Overcoming Challenges with International Conferences

Lisa Dyson began her meeting and event planning career with the USO of Metropolitan Washington in 1997 and was named Conference Director for the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics in October 2022. Prior to joining SIAM, Lisa served first as Director of Conference Services and then as Director of Strategic Events at TESOL International Association for 16 years. Previously, she was Director of Meetings and Conventions for the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI). An active and engaged member of the business events industry, she has held various committee positions for PCMA, as well as, serving on several different advisory boards for convention destinations. Lisa holds a BS in Marketing from Johnson & Wales University. She obtained her CMP designation in 2006 and her DES designation in 2015. In 2022, Lisa obtained her WSET Level 2 Award in Wines.
Lisa lives with her boyfriend Tom; their 3 cats, Jack, Henry and Stormy; and their dog, Patch.

As a technology advocate, Vinnu helps clients embrace tools that improve their attendee experiences while making the meeting planner’s job easier. With over 20 years of experience in conference and event planning, Vinnu’s portfolio ranges from working with government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Defense, to social justice organizations like the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. With her meeting planner hat, Vinnu works with a team of developers at EVAreg.com to customize registration and virtual conference portals. Raised as a coal miner’s daughter in western Kentucky, Vinnu stays true to her southern roots by valuing community in both her personal and professional lives. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Public Administration.