Meet Our Team
We are trusted meeting advisors here to help you bring your meeting or convention to life.
We’re a team of meeting planners, industry professionals, and marketing experts who are here to help you create the best experience possible.
Whether that means helping you find the perfect venue to host an intimate group of 25, hand-picking the very best caters to feed 100 people, or lining up a stellar musician to keep 250 guests entertained, we can assist with pretty well anything you set our minds to. It’s what we do—and we take pride in doing it well. The best part— we do it for free!
Our Team
Susan Freeman, Executive Director
sfreeman@peimc.com
902.626.7661
Susan has over 20 years of hospitality experience in both Sales and Conference Services. At Mount Saint Vincent University, she earned a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management and is very proud of the work she has accomplished the hospitality industry on PEI. Susan presently enjoys collaborating with industry colleagues on the MPI Atlantic board and the DMAC board. Outside of work, Susan enjoys watching her two daughters play soccer and softball and enjoys cheering them on from the sidelines with her husband.
Gisele Robert, Senior International Business Development Manager
Gisele Robert has acquired more than 30 years of experience working in the meetings and incentive travel industry, corporate communications, and speaker representation. She has handled high profile accounts, cultivated important supplier contacts internationally, and managed comprehensive travel and event programs. Dedicated to planning top-notch programs, Gisele is a relationship builder and enjoys the strategic aspects of program design and delivery. Always focused on fresh initiatives for clients, Gisele manages the life of a project and all of its moving parts. Her approach is solution-driven exemplified by her ease at bringing people together in collaborative spirit. Gisele currently serves as President with SITE Canada (Society of Incentive Travel Excellence).
Donna-Marie MacLeod, Business Development Manager
dmmacleod@peimc.com
902.368.2009
With over 30 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry, Donna-Marie is pleased to say that she still loves this business! She has previously worked with Marriott International, Delta Hotels, and Fairmont Hotels and brings forward that experience and knowledge to the Meetings & Conventions PEI team. She relocated to our Island from Nova Scotia 15 years ago and has come to love everything about this beautiful place.
Sarah Essery, Business Development Manager
Sarah has over 10 years experience providing customer service in multiple sectors across Canada, including hospitality and large-scale events. Most recently, Sarah was the coordinator of a very successful Food & Beverage program for the 2023 Canada Winter Games. A seasoned traveler, Sarah has a passion for exploring new places and cultures and is always planning her next trip!
Nicole Soucy, Partner Engagement Manager
Sean White, Marketing & Communications Manager
Sean has over 5 years of experience in social media writing and digital communications and marketing, previously working for the CBC’s National Audience Services team in Toronto. At CBC Sean helped manage their social media community during national and international broadcast events such as the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2019 Federal Election. Before entering a career in marketing and communications, Sean studied jazz trumpet at Humber College in Toronto and to this day can still regularly be found playing in the vibrant and lively music scene across Prince Edward Island.
Sarah McCarville, Marketing Coordinator
coordinator@peimc.com
902.330.2791
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and advertising from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. After returning to PEI in 2021, her most recent role was as the Volunteer Coordinator for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, where she collaborated with 5,000 volunteers. With years of experience in customer service and marketing, she is enthusiastic about strengthening her involvement with local island businesses and showcasing the best of PEI. When she’s not working, you can often find her outdoors with a good book or at SPINCO Charlottetown, where she is a member of the Energy Exchange team.
Jesseka Alkablan, Administrative Coordinator
Jesseka is a second-year student at the University of Prince Edward Island studying Biology to eventually pursue her dreams of going to medical school. She is also doing a double minor in Business and Psychology. Jesseka has volunteered at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the past 5 years. When Jesseka is not working, studying, or volunteering, she can be found at one of the many beautiful beaches on the Island.