Christi Ruddy, CMP, Department Manager
As Manager, Christi works with each team member to match event requests from companies and non-profit organizations with available resources.
Christi enjoys keeping abreast of trends and new technologies in the industry and finding new ways to enhance services to CME customers. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with groups of all sizes, ranging from small meetings to large conferences. No matter the group size, planning meetings requires the flexibility and creativity of a team for a successful event.
“We create experiences for groups that can’t arrange events on their own or that just want professional assistance. They might be anything from blending your own wine or sipping cocktails at a James Bond 007 theme party to riding ATVs in the desert in full bloom. Incentive travel is very popular and fulfilling dreams is what reward travel is all about.”
In 1994, Christi earned her Certified Meeting Professional designation, which requires a rigorous recertification process every five years. She is also an active member and past president of Meeting Professionals International – Virginia Chapter.
The perpetual learner, Christi recently took a photography class. She loves to cook, well really, to eat! She says the highlight of her upcoming trip to Italy will be a cooking lesson in the villa she rented in Tuscany.
Dee Dee White, Meeting & Event Planner
Dee Dee has earned the Professional Meeting and Event Planner specialty and has over thirty-five years of travel industry experience. Planning incentive trips and corporate events has taken her to destinations such as Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Central America, and across North America.
During a trip to Ireland, Dee Dee was left stranded with 24 travelers, due to a volcanic ash cloud. As a planner to the core, she successfully scheduled another week of activities for her travelers and brought them home – safe and sound.
Since 2015, Dee Dee has been a member of Associated Luxury Hotels International’s Industry Executive Council, where she fosters important relationships with worldwide hospitality industry leaders and looks for solutions to the challenges our industry faces in an ever-changing business environment.
Dee Dee’s motto is “Have passport, will travel!” As a true people-person, she enjoys learning about new destinations, different cultures, and history. She can usually find common ground with strangers in different parts of the world and build lasting relationships.
Jennie Hynson, Administrative Assistant & Web Designer
Jennie works closely with the CME team and develops registration websites, graphic design flyers, and client documents. She also contributes to on-site registration at various events. Ready for any creative challenge, Jennie is very talented and strives for perfection on every assignment and project. Jennie has spent 25 years of her 30-year travel industry career with Covington Travel.
In her free time, Jennie likes to dance, bike ride, read, and do any kind of puzzle. Her best stress relief is one-on-one time with a dog. The bigger the better!
Lauren Moore, Meeting & Event Planner
Lauren has over ten years of meeting planning experience and previously worked at the Virginia Society of CPAs. She particularly enjoys developing new relationships with her clients. Lauren graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and has earned the Certified Meeting Professional certification.
Outside of work, Lauren loves spending time with her three children, teaching and practicing yoga, and water and snow skiing.
Melanie Bianco, Meeting & Event Planner
Melanie has worked with Covington since 2013 and became a Meetings and Event Planner in 2017. She contributes to the planning and management of a variety of corporate events, including several high-end incentive trips and an annual cross-country vintage car race.
Melanie earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Virginia and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland. She is currently working toward achieving the industry designation of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
In her spare time, Melanie loves exploring Richmond and trying new restaurants, wine tasting, spending time with her boyfriend and two dogs, and planning her next trip!
Meghan Lucas, Small Meeting & Event Planner
Meghan joined the Covington team in October of 2018. As a graduate of Radford University, Meghan earned a Bachelor of Science in Design Management. Using her knowledge of wedding and event planning, she plans small meetings that make a big impact. She believes that small meetings deserve the same attention to planning as any large function.
Off the clock, you will find her exploring all that RVA has to offer with her husband and sweet dog, Cece.
