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The UWF Event Planning Team is delighted to bring the "Digital Dexterity Conference, A Hands-on Virtual Experience", to UWF students. In addition to creating the concept of this conference, they have curated the content, managed the communications and logistics, plus are presenting and moderating workshops. Meet the planners behind the conference.
Renako Banks is the Reservations Coordinator for the University Commons and Event Services Department. She plans, coordinates and manages marketing and customer development. She coordinates the administrative functions of the sales efforts in the department and assist in the development, execution, and optimization of marketing initiatives. Renako spent 13 years in the wireless industry before her position with UWF. She enjoys technology crafting and volunteering for various non-profit organizations.
Kristin Bartosik is a UWF student earning a BA in Hospitality Business Management. Her career in hospitality started at the Henderson Beach Resort, Destin, FL, in the Recreation Department. As a recreation attendant, Kristin worked to build her skills and knowledge of hospitality and gained confidence in her leadership style. While she still feels new to the hospitality scene, she is determined to learn as much as possible to become part of management in the future.
Kristin's mission is to make a positive impact on people's lives. Creating one of a kind and five-diamond excellence experiences are her passion. She adores the hospitality industry because of the people in it and the rich experiences it gives.
Her dream is to move back to Colorado to manage a ski resort. She deeply loves the mountain scenery and the exhilarating cold.
Deborah Cluff is the Military and Veteran Coordinator at the UWF Emerald Coast Campus. She graduated from NWF State College and the University of West Florida (with a Master's Degree in Education). In her 30+ years working in higher education she has coordinated or assisted with planning various events such as the American Cancer Society's Great Duck Race in Gainesville, FL, various other non-profit organization events, the Emerald Coast Veteran's Day program, UWF's Holiday Gala (both live and most recently virtual), and even a few retirement parties. She completed the Certificate in Event Planning in November, 2020. You can find Deborah in her spare time hiking, writing, and participating in living history events in the area.
Kennyattah Cox is the Assistant Director for Building and Event Services for University Commons and Event Services. Kennyattah assist unit leaders with all event services areas within the University Commons, which includes Reservations and Conference Services, Audio Visual Services, event setup, and day of event support. Additionally, she oversees the Service Desk & Ticket Center and coordinates the department's student employment initiatives as well.
Brookland Gordon is a graduate assistant for the Student Government Association here at the University of West Florida. Brookland received her Bachelors of Science degree in Secondary Education with minors in Communication and Biology from Tennessee Technological University. While at her undergraduate institution, she served as the President for the Kappa Pi Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity. She also served as a Senator for the College of Education and as a Student Orientation Assistant. Brookland is currently pursuing her Master's in College Student Affairs Administration. Brookland enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring the outdoors, and traveling.
April Leake graduated from NWF State College and the University of West Florida. For twenty years she worked at NWF student services. In 2018 she accepted the role of 2UWF Coordinator for the UWF Emerald Coast campus and has the honor of helping NWF and GCSC students transfer to UWF. She completed the UWF Division of Continuing Education Certificate in Event Planning in November 2020. She has used her Event Planning training in her roles as a board member for the League of Women Voters of Okaloosa County and committee co-chair for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer/Emerald Coast when running committee and general membership Zoom meetings and organizing the first ever Virtual Survivors and Caregivers Tea Party. In her spare time she fosters pregnant cats and attends science fiction conventions and Renaissance festivals.
Anna Lochas is the Administrative Specialist for Continuing Education. An active member of the UWF community, Anna is a member of the Event Leadership Team, the Academic Affairs Staff Development Council, and she has served on several committees. Anna is also the creator and coordinator of the Certificate in Event Planning, a professional development program open to all UWF faculty and staff members.
Anna has earned two degrees from the University of West Florida. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality, Recreation, and Resort Management, with a minor in Management in 2016 and a Master of Science in Administration with a specialization in Public Administration in 2019. Anna is also certified in Virtual Event and Meeting Management (VEMM) and Pandemic Meeting and Event Design (PMED) from the Event Leadership Institute.
Anna has been involved in several virtual events at UWF including overseeing the logistics for the Race and the Community series in October. Anna has assisted with the production and logistics for other virtual events including Navigating the Artist Perspective, An Evening with Joy Harjo, the Gulf Coast Digital History Project Launch, and the Holiday Home Bartending Alumni Event.
Mary Kate McBurney is the Campus Activity Board graduate assistant and is a proud UWF alumna. She is pursuing her master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in hospitality and tourism management. Through her various extracurricular activities, she discovered a passion for event planning and believes in the power of events to connect people. In her free time, Mary Kate enjoys volunteering in the UWF community garden and spending time at the beautiful Pensacola beaches. She hasn’t had much free time since she volunteered to help with the Digital Dexterity Conference. She is a team player who wanted to experience the crazy planning, moderating and hosting of a virtual event and jumped into the planning with enthusiasm and excitement.
Anamarie Mixson serves as Director in the Office of the President. Included in her many responsibilities is oversight of executive level and high profile community events. She led the implementation of the EMS registration system and consults on many projects related to event planning. Anamarie teaches classes for the Certificate in Event Planning and is a member of the Event Planners Group leadership team.
Charina Narciso is the coordinator for the Military and Veterans Resource Center. She plans events and manages social media for the MVRC. She received a bachelor's degree in music vocal performance and is currently pursing her masters in business adminstration.Her passions are music, color and design, house plants and taking care of her furbabies.
Patti Spaniola serves as the Director of Conferences & Events at the University of West Florida. She is an enthusiastic hospitality executive with a diverse range of experience in customer service, sales, meeting planning, team building and event design. She specializes in participant engagement techniques and how to deliver meaningful content in a memorable way. Patti tirelessly attends educational webinars, technology demos and virtual events to ascertain what tools and resources are most effective for event planners.
Teamwork and collaboration are Patti’s passion as she believes we achieve the best results together in a positive and safe space. She enjoys working with colleagues, volunteers, professionals, and students to help them experience the creative process together while achieving high value results for their events.
Patti earned an M.B.A. from Regis University in Colorado Springs, CO and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
She is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certified Event Designer (CED). In June 2020, she became one of 5 Certified Event Design Online Facilitators in the world earning a CED+ certification.
Thanh Tran is a senior Global Hospitality and Tourism Management major with a minor in Theatre. During the time that Thanh has spent at UWF, she remains involved and connected to the campus in a variety of ways. Some of Thanh's previous leadership positions include being an Orientation Leader and a Student Admissions Representative with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Promotions Chair with the Campus Activity Board, and a College of Business Senator with the Student Government Association. While she concludes her four year journey at UWF, Thanh currently serves as a Resident Assistant with Housing and Residence Life and a member of the Conduct Hearing Board with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. She has a specific interest in event planning because she loves the process of putting together a storytelling experience for her audience and leaving an imprint on their lives.
Kaley Van Zile serves as a Residence Life Coordinator in the Department of Housing and Residence Life with diverse experience in student development, counseling, event and meeting planning, management and technology. Kaley currently coordinates the logistics for all large-scale departmental events and oversees the implementation of the department’s Residential Engagement Model, including resident interactions, community programming, assessment efforts and institutional reporting. Kaley has been involved in several virtual events at UWF and she is one of the first individuals at UWF to complete the new Certificate in Virtual Event Planning. Kaley earned her Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Student Affairs from Mississippi State University in 2017 and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems with concentration in Information Security from Florida Atlantic University in 2015. In her free time, she enjoys music, exploring the city of Pensacola, spending time with family and hanging home with her cats.
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