Meet the Team

Beth Miller-Tipton, CMP

Director

Phone: (352) 294-3581
Email: bmt@ufl.edu

Beth's career has been a journey filled with accomplishments and passion-driven pursuits. With a solid foundation in the hotel industry spanning close to a decade, she transitioned into the role of leading OCI (the Office of Conferences and Institutes) in 1994. As the head of OCI, she has been a guiding force, providing leadership and an unwavering wellspring of energy to a team of creative and devoted planning professionals. In addition to managerial responsibilities, Beth also coordinates several large conferences. She is dedicated to serving others and helping make a positive impact on the world around her. With an unwavering passion for customer service, building meaningful relationships and collaborating with individuals united by a common purpose to make a difference is what keeps her motivated.

Education-wise, Beth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida, solidifying her communication and marketing skills and the ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Outside of her professional endeavors, Beth has a vibrant personal life. Her rural home serves as a sanctuary where she and her husband are surrounded by a delightful menagerie of four-legged companions. Among her many joys are first and foremost, her relationship with God, as well as her husband, family, and two very special grandchildren who hold a cherished place in her heart.

Jessica Bailey

Conference Coordinator

Phone: (352) 294-3584
Email: j.bailey@ufl.edu

As a graduate of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Jessica has extensive experience in the restaurant industry, as well as hotel, banquets and special events management. Partnered with an associate’s degree in Journalism, Jessica utilizes her communication skills and passion for the hospitality industry to create unforgettable and beneficial experiences for all clients. Outside of work, Jessica’s number one joy in life is spending time with her daughter and best friend. Quality time with her family and friends, adventures in travel, and experiencing local community events are also a few of her favorite things!

Kimberly Brand

Conference Registrar

Phone: (352) 294-3576
Email: kimmer72@ufl.edu

Kim is the typical Virgo: sensible, precise, observant and reliable – essential qualities you would expect to find in someone who manages thousands of online registration transactions and customer service calls a year. As OCI’s Registrar, Kim oversees the entire registration process from beginning to end, all while monitoring the financial aspects of tracking registrations. With more than 20 years of service at OCI, Kim is known to co-workers as the Oracle. When she’s not serving as OCI’s resident rockstar, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

Danielle Marden

Conference Assistant

Phone: (352) 294-3082
Email: dmarden@ufl.edu

Danielle is a Jersey Girl turned Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration. She worked in the hospitality industry as a Sales Manager early on, then promoted through the ranks to become the Director of Conference Services at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville. As their children grew up, she and her husband Tim ran a successful family oriented rental business franchise, Space Walk of Gainesville. Danielle also spent several years as a Title Processor and Office Manager at a local, fast-paced real estate law firm and title company. Memorable customer service, premium communication, and innate organization and attention to detail skills are among her specialties. In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her husband and two gorgeous children, quiet time at home by the pool, or a girl’s weekend trip to the beach!

Kyle Pitman

Web Developer

Phone: (352) 294-3577
Email: kpitman1990@ufl.edu

Kyle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. He is responsible for designing and creating both the web sites and promotional material to publicize our conferences. He is experienced in using programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for print and digital layouts while also being well-versed in HTML and CSS for creating and managing our web content. Kyle has a deep passion for the martial arts so it’s not uncommon to see him practicing kicks around the office!

Hunter Perez

Conference Assistant

Phone: (352) 294-3575
Email: hunterperez@ufl.edu

Hunter Perez is a graduate from the University of Florida, where she majored in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management. She now lives happily with her husband by the beach. In her free time, she loves reading books and cherishes spending quality moments with her friends and family. Her warm and friendly nature makes her a joy to be around, and she brings a sense of harmony to both her professional and personal life.

Michelle Sowder

FMNP Coordinator & Technical Assistant

Phone: (352) 294-3583
Email: msowder@ufl.edu

This native Hoosier is a graduate of the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Before joining OCI in 1999, Shelby had experience in both laboratory and office settings. Skills learned during her scientific research and writing in graduate school prepared her for the rigors involved in producing abstract books and technical publications for OCI’s conferences. Shelby is a multi-faceted team player. In 2001, she was assigned management of the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP), a perfect fit for this lifelong environmental advocate. In this role, she oversees registration and helps instructors prepare for each course, and she continues to take on myriad new tasks as the program grows. Shelby also assists with producing conference evaluations, email lists and other technical items, in addition to being responsible for a few fiscal duties. Her main interests are her family (husband, two energetic kids and two felines), music, sports, traveling and outdoor activities. Her family regularly attends local cultural, art and music events.

Mandy Stage, CMP, CGMP

Office Manager

Phone: (352) 294-3578
Email: mstage@ufl.edu

Tenacious, detailed, analytical, dependable—where to begin? A lifelong Florida native and a graduate of the University of Florida, Mandy is an accomplished meetings professional. She joined the OCI team more than 20 years ago and has organized countless large scale conferences. When it comes to complex arrangements, she’s our go-to gal, always willing to put in the extra time and effort to make sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. In her free time, she loves being with her husband and daughter, and spending time at the beach or on the river. Mandy has recently decided to take on a new challenge by becoming the Office Manager for OCI. While she’ll miss meeting planning, she is excited about her new role.