Janet Sperstad’s professional history reflects her lifelong vocation: driving excellence in meeting and event management execution and education. She has dedicated her career to defining the competencies and career pathways that articulate meeting planning as a design discipline requiring skills in the social sciences, executive leadership, and the cognitive sciences. Her contributions are global in scope and rooted in over 25 years as a meeting professional and executive leader in the corporate and non-profit sectors. Ms. Sperstad has been employed by a Fortune 500 global company, a statewide association, and owned a professional event management firm.
She currently leads Madison College’s Meeting and Event Management Associate degree program, which she founded in 2002 and recently been selected as Competency Model Champion from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Janet’s volunteer service includes high-profile leadership roles that are shaping how our industry defines itself, and how competencies impact education and standards development at every level. Current and most recent volunteer commitments include:
- Chair, Certified Meeting Professional Governance Commission.
- Member, US Department of Labor, Hospitality, Tourism and Event Industry Competency Model Task Force.
- Co-Chair, Convention Industry Council, Industry Education Task Force.
Ms. Sperstad is the recipient of the 2015 MPI Chairman’s Award as well named as being named one of the top 30 CMP Influencers by the CIC. In addition she was the PCMA Professional Achievement Educator Honoree and Industry Trendsetter for 2014 as well as she was the MPI International Planner of the Year for 2007-2008. She was recognized by her excellence in teaching through the Devi Bhargava award in 2010 and as Madison College’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 2005.
Ms. Sperstad has written for and been featured in a variety of industry publications, academic journal and is an internationally recognized meeting professional, teacher, and trainer.
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Books:
The Biophilia Hypothesis (Shearwater Book)
Movies:
Best advice:
"You can do anything you put your mind to."
Industry Events:
IMEX America
PCMA Convening Leaders
Contact:
Direct Line: 608.246.6585