Our Leadership
Martha Donato
Founder & President
Martha Donato is the Founder and President of MAD Event Management. For more than 25 years, she has been creating conferences and large-scale experiences that bring people together, build community, and support meaningful outcomes for organizations across a range of industries.
Since establishing MAD in 2009, Martha has helped launch and lead more than 30 B2B and B2C events and initiatives. Her work spans business, policy, sustainability, and consumer-facing experiences, supporting clients both within and beyond the events ecosystem through strategic planning, production, and advisory work.
Notable MAD projects include Global Policy Forum, Sustainable Events Summit, EV Exchange, and THRIV Expo, each designed to foster dialogue, leadership, and long-term value for their respective industries and communities.
In addition to event production, Martha works closely with organizations as a strategic consultant on exhibition strategy, conference development, and experience design. Her approach blends clarity, collaboration, and operational rigor, helping teams build initiatives that are purposeful, resilient, and well executed.
Her work has been recognized with two TSNN awards and a feature on the cover of Trade Show Executive. Deeply committed to advancing leadership and collaboration across industries, Martha serves as President and Co-Founder of the International Women in Exhibitions Network North America, sits on the Board of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), and has previously served on the Boards of SISO and IAEE New York. Since 2022, MAD Event Management has represented UFI in North America, supporting its mission to connect and champion the global exhibitions community.
Marty Glynn
CEO & Partner
Marty Glynn is CEO and Partner at MAD Event Management. With more than 30 years of experience, he has worked across every layer of live events and complex operational environments, helping organizations design, build, and sustain initiatives that create long-term value.
Before joining MAD, Marty co-founded and led several companies including Metropolitan Exposition Services, MetroMultiMedia, and Metro Transportation. These ventures provided him with a comprehensive, 360-degree view of how events and large-scale operations function, from on-the-ground execution to commercial strategy, logistics, and financial oversight.
At MAD, Marty focuses on strategic planning, operations, sustainability initiatives, and city and destination partnerships. His work supports organizations across multiple industries, including events, infrastructure, policy, and economic development, with an emphasis on clarity, durability, and sound decision-making.
MAD projects such as Global Policy Forum, Sustainable Events Summit, EV Exchange, and THRIV Expo reflect this approach, bringing together stakeholders from diverse sectors to drive dialogue, collaboration, and measurable outcomes.
Marty serves on advisory boards for Huntington Place in Detroit and NYC & Co. Through MAD’s role as UFI’s North American Regional Director, he remains closely connected to the global dynamics shaping exhibitions and live experiences, with a strong focus on building bridges rather than silos.
He believes strong outcomes are built on purpose, trust, and people who understand both the details and the bigger picture, a mindset he brings to every project and partnership.