ILEA Columbus

The local chapter of the International Live Events Association: We are the principal association representing the creative events professional globally.

For over 25 years ILEA has been a valued and trusted partner in the events industry. An industry that generates over $200 billion for the global economy and supports over four million jobs. ISES members are regarded as the very best in what they do, creating a powerful and influential community of event professionals around the world, working together to find new ways to communicate through the po

wer of live events. Our core values are the focus of everything we do:

CREATIVITY
INSPIRATION
TEAMWORK
EDUCATION
RELATIONSHIPS

05/14/2026

Join us for an evening that brings our events community together for something bigger than ourselves. ILEA Columbus Gives Back is all about connection, purpose, and impact—and this time, we’re proud to support Corazón Deshilado.
Come mix, mingle, and make a difference alongside fellow creatives, planners, and industry friends at North Market Downtown. This casual, high-energy gathering is your chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and be part of a cause that truly matters.
✨ Thursday, May 21st
✨ 4:30–6:30 PM
✨ North Market Downtown (2nd Floor)
📍 59 Spruce St, Columbus, Ohio 43235
💛 $25 donation encouraged through the QR Code attached or at the door
Every dollar raised goes toward supporting Corazón Deshilado’s mission—so your presence directly contributes to meaningful change.
Good people, great energy, and a powerful purpose behind it all. We’d love to see you there.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ilea-gives-back-tickets-1988204149131?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you to our incredible sponsors!

04/24/2026

Join us for an evening that brings our events community together for something bigger than ourselves. ILEA Columbus Gives Back is all about connection, purpose, and impact—and this time, we’re proud to support Corazón Deshilado.

Come mix, mingle, and make a difference alongside fellow creatives, planners, and industry friends at North Market Downtown. This casual, high-energy gathering is your chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and be part of a cause that truly matters.

✨ Thursday, May 21st
✨ 4:30–6:30 PM
✨ North Market Downtown (2nd Floor)
📍 59 Spruce St, Columbus, Ohio 43235
💛 $25 donation encouraged through the QR Code attached or at the door

Every dollar raised goes toward supporting Corazón Deshilado’s mission—so your presence directly contributes to meaningful change.

Good people, great energy, and a powerful purpose behind it all. We’d love to see you there.

Rsvp: www.eventbrite.com/ilea-gives-back-tickets-1988204149131

04/13/2026

The Student Membership Drive is ON! 💜✨
From now until April 24, students can join ILEA for FREE using code NEXTGEN2027!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to jumpstart your career experience and make lasting connections with event professionals both from your area and across the globe 🌎

Do you work with a student community or know someone currently studying in an events or hospitality field? Tag them or send this their way!

Students register now at http://ileahub.com/joinilea

04/01/2026

Great events are built on great relationships—and this is where they begin.

Join ILEA Columbus at the brand new Barrel & Bloom for an evening focused on Industry Partnerships & Relationships, hosted by Tori and Nick. Expect real conversation, fresh connections, and the kind of energy that reminds you why you’re in this industry in the first place.

April 16 | 5:30–7:30 PM
Free to attend

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/industry-partnerships-and-relationships-tickets-1986449693507?aff=oddtdtcreator

Link is also in bio

03/26/2026

Still thinking about the energy from the ILEA Midwest Retreat ✨
So grateful for the incredible speakers who shared their insight and perspective — Lucretia Williams, Whitney Barkley, Jeff Hopeck, and Amanda Erickson.

And to the sponsors who made it all possible — PINS, DJ Axcess, Jessica Miller Photography, Hilton Easton, Event Source, and Cameron Mitchell Premier Events — thank you for showing up in such a meaningful way.

What a reminder of the power of this community.

03/17/2026

Thank you to our keynote from yesterday at the ILEA Midwest Retreat for your inspiring talk on fostering connections! In the go-go-go world of events, nothing has ever been more important than connection. Please stay connected with Jeff at and .

03/03/2026

At the ILEA Midwest retreat, Jeff Hopeck invites attendees to focus on the human side of success, revealing how authentic connection fuels trust, opportunity, and long-term growth.

Before building businesses, Jeff Hopeck served as a U.S. Secret Service officer, where he learned that the strongest influence doesn’t come from position, but from trust built one relationship at a time. By listening well, showing up consistently, and caring about people beyond the moment, Jeff saw how connection opens doors long before credentials ever do. That belief became the heart of Killer Shark Marketing, a people-first agency built on long-term relationships and over $45 million in referral-driven growth. It also inspired the
Interesting Humans podcast, created to pursue real conversations that deepen trust and expand meaningful networks, and continues through Hey Dad Can We, a growing fatherhood community on Instagram focused on presence, discipline, and strong father-son connection (book 1 launching March 1 2026). Currently, through Inside the White House, Jeff brings leadership, service, and history to life for students through first-hand experience working inside the walls of the White House. Different audiences. Same mission. The principle remains the same: connection isn’t a soft skill—it’s the steady, relational work of showing up with
character, consistency, and care. It’s a strategic advantage. It’s how trust is built and how lasting impact is made. It’s a way of life.

Member-only ticket Link in bio!

02/26/2026

Whitney L. Barkley, M.S., is an award-winning speaker, strategist, and founder of Speakerazzi®, a training and development company that helps individuals and organizations harness the power of personal branding and artificial intelligence. With a background in marketing and communication, Whitney has dedicated over a decade to teaching professionals how to align their voice, vision, and visibility using modern tools and timeless strategy. She is the creator of the Built From the Inside™ framework—a transformative process rooted in self-awareness, storytelling, and strategy—that empowers people to brand with clarity and confidence in a digital world. Whitney has delivered over 200 keynotes, workshops, and trainings across the U.S. and internationally. She has worked with leading institutions and organizations such as the University of Dayton, Central State University, Notre Dame, the Urban League, Elevate Network, National Minority Supplier Development Council, Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, Northern Kentucky University Business Central Access Center, City of Kettering, and more. From high school classrooms to corporate boardrooms, Whitney is known for her ability to make complex topics like AI and personal branding accessible, actionable, and authentic.

At the ILEA Midwest Retreat in her presentation, AI : Streamlining Events,
Whitney L. Barkley guides attendees through using AI as a strategic partner to increase efficiency, clarity, and confidence in modern
event ex*****on.

Join us for this incredible Members-only opportunity! Ticket Link in Bio

02/25/2026

Come join us at the Midwest Retreat 2026! This event has never been opened to our chapter members before and we're so excited about our top-tier programming lineup.

ILEA Midwest welcomes Lucretia Williams, Owner and CEO of Distinct Event Planning. With over 27 years of event planning experience, Lucretia is an adaptable,
“take-charge” event planner with a talent for special-event management and outstanding customer service. Trusted as the “go-to” event specialist; she has mastered the art of planning and designing corporate, nonprofit, and social events. Lucretia and her team specialize in planning culturally inclusive, large-scale corporate events where your guests can connect and collaborate, leaving them feeling valued and appreciated while amplifying their brand. Their client roster includes Victoria’s Secret & Co., NiSource, NBA, T. Marzetti, Hennessy, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, OhioHealth, and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine to name a few.

In her program Slow Down: The Hustle is Costing You More Than It's Making You, Lucretia Williams will show you how to slow down, hustle smart and
achieve success without constantly feeling overwhelmed.

Remember this is a members-only event so if you've been considering joining ILEA, now is the perfect time to join and get the most out of your membership!

TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fostering-innovation-reimagining-the-future-of-events-tickets-1981876210095?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/21/2026

ILEA members- get your tickets to the midwest retreat today! Link in bio:)

Address

632 Park St
Columbus, OH
43215

Website

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ilea-gives-back-tickets-1988204149131?aff=oddtdtcreator, https://www.ileahub.com/membership

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