Our Team
Meet a few of our team members
Valerie Sumner - Principal
Valerie has 26 years of meeting and event management experience focused in business development, sales and marketing and planning. She began her career in the hospitality industry in sales with Americana Hotels in 1982. She worked on property and in a National Sales capacity in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She moved to Washington DC in 1984 and worked for Radisson Hotels on property and in National Sales.
Her career continued at The Capital Informer, Inc, one of the industry's leading destination management and event management companies from 1986 until 2005. She held positions including Director of Marketing, Vice President Sales and Marketing, and in 1998 was promoted to President for all divisions of the TCI Companies. Her responsibilities included: working collaboratively with clients and the staff to deliver well executed and highly creative meetings and events throughout the US, Canada and Central America, setting the future direction of the firm, developing strategies to realize client goals and objectives, cultivating and developing a client base, and creating a learning organization that inspired all stakeholders (clients, staff and vendor partners) to achieve successful results.
A select list of clients includes: The Washington Redskins - 70th Anniversary, Washington Convention Center Authority, Discovery Health Channel, The Deputy Mayor's office for Planning and Economic Development- Washington DC, The 54th Presidential Inaugural, The 2006 World Travel and Tourism Council - Global Summit, The Endocrine Society, FINRA, The Lash Group, Specialty Biotech Distributors Association, National Ocean Industries Association, LA Inc, and AmerisourceBergen.
In August 2005, Valerie launched VRS Meetings & Events Inc with her partner, Roberta Sumner. VRS is a global meeting and event management team dedicated to innovative and responsive results for each and every client. VRS is committed to excellence and works primarily in the corporate and association markets.
Valerie's professional board and volunteer work includes: The Professional Conference Management Association (national and chapter level), Co-Chair St. James Catholic School Auction, and she serves on two committees for the Heart of America Foundation based in Washington DC. She holds a BA degree in Communications with a minor in Business Administration from Marquette University, Milwaukee Wisconsin and has completed the PCMA Masters I and II courses.
Roberta Sumner - Principal
Roberta is an expert logistician with 20 years of meeting and event management experience. She began her career in the hotel industry in 1990 on property with the Hyatt Hotel in Houston, Texas. In 1992 she was hired by Kerrville Coach Lines in Houston to manage the transportation logistics for the Republican National Convention.
In 1993, The Capital Informer, Inc. hired Roberta as a Transportation Coordinator. Her role grew as she developed new accounts and took on increased responsibilities. She was promoted to Senior Account Manager in 1995 and in 2000 opened the TCI office in San Diego as Office Manager and National Account Director.
Roberta works collaboratively with clients, vendors and personnel to produce meetings and events which require a sophisticated approach, have multi-faceted program components requiring creative perspective and strong negotiations. Her in depth knowledge of meeting management, event management, transportation, entertainment production and tours affords her clients a strong leader and resource.
The International Reading Association, Scripps National Spelling Bee, Roche Laboratories, Omni Hotels, Tourism Toronto, the American Roentgen Ray Society, Sentillion, Inc., General Motors, The Washington Redskins 70th Anniversary, and The Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation (now Destination DC) are just a few clients who have relied on Roberta's expert management and execution for their meetings and events throughout North America. In 2001, Roberta was one of two Team Leads responsible for the transportation logistics for the 54th Presidential Inaugural. In her role, she was responsible for managing and executing all the logistics for over 150 celebrities, entertainers and performers throughout the seven day Presidential Inaugural event.
Roberta and her partner, Valerie Sumner formed VRS Meetings & Events in August of 2005.
She holds a BA degree in History from the University of Houston
Michelle Mobley
Michelle began her career in hospitality industry with The TCI Companies a national meeting and event management firm in 1999. Her responsibilities included working collaboratively with clients and the staff to deliver well executed and highly creative meetings and events throughout the US, Canada and Central America setting the future direction of the firm, developing strategies to realize client goals and objectives, cultivating and developing a client base and launching the sports marketing division of TCI. Select client list includes: Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, National Quarterback Club Awards Dinner, Opening of the Washington Convention Center, The office of Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Greater Washington Sports Alliance, DC Sports & Entertainment Commission, and the 54th Presidential Inauguration.
Michelle has served as the Director of Special Projects for The Heart of America Foundation for the past three years guiding the growth and development of their annual gala. The gala called Sweet Charity has tripled in attendance and revenue under her leadership.
Michelle also served in the capacity as a project manager in the development of HOA's library makeover project called READesign. READesign engages volunteers, especially local youth, as well as corporate team members and other members of the community, in service and community involvement through library beautification and improvement activities, book distributions and one-on-one reading activities with children. Michelle traveled around the country as the lead project manager for Target Corporation, NFL Players Association, Capital One and the Washington Nationals sponsored Library makeover projects.
Michelle currently works for VRS Meetings and Events as an Account Director of Marketing and Events. VRS Meetings & Events, inc. is a full service meeting and event management firm offering a complete scope of services to insure professionally executed and uniquely innovative meetings and events for clients. Select client list includes: International Women in Media Foundation, World Travel and Tourism Summit, Scripps National Spelling Bee, Sentillion Corporation, etc.
VRS Meetings & Events
Valerie Sumner, Principal
Roberta Sumner, Principal
7403 Venice Street
Falls Church, VA 22043
Valerie Sumner (202) 373-4174
email:
Roberta Sumner (202) 373-4175
email:
www.vrsevents.com
