Tara Liaschenko, CMM, QAS

With over 25 years of planning experience, Tara Liaschenko is an award-winning professional who has earned an impeccable reputation for creativity and excellence in the event and meeting planning industry.  She is the recent recipient of the 2015 MPI Global RISE Award for Member of the Year.

A graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, Ms. Liaschenko began her career as a consultant in the fashion industry producing and directing.  She has supervised product education and training for a national research laboratory, launched an industry resource guide, and managed on-air image and product knowledge for HSN.  Her work has been based in San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, and Florida.

Ms. Liaschenko is the Founder and Creative Executive Officer of The Link Event Professionals, Inc., a global company based in Tampa, Florida dedicated to planning services covering all aspects of meetings and events including concept development, site selection, contract negotiation, entertainment, catering & accommodations, décor design, promotion, production development, registration, and management.

Her clients include corporations, associations, nonprofits, religious groups, and individuals.   She has successfully executed thousands of events during her career ranging from those modest in size to conventions and tradeshows of 10,000 attendees and budgets of well over a million dollars.  Whether you are seeking sophisticated, traditional, or surprising, a board meeting or strategic planning session, her organization excels at engaging audiences, increasing participation, building your brand, and accelerating desired outcomes.

An accomplished speaker, Ms. Liaschenko also facilitates board, staff, and client retreats, and her company has expanded to facilitating strategic planning and leading business development planning for corporate and nonprofit clients.

An active member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), she has served the Tampa Bay Area Chapter Board as President.  Expanding her commitment to MPI, she has served on the International Community Membership Advisory Council, International Chapter Advisory Council, RISE Awards Judging Panel, Chair of the International Chapter Advisory Council, Chair of the International Chapter and Membership Advisory Council, WEC Education Proposal Review Taskforce, MPI Facilitator Program Committee, Chapter and Membership Advisory Council, Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce, RISE Up Taskforce and Chair of the MPI 50^th Anniversary Taskforce.

With strong community commitment, long-standing relationships with ethical and reliable vendors, and adept knowledge of production, Ms. Liaschenko is at the forefront of her industry consistently delivering her clients successful meetings and events.