Courtney Stanley

| Novice |
Courtney Stanley
Special Projects and Events Intern,
Country Music Association

Nashville, Tennessee
Age: 22

Somebody has to be the youngest on the list, and that’s Courtney Stanley. But don’t tell her that a Gen Yer can’t have an impact on a big industry such as meetings. She wouldn’t believe you anyway. The 22-year-old recent Central Michigan University graduate received this year’s RISE Award (Recognizing Industry Success and Excellence) for Young Professional Achievement from MPI for creating networking and hands-on opportunities for CMU event management students. She also developed a program called “Beyond Hands On” that encourages partnerships between event organizations and student professionals. Stanley has already found herself in the enviable position of working with the Country Music Association, a perfect fit for someone who loves music and film. When not working, Stanley can be found traveling, particularly to Spain and the south of France, where she recently attended the Cannes International Film Festival.

—E. Caslavka