2026 Stella Awards Judges
Meet the select jury of meetings professionals chosen by Northstar Meetings Group to honor organizations that consistently deliver quality service and innovation to the events industry.
With more than 20 years of expertise in event design, creative strategy, and experience innovation, Amy Black brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative vision to every engagement. As Sr. Director of Strategy & Design at Creative Group, she leads a team of strategists and designers who collaborate to create impactful event experiences that bring brands to life and deliver measurable business outcomes. Focused on brand activations, creative design, experience strategy and the evolution of Creative Group’s creative approach, Amy champions a process that begins with insight and transforms ideas into meaningful experiences.
Jennifer D. Collins, CMP, founded JDC Events with a bold vision: to demonstrate that events are not simply gatherings, but strategic catalysts for growth, innovation and community impact. As President and CEO, she leads the firm in designing purpose-driven experiences that strengthen brands, elevate industry leadership, build meaningful connections and move organizations and communities forward.
Carine Desroches is the Meetings & Events Director at the National Kidney Foundation, where she leads the strategic planning and execution of national meetings, conferences and educational programs that advance the organization's mission. With extensive experience in event management and stakeholder engagement, she is passionate about creating impactful experiences that foster collaboration, innovation and meaningful connections. Carine also proudly serves as a Board Member of the New York PCMA Chapter, where she is committed to supporting the growth and advancement of the meetings and events industry.
Eli Gorin, CMP, CMM, is CEO, Americas and partner of ATS Group, an international group travel services organization encompassing FHTglobal, Brook Green and ATS Travel, with offices across the United States and Europe. With more than 25 years in the meetings and events industry, Eli specializes in international meetings strategy, convention housing and cross-cultural event management, with more than two decades of experience throughout Latin America. Prior to joining ATS Group in 2015, he led global client relations for an international convention services company, overseeing more than 1,000 clients across 70 countries, and operated his own meetings management firm.
Dianne Heffernan, CMP, CITP, is Co-Founder and Chief Events Officer of CCE Global Meetings & Incentives, where she leads the planning and execution of corporate meetings, incentive programs, conferences and special events worldwide. With more than 47 years of experience in the meetings, travel and hospitality industries, she is a respected industry leader known for her operational expertise, strategic event management and commitment to excellence. Dianne currently serves as President of the SITE Northeast USA and is a frequent contributor to industry initiatives that advance the meetings and incentives profession.
Katie Karmowski is a Senior Manager of Event Services at Smithbucklin with a proven track record of delivering high-impact events for high-touch clients, consistently driving exceptional attendee experiences and measurable business outcomes. She brings expertise in vendor and stakeholder management, creative planning and flawless onsite execution, driven by a passion for crafting thoughtful, detail-oriented experiences that elevate brands and captivate audiences.
Kelly Kunz serves as Vice President of Operations at Brightspot Incentives & Events, a leading agency specializing in corporate meetings, incentive travel and sales channel incentive programs. Kelly leads the Operations team with a client-first mindset. She is passionate about infusing big-picture strategy into day-to-day execution with fervent emphasis on operational excellence.
Erin Lease Hall, CTSM Diamond, is Director of Event Strategy and Experience at DrFirst, with 20+ years of experience transforming events and trade shows into carefully crafted brand moments. She brings a graphic design background, a sharp eye for sourcing and negotiating and a talent for sequencing experiences that flow. She has self-proclaimed the title of "Director of Details" — and anyone who has worked with her will tell you it fits.
Renee Martinez is the founder of WovenSmart, a strategic advisory and experience studio that helps organizations bring their brand to life through people, culture and experience. Renee is also an author and speaker who advises organizations and facilitates workshops and retreats focused on service, creativity and leadership. She is the author of CreativeIQ and creator of CARE, WovenSmart’s framework for examining customer experience, employee experience and organizational alignment. She has also taught marketing, entrepreneurship, consumer behavior and strategy at several universities.
With 17 years of experience across the events and hospitality world, Bre Maxim has led everything from large-scale corporate programs and trade shows to high-end incentives and international events. She is currently an Account Director at Bishop-McCann, where she guides client programs from concept to execution, creating experiences that maximize impact and ROI. With a degree in Event Management from Johnson & Wales University and a career that spans hotels, nonprofits, and third-party agencies, Bre offers a well-rounded view of the full event industry.
Ellie Soucy, President of Incentive Meeting Services, is a seasoned consultant with a comprehensive command of business travel and corporate event planning. From project inception to completion, she brings her clients' brands to life with an instinctive grasp of event planning and branding that positions them for success. Her global upbringing has enriched her perspective, allowing her to bring a uniquely cultured approach to her work. More than a corporate event and travel expert, Ellie Soucy is a visionary who bridges cultures, people and brands with strategic planning and heart.
Brett Sterenson is entering his twentieth year as proprietor of Hotel Lobbyists, a Washington, D.C.-based site section firm specializing in government and association meetings. Each year his firm places more than 400 meetings and conference nation and worldwide. He is a frequent contributor to Northstar publications and has spoken at dozens of industry events.
Kate Wilson serves as the Event Services Manager at MeetGreen. She joined the firm over a decade ago by supporting events onsite, then becoming an Event Specialist, followed by Senior Event Lead and now to her current role in overseeing all sustainable event operations.
DeShawn Wynn is a strategic event planner, speaker and educator with more than 30 years of experience designing purpose-driven events for corporate, nonprofit, educational, religious and government sectors. As Chief Meeting Architect and founder of Wynning Touch Event Design, she leads a company rooted in strategy and program design, ensuring that every event is aligned with the client’s mission and tailored to meet the needs of all stakeholders, including attendees, sponsors and leadership teams.
Mike Zollars is vice president, global accounts, at HPN Global. Prior to joining the site-selection and venue-sourcing firm, he spent more than 17 years in leadership roles at hospitality brands including Ritz-Carlton, Omni and Hyatt. His experience gives him a deep, operational understanding of both hotel management and third-party meetings management.