Devon Knight, CMP

Devon Knight is the principal and owner of Devon Knight Events.  She has thirty years of event planning experience in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. 

Ms. Knight directs and supervises the work of DKE staff as well as that of the numerous specialty sub-contractors with which the firm associates on its events.  She is responsible for the ongoing development, revision and management of event plans and budgets and venue and supplier contracts.  Where required, she trains and supervises client staff who work on their events as part of the DKE team.   In addition to carrying out the work leading up to each event, Devon is actively involved on-site on the days of each event, to insure that all activities run smoothly, on schedule, and as contracted.   She is the primary contact person with each client at all stages of each engagement.

Before forming her own business in 1990, Devon promoted and organized special events for Vancouver's 1986 World Exposition (EXPO 86).  She also produced international congresses at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.  Before moving to Canada in the early 1980s, she produced events for the Chicago-based American Planning Association, including conferences and workshops on growth management and offshore oil and gas development. 

Ms. Knight holds an M.Sc. degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics and a B.A. degree with honours in Geography from Mount Holyoke College.  She also holds the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation and is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

David L. Peterson

Dave is responsible for marketing and communications at Devon Knight Events.  He develops and executes marketing, promotion and communication strategies and campaigns related to the firm's events.   These strategies and campaigns utilize e-mail and Web marketing to targeted audiences, as well as traditional methods such as print and fax. 

His services for DKE clients include:
 

• developing of customized target lists of prospective attendees;
• crafting of invitation messages, online registration forms, and media releases;
• background research on competing events and other issues that might affect event feasibility;
• assistance with program development;
• targeted email promotion campaigns;
• monitoring and assisting with delegate pre-registration and associated finances;
• speaker sourcing, booking and pre-event liaision;
• preparation of Web page, newsletter, and background briefing paper material related to DKE events;
• assistance with venue and supplier relationships; and trouble-shooting delegate and speaker "day of the event" problems and issues.

  
Dave has undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard and a graduate degree in urban planning from the University of California.  Before joining Devon Knight Events, he held a variety of positions in the management consulting field.