metroConnections Welcomes Two New Board Members

Employee-owned virtual, hybrid & live conference event company will add experienced leadership to guide ESOP

metroConnections is honored to welcome two accomplished industry veterans–Jon P. Otterstatter and Trent L. Walden–that will help to guide the 100% employee-owned company in 2021 and beyond.

As a component of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that metroConnections formed in January of 2020, the company has chosen Otterstatter and Walden to serve as its new external board members. Both will contribute their perspectives and considerable expertise to assist metroConnections as the company continues to grow its market position in virtual, live in-person, and hybrid events.

Boasting significant qualifications as a business leader and technology innovator, Jon Otterstatter is the original co-founder and current CEO of Preventice Solutions, an industry-leading medical technologies developer. Otterstatter’s extensive career also includes providing exceptional performance for stakeholders in technology and executive leadership roles at companies like SPSS and IBM.

As a senior sales, marketing and operations leader for organizations that include Dart & Kraft Financial, Arden Industrial Products and Bell Industries, Trent Walden has shepherded growth for his enterprises by developing strategies, processes and people to perform at the top of their capacities. Walden brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing related to customer engagement, sales efficiency and customer satisfaction.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jon and Trent to our ESOP Board,” says metroConnections President and CEO David Graves, “Both individuals will bring an incredible wealth of experience and leadership to metroConnections as we continue to develop our capabilities for virtual and hybrid events to better serve our customers in response to COVID-19. ”

Otterstatter and Walden assumed their duties at metroConnections in Q1 of 2021 and will meet with company leadership on a quarterly basis. Their first initiative will be to advise metroConnections as the company navigates its return to hybrid and fully live events and conferences, while retaining and expanding the fully digital event services it developed in response to COVID-19. Both men will also offer their guidance and fresh perspectives to help shape metroConnections’ long-term trajectory.

About metroConnections

Since 1984, metroConnections has provided complete conference, event, stage production and transportation services for meeting and event planners nationwide. The services include fully virtual, hybrid and in-person programming. The company operates from its headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. The metroConnections team uses its expertise and resources to specialize in producing virtual, hybrid and live in-person programs while excelling at program management and event services. It is considered an industry leader in attendee web-based solutions that includes elements such as online registration and custom-built event websites. For information on planning conferences, events, stage productions or transportation logistics contact metroConnections at info@metroconnections.com or visit https://www.metroconnections.com/.

Media Contact:
Tom McCulloch, Chief Marketing Officer
tmcculloch@metroconnections.com
952.767.2902

metroConnections

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