A. Reid, V. Ballard, A. Layton, G. Musick, M. Fly, C. Norfleet

Teaches at Belmont U Center for Executive Education

Abi Reid
Abi Reid is the co-owner of Bright Event Productions and VP of Sales and Client Relations. Prior to starting Bright in 2012, she worked for another event lighting company, event florist, linen company, and caterer learning all facets of the event industry honing in on what she is most passionate about: event design and customer experience. At Bright Event Productions, she and her partner have created an event lighting, sound and visual design company specializing in custom installation and top notch customer service for clients in the greater Nashville area and beyond.

Abi graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Marketing and Business Administration. In 2007, after a year of promotional planning for an advertising firm out of Louisville, KY, Abi returned to Nashville in search of a field where she could expand her creative background. As a freelance artist in her spare time, event design has allowed her to see a blank venue as she would a blank canvas.

Vicky Ballard, CMP
Vicky has served in the hospitality industry for over 25 years with a background focused in hotel catering, event service and group sales. She is a member and former Past President of the Tennessee Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. Additionally, Vicky has served as Treasurer for the Nashville Travel & Tourism Professionals. Vicky has received several certifications and awards, including the Davidson Hotel Company Millionaire Club, Star of Excellence, Top Gun Award – Marriott Hotels, TMPI Chapter Leader of the Year, President’s Award, Certified Meeting Professionals, Certified Wedding Planner. Vicky has taught Food & Beverage Planning for the Meeting and Event Planning (MEP) course since 2003. She is employed by Marriott at the Inn at Opryland.

Angela Layton, CMP, CMM
Angela Layton is a certified meeting professional (CMP) with a certificate in meeting management who is dedicated to producing high-impact meetings and events that deliver on strategic goals. Angela brings a high-energy approach and more than 13 years of experience to meeting and event planning, production, tradeshow program management, marketing, public relations, communications and project management in the corporate, government, non-profit and association industries.
Angela is the 2012-2013 chairwoman of Meeting Professional International’s Membership Advisory Council and represents MPI:TN on the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable Board of Directors. She served four years on the Tennessee Chapter Board of Directors, including the role of president in 2009-2010.
A two-time recipient of the Tennessee Chapter Planner of the Year Award and 2009 MPI:TN President’s Award honoree, Angela is dedicated to sharing her love of the industry. She has made presentations at MPI’s Industry Education Day and the Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
Angela holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University.

Gary Musick
Gary Musick is the President of Gary Musick Productions, Inc. and Gary Musick Scenic, Inc. He began his career in the entertainment industry as a performer with Opryland USA. He soon became an accomplished studio vocalist in the Nashville recording industry, with numerous credits on major jingles and country and contemporary Christian recordings. In 1982, he joined the company that would eventually become Gary Musick Productions, now one of the most respected corporate event and entertainment production companies in the country. Musick’s clients in the corporate event and theatrical entertainment markets are among the largest and best known brands in their respective industries.

Melanie Fly
Melanie has thirty years experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries and serves as an Adjunct Professor for Belmont University in Event Management and Etiquette. Her vast experience includes twenty years at Gaylord Entertainment where her responsibilities included the planning and management of all corporate meetings and entertainment. Most recently she was the Area Director of Marketing for Turnberry Hospitality. She has worked with four Presidents’ of the United States and a variety of Fortune 500 company presidents and entertainment celebrities. Melanie’s hands on approach have earned her many etiquette stripes including twice named Tennessee Planner of the Year. Melanie is also a graduate of Belmont University.

Carol Norfleet, CMP, DMCP
Carol Norfleet serves as Executive Vice President & COO with Destination Nashville. Carol regularly leads preparation sessions for the CMP certification as the Study Group Leader for TN, and co-taught the first CMP Boot Camp in Beijing, China. She served as President for the Tennessee Chapter of MPI in 2000-01 and was a member of the Resumes and Work Orders Group for the APEX Commission. She served MPI in 2008-09 on the groundbreaking Future of Meetings Task Force. In March 2009 she was awarded the Joanne O’Connor President’s Award from ADME, the Association of Destination Management executives, for her leadership roles within Destination Nashville and dedication to industry education. As a faculty member for the Belmont University Meeting & Event Planning certificate course, Carol is a requested presenter on meetings industry issues such as site selection, food and beverage, and destination management as well as the CMP program. She received the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2000 and her Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) through ADME in 2002. Carol has her B.S. and M.B.A. from Austin Peay State University.