In charge of Client Relationships, Strategic Meeting Planning and Event Creative Development.Peter Gunther describes his new role at Maxwell Events as Director of Global Communications. Peter handles both our National and International Association Clients and is well known for his creative approach to planning meeting and events for large groups, visiting both Orange County CA along with almost every major meeting hub here in the US and abroad.

My three most important tenets and guiding principles were:*mentor managers and help develop and guide their career*be an advocate for our clients*be an advocate for innovation and changeOur greatest resources are always our people. One of the benefits of managing a large department is to work with numerous individuals from all walks of life with all types of personalities. Creating a winning team and producing positive results is the inevitable outcome of mentoring, monitoring and developing those we work with.As an advocate for clients, I took it as my responsibility to build lasting relationships in the local community and reach out to civic and non-profit organizations such as CHOC (Childrens Hospital of Orange County), Boy Scouts of America, Servite High School, Chapman College, Boys and Girls Club and the All American Boys Chorus, to mention but a few. Working with these and other organizations allowed me to assist them achieving many of their objectives while representing Marriott interests.In addition, I developed, fostered and maintained contacts with numerous national associations returning to Anaheim for their conventions on a regular basis such as NAMM, Culinary Federation, American Heart Association, College of Cardiology, NBAA and HAI among them. Bell Helicopter, Pratt & Whitney Canada, American Eurocopter, Rolls Royce, Sikorsky and many other fine companies were among my regular clients for almost 3 decades. Also worked with the HAI Foundation representative and created a new, innovative and very successful concept to raise funds. My third tenet: “innovation and change” encouraged and inspired us to look for ways to improve systems, identify and adapt cutting edge technology to create diverse, memorable and unique events, setting our clients apart from the crowd. My hotel was well known for creativity in designing spectacular events and presenting culinary masterpieces in a positive environment.

The Foundation of NACEI started working on creating the Foundation of NACE during my tenure as Vice President and then implemented it after my election to the presidency. It had become clear to me the association needed an educational arm that could concentrate on working towards long term needs and set goals to improve educational opportunities not only for current members but also for future ones while, at the same time, consistently incorporate the latest trends in the industry.As founding president for the first five years, I directed the activities to develop fund raising acumen and formed targeted liaisons with university deans and college professors who would, eventually, be willing and able to help me realize my vision of adding Catering/Event Management classes at the University curriculum level, thus improving the capabilities and knowledge of graduates from the hotel/hospitality field. Many of the courses developed with help from the NACE Foundation are now given at UNLV, USD and FIU.By now, The Foundation of NACE has not only succeeded in financially supporting several universities but also started an ambitious scholarship program helping develop qualified future members of the Catering/Event Planning world and, of course, future NACE members.