Liliana Pettenkofer is the senior manager of marketing and events for Lutheran Services in America. After graduating from George Washington University, she began her career as a TV and film producer. She had a defining moment in her career when she co-produced a weeklong film festival in Bolivia, which jump-started her move into event organizing. She now plans Lutheran Services in America's signature CEO event, and has increased attendance by 16%. She has also revamped and rebranded the organization's three major events and significantly increased attendance at their annual conference.

1. 28 REJUVENATE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Liliana Pettenkofer
30 Senior Manager of
Marketing and Events,
Lutheran Services in America
Reston, Va.
This upstart began her life post-
grad from George Washington
University working as a TV and
film producer. Little did she know
when she fell into co-producing
a weeklong film festival in Bolivia
with multiple locations, programs,
speakers and sponsors that it
would be a defining moment in
her career. The experience jump-
started her move from producer
to event organizer for LSA, one
of the largest health care and
human services networks in the
country representing 300 Lutheran
nonprofits. Pettenkofer plans the
organization’s signature CEO event,
which has increased attendance
by 16 percent since she joined
the team. She also has revamped
and rebranded the group’s three
major events and increased the
number of members at the annual
conference significantly.
REJUVENATEMEETINGS.COM 29
movers,
shakers
difference
The inspirational planners, suppliers, speakers and industry insiders
on this list are whiz kids and wunderkinds. Their jobs are in faith-based meetings, yes,
but their passions lie in changing peoples’ lives through events, which is why they aim
to effect attendees through programming, messaging, presentations, music and more.
The stories of these inspirational young changemakers follow.
By Rejuvenate Staff
BENJAMINC.TANKERSLEY
makers
&
About the 40 Under 40 process: Each year, Rejuvenate highlights professionals who are making an early
mark in the faith-based meetings industry. Peers and colleagues submit nominations, which then are
reviewed by our editors. The editors select the final 40 honorees based on nominations, references, industry
involvement, career awards and honors, and other factors. If you’d like to submit a nomination for next year’s
40 Under 40, please send an email to Stephanie Davis Smith at sdssmith@collinsonmedia.com.

2. August/September 2015
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
BUFFET UPGRADE 18 CAROLINA CALLING 52 SOUTHWEST SPIRIT 74
MEETINGS INSPIRATION
40
40
Happy
Feet!
16
Best Shoes
for Planners
MEET
THIS YEAR’S
INSPIRATIONAL
CREW28
under
HEATHER LINDSEY, FOUNDER
OF THE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL
PINKY PROMISE CONFERENCE
Risky Business:
Is Your Venue Safe?40
65,000 Seventh-Day
Adventists Hit Texas44
The Confederate
Flag Controversy46
3 Things to Know
About Suitcasing 24
Track Event Hashtags 25
4 Things You Didn’t
Know a CVB Could Do 27
ON THE COVER
Heather Lindsey
Image by
Anthony Thomas
Contents
inthisissue
28
40 Under 40
See who made our annual
list of young movers,
shakers and difference
makers who are shaping
the industry.
> By the Editors
40
Guardians at the Gate
In this second article
of a three-part series
on security, we examine
the importance of
safeguarding venues.
> By Matt Swenson
44
Q&A: Brenda Square
The director of destination
services for the San Antonio
CVB weighs in on planning a
huge Seventh-day Adventist
Church conference.
> By Michelle Martin
46
Hate or Heritage?
Faith-based planners
grapple with addressing
the Confederate flag
after the tragedy in
Charleston, South Carolina.
> By Marc Boisclair
REJUVENATEMEETINGS.COM 3
40 Under 40 honoree
Liliana Pettenkofer,
senior manager
of marketing and
events, Lutheran
Services in America
BENJAMINC.TANKERSLEY