Why Join ISES Chicago?

August 4th, 2015 | hereschicago

ISES Chicago is short for the International Special Events Society Great Chicago Chapter.  We asked the Board of Directors of ISES Chicago to share their experiences about how their membership has provided a return on their investment and why Chicago area event & hospitality professionals should join ISES Chicago.

“ISES for me was the spring board to my career in the event industry. I was a teacher for 6 years prior to switching to a career in catering.  I didn’t know a soul in the industry and after taking a full time job with a catering company – I went to my first ISES event two weeks later in Indianapolis.  Six weeks later I was on a committee. Six months later I was on the Board of Directors.  I felt like I had a family of support from fellow industry leaders also involved in ISES.  Fast forward 2.5 years and my friendships made through ISES, in particular, Barb Harris, led me to Chicago and my new job.  I can’t say enough about the relationships I have made, both professionally and personally through my involvement with the ISES organization.” Lisa Bryant, Sales Consultant, Food For Thought Enterprises

“I was new to the events industry when I joined Levitation in 2013.  ISES was instrumental in helping me gain confidence by accelerating my learning curve through it’s education focus while introducing me to industry associates I now consider close friends. ” Amy Current, Director of Sales, Levitation

“I owe landing my “perfect” job to my involvement with ISES. When I moved to Chicago in 2008, I was new to the local events market and had to meet a lot of people quickly. ISES proved to be THE platform to make that happen. Over the years, I became more actively involved on committees, and eventually joined the Board of Directors. My commitment to the advancement of the Chapter created a performance record among my colleagues. When the time came for me to look for a new job, I immediately had a network of over a hundred professionals who knew me, my strengths, and what I was looking for. My ISES colleagues connected me to my current employer, and the rest is history” Barb Harris, DMCP | Senior Program Manager, On The Scene | The Event Company

“Joining ISES was one of the best things I could have done for both my professional and personal life! I was brand new to the industry and was kind of thrown in. ISES taught me a lot about the events world, allowed me to connect with the right people in a large industry, and create some amazing friendships. When I joined, I immediately became involved in several committees and officially joined the Board of Directors a short year later. It is through the connections that I have made that I landed in my current position and could not be happier. Not to mention, we have a lot of fun!” Erica Buss, Account Executive, Tasty Catering

“I love to learn and the best way to grow in my current role in the event industry is through Associations. I have found the International Special Events Society to be a family of extremely professional, extraordinarily creative, and immensely fun people. This family has taken me under their wings and has allowed me to use my leadership skills in various positions on the Chicago Board of Directors. Through my time on the Board, working with ISES Members and attending events, such as ISES Live, I continue to grow as an event planner and a business woman. I could not be more grateful for the opportunities that ISES continues to provide for me.” Nicole Zenner,  LK Events, LLC, senior event consultant