ISES RI Leadership and Board of Directors

A true hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in management for corporate and luxury properties, Donna is the Director of Sales & Catering for Twin River Casino, Rhode Island's top tourist attraction, a 500,000 square-foot gaming, dining and entertainment facility located in Lincoln, RI.  Donna first joined Twin River Casino in 2007 as the Sales Manager following 14 years at Foxwoods Resorts Casino (Mashantucket, CT), where she held a variety of management positions within the Food & Beverage Department including Assistant Director of F&B and Director of Beverage Operations.  In addition, Donna owned and operated The Eatery at The Days Inn (Mystic, CT) and has held management positions at the AAA four-diamond Saybrook Point Inn & Spa (Old Saybrook, CT), Radisson Hotel (New London, CT), The Mystic Hilton (Mystic, CT), The Flood Tide Restaurant (Mystic, CT) and City Lights (Providence, RI).  An active member of ISES since 2007, Donna was recognized as 2009-2010 Outstanding Member; 2011-2012 Presidents Award; and 2011-2012 Outstanding Strategic Partner for her service to ISES Rhode Island Chapter.  She has served as 2010-2011 Programs & Education Director of Strategic Partnerships; 2011-2012 Director of Administration & Registration and has served on the Committees for the ISES Rhode Island 2007-2008, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 Year End Gala’s; 2010-2011 ISES FX & 2011-2012 ISES EXPOsed as well as the 2009-2010; 2010-2011, 2011-2012 Halloween Bash.  A graduate of Johnson & Wales University (where she also received a post graduate Certificate of Appreciation for the curriculum process, known as DACUM), Donna is affiliated with a number of distinguished industry groups and associations.  Donna enjoys entertaining, cooking, fine wine, boating, golf, laughing with friends and family time with her husband and three children. 

Jenny is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor degree in Sports, Entertainment & Event Management and a concentration in Sales & Meeting Management and a Masters of Business Administration in Global Business Leadership Marketing. She has been volunteering and working in the event industry since 2002. The majority of her professional career has been with Johnson & Wales University in event related positions. Recently Jenny was promoted to Director of University Events. Her responsibilities include managing and executing a variety of events supported through the Chancellor’s Office and developing new processes and systems for event management university wide. She is constantly seeking ways to improve the University events service model and implementing innovative ideas for special events. Jenny contributes much of her experience in the event industry to her volunteer work with several Rhode Island based event production companies and non-profit organizations. She is an active and committed member of the Rhode Island chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES), currently serving as that chapter’s Vice President of Communications, and has recently been appointed to serve on an ISES International Committee.

Kristin began her hospitality career in historic Newport, Rhode Island. Her creativity is coupled with a diverse wealth of experience gained over 10 years in the hospitality industry; from customer service, event management and catering sales, specializing in full service event planning and design. She has maintained a strong affiliation with the industry association market and has been an active member with ISES RI since 2006.
Kristin has planned and serviced over 500 weddings and receptions and coordinates every detail in each of her events to match your personality and style with the area's most talented industry professionals to create an event truly as unique as you are. Her passion and enthusiasm for her work have earned her a reputation for impeccable service and precise attention to detail. With the opening of Details with Love in 2008, she continually strives to inspire and create those memorable experiences you and your guests will cherish forever.

Nichole Wardle is a seasoned hospitality professional with a focus in the lifestyle/luxury event market. Nichole is currently the Director of Sales for two Longwood properties, Belle Mer in Newport and Wychmere in Cape Cod.  She first joined Longwood in 2007 and has had the opportunity to open two venues with the company. Like most employees at Longwood Nichole shares the love of style, design, food, wine, and anything New England and aims to channel it in every product and service the company provides.  Nichole aims to be a people pleaser. The best part about her job is hearing “this is the best event I’ve ever been too”.  This is what keeps her passion and excitement for events and hospitality alive. Outside of Longwood Nichole also teaches at the University of Rhode Island.  Her courses consist of Introduction to Event Management as well as Social Media Strategies and Tactics for the PR Practitioner. She likes to bring real world experience to the classroom and get the students prepared for the workforce.  ISES has been a great platform for her students so much so that she joined this Board for the first time this year. Nichole is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island (where she met her husband) and received her MBA from Bryant University.  A true blue Rhode Islander who is excited to show her two small children everything this amazing state has to offer. 

Allison Pangakis is a 2008 graduate of Johnson & Wales where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Sports/ Entertainment and Event Management. Since 2008 she has worked for multiple companies; planning, managing and producing events across the country. She has been a member of ISES for 7 years and currently holds the Director Of Membership position for ISES Rhode Island.