The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence has added two MICE industry veterans to their management team: Tahira Endean, CMP, DES, CED has been named head of events starting immediately, and Jennifer Juergens will assume the role of director industry & media relations on Jan. 1, 2019.
Endean brings 360 degree event management experience to SITE, having worked as a PCO, planner and DMC during a career that has spanned three decades. Most recently she was event producer for the #BCTECH Summit during which time she authored and published her first book, Intentional Event Design: Our Professional Opportunity. She is an expert in EventTech, an in-demand speaker and brings a massive social media following to her new role with SITE. Endean is replacing Tina Gaccetta who has accepted a position as vice-president, marketing & incentives for LegalShield.
“I’m honoured and humbled to be appointed head of events at SITE,” says Endean. “It truly allows me to channel the experience I’ve accumulated over the years as an event professional. I look forward to helping SITE create truly transformational, motivational events that bring value and purpose to our members, our industry, the business world and society at large.”
Juergens is well known to incentive travel professionals from her time as senior editor with Meetings & Conventions magazine and Successful Meetings, and decade long leadership as editor-in-chief at Incentive magazine. More recently she has alternated freelancing for BizBash, Prevue and Meetings Today with her three-year tenure as manager of convention communications at Visit Orlando. Juergens will be taking over the role currently held by Julie Johnson.
“I’ve been writing about SITE for decades and am privileged to be connected with many SITE members who contribute so generously as thought leaders to the business events/ MICE industry,” says Juergens. “I am excited to be joining the SITE Marketing & Communications team at this hugely exciting time in the organization’s evolution and look forward to continuing to help expand SITE’s reach and influence around the world.”
Incentive Travel is the fastest growing segment of MICE and this year SITE has reached the highest membership numbers of its 45 year history.
“Having industry professionals like Tahira and Jennifer join our management team is incontrovertible proof of our legacy, reputation and future direction,” says Didier Scaillet, CIS, CITP, CEO of SITE & SITE Foundation. “We are definitely in good hands and this strengthened team will ensure our continued growth and relevance into the future.”
SITE, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence is the only global organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting the incentive travel industry. We connect incentive travel to business results. For our members we provide professional development, certification and business connections. SITE members help companies maximize workforce output by creating and delivering incentive travel programs that inspire people to exceed expectations and transcend their goals. Our research proves the ROI for incentive travel, which is a powerful business tool that strengthens employee retention, improves performance and fosters a culture of thoughtful motivation and sustained success. Over the last 45 years, SITE has grown to over 2300 members in 84 countries with 29 local and regional chapters. They also fund and conduct research through the SITE Foundation whose fundraising initiatives facilitate vital industry research, trend analysis, and educational program support for incentive travel professionals. Our multi-tiered approach builds awareness and strengthens the effectiveness of incentive travel. For more info, visit SITEglobal.com.
