Planning Team Profile
Debbie Arato, CSEP, has spent her working life in the hospitality and events industry. In addition to her post-secondary education in hospitality and her years of management experience at restaurant and trade show venues, she was fortunate to be mentored by the late Suzanne Bristow, known as the best in Toronto’s event planning business. In early 2000, recognizing a changing work force and new generation of corporate and not-for-profit clients, Debbie immersed herself in a leadership role to become the “event entertainment specialist” for the industry.
Debbie has been a frequent public speaker on the role and value of event planners and was published in Canadian Business magazine on the subject. She has been a guest speaker at Ryerson University, lectured at the Learning Annex and spoken at industry related conferences. She is a past President for the Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP), Vice President of Programs for the International Special Events Society (ISES) and past board member of Meetings Mean Business Coalition of Canada. Debbie sat as the Chair of the Special Events Committee for CSAE (Canadian Society of Association Executives) for six years. She is also a past recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award with the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, the Martin Kruze Foundation.
In 2004, Debbie earned the Certified Special Events Professional designation, only the eleventh Canadian to receive this designation at that time. The CSEP, the hallmark of professional achievement in the special events industry, is achieved through education, performance, experience, and service to the industry, and reflects a commitment to professional conduct and ethics.
Rose Timmerman-Gitzi, CMM, is a Special Events and Conference Producer with over 16 years of experience. Rose specializes in Customized Corporate Events and Exceptional Social Events and will design and execute programs that engage, inform, and make a positive impact. With a solid record of accomplishment of delivering events for organizations and charities, Rose works with clients to create excitement and commitment to make their best impression on their event attendees.
Rose began her career in the field of Industrial Psychology. Her specialty is analyzing and developing programs to promote Employee Satisfaction and Retention. Rose has built her business to work with clients to develop a strategy for their events. From brand awareness in corporate sectors or fundraising in non-profit association sectors, Rose assists all clients in building, meeting and surpassing strategic event objectives.
Following a successful year as Director of Marketing on the CanSPEP Board, Rose was asked to sit as Secretary Treasurer which led to the role of CanSPEP President in 2009 and again in 2010. Rose obtained the designation of Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) in 2013. The CMM is an intensive three-part executive course highlighting a world-class MBA program for the event industry. She served as Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition of Canada 2016. She was the key contributor leading the crumbling coalition through a re-branding to position the alliance as a primary voice of Business Events within Canada to Federal and Provincial Governments.
Rose brings warmth, humour, flexibility and superb organizational and people skills to all her projects.