Desirée joined AREMA in July 2000. She is responsible for executing a portfolio of events which includes the AREMA Annual Conference & Exposition, Seminars, Webinars and other various educational opportunities and meetings. Her degree is from West Los Angeles College. She is an active member of the Professional Convention Meeting Association (PCMA) and received her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2006. In 2017, Desirée was one of the PCMA Visionary Award Meeting Professionals of the Year Finalists. She is an active member with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where she earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2018 and is an ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar (2016-2018 Class). She is also a member of the League of Railway Women (LRW) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). Desirée has been named one of Meetings Today’s Meeting Trendsetters as well as a 40 over 40 Award Winner with the Senior Professionals Industry Network (SPIN). She has also been active on several industry customer advisory boards.