Paula J. Rigling, CAE, CMP
President

Paula has twenty years experience as a meeting planner and hotelier, planning meetings and conventions for up to 5000 people. Paula uses her extensive expertise in hotel sales, catering and convention services to negotiate contracts and plan food and beverage functions that save her clients money while maximizing their budgets.

A Certified Association Executive and Certified Meeting Professional, Paula’s background as a meeting planner includes 10 years as a medical association executive, two years in the event technology field and two years as an independent meeting planner. In her capacity as Director of Meetings at the Texas Medical Association, Paula managed a team of five staff, a budget of $300,000 and was responsible for producing meetings ranging in size from 100-5000. While managing the association’s three-day annual meeting, Paula gained valuable experience producing a 200-booth trade show, and managing large, multi-day functions, with up to 30 consecutive sessions and 300+ speakers.

A respected leader in the meetings industry, Paula is the 1998 recipient of the Texas Society of Association Executives’ Professional Excellence Award. A frequent speaker, author and teacher at industry events, Paula has presented at Meeting Professionals International, American Society of Association Executives, Texas Society of Association Executives and University of Texas Professional Education events. A past MPI chapter board member, Paula remains an active member and committee chair of the local MPI chapter, and also serves on committees for the Texas Society of Association Executives.

Paula is a 1984 graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos with a Masters in Communication and Bachelors in Journalism. Paula is a member of Meeting Professionals International and Texas Society of Association Executives.