Tell us a little bit about yourself…
How long have you been a member of ILEA?Next year will be 20 years. I’ve been an ILEA member almost half of my life.
What did it mean to you to be the President of the Greater Chicago Chapter?I was incredibly honored to lead our chapter. The Presidents before me were such a positive influence on both my career and personal development. They made it an easy decision to step in and volunteer my time. That way I was able to pay it forward just as previous Presidents had. I still feel the same way today.
Did you meet any important people of influence in your career through ILEA?Too many to count! I could talk about this all day long. I’ve had incredible mentors within ILEA and the majority of them I’m still in contact with today. And you can’t stop with just the Greater Chicago Chapter, I continue to stay in touch with dozens of ILEA members around the country. As a matter of fact I sent out a referral to Denver just this week to a long time ILEA leader. But the biggest impact ILEA has had on me personally is my industry mindset. I was taught early that we’re all in the same industry and we’re not “furniture guys”, “linen people”, or “wedding people”, we’re all event people! The minute that sunk in, I was truly an event professional for life.
Who/ what inspired you to go into the events industry?Hating copier sales pretty much sums it up…
What are you most excited for in the future of events?The people. The experiences created today weren’t even dreamed of when I started in events. That talent and creative drive of our members keeps me coming to work each and every day.
How are you continuing to evolve your network and community over the years?By staying involved. You actually have to put in the effort if you expect to grow and maintain your network. As the industry evolves, you should to. And I can’t think of a better way to stay relevant than being an involved ILEA member. If you’re reading this and want to chat about ILEA, please reach out. I am always willing to take time for others and give back to an industry that has given me so much.
Connect with Jack:
Instagram: @jackscafideLinkedIn: Jack Scafide