April 2019 - Nicole Cote

Nicole Cote Marketing Director Shepard Member since May 2018

This month Ginger Garner, CMP of The College Board visited with Nicole Cote, Marketing Director of Shepard Exhibitions. Nicole is approaching a one-year anniversary with MPI Georgia.

She works for Shepard, an organization that facilitates exhibitions, events, exhibits, audio visual services, production and entertainment, strategy, design, and event technology. Nicole oversees the company’s marketing strategies, communications, and public relations activities. Shepard also supports industry development and education, especially in their headquarter state of Georgia. With that encouragement, Nicole chose to join our chapter to learn, network, and contribute to conversations to further the development of the event community in Atlanta, and she feels that MPI Georgia is a good platform for growth opportunities.

Nicole’s first job in the meeting industry was during her post-graduate work as a sales coordinator with the nonprofit Biotechnology Innovative Organization. BIO is a forward-thinking, smart industry and their events department is a forward-thinking, smart team. Nicole recalls: “Everyone on that team was genuinely invested in creating awesome events and so we all shot for the moon together. I felt part of something special there.” While reflected on her earlier career endeavors, she shared two rookie career mistakes: assuming she knew everything at age 22 and assuming she still knew everything at age 26.

As the youngest of four siblings, Nicole has six strong-willed nieces and nephews, a sassy ten-year-old dog, and two actively engaged parents. “There really is never a dull moment in my life. My family is a kindhearted, witty, supportive bunch – I’m lucky.”  Kids in general are also an inspiration to Nicole; she enjoys their perspective and how they view the world. If she had an opportunity to have dinner with any four individuals, Nicole’s list includes Neil Armstrong, Goldie Hawn, Anthony Bourdain, and Princess Diana. However, you may hear her sharing sage words of wisdom and giving away cars if her wish to swap places for a day with Oprah came true.