About MeetingsIn
The Team
The core team of MeetingsIn has decades of international industry expertise and technology experience under their belts. They are known for their ability to pioneer new sales and marketing distribution channels on a global basis within the meetings, hospitality and travel industries.
Ian Quartermaine: Founder and CEO
Originally from the United Kingdom, Ian now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more than 25 years, Ian has worked in the international business and travel arena, specifically as the Head of Marketing and Distribution for British Airways for the Middle East and North Africa, Director of Business Development at Discover the World, Vice President Americas for Air New Zealand and Ansett, and Vice President of International Sales at GetThere.
Ian cofounded and operated Meetings International, LLC, which was, until 2010, the sole licensee for HelmsBriscoe Performance Group outside North America. During that ten year period, he opened and operated in over 40 countries, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in room revenue for suppliers that host meetings and events.
Ian has a proven record of opening new markets and developing new channels of distribution in the travel and hospitality industry. Ian's exceptionally strong reputation in the industry has also earned him a position on the Starwood Advisory Board for Meetings and Events for Asia Pacific, alongside some of the most prominent business leaders in the world. He is also a fellow of the UK Charted Institute of Management.
Chris Bridges: Chief Operating Officer
Chris has a broad base of experience in the areas of accounting, finance and business consulting, including stints with Barry and Moore, UBS and most recently as Chief Financial Officer at the Arizona based Big Sky Group, which include international companies of Travika and Meetings International. During his ongoing tenure at the Big Sky group he has been involved with many aspects of international finance and accounting including all the financial and accounting for operations spanning over 40 countries. He has been instrumental in the successful startup of MeetingsIn as a co-owner and Chief Operating Officer.
A Certified Public Accountant in the US since 1992, he has provided guidance to businesses in a variety of industries and stages of development. Chris also brings a strong operational and financial skill set to support the business in
contract negations, business valuations, joint-venture development, business management and financial planning.
Chris is married with two children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. On occasion, he enjoys finishing a long day at the office with a bit o' whisky.
Jim Beveridge: Chief Technology Officer
Jim is an expert in the design and development of mass market software. As the founder and principal architect of the Connected Software family of products, he built the company from scratch to be the #2 player in the Exchange Migration industry. Products he's built have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and PC Magazine, among others.
Jim brings extensive experience in Windows development, software architecture, quality assurance methodologies, and on-time project management techniques for clients such as Intel and Brother. Jim is the author of the widely acclaimed book, Multithreading Applications in Win32 and is a former MVP (Most Valued Professional) for Microsoft in C++, one of just a few dozen in the world. He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Jim currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife and son, but often travels north to go off-roading in his legendary Jeep.
Lynn Quartermaine: Director Administration
Lynn Quartermaine has spent most of her 30 year career in education and training. She brings hands on international experience including working and living in the Middle East, Europe, Canada and the USA.
Lynn has educated and trained a broad range of ages from Kindergarten through adult. She has worked with a number of educational and government authorities including International schools, The British Council and various Adult Education Associations. She also served as full time Advisor Teacher within the Cambridge Education Authority in the UK.
Four years ago Lynn moved into the international business world, in the administrative arena, where she particularly enjoys interaction with different communities and cultures throughout the world.
For the last 15 years she has been living in the USA, working in California and Arizona where she now resides, however she still misses the UK weather, old English pubs and driving on the correct side of the road!
Kim Bridges: Vice President of Global Channel Sales
Kim Bridges heads the global sales and distribution of MeetingsIn products. She has been with the company since its inception and intricately involved in the developing, marketing and selling MeetingsIn.com and the MeetingsIn.com Private Label.
With a background in meeting planning, Kim brings valuable insight into the needs and challenges of today's meeting buyer and what they need to be efficient in their job.
With over 15 years proven success in direct and channel sales, Kim has worked in both business to business and business to consumer organizations. Kim uniquely combines her background in developing effective marketing programs and sales tools with the experience of being face-to-face with customers, knowing what they need and building lasting relationships. Kim has successfully lead sales teams from around the world, developing a global community with newsletters, effective sales programs and useful communications, including endless international calls at all hours of the day and night!
Kim holds a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University. She currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona and enjoys spending time doing most anything that involves being outdoors.
Cynthia Velasco: Web Product Support Executive
As the newest member to the MeetingsIn team, Cynthia hails from northern Arizona to fill the role of Web Product Support Executive.
Cynthia graduated from Northern Arizona University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Certificate in International Business. Apart from having impressive coffee-making skills, Cynthia has a background in providing external expertise, market research, and creative services as a digital specialist. She has worked as a marketing consultant, where she developed print and digital marketing campaigns for local businesses.
Cynthia is also bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.
Although she misses the snow and cold terribly, Cynthia loves being in the same city as Steve Nash and her Phoenix Suns.
