Los Angeles

In L.A., creativity isn’t just an idea, it’s a way of life. Our local team taps into this energy, pairing insider know-how with imaginative execution to bring your events the sparkle, and substance, they deserve.

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Next begins with:

Local expertise granting access to iconic venues, hidden studios, and cultural hotspots

Design and production that capture L.A.'s flair—bold, polishes, and always unforgettable

The reliability of PRA’s nationwide network, bringing both scale and local finesse

Heather Matusiak, DMCP

Regional Vice President, Southern California and Las Vegas
- Heather.Matusiak@PRA.com
Heather Matusiak, Regional Vice President, leads our Southern California and Las Vegas teams. With over 20 years of experience in corporate meetings and events, most of which were in the Southern California DMC market, Heather is well-versed in all facets of the events business, from operations to creative product development and sales. Heather brings a wealth of leadership and sales experience, and prior to joining PRA, she served as Vice President of Sales in the industry. She has found success in her career by focusing on relationship building and creative marketing.

Heather currently serves on the Site So Cal Board of Directors as Director of Membership. She earned her Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) certification in 2008. She is a graduate of University of Southern California and is based in Orange County, CA.
Patty Kindness

Regional Director of Sales
- Patty.Kindness@PRA.com
Patty has been an active member of the hospitality industry for over 20 years with 12 years at PRA. Born in Philly, Patty moved to Las Vegas to attend UNLV and now resides in Orange County. She’s incredibly passionate about the industry and the hospitality community as a whole. She was just awarded the MPI Emerging Leader Awards for 2023. She is a team player, contributor, and sales leader at PRA. She looks at challenges from all angles, thinks from multiple perspectives and implements innovative ways to tackle challenges in her role as Regional Sales Director of the West Region. IMEX America continues to be her favorite annual event and client experience annually. As their exclusive DMC partner they work collaboratively every year to bring hosted buyers unique and memorable experiences together. People who know Patty, knows that she loves to laugh and has a passion for life and family. Whether its in the travel trailer exploring the SW and Mexico with her family, or abroad, exploring new locations, food and culture is her favorite pastime.
Amy Knauf

Regional Director of Experience Design
- amy.knauf@PRA.com
Amy Knauf, Regional Director of Experience Design, leads the team of Experience Designers in Southern California and Las Vegas. Amy’s interest in events started in college when she interned with a boutique event management company in San Diego, where she was first introduced to PRA. After graduating from Point Loma Nazarene University, Amy started her career with PRA in the very role she now leads. Over the past 16 years, Amy has created and seen some amazing events but one of her most memorable was designing a reception and dinner space in make-shift barracks facing the ocean on the beach of Camp Pendleton, complete with amphibious assault vehicles storming the beach from the water. After many years in the Experience Design role, Amy now thrives in training and mentoring her team across the region! In her free time, Amy loves to spend time with her husband and two young children.
Kathryn Sweeney

Senior Event Producer
- Kathryn.Sweeney@pra.com
Kathryn grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia; the proud daughter of a Navy fighter pilot & Pan Am Stewardess. After earning her degree from Scripps Women’s College, she began her career as a theater stage manager. She has found that those same skills have translated beautifully to event production particularly when combined with her love of hospitality, no doubt gained through years of helping her mother & grandmothers host parties in their homes. She has an extensive background in catering, working with some of the best chefs in Southern California; and spent more than a decade producing events for a major film & television studio. She enjoys watercolor painting, camping, and supporting the Angel City Football Club!
Hilary Pineo

Senior Experience Designer
- hilary.pineo@PRA.com
Hilary began her hospitality career in Palm Springs after relocating to the desert area 22 years ago. Her perpetual love for sunny skies made it an easy decision after acquiring her degree in Business Administration & Marketing in Northern California at Chico State. She started out in management at a local luxury resort and two years later moved into an Account Management position with PRA working with Patti Roscoe’s team. Hilary’s talents expanded greatly as she explored hospitality in DMC Sales, Convention Center Sales, Program Management, and Creative Design. She has passion for creativity and determination to build fully immersive experiences for her clients. Fun fact – She fell in love with theme event design at a young age, exploring Halloween costume patterns and linen swatches in the fabric store.
DeAnne Millais

Senior Experience Designer
- DeAnne.Millais@pra.com
DeAnne Millais is a lifelong Angeleno and proud Bruin. After graduating from UCLA, she interned at a corporate event planning firm and has been hooked on events ever since. Working in many facets of the industry over the years — from fundraising to entertainment – she has planned and produced galas, sales meetings, incentive trips, golf tournaments, receptions, product launches, and much more. In 2011, she began to volunteer at a local theater and developed additional skills in set design and decoration. This later led to prop styling and set decoration for large scale live shows and brand activations in tandem with continued event production. One of her favorite projects to date has been the ABC Abbott Elementary experience at San Diego Comic-Con, for which she sourced and decorated an entire immersive experience with hallways, lockers, principal’s office, and classroom to match the TV show. A career in events suits DeAnne because she enjoys organizing and managing projects just as much as conceptualizing experiences and designing spaces. Further, she has found that she has some natural skills that lend themselves to the work: empathy and curiosity; the ability to put herself into the shoes of the audience; anticipating issues before they arise; and adding extra levels of interest by bringing in psychological factors, symbolism, and Easter eggs. In her spare time, she can be found in museums, at the theater, walking in new-to-her neighborhoods, or at home, with her cat Lily, learning the electric bass.
Jennifer Messerli

Regional Sales Manager
- Jennifer.Messerli@pra.com
Jennifer Messerli is a seasoned hospitality sales and event professional with over two decades of experience in luxury hotels & resorts throughout Southern California. Known for her client first approach, Jennifer has a proven track record of delivering high impact events from intimate gatherings to conferences with over 1,000 attendees that leave a lasting impression.

With a strong foundation in both event planning and sales leadership, Jennifer has consistently partnered with high-end venues to elevate guest experiences and drive revenue. Her career spans prestigious properties such as Terranea Resort, Balboa Bay Resort and Ritz-Carlton where she has led cross-functional teams, negotiated complex contracts and executed events with impeccable attention to detail.

Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys life by the ocean in Redondo Beach, California. She values time with family and friends and finds inspiration in exploring new venues and trends in hospitality. Her enthusiasm for creating unforgettable experiences extends beyond her profession, reflecting a genuine love for celebration and connection.
Michael Costa

Senior Vice President, Business Operations
LinkedIn
- Michael.Costa@PRA.com
Michael brings more than twenty years of experience in executive management to the PRA team. In his role as Senior Vice President, Business Operations, Michael is responsible for developing and implementing business strategies to support company initiatives, while creating synergies and leverage opportunities throughout the PRA system.

In Their Words

“Finding the right partner for us at the local level is imperative to our success. PRA was fantastic to partner with and understood each change in direction every step we took. We were in the middle of a business transformation that brought daily impacts and weekly changes to the program, and they never once dropped the ball.”

Jeanie Mitchell

New York Life Insurance Company

Corporate Vice President, Corporate Events

Lake Tahoe

Lakeside luxury and alpine adventures energize and transform gatherings.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs turns the desert into a canvas for creativity.

Orange County

In Orange County, coastlines meet cutting-edge convenience.

San Diego

This coastal city thrives on contrasts: laid-back beaches, buzzing nightlife, and cultural icons like Balboa Park.

Los Angeles

Known as the world’s creative capital, LA offers backdrops as bold as your imagination.

Santa Barbara

Set between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara captures California at its most picturesque.

Monterey

This coastal town’s world-class venues leave attendees wowed.

Pebble Beach

An oceanfront luxury destination that redefines event experiences and executive retreats.

Sacramento

California's capital city blends a walkable downtown with a vibrant cultural and food scene, for experiences with character, culture and California cool.