Katie Risher, Assistant Director Conferences

Katie is an experienced event professional and educator with the University of Florida (UF) Conference Department, where she has led the design and delivery of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events since 2015. She brings expertise in event strategy, project management, stakeholder engagement, and creating impactful attendee experiences.

A double UF graduate, Katie holds a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism with a specialization in Event Management and an M.S. in Tourism and Commercial Recreation. She also teaches event and hospitality management courses through UF Online, sharing her industry experience with the next generation of event professionals.

An active member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) since 2015, Katie currently serves as Vice President of Finance for the MPI North Florida Chapter and has held numerous chapter leadership roles, including President. She holds both the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) designations.

Katie has been recognized with multiple MPI North Florida Chapter awards, including Planner of the Year and the President’s Award, as well as UF’s Division Three Superior Accomplishment Award. In 2025, she and the UF Conference team were honored as Cvent’s Rookie of the Year at the Cvent Excellence Awards.