Cheryl Thompson

Cheryl Thompson serves as the Corporate Program and Business Development Manager, overseeing a diverse portfolio of federal, state, local, and commercial contracts. Her responsibilities also include managing company certifications and leading the Simplified Acquisition Department. Cheryl brings extensive experience in national meeting planning, having successfully produced hybrid and virtual conferences that have ranged in size from 65 to 8,000 attendees, featuring celebrities, politicians, government officials, and dignitaries.

Cheryl began her career as a Corporate Trainee with Hyatt Hotels, where she spent nine years mastering all facets of hotel operations, including personnel and functional management. Her exceptional contributions earned her the title of Manager of the Year.

She later transitioned into the nonprofit sector as Conference Director for the National Head Start Association, where she led initiatives in professional development, budgeting, conference marketing, certification programs, distance learning, and brand strategy. Notably, she expanded the organization’s distance learning offerings to include webinars, audio conferences, and satellite training, creating new revenue opportunities.

Continuing her work in the nonprofit arena, Cheryl joined the School Nutrition Association, where she served as Staff Vice President of Meetings. She was an active member of the organization’s Board of Directors’ Strategic Planning Team and frequently presented educational sessions on conference planning, marketing, and sponsorship development.

Cheryl holds several industry-recognized credentials: Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), and Learning Environment Specialist (LES).