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.

Alex Greenwood is an innovator in public relations and marketing. He has a successful career-spanning track record in the academic, healthcare, political and media sectors, most recently as Vice President of Public Information and Special Events at Kansas City Public Television (KCPT). At KCPT he was a key team member on several special events, including the “TV Dinner Gala,” “KCPT Auction” and “Oyster Royster.” He has created winning strategic communications and marketing plans for numerous organizations and companies. Besides his work in public relations and marketing, Alex was a journalist and hosted a radio talk show in Oklahoma City. In 2002, he was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40" by Durocher's Oklahoma City Business newspaper. A frequent lecturer on media relations, he is also a noted after-dinner speaker and master of ceremonies. Most recently, he was master of ceremonies for the Arthritis Foundation Kansas City Chapter's "Art for Arthritis" event and also emceed the Business After Hours event for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Alex enjoys working with our clients to get the best promotional and marketing value out of every event.

Lisa Holst, CMP, has more than 15 years experience in the hospitality profession. A Kansas City native, she began her career in the sales and marketing area of the hospitality profession, becoming a certified meeting professional in 1998. Best known for her work in the association world, she was an Event Manager for organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians and the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Lisa has also been a trusted independent consultant for many Kansas City-based corporations. She has planned events nationally and internationally for as few as 50 people to as many as 17,000 people. Lisa is an invaluable member of the team as she clearly can see how each project should look and feel from the big picture to the finest detail.

EventPros. Your creative meeting, event & communications resource.