In a former life - I did trade show booth hosting as the marketing manager for medical companies' products, my employers. I always called it doing "booth babe" duty: business suits, sore feet, long hours. Now I do it for myself- and the best part- I make the dress code rules! I love being the CEO-- my dress code is sandals and sundresses, lunch by the pool, and shorter hours. But do a business "trade show" Why? What for? Sure, I can sell some of my artistic tropical paintings to people at a meeting-everyone loves Maui, but there's more to it than meets the eye.

A hotel guest remembered me when she stayed at the Wailea Marriott. She liked my vibe and outlook on life and my art. She wanted to add a Maui marketplace to a local symposium she was helping organize and asked me to join in, for a fee- a 10% donation of proceeds to the non-profit of my choice. I'm in!

The symposium was IRF- Incentive Research Foundation, a think tank on how companies can most effectively reward high achievers in their company- many times putting together an event at resort destination, President's Club trip, etc.