SITE Chicago

Proudly Serving Illinois, Michigan & Wisconsin

2024 Principles: Collaboration & Change

"As a member of SITE Chicago since 2012 the most important aspect for me are the relationships I have built within our community of incentive professionals. SITE’s educational events are tailored to our specific industry and bring tremendous value to everyone in attendance whether you are a hotelier, DMC, 3rd party or gifting company.  The events hosted by SITE offer amazing networking opportunities all while gaining valuable knowledge and in most cases are giving back to the community in some way." - Karen Suttle, Manager, Corporate Gifts Central, Maui Jim Sunglasses & Zeal Optics  

Nancy McFadyen

2024: Believe

Dear SITE Chicago Chapter Members,

Welcome to Chicago, the city on the lake known for its bold architecture, deep dish pizza and proud sports fans!  I am excited to be celebrating our Chapter’s 10th Anniversary and continuing to grow our membership with the inclusion of Michigan and Wisconsin as part of our regional membership base. As we take this journey together into 2024, our new Board of Director’s focus is set on the theme of doing things the “Ted Lasso Way!”

We are collaborators, we believe in believe, we believe in hope and we believe in change! We are a curious fresh-faced team who are not judgmental. We want to offer our membership the very best and newest opportunities to experience and cultivate meaningful relationships and provide professional growth. We support in-person events in Chicago, Wisconsin and Michigan that are invaluable educational experiences but are also fun. Iconic events such as our Grand Slam baseball game at Wrigley Field Rooftops and our Annual Holly Trolley. These are the staples in our collection of in-person “winning” events providing ROI for our sponsors and buyers and funding CSR efforts that support our local community and SITE community. We couldn’t do it without the continuous support of our Annual Strategic Sponsors such as our hometown airline – United. Thank you to United, MK Photos and CVENT for your annual support.

As we continue to evolve with each new and exciting event, you will see a diverse group of event and gifting sponsors such as Nuage Furniture, Ethos, Blue Plate, Turkish Airlines and Copa Airlines. A cross-section of the travel industry will be represented as we continue this journey together to provide different perspectives, new technology and information on the state of incentive travel. From cruise lines and airlines, from DMO’s, DMC’s and hotels, from Corporate meeting planners, incentive company buyers, third party and independent planners, your voices will be heard. We all play an integral role in providing value and new opportunities in everything we do as a Chapter. 

So that’s where we are headed. We are a team committed to believing in collaboration and change, believing in hope for the future and believing in the value of our industry and in-person meetings. These are the principles that will guide me this year as leader of our team of professionals dedicated to doing their very best for our members and community. Everyone is a salesperson and ambassador for SITE Chicago. Please join one of our committees and experience the Ted Lasso will to win and belief in yourself. I am proud to be the person in charge of leading our Chapter to the top of many well respected and known SITE Chapters throughout the world. We are 200+ members SITE Chicago strong.

So let’s start now.  We have your backs!  On three … let’s go … SITE Chicago!

​Nancy McFadyen

SITE Chicago President

Why SITE Chicago?

“At the beginning of 2020, I was lucky enough to take back the Midwest market after a few years away from it.  SITE Chicago was one of the first places I turned to help me get reintegrated into this market,  and they did not let me down.  Whether it was at the Holly Trolley event or at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), it just felt like a ‘soft landing’ with a terrific network of people…people who were there to both enjoy each other’s company and to build a successful network for all.  I was especially touched by SITE Chicago when I was furloughed for 8 months of 2020.  No less than three times did someone reach out to me just to make sure I was doing okay, and that is something I will not forget.  That felt like a true community to me that I wanted to be a part of.  So when I was lucky enough to go back to work in January, and with very tight budgets, the renewal fee to SITE was one of the first things I fought for.  With limited ways to engage with our clients and partners these days, I knew SITE would be an invaluable resource…not just for the connections and potential engagement channels, but also for the supportive network they provide in this wild world we are all living in." Nicole Trottier, Director of Group Sales, Leading Hotels of the World

2024 Board of Directors

Meet the Volunteers Behind SITE Chicago

President - SITE Chicago

Nancy McFadyen

Director, Group Sales, Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

Chicago, United States

2023 President

Bonnie Coop

Director of Meetings & Incentives, Total Event Resources

Chicago, United States

SITE Chicago Vice President Administration and Past President 2021

Lorraine Bellas

Regional Director, Meetings & Incentives, Sandals & Beaches Resorts

Miami, United States

Director of Education

Lisa Crolius Bracken

Senior Sales Executive, Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa

Ponte Vedra Beach, United States

Natalie Rivera

Account Executive , NHS Global Events

Chicago , United States

Barbara Quigley

Director of Business Development Development, SynergyDestinations

Chicago, United States

Jamie Shamhart

Account Director, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Chicago, United States

VP of Events

Andrea Taylor

Account Executive, CSI DMC

Chicago, United States

VP of Finance

Diane Murray, CMP, CIS, CITP

President, Options4Meetings,LLC

Arlington Heights, United States

Vice President of Communications

Craig Dooley

President, SDI Meetings & Incentives

Chicago, United States

VP of Membership

Andrew Neubauer

Account Director, Atlantis Paradise Island

Nassau, Bahamas

VP of Emerging Leaders

Brittany Cerrillos

Travel Program Coordinator, Motivation Excellence, Inc.

Schaumburg, United States

Kelly Fuller, CMP, CIS, CITP

Senior Event Experience Manager, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide

Palatine, United States

WI Ambassador

Amie Devine

Director of Global Events, The Hybrid Group

Mequon, United States

Michigan Amassador

Amy Young

President, Destination Consultants

Grand Rapids, United States

What Can You Expect as a Member?

"When joining SDI Meetings & Incentives, one of my first priorities was becoming a member of SITE and the Chicago chapter to quickly immerse myself in the heart of our industry and connect to a network of professionals who are committed to excellence in the work we do.  Whether new to the conversation or a veteran taking a victory lap, there is space and opportunity in this organization for ever incentive professional, and I value the resources, time and energy that each member contributes.  

Especially over the last year, the camaraderie and support through educational events, networking opportunities and some fun experiences make the challenges of the job that much easier and the successes that muck sweeter, to be able to share along the way with friends and peers who get it.  We cheer for each other while competing, and we support each other when it matters most – that’s what membership in SITE Chicago means.

Looking back, I’m grateful to be part of this community, and looking forward, I’m eager to see how we collectively adapt and take incentive travel to the next level, ensuing it remains a valuable and powerful tool for our clients." - Craig Dooley, President, SDI Travel

Come Visit Us in Chicago & Milwaukee!

What Are Our Events Like?

"SITE Chicago has been an open and inviting forum for incentive professionals in the Midwest. They have hosted fun and engaging networking events along with providing the resources of SITE global. During the pandemic they have continued to deliver. The virtual Holly Trolley proved to be a fun and engaging event even though we could not do it in person. They have deomonstrated that we can still derive benefit from meeting and developing relationships during the most difficult of times for our industry. I look forward to future events and opportunities to connect with this vibrant chapter, whether it is in person or over Zoom!" - Sandi Daniel, President & CEO, FIRE Light Group

  • We thrive to connect. Discover MICE Industry events at which SITE has a presence, as well our very own events, organised for members and friends of SITE by SITE HQ and our Chapters

    CHAPTER

    10th Annual SITE Chicago Holly Trolley

    3 December 2024

  • Powered By SITE Foundation, Motivate Blog uncovers the transformational impact of incentive travel on individuals, organisations and communities all over the world.

    INFORMATION

    SITE & IRF Launch Incentive Travel Index at IMEX America

    Highlights from the Smart Monday launch & panel discussion

    11 October 2024

    INFORMATION

    NextGen leaders: navigating careers and balance in incentive travel

    Recapping the October 2024 SITE Young Leaders Conference

    11 October 2024

    SPONSORED

    With more incentive planners reporting to the CEO, delivering ROI Is a must

    Sponsored by Hilton Incentive Collaborative 

     

    3 October 2024

  • Be up to date with the latest SITE news by book marking IncentiveWise, our dedicated news channel.

    "Future of Incentives Workforce" launched by SITE and IRF

    IRF and SITE promote awareness of the incentives industry as a career path for the next generation

    11 October 2024

    2024 Incentive Travel Index released

    Survey results presented with the IRF during Smart Monday at IMEX America

    8 October 2024

    Redefine Your Incentive Travel with a Mountain Escape to Park City

    Sponsored by Visit Park City

    3 October 2024