In this role-reversal episode of The Room Block I’ve invited Courtney Stanley of Courtney Stanley Consulting, LLC to help me officially launch and share exciting updates about my new venture, JTS Connect, LLC. Courtney takes the reins as guest host to interview me for the full story behind JTS Connect, as well as chat about how meaningful conversations can change the world and why being your own boss is so challenging yet so rewarding at the same time. Tune in to learn about what I’ve been up to, and how Courtney has been a guiding light as I continue down my new path.

Jen Salerno, CMP, DES is the owner of JTS Connect, LLC, which provides emcee, moderation and facilitation services for live, virtual and hybrid events, as well as podcast hosting and consultation. She is also host of The Room Block, the podcast where hospitality and event professionals meet. Jen is passionate about the way meetings and events can positively impact the world, and is ready to connect your team or audience with ideas that inspire action.

Jen spent over 20 years in various facets of the hospitality & events industry and has worked with and consulted for several major hotel brands, meeting professionals and event organizers. Through this experience, Jen has the ability to understand the different priorities of her customers and brings extensive knowledge of the industry to help achieve them. Jen’s hospitable background enables her to engage with any guest or audience in a genuine, authentic way, building a sense of community within your organization or event.

Jen continues to partner with key event industry organizations such as the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and is an active volunteer with the Greater Midwest Chapter. She is also a proud associate of conferenceemcees.com.

Courtney Stanley of Courtney Stanley Consulting, LLC is recognized globally as an award-winning changemaker, keynote speaker and event emcee, and acclaimed creator of the women-inspired podcast, Dare to Interrupt. With a background in experience design, leadership studies and business hospitality, Courtney helps ambitious professionals from all walks of life lean fiercely into the power of leading with empathy, advocating for themselves and others, and seizing “silver lining” opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

Courtney is the youngest member to have ever been elected to Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) International Board of Directors. She is the recipient of Smart Meetings’ 2020 Women in Events Entrepreneur Award, Meetings Today’s 2019 & 2020 Trendsetter Award, MeetingsNet’s 2019 Changemaker Award, the Association for Women in Events (AWE) 2018 Disruptor Award, the 2015 MPI Chairman’s Award and 2011 MPI RISE Award, named Collaborate and Connect Magazine’s 40 under 40 in 2011, and is recognized as one of the event industry’s most impactful change-makers. Courtney serves on the Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force, MPI’s Women’s Advisory Board, is a Meetings Mean Business Ambassador and is the co-founder of the award-winning move...