Who are your EventPros?

EventPros was founded by Bill Svoboda and John Short. Together, John and Bill are partners and managers of a team whose goal is to make every details of an event perfect.

John A. Short, CMP, brings a diverse background in event planning to EventPros. He is known throughout the Kansas City region for his success with conventions, associations, non-profit organizations and off-premise catering, all providing him a wealth of connections and resources for success in the industry. John has been a Certified Meeting Professional since 1995 and has maintained active participation in trade organizations such as MPI and NACE for many years. He has been published in various trade journals and has presented and spoken in numerous programs for various organizations. John also is an Honored Lifetime Member in the Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals. His knowledge of event planning, coupled with a service oriented, friendly management style, make him a favorite among clients.



Bill Svoboda is known for his extensive event planning experience, unparalleled professional expertise and extensive knowledge of Kansas City’s finest venues and creative resources; he has earned a compelling reputation for event excellence and customer care. During the past 15 years, Bill’s leadership and project management skills have provided the key to success for numerous corporate events throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. As Manager of Member Programs and Retention with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Bill elevated its monthly Business After Hours program into the region’s premier monthly networking event, attracting between 800 to 3,500 people. Because of this success Bill was a member of a Community Connections delegation, which was organized by the State Department and traveled to Ukraine in September 2000 to help establish similar programs. During his career, Bill’s easy-going style, attention to detail and expertise have made him a popular meeting and event resource with the corporate community and leading civic organizations.


Howard C. Howell, brings two unique characteristics to EventPros - a strong customer service background coupled with more than 20 years of engineering documentation experience. The result? A keen eye for detail that develops strong client relationships and the ability to meet specific customer needs. Howard gained event planning experience as Registration Manager for the Kansas City Gift Mart. Prior to that, he worked as a Customer Service Representative for Kroger Grocery Stores. Along with that, Howard boasts more than 20 years experience as an Engineering Documentation Specialist, earning him a proven track record in organizational structuring and merchandise control. His customer care focus guarantees your satisfaction with EventPros.


Douglas D. Veach, brings his high energy business acumen to EventPros. Douglas spearheads our business development operations as we continue our growth in Kansas City and expansion to markets outside the Kansas City metro area. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Douglas has worked previously in the real estate and construction industries with success in sales, marketing and management. He was a partner in the construction of two commercial retail centers and previously founded a landscaping firm. Douglas makes it his business to get to know your business and find ways EventPros can enhance your relationships and continue to grow.





EventPros. Your creative meeting, event & communications resource.