MEET
CARRIE
Davenport
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Carrie (Abernathy) Davenport CMP-Fellow, CEM, CSEP is a 20-year veteran of the global meetings & events industry as a multi-award-winning meeting planner. She's also known for her work as a podcast host, leadership coach and keynote speaker on women's empowerment.
How it Started...
Carrie (Abernathy) Davenport (CMP-Fellow, CEM, CSEP)
is a respected leader and advocate in the global meetings and events industry with more than 20 years of experience. Known for blending strategic execution with human-centered leadership, Carrie built her career producing high-impact events while helping shape a more inclusive, accountable industry. Early in her career, she became recognized not only for event execution, but for her ability to lead teams, mentor emerging professionals, and elevate the business value of meetings and experiences.
Carrie co-founded the Association for Women in Events (AWE) and launched the Events Industry Sexual Harassment Task Force in 2016 (now stewarded by the Events Industry Council) where she continues to serve on the Equity Taskforce. Carrie has also served on numerous advisory boards and committees, including PCMA’s Emerging Leaders Committee, destination advisory councils across the U.S., and as Chair of the Green Meetings Industry Council Foundation, helping guide the future of the industry at a national level.
How it's going...
Today, Carrie serves as Lead Event Manager for Industry Engagement at Altria Group Distribution Company, overseeing large-scale conferences and experiential events. She is widely recognized for building and scaling event teams, implementing operational frameworks, and developing innovative programming that drives revenue, engagement, and long-term organizational growth. Her work includes managing complex, multi-location teams and delivering high-visibility events for Fortune 200 companies.
A multi-award-winning planner, mentor, speaker, and thought leader, Carrie has been recognized by Smart Meetings, MeetingsNet, Successful Meetings, EventEx, and Collaborate Magazine as one of the most influential voices in the events industry. She is the co-host of the podcast #Like an Event Boss, a frequent contributor to leading industry and lifestyle publications, and brings her personal motto, “Face It Till You Make It”, into every stage, strategy, and team she leads.
