Jeff Whitney, President
Jeff Whitney, President
Jeff is a 28-year meetings and events industry leader and educator. He is currently the 2011-12 President of the Georgia chapter of Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI) and has served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) from 2002-2008. He is a faculty member at Kennesaw State University where he teaches a certificate course on meeting and event planning. In addition to GaMPI and HSMAI, Jeff has served on boards and committees of numerous hospitality and community organizations including the Atlanta and New Orleans CVBs, United Way and Goodwill Industries.
Prior to forming Event Transportation/Atlanta, Jeff worked with PGI-Atlanta, a 35-office commuinications and events agency, where he performed a variety of roles, including Director of Transportation, Senior Account Executive, and Operations Manager.
Jeff’s transportation experience covers a wide range of events and venues. He has managed large citywide shuttles (from 1,000 – 35,000 attendees) in numerous U.S. cities, and major event movements including 11 Super Bowls, 2 Sugar Bowls, and 5 Masters. With Event Transportation/Atlanta, he has brought airport meet & greet services and VIP executive transportation programs to a new, streamlined level. Logistics planning is the key to a successful program and Jeff regularly develops and manages high complexity custom programs and tour packages.
Jeff’s professional hospitality experience additionally includes: managing a highly successful marketing program and trade show launch for European meeting planners sponsored by Delta Air Lines and the CVBs of New York, Cincinnati and Atlanta; creating and producing an inaugural signature recognition event for the United Way of New Orleans; coordinating the transportation of the Democratic Site Selection Committee for the City of Detroit’s bid for the 2004 Democratic National Convention; creating and delivering a lecture series for the Atlanta CVB that unravels the complexity of the hospitality industry and its players, along with detailed charts explaining the business structure for conventions and tour & travel. Jeff has also held professional positions within CVB membership development; meetings industry publishing; public transportation; retail, restaurant and entertainment marketing; audio–visual; tradeshow; and, meeting and event planning and operation.
Donna Smith, Shuttle and Airport Operations Manager
Donna is 20+ year veteran of the hospitality industry. With extensive experience managing numerous corporate and association shuttle programs in the greater Atlanta area, she is regarded as an expert in the field. Donna has managed systems for EMC Corporation (5,000), Forest Pharmaceuticals (2,800), AdvoCare (10,000), Fleming Companies (6,000), Salvation Army (10,000), ELCA (35,000 – 40,000), Bobbin Show (50,000), and many, many more.
Donna’s expertise extends beyond shuttle management as well. She is a proficient Staff Manager, and excels at direction of both low- and high-volume Airport Meet & Greet services. With her take-charge attitude and unfailing determination, Donna takes on any challenge that may arise during a program and solves it in seconds flat. Dependability, passion, and dedication make Donna one of the most trusted staff members on the ETA team.
