Team S&D

Shelly Sanders’ extensive background in meeting and event planning provided the strong foundation to launch S&D Productions, Inc. Her expertise comes from years of developing, producing, and managing meetings, events, seminars, and conferences for major financial organizations, international associations, and a variety of large corporate clients. With this depth of knowledge she not only serves as S&D’s Executive Director, but maintains a hands-on approach with the broad base of corporate clients; ensuring the highest level of organization and experience to the services the company provides. It is not surprising Shelly is insistent upon “keeping within the budget,” as her background also includes financial planning. It is also not surprising that Shelly has built a solid, highly-satisfied client base since S&D’s inception in 1998; a nucleus of firms and associations of all sizes, which have demonstrated their satisfaction and loyalty to S&D Productions through ongoing and additional business.

As a member of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and having completed her training for her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation, Shelly keeps abreast of new developments in the industry to better meet the demands of an ever-changing meeting and event market – thereby providing the broadest spectrum of quality services for current and future clients alike.

Brenda Dudick’s broad-reaching experience in corporate event and meeting planning provides the foundation for her to manage S&D Productions’ Northeast operations. Having been raised in Maspeth and Hampton Bays, New York, and following her education in hospitality management at Plattsburgh State University, much of Brenda’s professional career has been interwoven throughout Manhattan’s corporate culture. Her experience ranges from planning and overseeing group functions and excursions at global travel and tour specialist Kintetsu International Express, to arranging professional training and education seminars throughout North America for Dunn & Bradstreet. Additional experience includes Mutual of New York (MONY) Life Insurance Company where, as Senior Meeting Manager, Brenda planned and executed events from corporate board meetings to major, televised company-sponsored sporting events. The depth of her professional contact and resource base, along with her experience and first hand knowledge of all aspects of the industry provides vast insight and a positive relationship with clients of all varieties. Brenda’s thoroughness, attention to detail, flexibility, and managerial skills enhance and ensure S&D Productions’ mission of complete client satisfaction.

As an accomplished artist and independent media maker, project manager Bob Major augments S&D Productions’ creative approach to ever-memorable events and functions. Formerly the technology operations supervisor, responsible for events at a major downtown Chicago hotel, Bob has experience in all aspects of event technology production and presentations – for groups and organizations of all shapes, sizes, and budgets. Along with significant experience in technical event logistics, encompassing planning, supervision, and operations, his creative history includes audio video production and editing and film production, including a period with Warner Bros. Television on the Chicago production set of a major network prime-time drama. Robert’s academic credits are equally impressive; in addition to his role as an instructor in the Department of Digital Media at the Illinois Institute of Art, he holds an MFA in Film, Video, and New Media from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he was a Trustee Scholar, and served as an integral part of the Instructional Resources and Media Services department. Bob Major enhances the creative problem solving and versatile skill sets that S&D Productions delivers within all-encompassing events, functions, and meetings that clients come to know and remember for the Service, Dedication, and Creativity.

Lisa Pennington has been in the hospitality and meeting industry since 2000, and now as a key member of the S&D Productions team.  Lisa began her career working in the destination management division of a special events company.  This experience gave her the opportunity to become familiar with the meeting planning and travel side of the business, as well as gain experience in the food and beverage unit including decor, florals, entertainment and much more.   Lisa later moved on to work as a banquet manager at a four-star property to acquire hotel industry experience.  Lisa now works strictly as a trip director/manager with a wide variety of companies.  Meeting planners often personally request her to work their programs thanks to her leadership skills and outgoing personality.  Lisa is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.

With over 15 years in the corporate meeting and events industry, Tim Pennington brings a wide variety of skills to the S&D team. Tim began his career in the hospitality industry as a production manager in catering and special events, then later oversaw onsite operations for a destination management company. Since then he has worked as a freelance travel director handling corporate meetings and incentive programs of all scopes and sizes for a wide variety of organizations; from medical and pharmaceutical, to restaurant and automotive events. Tim is always willing to involve himself in many aspects of a program or event in order to suit a client’s needs. He has vast knowledge and creativity in the function and utilization of mobile apps for events, from the design stage to assisting attendees onsite. Tim always has a smile on his face, and his positive attitude, combined with his industry knowledge and experience, help him build excellent rapports and strong relationships with hotel staff and clients alike. Tim is also fluent in Spanish.

Peter Bohler, Production Manager for S&D Productions, brings vast experience in event production and staging. Peter’s production talents include stage management, video direction, creative development, and stage labor procurement and supervision. His production talents date back to his days at the University of St. Francis, where he earned his BA in communications, while learning on-the-job with sports and special event broadcasting coordination and production. As an actor and director at several local and regional theaters, Peter has complete knowledge of the production stage – both front and back – thereby assuring S&D’s clients of top quality, professional, and memorable event productions.

Meeting Planner Chris Gorrell brings over a decade of experience planning and implementing large and small meetings, conferences, training workshops, award programs, and product launches. Her broad-reaching experience encompasses virtually all aspects of meeting and event execution, including budget development, site and venue selection, contract negotiations, air and ground transportation, housing, audio visual, meal and menu planning, as well as event theming, décor, and entertainment.

Chris started her career at a leading contract pharmaceutical and healthcare R&D entity, where she planned and executed meetings and events for top-tier pharmaceutical firms.

While obsessed with details and often accused of being a perfectionist, Chris easily develops relationships with her clients, colleagues and vendors through her wit and humor, common sense and professionalism. Her experience and flexibility allows her to relate to her clients’ needs and maintain a clear understanding of their vision and event objectives, from detailed planning through successful execution. With exceptional organization and multi-tasking abilities, Chris maintains the exemplary service, attention to detail, and client-first philosophy that has afforded S&D Productions the well-earned industry recognition and respect throughout the years.

Consistent with the S&D Productions personnel team of highly-regarded event planners, A/V production specialists, and administrative staff, Lisa Wade brings years of high-level meeting planning experience from the Washington, DC area. Having planned and executed functions for organizations in and around the Nation’s Capital for over a decade, Lisa has developed, managed, and executed numerous events for high-level national associations and multinational corporations. A Certified Meeting Planner with a communications degree from Michigan State University, Lisa has long-standing knowledge and experience in managing the full scope of corporate client programs from inception to realization; including the development of scope documents, timelines, and operating procedures, through event implementation. Well-versed in all aspects of meeting and event planning and execution, she is intimately familiar and experienced with transportation, food and beverage, décor, housing, and VIP requirements of high-visibility healthcare, telecommunications, financial, and legal clients. An avid global traveler, Lisa contributes sound individual strength, leadership experience, and full spectrum knowledge of meeting, conference, and event planning and execution functions – with the mindset of consistently exceeding top-tier corporate client expectations – to the well-qualified S&D Productions team of professionals.