George Kong

| Young Pioneer |
George Kong
Independent Meeting Planner, Corporate Planning Specialty

New York, New York
Age: 28

With two checked bags, one carry-on and no job, George Kong moved to New York City fresh out of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at University of Central Florida on Oct. 10, 2010. Kong floundered a bit before he zeroed in on event management, but his belief in education and work experience has created an upward career trajectory, proven by his range of roles: catering, business development with Song Division (providing a twist on experiences like teambuilding through songwriting) and event management with Universal Studios’ Orlando team for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s grand opening. Kong likes to be on the front end of things. He was tweeting at conferences before it became part of event plans, the first active president of MPI Student Club and first student to sit on the Greater Orlando Area Chapter of MPI’s board as director of administration. Compelled to “give back to this industry that has done so much for me,” Kong has been actively involved in four associations (PCMA, ISES, MPI and NACE) and is currently director of membership for MPI’s Global Emerging Leaders Committee. Now he’s taking his biggest leap of all: forging another new path as an independent event planner focusing on corporate events and multigenerational differences. —K. Manfredi

What’s your advice for someone starting out in the industry?
“Neurologists say a brain’s creative ability is influenced by new experiences. Be adventurous. Go for the other option. Exercise your brain.”