Heather Brown, CMP, DMCP

Regional Vice President

Heather Brown, Regional Vice President, began her DMC career with PRA in 2013 and now leads our Midwest and Southeast Regions. With over 25 years of experience in corporate meetings, events, and hospitality, Heather understands the key to creating unique and one-of-a-kind experiences is true collaboration and partnership. Heather has many fond memories from her time in the industry but one of her absolute favorites is the 2012 Chicago Summit. Heather led the team who partnered with the White House to plan and execute a very successful NATO Working Dinner for President Obama and the NATO delegates. Heather served on the MPI-CAC Board of Directors for 6 years and is a Past President for the Chicago Area Chapter. She has also been featured on the BizBash Most Influential Event Professionals list.

Contact: Heather.Brown@PRA.com

Colleen Ambrose

Regional Program Finance Manager

Colleen Ambrose was born and raised in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago. After earning a B.S. in Management from Indiana University, Colleen began her career as an administrative professional. With a heart for assisting others, she thrived as a Legal Assistant at a Personal Injury Firm, providing exceptional support to clients during their most vulnerable times. Driven by a passion for numbers and a desire to make a broader impact, Colleen took on a new adventure in 2023, joining PRA as the Regional Program Finance Manager overseeing the Midwest and Southeast regions. In this role, she continues to channel her dedication to helping others while leveraging her financial knowledge. Beyond her financial acumen and professional pursuits, Colleen finds joy in challenging herself through various physical activities. When she's not immersed in creating spreadsheets, you might find her perfecting her golf swing or passionately cheering on the Chicago Cubs!

Allison Shebek

Regional Director of Experience Design

Alli joined the PRA family in 2014 with the Arizona team, where she quickly developed her passion for event design. After 4 years leading a team to design and execute hundreds of events in the Arizona desert, she relocated to the Windy City to pursue new challenges and opportunities with PRA. With a degree in Tourism Development & Management, as well as a Destination Management Certified Professional designation, Alli has been able to leverage her design skills and logistical expertise to plan events across North America, creating strong client and partner relationships wherever she works. She loves to dream with her clients and transform those dreams into extraordinary experiences. Alli is actively involved in the meetings and events community, serving as Director of Marketing for MPI Chicago Area Chapter. She also serves as Marketing Co-Chair and a member of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Task Force for PCMA Greater Midwest Chapter. In 2018, she was named one of PCMA’s “20 in Their Twenties,” in recognition of her expertise and contributions to the industry. When not volunteering and designing unforgettable experiences in the Midwest, Alli can be found enjoying live music at a concert or relaxing by Lake Michigan with her dog, Roo. Contact: Allison.Shebek@PRA.com

Stephanie Cipolletta

Regional Sales Manager

As an experienced sales professional, Stephanie has had the unique opportunity to sell, manage and execute numerous rewarding events across the Midwest. She has a passion for developing relationships with her clients which has provided her a wealth of communication and sales tactics that help maximize her efforts for PRA and her colleagues. With experience in operations, sales, and catering, she is excited to share her industry knowledge and passion for Chicago with our clients. As a Regional Sales Manager, Stephanie’s enthusiasm for the industry not only resonates with her clients, but her team as well and that collaboration and teamwork drives her success.   When Stephanie is not working or (net)working, she is enjoying the Chicago restaurant scene, watching true crime documentaries or sports, and relaxing at home with her dog, Cheesy Potato.

April Pranske

Regional Director of Sales

With midwestern hospitality in her blood, April moved to Orlando to work for The Mouse after earning a Tourism and Event Management degree from Indiana University.  She has designed experiences for corporate clients on annual conferences throughout Florida as well as domestic and international incentive trips.  You can usually find her enjoying live music on the weekend with a “work hard, play hard” attitude.  April looks forward to finding a solution that meets your business event needs the next time sunny Florida is your destination.

Contact: April.Pranske@PRA.com

Silvana Marzullo

Event Producer

Silvana joined the PRA team in the summer of 2022 and approaches every part of her Event Producer role with meticulous curiosity. Born and raised in Chicago, she is familiar with every corner of the city. With 12 years’ experience coordinating events and transportation throughout the Midwest, she thrives in the “boots on the ground” role and loves being onsite. Her time as a freelance professional give her the ability to examine the logistics of any program from a multidimensional perspective, leaving no stone unturned. When not operating events, Silvana can be found riding her bike and exploring nature with her family.  

Melissa Tucker

Experience Designer

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Melissa Tucker graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and a Minor in Public Relations. Melissa was involved in several event planning projects in Champaign, creating and producing events for student and university organizations where she found her niche in the event world.  She knew instantly that she wanted to continue to engage clients and plan events as a full-time career. She gained additional experience as a Student Volunteer with MPI, where she won the Young Professional Achievement Award for 2021-2022. As a PRA Experience Design Coordinator, she is excited to continue to learn as she shares her passion for unique experiences and adventure.  When Melissa isn't engaged with client events, you can find her running, working out and spending time with friends. She also loves to travel and enjoys reading non-fiction books.

Xan Guzik

Associate Director of Events

An event professional for over 20 years, Xan has worked on a broad spectrum of events giving her the unparalleled qualifications needed to deliver powerful, seamless, and flawless productions for virtually any project imaginable. Whether producing large-scale experiential marketing events, tech industry conferences, retail openings, or upscale consumer food shows, a myriad of clients have all benefited from her expertise in logistics, operations, budgeting, and event management. As an Event Producer on the PRA Midwest Region team, Xan’s vast experience informs every program she touches. A member of both MPI and ILEA, Xan is committed to broadening and nurturing her relationships with event partners, while also studying for the CMP as further dedication to the industry she loves. When she’s not working or studying, she can be found walking her pup Hazel around the neighborhood, obsessively watching HGTV for design tips, or dining with friends in the 2nd coolest neighborhood in the world. Contact: Xan.Guzik@PRA.com