Your Membership Grant Recipients!

Aimee Specker

Aimee Specker is a Chicago-based Account Manager with Hilton Worldwide Sales who has been in the Hospitality Industry since 2018. She started on-property with hotel sales teams from Cambria Chicago Loop and Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown N Loop to theWit Chicago – A Hilton Hotel, and she also has a background in Marketing from her time with Broadway In Chicago and C-4 Analytics agency. She joined Hilton corporate on the National Sales side in 2023 and acts as a trusted advisor for her clients' group meeting and event needs, providing support on behalf of Hilton's global portfolio of hotels. Through MPI, she is most excited to get further acquainted with more local Chicago area industry experts, along with attending networking and educational events to continue to learn and grow as a hospitality professional.

Antoinette Gonzalez

Antoinette is a jack of all event industry trades and couldn't detail all her experience even if there were hours to do so. In addition to her 30 years of experience in transportation, as well as experience as a corporate concierge and running a special event venue, she is a member of multiple event associations and has crossed paths with quite a few people in the industry. 

When she’s not finding every opportunity to hype up promotions and help teams grow, get to know each other, and give back to the community, she basks in the glory of being a multiple National Champion Ballroom Dancing title holder! Which keeps her feeling great as she gardens, reads, dances, and enjoys home repair, crime shows, and being the Mizzer Mom of her Siamese fur babies.

 Heather Warthen

Heather Warthen is the associate corporate communications manager for Topco Associates, an 80-year-old food cooperative headquartered in Itasca, and co-leads the company's employee engagement group. Through the group, she plans several internal associate events throughout the year. A former MPI-CAC board member and two-time President's Award Winner as well as two-time Committee of the Year winner, Heather has been a member of MPI-CAC for seven years. 

"I'm so grateful to be a recipient of MPI-CAC's membership grant. This organization has been a great way to expand not only my event planning skills but also my network through volunteering on committees. It's the best way to get the most out of your membership!"

Melissa Autullo

For over 10 years, Melissa has excelled in the events industry, working on everything from initial concepts to flawless execution. Prior to joining the team at NHS Global Events, Melissa fine-tuned her professional skills while holding such positions as Group Sales Manager for DoubleTree by Hilton in Oak Brook, and Event Sales Manager at City Winery in Chicago.

The deadline for the next Membership Grant is July 15! Apply today: https://www.mpi.org/chapters/chicago-area/about-our-chapter/membership-grants