asleep in under 10 minutes.
FAV HOBBY | Making cake pops