Meet Conventures! Part of an ongoing blog series to introduce you to all the great people who make up our team. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to get to know us a bit better.
Annie Zampitella
Senior Account Executive, Sports Events
Hometown: Ipswich, MA
Years at Conventures: 3
When did you start working here? And B.C. (Before Conventures) — work, school?
I started working at Conventures during the fall of 2021, and the Boston 10K for Women was my first event! Before Conventures, I went to school at UMass Amherst, and studied Sport Management in the Isenberg School of Management. After graduating in 2019, I worked for the Hockey East league offices for the 2019–2020 men’s and women’s college hockey season. Shortly after that, I put my career on pause and spent a year in Breckenridge, Colorado. I came back to Boston with some unforgettable experiences and of course a new pair of skis!
What piece of advice would you give someone just starting out in events? Anything you wish you’d known?
Expect the unexpected. No matter how many months of planning details down to the exact minute and the square foot of a site plan, once we get on site, anything can happen. Be prepared to navigate whatever comes your way.
Most important skill you’ve learned working at Conventures?
Maybe not the MOST important skill, but easily in the top 5 is how to dress when working a road race. 1. Wear lots of layers for the various temperatures New England brings in one day (bonus if your layers have pockets for supplies and snacks). 2. Make sure you have comfortable shoes on your feet to cover 20,000+ steps in a day. 3. Protect your face with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. 4. Pack extras of everything. You never know when you or a colleague may have forgotten something!
Proudest moment working at Conventures?
My proudest moment working at Conventures came after working the Boston 10K for Women in 2022. I had started at Conventures exactly one year before, and the 2021 race was my first event. It was a full circle moment to reflect on the day and see how much I had learned that year and how my role had grown from 2021 to 2022. I loved seeing our team come together and produce such an empowering event and fun environment. Each year, the Boston 10K for Women has left me feeling proud to be a part of an event that gives women the opportunity to challenge themselves to accomplish their personal goals.
If you could work at any major event in the world, which one would you choose and why?
I think it would be pretty cool to work at the Winter Olympics one day. Winter is one of my favorite seasons, and I love watching the snow sports, figure skating, and ice hockey tournaments. I can only imagine the logistical planning that goes into each and every ceremony and event, while also hosting the best athletes in the world and spectators visiting internationally. Being part of an event on a global scale would be something special.
What’s your number-one, must-have item at all events?
Other than my cell phone and a pair of snippers, a hard copy of the site plan. We spend a lot of time building out event sites and having a physical copy of the site plan makes communicating with event staff quick and efficient.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given or a quote you live by?
Life begins outside your comfort zone. I have grown the most personally and professionally by trying new things, testing skill sets, and facing fears. I can’t say that this comes easy to me (and I have zero plans of jumping out of an airplane anytime soon), but I know that I wouldn’t have the skills or experiences that I have today if I hadn’t pushed myself past those mental barriers.
When you aren’t working, where could we find you?
When I’m not at work, you can find me north of the city either watching a hockey game at TD Garden, working on my golf swing on the North Shore, enjoying the beaches in Ipswich, or skiing a New England mountain.
If you could jump inside any movie or TV show, what would it be?
New Girl! They never fail to make me laugh out loud at least once every episode.
Do you have any summer traditions that you do every year?
Since I was a little kid, my family has gone camping every summer at Lake Pemaquid Campground in Damariscotta, Maine. What started off as a small family weekend, turned into the highlight of the summer as the trip grew to a week and included our neighbors and family-friends. It’s been a while since we were all at Lake Pemaquid together, but we still gather the “camping crowd” and look back at the memories from those summers.
And finally, give us one of your hype up songs… please.
I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to bring up the fact that I’m a Swiftie! Let’s go with “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift. Ask me again tomorrow and I’ll change my mind 🙂
