Incentive Research Foundation Names Stephanie Harris As New President

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The Incentive Research Foundation is pleased to announce that Stephanie Harris has been appointed its new president. Harris will begin her new position with the IRF on October 28th, after ten years with American Express Meetings & Events. As the chief staff executive, Harris will lead strategic development of the IRF’s research and education initiatives serving all segments of the global incentive and recognition industry.

“The IRF Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome Stephanie Harris as the IRF’s new president,” said Mike May, current Chair of the IRF Trustees and President of Brightspot Incentives & Events. “Stephanie brings her industry knowledge, event background, and passion for research at a critical time as the IRF creates its Vision 2025 and develops a strategy to increase our impact on the incentives industry.”

Previously, as a member of the American Express Meetings & Events’ senior leadership team, Harris was responsible for global marketing, thought leadership and event services strategy. Harris designed and managed the American Express Global Meetings Industry Forecast, an annual research-based publication on the state of meetings that has become an industry bellwether. Harris’s industry experience also includes eight years as Division Vice President at Maritz, where she launched Travel Insight, a proprietary conjoint research methodology and product designed to optimize incentive travel programs.

“The IRF is an organization I have long-admired with an outstanding board,” said Harris. “I’m excited to have the opportunity build on the strong research platform and help guide the IRF into the next phase, with a focus on driving even deeper engagement with incentives professionals.”

“This is such an exciting time for the IRF,” said Kari Vrba, incoming 2020 IRF Chair and Senior Vice President, Business Development, MotivAction. “We look forward to Stephanie’s strong leadership as we develop our 2020 research docket, plan for the 2020 Education Invitational in the Dominican Republic and continue to engage with the incentives community.”

About the IRF:

The Incentive Research Foundation (TheIRF.org) funds and promotes research to advance the science and enhance the awareness and appropriate application of motivation and incentives in business and industry globally. The goal is to increase the understanding, effective use, and resultant benefits of incentives to businesses that currently use incentives and others interested in improved performance.