About Us
From our first Strategic Planning & Goal Setting session to our post-event reporting, our clients know their event is in the most capable and creative hands.
Each team member at Ashton Conference Planning Professionals has been immersed in the corporate event planning business for more than two decades. We know the event planning world inside and out. The best venues. The most reliable vendors. How to negotiate the best rates and concessions. But beyond the intricacies of event planning, our specialization in educational design means we understand how small changes can make a big impact on how your audience engages. Engagement, especially in this new era of virtual meetings, is more important than ever and will ultimately determine the success of your event.
Our job is bigger than one meeting, conference, trade show or seminar. We create experiences that connect businesses and audiences in a way that only events can.
We Work Closely With Our Clients to …
1. Understand their goals.
2. Strategize for success.
3. Bring their vision to life.
See our work in action.
Our Team
Michele Nebel Peake, DES, President
On paper, Michele is an events and education design professional who has executed successful meetings, conferences and educational programs for corporate, association and government groups of 10 to 25,000 people. In action, she’s a master negotiator, big thinker and a collaborative leader with a remarkable ability to keep multiple teams on goal, on time and on budget.
Clients love her for her detail-oriented approach, responsive customer service and a sense of humor that makes even the most unpredictable challenges completely manageable.
Gina Amatruda-Fiorillo
With over 30 years of experience in meetings, events and tradeshow management, Gina is familiar with every element of the management and execution process and puts the highest priority upon the delivery of unique creative solutions that exceed customer expectations. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her experiences conducting various sized meetings. She has been an independent contractor since 2010 and has managed a number of different events within the healthcare, technology, manufacturing, legal, beverage, and education industries. Gina previously worked for Reed Exhibitions in Connecticut.
Challen Edwards, CPA
A certified public accountant for over 20 years, Challen left her career at a Big 4 accounting firm to specialize in helping small businesses achieve their dreams. Challen brings fractional CFO services to clients by using modern online business technology and providing a competitively priced, modern-day alternative for your specific event-related accounting needs. She has worked in the event industry and with the Ashton Conference Planning team since 2015.
Tracy Wahler
Tracy has 30 years of experience in non-profit management, marketing, communication and public relations. She was Vice President of Communications for a large international trade association for 16 years, where she designed marketing campaigns for seven major conferences and expos each year. Whether your meeting is established or brand-new, Tracy can offer fresh insights into reaching your audience.
…I highly recommend Michele; she’s a visionary thinker and knows how to get things accomplished on time!
Linda Musgrove, President, TradeShow Teacher
