Meeting Planning Services (MPS) Team Profiles

Beth Surmont brings to the table over ten years of professional meeting planning experience.  She has a strong planning background with varied experience in both the non-profit and corporate sectors.

Beth has a wide range of knowledge, having worked in almost every aspect of meeting planning.  She has planned everything from small meetings to large special events; multi-track/multi-day conferences with attendance of over 3000; exhibits; sales incentive programs; medical education dinners; educational workshops and more.  She has planned meetings in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, India, Asia, and South America.  In 2008, Beth earned her Certified Meeting Planner designation. 

Beth joined IEEE in 2005, and currently manages IEEE’s meeting program. She also serves as subject matter expert on sustainable meeting planning best practices, and sits on the Green Initiatives Committee for IEEE.  In her personal life, Beth is an active volunteer with the youth program in her community.

Caroline Colabaugh started with IEEE in 2006, working in Conference Registration.  In 2008, she transitioned to IEEE Meeting and Conference Management (IEEE-MCM) as a meeting planner.  Her experience working with IEEE volunteers, conference committees, and IEEE staff has made her a strong asset to the team.

In the short time she has been with MPS, she has already planned global events in China, Russia, and Australia, ranging in size from 10 to 200 attendees.   She also manages small meetings throughout the US; registration websites for conferences, and logistical planning for small conferences.

Caroline is the subject matter expert for the meeting management system for IEEE Meeting and Conference Management (IEEE-MCM), and continually strives to improve processes and introduce technological innovations throughout IEEE-MCM.  

She has earned a Certificate in Meeting Planning from Mercer County Community College, and is working towards a Certificate in Event Management from NYU, as well as working towards her CMP designation.

Ingrid has been with IEEE since 2005, and brought with her a strong background in hotel industry experience and corporate meeting planning. 

Ingrid started her career in the hospitality industry, working for two major hotels in New York City.  Her experience in catering and sales gives her an insider’s perspective when negotiating contracts and developing meeting specs.  Her six year hotel background aided Ingrid in a smooth transition to corporate meeting planning.

Ingrid traveled both domestically and internationally while organizing major pharmaceutical meetings and Pharma Congresses.  She has managed multi-day conferences, educational workshops, sales meetings, and many other events.

Since joining IEEE, Ingrid has honed her skills and learned the specifics of association planning and continues to grow within the organization.  Ingrid works closely with the sales meetings of the organization, and is a subject matter expert with international meeting planning.  In August 2009, Ingrid earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, a premier industry certification.

As a graduate of the American College of Management and Technology in Dubrovnik, Croatia, with a degree in Hospitality Management, Lukrecija is a seasoned planner with an extensive background in hotel operations and meeting management.

From front desk manager to conference planning manager, Lukrecija has experienced all aspects of the industry.  She knows the “ins and outs” of executing a successful event from both a hotel operational perspective, and from the viewpoint of a veteran meeting planner.

This combination of education and experience led Lukrecija to join IEEE Meeting and Conference Management (IEEE-MCM) in 2007.  Since then, she has planned meetings across the world, overcoming cultural and language barriers to manage many successful events.  Lukrecija is known for building excellent relationships with her clients, making the planning process as seamless as possible. 

In addition, Lukrecija is the lead planner for the IEEE Meeting Series which occurs three times a year.  Her eye for continuous improvement continues to introduce efficiencies for her clients and colleagues.

When Lukrecija finds time, she likes to spend her days at the beach reading and taking in the sun, which reminds her of home.