Shannon M. Watson, CMP - Director of Meetings

Shannon is responsible for all conception, strategy, planning and implementation of SEIA's events and events in which SEIA participates. Shannon has worked in hospitality for 15 years, in restaurants, hotels and catering businesses. She worked for the Association of Fundraising Professionals from 1998-2007, and recently joined SEIA as its Director of Meetings. Ms. Watson graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in English and Speech Communication, and she graduated with high honors from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. She has been a Certified Meeting Professional since 2001. She served as co-chair of the Association of Meeting Professionals in 2003-2004 and is currently serving as chair of the Meetings and Expositions Council for the American Society of Association Executives.

In her spare time, she enjoys poker tournaments, running, reading and family gatherings.

Carlos Pelham, CMP - Meetings Manager

Carlos has been in the meetings industry for over eight years working with organizations such as the Food Marketing Institute, American Association for Clinical Chemistry and the American Society for Microbiology. He has assisted in planning annual conventions and educational meetings ranging in size from 10 to 30,000+ attendees. Carlos received a BA in Communications from Virginia Tech. He will also serve as the 2009-2010 Chapter President for the Meeting Professionals International Potomac Chapter, which represents over 1100+ meeting professionals in the Washington D.C. area.