Conference Plus: Staff Bios & Contact Information
JoAnn Newmeyer
Associate Director, Conference Services
JoAnn has been part of the UC San Diego Housing • Dining • Hospitality team for 31 years. A jack-of-all-trades, JoAnn began her career with HDH as a breakfast cook, moving her way up to the administrative side of the dining operation. While working in the Meal Card Office, JoAnn’s passion for personal customer service was unveiled, making the transition to Conference Services a natural. With her vast knowledge of UC San Diego, JoAnn can deliver an unforgettable event on campus for you and your group! To email JoAnn, click here.
Associate Director, Conference Services
JoAnn has been part of the UC San Diego Housing • Dining • Hospitality team for 31 years. A jack-of-all-trades, JoAnn began her career with HDH as a breakfast cook, moving her way up to the administrative side of the dining operation. While working in the Meal Card Office, JoAnn’s passion for personal customer service was unveiled, making the transition to Conference Services a natural. With her vast knowledge of UC San Diego, JoAnn can deliver an unforgettable event on campus for you and your group! To email JoAnn, click here.
Anita Sorgenfrey
Business Development Coordinator
Anita has nearly a decade of hospitality industry and accounting experience in the private sector. Before joining Housing • Dining • Hospitality 25 years ago, she worked in customer relations and accounting services at La Jolla’s prestigious La Valencia Hotel. Anita has been instrumental in the development of Conference Services’ Complete Meeting Planning program. She manages the event planning customer databases and has the knowledge and intuition to make your meeting at UC San Diego a great success! To email Anita, click here.
Business Development Coordinator
Anita has nearly a decade of hospitality industry and accounting experience in the private sector. Before joining Housing • Dining • Hospitality 25 years ago, she worked in customer relations and accounting services at La Jolla’s prestigious La Valencia Hotel. Anita has been instrumental in the development of Conference Services’ Complete Meeting Planning program. She manages the event planning customer databases and has the knowledge and intuition to make your meeting at UC San Diego a great success! To email Anita, click here.
Anita Treviño Neubarth
Business Development Coordinator
Anita joined Conference Services after leading the sales team for UC San Diego Catering for 11 years. She is known for her creativity when producing events, including unique menu development, set design and flawless execution on every project. She has a trained eye for detail, extensive knowledge of the campus, and understands how to deliver the client’s overall vision, making her an exceptional addition to the Conference team. Prior to joining UC San Diego, Anita worked for 25 years in the hotel and resort industry, opening properties such as L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel and Resort, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club and Cal-a-Vie Health Resort, while serving as the Director of Catering and Conference Services and National Sales Manager. To email Anita, click here.
Business Development Coordinator
Anita joined Conference Services after leading the sales team for UC San Diego Catering for 11 years. She is known for her creativity when producing events, including unique menu development, set design and flawless execution on every project. She has a trained eye for detail, extensive knowledge of the campus, and understands how to deliver the client’s overall vision, making her an exceptional addition to the Conference team. Prior to joining UC San Diego, Anita worked for 25 years in the hotel and resort industry, opening properties such as L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel and Resort, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club and Cal-a-Vie Health Resort, while serving as the Director of Catering and Conference Services and National Sales Manager. To email Anita, click here.
Davell Jackson-Brown
Operations Manager
Davell has been with Conference Services since 1997, but she has been an integral part of the Housing • Dining • Hospitality team for 27 years, starting in Dining and moving her way up through administration while experiencing every facet of the department’s operations. Her passion for the campus is apparent in her relationships with other UC San Diego divisions, her involvement with various campus committees, and her winning numerous diversity and customer service awards. Excellent customer service is her number one priority—find out by contacting her for your next conference or meeting! To email Davell, click here.
Operations Manager
Davell has been with Conference Services since 1997, but she has been an integral part of the Housing • Dining • Hospitality team for 27 years, starting in Dining and moving her way up through administration while experiencing every facet of the department’s operations. Her passion for the campus is apparent in her relationships with other UC San Diego divisions, her involvement with various campus committees, and her winning numerous diversity and customer service awards. Excellent customer service is her number one priority—find out by contacting her for your next conference or meeting! To email Davell, click here.
Marilyn Samm-Smith, CMP, CMM
Conference Coordinator
Marilyn began her career at UC San Diego as a professional event planner over 17 years ago, and has coordinated and managed summer conferences and events for 11 years. Marilyn has achieved the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) industry designations and is an active member of Meeting Professionals International. Her work experience combined with her professionalism and excellent customer service results in highly satisfied conferences year after year. To email Marilyn, click here.
Conference Coordinator
Marilyn began her career at UC San Diego as a professional event planner over 17 years ago, and has coordinated and managed summer conferences and events for 11 years. Marilyn has achieved the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) industry designations and is an active member of Meeting Professionals International. Her work experience combined with her professionalism and excellent customer service results in highly satisfied conferences year after year. To email Marilyn, click here.
Suzette Olguin
Conference Coordinator
Suzette has been with Housing • Dining • Hospitality since 2002, starting in the Triton Cash office and transitioning to Conference Services in 2006. In addition to coordinating conferences, she acts as the IT liaison in the effort to streamline paperwork and procedures in the office. She has an affinity for music, board games, dogs—and great customer service! To email Suzette, click here.
Conference Coordinator
Suzette has been with Housing • Dining • Hospitality since 2002, starting in the Triton Cash office and transitioning to Conference Services in 2006. In addition to coordinating conferences, she acts as the IT liaison in the effort to streamline paperwork and procedures in the office. She has an affinity for music, board games, dogs—and great customer service! To email Suzette, click here.
Sonia Berry
Conference Coordinator
Sonia has over 20 years of special event coordination and administrative experience in the public and private sector. Prior to joining Housing • Dining • Hospitality she worked in the UC San Diego Department of Surgery. She received her certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies in 2004, and her attention to detail and thoroughness is guaranteed to make your conference or meeting a triumph. To email Sonia, click here.
Conference Coordinator
Sonia has over 20 years of special event coordination and administrative experience in the public and private sector. Prior to joining Housing • Dining • Hospitality she worked in the UC San Diego Department of Surgery. She received her certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies in 2004, and her attention to detail and thoroughness is guaranteed to make your conference or meeting a triumph. To email Sonia, click here.
Jamie Atkinson
Conference Coordinator
Jamie has been with Conference Services since 2008. Jamie completed his bachelor’s degree in Communications and Computer Information Office Systems in 2005 from the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau before moving to sunny San Diego. While in Juneau, Jamie was very involved in the campus community planning activities and numerous leadership and academic conferences. Jamie has been involved with planning and executing conferences and events ever since. In San Diego, one of his favorite events he has coordinated is enjoying hors d'oeuvres at Shamu Close Up and Dining with Shamu at SeaWorld. He looks forward to making your conference a memorable one at UC San Diego! To email Jamie, click here.
Conference Coordinator
Jamie has been with Conference Services since 2008. Jamie completed his bachelor’s degree in Communications and Computer Information Office Systems in 2005 from the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau before moving to sunny San Diego. While in Juneau, Jamie was very involved in the campus community planning activities and numerous leadership and academic conferences. Jamie has been involved with planning and executing conferences and events ever since. In San Diego, one of his favorite events he has coordinated is enjoying hors d'oeuvres at Shamu Close Up and Dining with Shamu at SeaWorld. He looks forward to making your conference a memorable one at UC San Diego! To email Jamie, click here.
Charlotte Curtis
Conference Assistant
Charlotte has been with Conference Services since 2011, but first joined Housing • Dining • Hospitality in 2006 where she worked with Planning & Construction Services for more than four years. As a career staff member and soon-to-be Alumni, her involvement with and dedication to UC San Diego runs deep. In addition to her position with Conference Services, Charlotte is also a Department Safety Coordinator and member of the HDH Emergency On-Call Team. Your well-being is in good hands with Charlotte! Contact her for more information on Guest Housing and summer operations. To email Charlotte, click here.
Conference Assistant
Charlotte has been with Conference Services since 2011, but first joined Housing • Dining • Hospitality in 2006 where she worked with Planning & Construction Services for more than four years. As a career staff member and soon-to-be Alumni, her involvement with and dedication to UC San Diego runs deep. In addition to her position with Conference Services, Charlotte is also a Department Safety Coordinator and member of the HDH Emergency On-Call Team. Your well-being is in good hands with Charlotte! Contact her for more information on Guest Housing and summer operations. To email Charlotte, click here.
Dorothy Koppen
Conference Assistant
Dorothy has worked for UC San Diego since February of 2006, starting in the Dining restaurants and later training to become an Accounting Assistant in the Catering division. When she's not assisting conferences on campus, she enjoys traveling through the Mid-West and South, playing with her Grandchildren, and learning new recipes. To email Dorothy, click here.
Conference Assistant
Dorothy has worked for UC San Diego since February of 2006, starting in the Dining restaurants and later training to become an Accounting Assistant in the Catering division. When she's not assisting conferences on campus, she enjoys traveling through the Mid-West and South, playing with her Grandchildren, and learning new recipes. To email Dorothy, click here.
You can also reach UC San Diego Conference Services toll-free at 866.388.8273, or locally at 858.534.4220.
