---
title: "How I Got Here"
id: "45470"
type: "post"
slug: "how-i-got-here-3"
published_at: "2019-02-01T06:40:32+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:32:54+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/01/how-i-got-here-3/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/01/how-i-got-here-3.md"
excerpt: "Ushma Suvarnakar, the director of meeting and events for the National Automatic Merchandising Association, is a seasoned meetings-industry vet."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Meetings / Events"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "Business"
  - "conferences"
  - "event planning"
  - "Meetings"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Director"
  - "Manager"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

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 » How I Got Here

Ushma Suvarnakar has always had a passion for the events industry. With almost 13 years of experience planning association conferences, she knows it’s all about working to create a memorable experience for attendees while also thinking about what’s next. A few stops in her career journey:

### A Working History

**2005-2009:** Associate, Meeting Planner, at American Institute of Architects

**2010-2012:** National Biotechnology Conference Meeting Manager at American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences

**2012-2014:** Annual Meetings Manager at American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences

**2015-2018:** Director, Meetings and Conferences, at American Anthropological Association

**2018-:** Director, Meetings and Events, at National Automatic Merchandising Association

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

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Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/)
 [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/)
 [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/)
 [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/)

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