Meet the E-Board
2024 - 2025
Lauren Searle
President
Hi everyone, my name is Lauren, and I will be serving as the President of MEC this year! I am a Junior from Connecticut interested in the luxury hospitality market with a minor in Spanish. I love to travel and this picture is from the study abroad program I completed this past summer in Santander, Spain! I am so excited for what we have in store this year and to welcome old and new faces to this wonderful club!
Ali Reinert
Vice President
Hey everyone, I'm Ali and I'm super excited to see as Vice President this year for MEC!
I'm currently a sophomore studying hospitality business, and I am also the Co-CEO of Destination Auction. I look forward to all the new memories we will make this year in MEC!
Abby Peck
Chief Financial Officer
Hi I’m Abby peck and I’m the CFO of MEC this year! I’m a senior from Lexington, KY and I’m studying hospitality with a minor in Information Technology. This summer I interned at the Omni Hotel in Nashville, TN. I am looking forward to another great year and I hope you all are too!
Grace Blackwood
Director of Fundraising & Philanthropy
Hi everybody! My name is Grace and I am a Sophomore from East Lyme, CT. This year I will be serving as the director of philanthropy! In my free time I love to hang out with my friends, travel, and cook! I am currently interested in the events side of hospitality, but am still exploring which area in particular. I am so excited for another amazing year in MEC!
Tara Pallick
Director of Meetings
Hi Im Tara and I am this year’s Director of Meetings ! I’m a junior studying Hospitality Business, focused on the corporate event industry. I’m excited to take on this role and what will come this year :)
Sam Vieder
Director of Events
Hello! My name is Sam Vieder and I’m going to be a junior studying hospitality business. This past summer, I was a concierge intern in the beautiful city of Whitefish, Montana. Outside of work and school I like to cook, work out, go to the beach, and hang out with my friends. I feel honored to be returning at the director of events for the 2nd year in a row, so be prepared to experience some amazing site tours and unique socials!!
Annie Gillespie
Co-Director of Marketing
Hi everyone! My name is Annie, and I am one of the Co-Directors of Marketing for MEC! I am a junior studying Hospitality Business and minoring in Spanish. This Summer, I interned at Indian Hill Club as a Food & Beverage Intern. While at MSU, I am an Events Intern at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. My specific focuses are in event planning and event marketing! I cannot wait to see what this year will bring and grow with MEC!
Lily Warnica
Co-Director of Marketing
Hi! My name is Lily and I’m one of the co-directors of marketing for MEC this year! I’m currently a junior and the CEO of the Hospitality Association. This summer I interned at Continental as an Event Execution Intern. It was an incredible experience and made me fall in love with the world of events even more. I am so excited for this upcoming year and all the fun things we have planned. It’s going to be a great year!
MEC Alumni
My name is Jordan Kelley and I am a 2021 HB graduate. I currently live in Chicago and work as an Event Services Senior Associate for Smithbucklin. I manage clients and my duties vary based on their needs. The best part of my job is that I get to travel to conferences, most recently to Edinburgh, Scotland, and execute the event onsite!
Jordan Kelley - Former President