Melissa Swakow Joins Elite Company (And We’re Not Talking About NHS Global Events)

We always knew Melissa Swakow was exceptional. It’s why, after she completed her internship at NHS Global Events and she graduated from DePaul University, we asked her to come work for us for real. We’ve been honored to have her with us for the past 9 years. And recently she was chosen as one of Chicago’s 2019 “40 Under 40” honorees.

Melissa is our Senior Manager of Meetings and Events, responsible for contracting, advance logistics and on-site management for our largest client programs. Her team of five employees managed 38 programs last year.

Let’s let her tell you about a typical Melissa moment (okay, she calls it her greatest accomplishment since joining NHS Global Events). “NHS was awarded management of a two-day, 350-person law firm annual partner conference. When the firm merged two months before the conference was set to begin, it became three days and 500 people. I was the lead on the program and responsible for renegotiating the contract, managing all conference logistics and overseeing a team of nine. The program was a huge success and, even though we had only previously sourced programs for the client, we won their appreciation and future meeting management business.”

Melissa’s leadership and high standards are admired by all who know her and work with her. A long-time client tagged her “Mighty Melissa” and we believe this is an apt description of our colleague.

Melissa is an MPI-Chicago Area Chapter member and spent three years on its Board of Directors. She not only loves to travel the world, she also spends her free time exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods. That’s when she’s not at home with her much-loved dog, Penny.