ABOUT US
From experienced meeting planners, to membership and marketing professionals, and graphic designers, we have a full scope of professionals on hand to ensure each client event is a success.
Heather Sampson, CMP Fellow, DES is a Strategic Event Consultant and the Founder of Aspire Meetings & Events. She brings more than 25 years of event management and event technology experience to her clients. She has managed all aspects of meetings, conventions, trade shows, and special events for groups of 10-10,000+.
An industry leader, she has served on numerous Boards of Directors, Committees, and Task Forces throughout the meetings and associations industries, and has also shared her events industry expertise at numerous association executive conferences.
She helps associations reimagine, redefine and execute a thriving event strategy.
She is passionate about making each event a unique, memorable, valuable experience for her clients and their audiences. Her career success can be attributed to her signature strategic and creative approach, which focuses heavily on the "Why" behind each event. She leads with intention, strategy, and innovation, and applies these core principles to each aspect of her clients' event experience. An innovative problem-solver and risk mitigation expert, she is always looking 10 steps ahead, with a broad scope of contingencies at the ready, no matter what curveballs come her way. She cares deeply about her clients' success and quickly becomes a valuable, trusted ally and partner to each of her clients. With a team of experienced planners and industry partners by her side, Heather and her Aspire Meetings & Events team ensure that each client's program is a raving success.
When Heather is not producing events, she enjoys traveling with her husband John, writing, spending time with friends and family, mentoring and coaching the next generation of event planners, and of course, cheering on her favorite New England sports teams.
Career Highlights
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) since 2006, and CMP Fellow since 2024
Certified Digital Event Strategist (DES) since 2016
Pandemic Compliance Advisor (2020)
Served as President, Past President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director on the PCMA New England Board of Directors (2011-2019)
Meetings Mean Business (MMB) Meeting Professional Task Force
Association for Women in Events (AWE) Board of Directors, 2017-2018
New England Society of Association Executives (NE/SAE) Board of Directors (2023 - Present), Education Committee Chairs (2019-2021) and Education Committee member (2017-2019)
20+ Years of Trade Show Management Experience, including two years as Show Director for one of TSNN's Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States
Proven track record of growing exhibit and sponsorship programs
10+ Years of Experience in Medical Meetings and CME/CNE Accreditation
Highly skilled in Assessing and Implementing all Meeting/Event Technology (Registration/Lead Retrieval/Session Tracking, Abstract Management, Event Management Platforms, Virtual Conference Platforms/Mobile Apps, Learning Management Systems), and SSO integrations
Featured in the 2016 Event App Bible produced by EventManagerBlog.com, and on EventsUncovered.TV
2017 Recipient of SPIN's Inaugural "40 Over 40" Awards recognizing the contributions of meetings industry pioneers, high achievers, and trailblazing contributors