The September NACE meeting at the Loews Hotel was a blast. Not only was the food awesome, not only did we have an incredible panel of speakers moderated by Justin Guarini, but yours truly got to speak in front of a crowd of fellow event professionals and show a killer slideshow! I also want to thank my good bud, Charles Peatross from Drexel Hill Photography for being the official photographer of the night and supplying me with these awesome shots.

A born showman!

Our panel was convened on the importance of social networks and how to harness their power. Mark Kingsdorf, Dave Williams, Craig Sumsky and Justin Guarini certainly use them to their advantage.

It’s nice to get out once a month and hang with other industry folks like Linda from Perfect Weddings.

More good friends: Kevin York, Linda Simunov and Jason Weldon from Synergetic Sounds.

Jean Valentin and Kevin York.

Hope you don’t mind but I left out some less attractive photos of myself. Can’t wait to do it all again!

I love the monthly NACE meetings. You get to meet so many cool people and eat really fantastic food at some of the coolest places in and around the city. But this month’s event was the special Bridal Panel at the Four Seasons Hotel in Center City so you know this one would be standing room only!

The room was impeccable.

As was the menu!

The bridal panel was made up of 5 recently and about to be married couples who gave their no-holds-barred thoughts on wedding vendors. Ouch!

If you expect to be in business when the smoke clears, you’ve got to be here to hear what couples actually want and need from a wedding vendor. Brooke from Marc Smiler Video and Phil Kramer from PK Photo know this all too well.

The panel’s answers were sometimes hilarious. Sorta like the old Newlywed Game!

Jon Rubin from Studio Nine was also interested in getting the inside scoop on what the panel thougt.

Mary Ruegg from Brides.com took on the moderator duties flawlessly.

Mark Kingsdorf gets expressive.

The panel’s answers were as funny as they were informative.

Sofia Negron and Marc Smiler are fixtures in the Philly wedding scene.

I love hanging with Jillian from the Hotel DuPont!

Tim Sudall from Video One Productions was the meeting sponsor this time around.

Did I mention the food was top-shelf?

Whew! Too much food and too much fun! Can’t wait until next month! More photos at Flickr.

My good friend Jackie Bayne just sent this to me from our NACE Phillies outing at Citizens Bank Park the other night (Angela from CTO Entertainment, me and Pat Simione).

Note the VIP treatment we all received in the form of sandwiches and beer! The Phils lost, however, to the Cards in a real yawner but it was still a blast meeting up with everyone.

JOE_0392, originally uploaded by joepulcinella.

Ha! Just testing a photo post directly from Flickr and it seems to have worked! Here, Pat Lyons from Brides.com puts on his best game face as he poses with a motorbike not even owned by him!

Last Thursday was already hot and steamy but things heated up a whole lot more as MANNA threw a party to welcome everyone to their new headquarters.

My kind of menu!

Dang, that’s a lot of cheesesteaks!

Steve from Silver Sound and Dave from DVideography also donated their talents.

Joyce from Casual Candids and Eli from Majestic Images shot quickie portraits for everyone.

Ahhh! Antipasti di olive e funghi!

Meg Rider from MANNA was super-nice and appreciative of everyone who donated time and resources to the event. Hope she calls me next time!

Last night was the NACE 50th Anniversary Bash held at Feastivities Catering in Roxborough. Normally, it’s a massive culinary workshop cranking out gourmet food for the biggest of events but tonight it was transformed into a funky nightclub.

My cool photo buds Sofia Negron (far left) and Ryan Estes (far right).

Every room had it’s own theme and color space. So cool!

My studio manager, Nikole, snuggles up next to Mark Kingsdorf of Queen of Hearts Weddings.

Unfortunately, I have way more pictures than I have names from last night’s meeting. Seems every single member came out of the woodwork for this one since it was long on fun and short on actual meeting (no business agenda whatsoever!).

Kurt Titchenell from Brandywine Talent provided some of the cool live music that night.

Phunky Philly Phashion Photog Phil Kramer (right) was a fixture on the dance floor.

The “Hot Pepper Girls” provided the proper motivation to get people on the floor.

Cliff Mautner, Kurt Titchenell, Mike Kehr and friends.

Wait! Don’t touch that one! It’s NOT a hot pepper!

Even the staff hams it up as the night wears on.

Wow, what a cool time on such a hot night! Our NACE chapter really knows how to kick it up a notch! Expect me to be covering more of this type of meeting in the future! Go check out the cool video from Dave Williams. More photos on Flickr.