Her Story
About Mary
Mary Altemus, is an accomplished leader in large-scale conferences, events, and trade shows, currently serving as Conference Logistics & Exhibition Manager with The Asprey Group. Since entering the events industry in 2002, Mary has built a reputation for turning complex logistics into seamless experiences, managing conferences and exhibitions ranging from 1,000 to more than 5,000 attendees. Her expertise encompasses the full event lifecycle, combining comprehensive project management with venue selection, contract negotiations, event logistics, floor plan development, exhibitor and sponsor management, vendor coordination, food and beverage planning, fire marshal compliance, and the complex move-in and move-out operations that keep large-scale conferences, exhibitions, and events running seamlessly. Her career began with working for a pioneering indoor-cycling fitness company before she transitioned fully into event planning, ultimately establishing herself as a trusted strategist in the health, wellness, corporate, and exhibition sectors. Mary’s commitment to excellence is reflected in her industry-leading certifications: Certified Meeting Manager (CMM), Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), and Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM). These credentials complement her extensive hands-on experience and reinforce her dedication to continual learning and professional development. Beyond her work, Mary actively contributes to the growth of the events industry as a board member and Director of Membership for the IAEE Central Texas Chapter, while also maintaining involvement with Meeting Professionals International (MPI). In her leadership role, she helps strengthen the professional community through member engagement, education, networking, and opportunities for industry professionals to connect and grow. She brings the same attention to detail and collaborative spirit to her professional associations that she brings to every event she manages. For Mary, success is about more than delivering a flawless event—it's about creating meaningful experiences through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and strategic decision-making. She believes the most successful event professionals don't simply execute tasks; they understand the purpose behind every decision and how each detail contributes to the overall attendee experience. Passionate about developing the next generation of industry leaders, Mary encourages emerging professionals to stay curious, ask questions, and continuously learn. Whether it's understanding how budgets drive decision-making, the impact of food and beverage planning, the flow of an exhibit hall, or the complexities of move-in and move-out operations, she believes that understanding the "why" builds confidence, strengthens problem-solving skills, and transforms coordinators into leaders. Through her technical expertise, collaborative leadership, commitment to operational excellence, and dedication to mentoring others, Mary continues to elevate not only the conferences and exhibitions she manages, but also the professionals who will shape the future of the events industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary
01What do you attribute your success to?
People may not remember every project you worked on, but they will remember whether you were dependable, honest, prepared, and someone they could trust.
I was also taught to treat everyone with the same level of respect—from the CEO to the union day laborer. Every person plays an important role, and the way you treat people says as much about your character as the work you produce.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was to be known as the person who finds solutions, not problems. Challenges are inevitable, especially in event management, but staying calm, thinking creatively, and focusing on solutions builds confidence and earns the trust of your team and clients.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't just focus on completing the task—take the time to understand why you're doing it. Ask questions, especially if you don't understand the reasoning behind a decision. Knowing the "why" will help you make better decisions, solve problems more confidently, and anticipate issues before they arise.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in the events, conferences, and exhibitions industry is balancing the growing demand for personalized attendee experiences with rising costs and limited resources.
Attendees expect more engaging content, networking opportunities, seamless technology, and unique experiences than ever before, while organizers are being asked to do more with tighter budgets and smaller teams. At the same time, AI, event technology, and data analytics are creating incredible opportunities to streamline operations, improve attendee engagement, and make more informed decisions.
The organizations that embrace innovation while maintaining the human connection will be the ones that stand out. At the end of the day, our industry is about bringing people together, creating meaningful experiences, and delivering value for attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and partners.
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