---
title: "How I Got Here: Ushma Suvarnakar"
id: "9248"
type: "post"
slug: "how-i-got-here-ushma-suvarnakar"
published_at: "2019-02-14T00:00:00+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-14T22:48:00+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/14/how-i-got-here-ushma-suvarnakar/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/14/how-i-got-here-ushma-suvarnakar.md"
excerpt: "Ushma Suvarnakar Director, Meetings and Events National Automatic Merchandising Association Arlington, Virginia 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..."
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---

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 » How I Got Here: Ushma Suvarnakar

**Ushma Suvarnakar**  
 Director, Meetings and Events  
 National Automatic Merchandising Association  
 Arlington, Virginia

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:

**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 – Present:** Director, Meetings and Events, at National Automatic Merchandising Association

Tags: [#Association Industry](https://associationsnow.com/tag/association-industry/)
 [#Career Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/career-development/)
 [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/)
 [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/)
 [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/)

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