Orange County

Southern California’s charm unfolds just beyond the coastline, and that’s where PRA’s Orange County team makes its mark. We transform the region’s blend of beach culture, elegant venues, and sunshine into experiences that feel effortless, elevated, and unforgettable.

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Next begins with:

Local expertise opening the doors to premier venues, coastal escapes, and curated experiences across Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and beyond

Creative design that channels OC’s lifestyle from artful surfside gatherings to sophisticated resort receptions

PRA’s national network supporting every event with scale, consistency, and precision

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.
Ashley Hudson

Regional Sales Manager
- Ashley.Hudson@pra.com
Ashley started her career 14 years ago at The Resort at Pelican Hill, where she took a bartending position to earn extra income and quickly discovered her passion for the event industry. Over the years, she has worked at various luxury properties across Orange County, gaining experience and advancing in the field. One of the highlights of her career has been being part of large, unforgettable events that have allowed her to hone her skills in event coordination and client relations. Ashely is particularly proud of her ability to connect with people, which has translated into exceptional customer service and strong, authentic relationships with clients. She was fortunate to receive the Client Whisperer Award during her time at Fashion Island Hotel, which was a proud moment in her career. Originally from Anaheim and raised in Corona, Ashley now live in Orange County with her family. Outside of work, she enjoy spending time with her husband and their three-year-old son, cooking new recipes at home and binge watching her favorite shows.
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.
Alex Deines, CMP, DMCP

Senior Experience Designer
- Alex.Deines@pra.com
With an enthusiasm for all things celebratory, Alex Deines has spent her professional career designing and coordinating exceptional experiences throughout Southern California. A personal love of travel, music, and unique events helped Alex earn her bachelor’s degree in Event Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. At PRA Events, Inc., she now enjoys helping curate shared moments for groups traveling to Orange County. A background of concert logistics, hotel recreation, city event organization, and marketing and promotions for various hospitality organizations has provided Alex with years of experience bringing smiles to faces and a sense of wonder for event attendees. Her passion and drive have earned her both a CMP (2018) and DMCP (2019) designation, along with a Smart Meetings Magazine ‘Smart Women in Meetings – Rising Star’ award (2019). When not dreaming up new soirees, Alex enjoys attending events for herself such as music festivals or low-key get togethers with friends and family. She is always up for something tasty and loves trips to the local coffee shop with her husband and two children. She finds balance through her yoga practice and loves to escape to nature (glamping-style) to rejuvenate.
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.
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.
Kellie Collins, DMCP

Regional Director of Events
- Kellie.Collins@PRA.com
Three words to describe me: Organized. Caring. Loyal.

If you really knew me you would know: I love camping.

Restaurant on repeat: My own house, I love to cook and try new recipes.

The best part about my job is: Working with great people day in and day out.

My inspiration: Female leaders in the industry!
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.

Bay Area

A global gateway where innovation, diversity, and design converge.

Carmel

Artistic charm creates one-of-a-kind gatherings in this coastal haven.

Half Moon Bay

A coastal escape where rugged cliffs meet rolling waves and small-town charm meets elevated experiences.

Lake Tahoe

Lakeside luxury and alpine adventures energize and transform gatherings.

Los Angeles

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

Monterey

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

Napa and Sonoma Wine Country

Culinary excellence and scenic serenity create highly memorable immersive experiences.

Oakland

The urban epicenter of equity, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Orange County

In Orange County, coastlines meet cutting-edge convenience.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs turns the desert into a canvas for creativity.

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.

San Diego

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

San Francisco

San Francisco offers innovation beside victorian charm, fog rolling in and an excellent cuisine.

Santa Barbara

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

Silicon Valley

The where tech, talent, and trailblazers launch what’s next.

Yosemite

Fuel reflection, renewal, and elevated programming in this iconic wilderness setting.

Let's Connect

Orange County

Next begins with:

Local expertise opening the doors to premier venues, coastal escapes, and curated experiences across Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach, and beyond

Creative design that channels OC’s lifestyle from artful surfside gatherings to sophisticated resort receptions

PRA’s national network supporting every event with scale, consistency, and precision

Our Team

Heather Matusiak, DMCP

Ashley Hudson

Patty Kindness

Alex Deines, CMP, DMCP

Amy Knauf

Hilary Pineo

Kellie Collins, DMCP

Michael Costa