With more than 160 years of combined meetings industry experience, our sales and service staffers are skilled at every aspect of the trade. They can assist you with venue selection, hotel accommodations, off-site events, vendor sourcing, logistics and more. They work closely with meeting partners and area businesses to ensure the groups that meet here have all the support they need to host their attendees.
Meet the Team
Mary Manier, Vice President of Sales & Services
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Mary Manier, CTP, CTIS
Vice President of Sales & Services
Mary has worked for Experience Grand Rapids for 40+ years, so she knows every nook and cranny of the region – and she knows how to utilize every local resource to benefit our meeting planner clients. In 2019, she was named to the inaugural class of Connect Association’s 15 over 50, which salutes leaders who’ve moved the industry forward. Contact her at MManier@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3554.
Heidi Schmitt, Director of State Accounts
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Heidi Schmitt, GMS
Director of State Accounts
A certified Government Meeting Specialist, Heidi focuses on serving the needs of Michigan-based groups – governmental and otherwise. She is instrumental in hosting our annual state events and staying connected with all our state customers. You can reach Heidi at HSchmitt@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3557.
Kelsey Helstowski, Director of Sales
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Kelsey Helstowski
Director of Sales
Kelsey’s experience working with religious, fraternal, government, military, agricultural and other sectors makes her adept at zeroing in on just how Grand Rapids can support the unique goals of different groups. She began her career with us as a volunteer, learning the ins and outs of the industry from all perspectives. Contact her at KHelstowski@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3546.
Leslie Hastings, National Sales Manager
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Leslie Hastings, CHSP, CASE
National Sales Manager
Leslie is based in Washington, D.C. where she promotes Grand Rapids to national clients through events, trade shows and personal events. She came to Experience Grand Rapids in 2015 with a wealth of experience representing city and hotel destinations. Contact Leslie at LHastings@ExperienceGR.com or (703) 407-4134.
Laura Greiner, National Sales Manager
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Laura Greiner
National Sales Manager
Laura taps into her sales and event management experience to tout the benefits of meeting in Grand Rapids to business, education, health/medical, scientific and tech/computer groups across the country. She’s also adept at helping clients leverage the area’s unique strengths to create a memorable event. Laura would love to connect with you at LGreiner@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3547.
Jessica Sobie Henderhan, National Sales Manager
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Jessica Sobie Henderhan
National Sales Manager
Armed with a culinary degree, a wine sommelier certificate and both hotel and restaurant experience, Jessica knows what it takes to stage a successful event – and she’s passionate in her belief that Grand Rapids is a first-class destination for meeting and conventions events. She’ll be happy to tell you exactly why when you reach out to her at JHenderhan@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3549.
Britny Avery, Specialty Sales Manager.
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Britny Avery
Specialty Sales Manager
Britny promotes Grand Rapids as a destination for group tours, weddings and family reunions, and ensures that the people planning them have all the resources they need to make their special events even more special. She came to Grand Rapids by way of South Haven and Chicago. Contact Britny at BAvery@ExperienceGR.com and (877) 847-4847 ext. 3574.
Brandy Martin, Director of Convention Services
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Brandy Martin
Director of Convention Services
Brandy helps Michigan-based groups plan and execute their meetings and conventions in Grand Rapids. Brandy is a Grand Rapids native and uses her knowledge and enthusiasm of the area to help planners build attendance for their event and then provides exemplary service once they’re here. You can contact Brandy at BMartin@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3545.
Jade Lowe, Convention Services Manager
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Jade Lowe
Convention Services Manager
Jade ensures that meeting organizers and attendees get all the information they need to make the most of their time in Grand Rapids – from attendance-building emails and videos to on-site welcome packets and much more. She also oversees our substantial volunteer staff and organizes their work on behalf of meeting clients. Contact Jade at JLowe@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3579.
Savannah Christiansen, Convention Services Manager
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Savannah Christiansen
Convention Services Manager
Savannah helps groups make the most of their time in Grand Rapids, sharing critical information connecting planners to local vendors, suggesting offsite venues, and more. Her experience as a sales manager for local hotels, hospitality management education, and love of Grand Rapids makes her an invaluable resource. Contact her at SChristiansen@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3556.
Kahlisha Mosley, Convention Services Specialist
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Kahlisha Mosley
Convention Services Specialist
Kahlisha makes sure that meeting organizers and attendees get all the information and support they need to enjoy a successful event in Grand Rapids – including, if necessary, the assistance of a volunteer staff she supervises. You can reach out to Kahlisha at KMosley@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3564.
Andie Newcomer, Director of Events
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Andie Newcomer, CMP, GMS
Director of Events
Andie is often the first Experience Grand Rapids point of contact for meeting planners, as she’s responsible for our award-winning trade show presence as well as FAM trips, sales mission trips and client events. She’s held various client-facing positions here, and she’s a CMP, great sounding board, brainstormer, coach and cheerleader for planners. Contact Andie at ANewcomer@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3559.
Patty Delaney, Events Manager
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Patty Delaney, CMP
Events Manager
Patty plans, promotes and executes a series of events Experience Grand Rapids hosts throughout the year to bring together our clients and partners for fun, fellowship and business networking. She ensures that these events showcase some of our key destination assets, including beer, food and outdoor recreation. You can reach Patty at PDelaney@ExperienceGR.com and (877) 847-4847 ext. 3578.
Jessica Briggs, Events Manager
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Jessica Briggs
Events Manager
Jessica plans, promotes and executes our State, National and Group Tour events, which facilitate personal contact with clients around the country and bring people to Grand Rapids to experience all the region has to offer. She holds a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management. You can contact Jessica at JBriggs@ExperienceGR.com or (877) 847-4847 ext. 3573.
Theresa Danneffel, Guest Experience Manager
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Theresa Danneffel
Guest Experience Manager
Theresa manages our team of Airport Ambassadors, who welcome visitors to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport with a friendly smile and helpful information, both at the Visitor Information Desk and throughout the terminal. Connect with Theresa at TDanneffel@ExperienceGR.com or (616) 258-7388 ext. 3575.
Marlene Bushouse, Senior Sales Administrator
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Marlene Bushouse
Senior Sales Administrator
Marlene has been working alongside our sales team since 1998, assisting her colleagues with all manner of administrative tasks. Among other things, she ensures that our responses to clients are timely, accurate and complete. Marlene can be reached at MBushouse@ExperienceGR.com or (616) 258-7388.
Lilly Baker, Sales Administrator
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Lilly Baker
Sales Administrator
The EXGR sales team is able to spend more time interfacing with clients because Lilly works behind the scenes to handle all the clerical and administrative tasks that would otherwise land on their plates. She is a former EXGR marketing intern who is thrilled to be working here full time. Contact Lilly at LBaker@ExperienceGR.com or (616) 258-7388 ext. 3562.
About Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids features a downtown convention center with a 162,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall, 40,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 26 breakout rooms. More than 2,500 downtown hotel rooms and 200+ shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are located within a 10-minute walk.
