Lou Mengsol

Lou joined USIndoor's staff as its Meetings Director in early 2009. His goal is to provide guidance, oversight and management to the association's meetings, including the Facility Operators Conference.

In 2007, Lou launched Innovations Consulting, a revolutionary sports marketing consultancy specializing in representing small and mid-market convention and visitor bureaus and sports commissions. One of its endeavors, the US Sports Congress, offers professional development to staff of national governing bodies.

An active member of the tourism industry for more then 20 years, Lou joined the Greater Woodfield CVB in April, 1999. The GWCVB serves 11 communities with a population of 500,000 and 11,000 hotel rooms in Chicago's Northwest suburbs. While at the CVB, Lou oversaw the Bureau's hosting of major events, including the PGA and Breeders Cup Championships, National Softball Association Girls Fastpitch World Series and USA Weightlifting's National Championships, leading to the creation of the Northwest Suburban Chicago Sports Council.

He served six consecutive terms as a board member of Sports Illinois and was instrumental in creating programs such as the Illinois Sports Congress and scholarships for smaller bureaus within Illinois to attend trade events.

Mengsol earned his degree in Travel and Tourism Management from Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee and holds both the Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) from the National Association of Sports Commissions and the Sports Marketing Professional (SMP) from the University of Kentucky's Sports Marketing Academy.

Lou resides in Beloit, Wisconsin, with his wife Cathy and their four children.