Meet Dawn Rockas, Senior Account Executive at Sessionboard

Dawn Rockas has joined Sessionboard as Senior Account Executive, working with event organizers in the association space. She's spent her entire career on the provider side of the meetings and events industry — hotels, a convention center, a destination marketing office, and custom and SaaS-based event technology — across San Diego, New York City, and now Cleveland.

We asked her about how she got here, what she's learned, and what she's planning to dig into first.

How do you introduce yourself when someone asks what you do?

My name is Dawn Rockas, representing Sessionboard, a robust, agentic speaker and content platform.

Where are you based?

After 18 years in San Diego and five years in NYC, I'm back home in my childhood hometown on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio.

How did you end up in the events industry — was it deliberate, or did you fall into it?

Fell in, feet first. I had just earned my MBA in San Diego and was seeking Organizational Development positions. The market was soft, especially for a novice, so I taught myself how to type and got placed at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort as a temporary executive admin. I left six years later handling the property's tier 1 Mid-Atlantic association marketing.

From there, I went on to sell a convention center, was tapped to open a destination's first remote office in NYC, and sold custom and SaaS-based technology.

What made you stay?

My DNA is all about being of service. My tribe will tell you that I've never met a stranger, and I'm always keen to help.

What's something you learned in a previous role that you still use every day?

Listening, being responsive, and providing excellent customer service.

What's a misconception about working in sales you'd like to correct?

It's not about the sale — it's about discovering if the solution I'm offering can add value. Bottom line, it has to make sense for both the customer and the provider. Otherwise, it's just about the sale.

What kind of customer conversations do you enjoy most?

I enjoy it when customers trust me to be their authentic self. Yes, it's business, and yes, there are boundaries, but at the end of the day, trust is everything. Let's have fun.

Tell us about a win you're proud of.

There are so many to discuss. What makes me most proud is when I've been able to discover whether the solution I'm introducing adds value to an organizer's current event practices — and if it does, small deal or large deal, it solves a problem, saves staff time, and creates opportunities for revenue streams, all while taking "stuff" off their plate.

What do people outside the industry never understand about event work?

Most outsiders gasp when you describe an event you just participated in and share all the details. Devil in the details is the event industry.

And the most underrated part of event week? Move-in and move-out.

Why Sessionboard? What made you say yes?

The stars aligned quickly as I learned about Sessionboard's content management event technology, the people, the culture, and the vision to stay abreast of developing technology — so that all bases are covered and event staff can focus on creating the content, not managing it.

That combination is what continues to motivate and inspire me in my career in the meetings and events space. Count on me to inspire you about Sessionboard.

What are you most excited to dig into in your first 90 days?

Rolling up my sleeves to learn the why about the platform, how we service our clients, staying on top of new developments, and building relationships with teammates.

What do you do when you're not working?

Animals, animals, animals. You'll know I've won the lottery because I'd open an animal sanctuary.

Best trip you've ever taken?

Flying from San Diego to Rome. I purchased a train ticket only to realize the train company was on strike, so I hitched a ride with a local. Learned that it's "Roma," not "Rome."

Something people are always surprised to learn about you?

That I'm an introvert. People assume that because I'm outgoing and gregarious, I'm an extrovert. Being one or the other isn't about that — it's about how you process the interaction. I need a lot of down time after a lot of interactions, which is why I still have a landline (VOIP), so I can unplug.

Quick-fire

Best city for a conference: Too many to name, for too many different reasons.

‍Aisle or window: Aisle.

‍Morning person or night owl: Morning.

‍Most underrated part of event week: Move-in and move-out.

‍Streaming diet: BritBox, Acorn, or PBS. Too many series to name.

‍A hill you'll die on: Just because you can doesn't mean you should. I'm all about r.e.s.p.e.c.t. My depression-baby parents taught me to respect the "janitor" as much as the "CEO."

Anything else the events community should know about you?

Folks who have worked with me know that I live by this: if you don't a.s.k. to k.n.o.w., you'll never g.e.t. What's the worst thing anyone can say, besides no? It's business — I don't take things personally, and you'll always hear my loud voice and laugh. After all, let's have fun. Life is too short.

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Dawn is working with association event organizers across North America. Reach out to her on LinkedIn, or [see how Sessionboard works →]