Beth Surmont is an event strategist who works with associations and non-profits to help them redesign, reinvent, and reinvigorate their events. With on-the-ground event planning experience spanning more than 20 years; 9 years and more than 10,000 hours of virtual event experience; and as the current Vice President of Business Event Strategy & Design at 360 Live Media, Beth is a leading designer in what the next era of events will be. Her approach of audience-centered design combined with purposeful intention is the secret to creating meaningful and impactful events.
Prior to joining 360 Live Media, Beth was the Senior Manager of Strategic Programs at IEEE, the world’s largest professional association. In her 14 years at IEEE, Beth was responsible for creating a strategic events division and launching more than 25 revenue-driving events and programs for the organization. Before IEEE, Beth spent three years at Impact Unlimited, responsible for experience design with a focus for pharma and telecom.
Beth started her career as a community organizer with the Public Interest Research Groups, connecting people to purpose-driven campaigns. She holds a BA from Denison University in composition and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry methodology. She’s been a Certified Meeting Planner since 2008, and a Certified Association Executive since 2016. Beth served as chair of the ASAE Meeting & Exposition Council from 2016– 2018, and currently volunteers as an active Council member. In 2020, Beth was named one of the Top 25 Influencers in the Meetings Industry. In 2021, she was named one of BizBash’s 500 Most Influential People in Events. Most recently, Beth was honored to be inducted into the 2022 class of ASAE Fellows.