CHICAGO — This month, Trade Show Executive (TSE) is spotlighting its 2025 Women to Watch. To kick things off, we’re starting with Casey Clements, Vice President of Marketing at Fast Forward Events.
Clements is known for her vision, strategic acumen and relentless focus on results, and has helped Fast Forward Events launch new experiences and break records in key metrics.
We checked in with Clements to discuss her career journey, the strategic repositioning of the San Diego Food + Wine Festival and her vision for the events industry’s future.
ANDREW: Can you tell us how you landed in the trade show industry? Was it a straight path here, or was it unexpected?
CASEY: I’ve always been drawn to events — the energy, the creativity [and] the way they bring people together. Early internships in college sparked that curiosity, but at the time, I only saw “event planning” as the path forward.
It wasn’t until I joined Fast Forward Events that I realized there was an entire professional ecosystem behind major conferences, festivals and trade shows.
With a background in communications, I originally sought marketing and PR roles, not realizing how naturally those skills aligned with this industry. I joined Fast Forward as a Content Coordinator, supporting marketing and storytelling for both our own events and external clients.
Seven years later, I now lead our marketing department, helping shape the strategic direction of some of the most dynamic events in food and beverage.
ANDREW: What are some of the skills that have helped you move up in your organization, and how do you refine those skills?
CASEY: I’m a problem-solver at heart. I love understanding how things work — why they succeed, why they don’t and how to make them better. That curiosity has always fueled my growth. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll learn it.
I hold myself and my team to high standards. I’ve never been a “done is better than perfect” person; I believe excellence matters.
My background as a competitive dancer taught me to constantly look for ways to level up. Whether it’s refining a process, uncovering efficiencies or rethinking a strategy, I’m driven by the pursuit of better.
ANDREW: Can you share how your spearheaded the strategic repositioning of the San Diego Food + Wine Festival and how this benefited the event?
CASEY: The San Diego Food + Wine Festival is a 20-year legacy brand and 2024 marked a pivotal anniversary. As we looked toward the next decade, our goal was clear: evolve the brand to grow attendance, revenue and relevance.
The competitive landscape had shifted — new festivals were entering the market and broader industry trends showed declining alcohol consumption among younger audiences.
To ensure longevity, we needed to reimagine how the festival could engage the next generation while honoring our loyal audience.
That began with a name change. Formerly the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, our event had long since outgrown its origins as a single-day tasting on the San Diego Bay. The transition to San Diego Food + Wine Festival reaffirmed food as our foundation and established the festival as a citywide culinary celebration.
We leaned into partnerships that diversified our program — transforming the festival into a convergence of art, music, film, culture and advocacy, all anchored by food and beverage. These collaborations deepened our impact, positioning the festival not just as entertainment, but as a platform to explore, discuss and champion the future of the culinary industry.
A careful brand refresh followed — modernizing our visual identity while preserving the heritage our community loves. The results spoke for themselves: record ticket sales, record exhibitor participation and one of our most impressive lineups of culinary talent and thought leaders to date.
ANDREW: Could you walk through how you made the launch of Creator Live a success?
CASEY: Creator Live has been one of the most rewarding projects of my career — a true “golden ticket” discovery. We identified a gap no one else was addressing: a dedicated space for culinary content creators to connect with brands, learn from experts and build community within the context of a major festival.
Over the years, the San Diego Food + Wine Festival had become a playground for creators. As brands began to expect influencer engagement as part of their activations, we saw an opportunity to formalize and elevate that relationship.
Creator Live was designed to bridge that gap — serving both creators and brands through education, collaboration and experience.
Most creator events are built around giving — brand trips, perks, PR opportunities — but this was different. We were asking creators to invest their time and trust in us.
I was intentional about every detail, ensuring every session delivered tangible value. The result was a program that felt purposeful, intimate and inspiring. It connected creators not just with brands, but with each other.
ANDREW: What is your motivation to continue striving for excellence in your work?
CASEY: I’m naturally competitive — you don’t tend to coast when you’re trying to win. I’m motivated by the awareness that my performance impacts others. My family and my team depend on me, and I take that responsibility seriously. Knowing that my effort directly influences their success keeps me pushing every day.
ANDREW: Can you share a significant challenge you faced as a woman in this industry, and how did you overcome it?
CASEY: I’m a mother to two young children, ages three and five. My career in events began before I became a parent and like many in this industry, I’ve learned that the work can be relentless — long days, late nights and extended stretches away from home.
Because I work remotely, my kids see everything. Recently, during a family dinner, we were talking about emotions, and my daughter described mine as “work.” It stopped me in my tracks.
That moment reminded me how deeply I want to succeed in both worlds — to thrive as a professional and as a mother. Balancing those roles is one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced, but it’s also made me a more empathetic and intentional leader.
ANDREW: How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout? How do you encourage others to do the same?
CASEY: Early in my career, maintaining balance was simpler — our team worked in an office and when we left for the day, the work stayed there.
Now, working remotely, those boundaries are harder to protect. My computer is just down the hall, my phone never stops buzzing and it takes discipline to disconnect.
The one area I don’t compromise on is sleep. After reading Why We Sleep, I was stunned by how deeply rest impacts our cognitive and emotional health.
I used to wear exhaustion like a badge of honor; now I see rest as essential to showing up at my best, for my team and myself.
I protect my sleep and encourage my team to do the same. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
ANDREW: How do you think women can support each other more in this industry? Or, in what ways do you think the trade show industry is evolving to better support women in leadership roles?
CASEY: I think one of the most powerful ways women can support each other is through transparency — sharing not just our wins, but the challenges and trade-offs behind them. So often, women in leadership are encouraged to appear effortless, but real growth happens when we’re honest about what it takes.
ANDREW: What do you think the next big thing in the events space is going to be, whether it be related to technology, work models, experiences, etc.?
CASEY: Everyone is talking about AI, and rightly so. It’s changing how we plan, market and measure events. But beyond the technology, I think the next evolution is human connection. We’ve never been more digitally connected and yet more socially disconnected.
Events are still the most powerful medium for bringing people together, but the days of unstructured “networking” are fading. The future is curated, intentional and data-driven.
Organizers will need to understand attendees and exhibitors at a behavioral level — their motivations, challenges and goals — to design experiences that create real connection.
ANDREW: What advice would you give to other up-and-comers in this industry?
CASEY: No one is going to hand you your dream career on a silver platter — it takes grit, persistence and self-direction. The good news is that we’ve never had more access to education and resources than we do today.
If you have a skill gap, close it. Be curious. Reach out to people whose careers inspire you, whether that’s striking up a conversation at an event or sending a thoughtful message on LinkedIn.
Don’t wait for someone to build your lifeboat — you have to build it yourself.
ANDREW: What strategies have you found most effective for building a strong professional network within the trade show community?
CASEY: As an introvert, networking has never come naturally to me, but I’ve learned that connection is essential to growth. I’m fortunate to have a mentor who opened many doors and modeled how powerful introductions can be.
Attending both in-person and virtual industry events has been invaluable for building relationships, as has serving on committees and special-interest groups through IAEE and SISO. Those experiences have allowed me to connect with peers on a deeper level and contribute to the broader trade show community.
ANDREW: What role does mentorship play in your career development, and how can other women seek and cultivate these relationships?
CASEY: My career would not be what it is today without my mentor — and boss — Michelle Metter. She’s been my advocate, my sounding board and my greatest champion. She’s opened doors I never would have had the confidence to knock on and much of my leadership style is a reflection of hers.
For women seeking mentorship, focus first on what you can give, not what you can gain. The way you show up for others shapes how they’ll show up for you.
Mentorship is built on trust, reciprocity and shared investment in each other’s success.
ANDREW: How do you stay updated on industry trends and changes, and what resources do you recommend to your peers?
CASEY: If I could only follow one industry voice, it would be Julius Solaris — his newsletter is my desert-island essential. I watch as many industry webinars as my schedule will allow.
Jay Schwendelson is killing it when it comes to virtual events. Events [from] IAEE, SISO and FestForums are also invaluable resources.
ANDREW: What is your vision for the future of women in the trade show industry, and what steps can be taken to foster greater inclusion and diversity?
CASEY: I’ve been fortunate to work in an industry where women lead at every level — it’s one of the things that makes this industry so inspiring. But visibility doesn’t always translate to opportunity.
Real progress happens when we create space for emerging talent to grow through mentorship, encouragement and sharing what we’ve learned along the way.
My vision is for women to keep lifting as they climb, building a culture of leadership that’s collaborative, grounded and sustainable — not something achieved at the expense of balance or well-being.
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