The Team Behind the Experience
Kris Rockouski, CMP, VEMM
With 10+ years of leadership in event management, Kris specializes in turning complex requirements into seamless attendee experiences. Whether managing a 150-event annual calendar or navigating rigorous accreditation standards, her approach is rooted in precision and cross-functional synergy.
Kris brings deep expertise in:
- Logistics: Comprehensive management of multi-format event portfolios with seamless execution from concept through post-event analysis
- Compliance: Specialized credentialing oversight (ACE, NASBA, CPE, CME)
- Technology: Strategy and implementation for CVENT, Salesforce, Social 27, Pheedloop, and Whova, among other platforms
- Execution: High-stakes vendor negotiations and cross-functional leadership
- Partnerships: Strategic vendor relations and budget optimization
- Financial Stewardship: Precise budget management and cost-efficiency auditing
The Power of Synergy Together, the Mirage Events Group leadership team bridges the gap between high-level strategic vision and meticulous operational execution, ensuring every event is both impactful and flawless.
Willie L. Benjamin, CMP, CMM, DES
With more than 20 years of experience in the meetings and events industry, Willie has built a career defined by strategic leadership, operational excellence, and a consistent ability to deliver results that matter. Through Mirage Events Group, he partners with organizations to transform events into powerful platforms for engagement, education, and revenue growth.
Willie’s experience spans the full spectrum of event leadership from executive board meetings to large-scale national conferences and complex virtual experiences. Throughout his career, he has driven measurable outcomes, including increased attendance, stronger stakeholder engagement, and sustained revenue growth through innovative sponsorship strategies.
What sets him apart is his ability to:
- Seamlessly connect strategy to execution
- Align programming with organizational goals
- Secure high-impact strategic partnerships that enhance value
- Negotiate vendor and venue agreements
- Manage budgets with a strong focus on return on investments
He also brings a forward-thinking perspective to the evolving role of events. By leveraging data, attendee insights, and post-event analysis, he continuously refines strategies to elevate the attendee experience and improve performance year over year.
Through Mirage Events Group, Willie Benjamin offers organizations a trusted partner with the experience, leadership, and strategic insight to elevate event portfolios, expand educational programming, increase sponsorship revenue, and create meaningful audience connections.
Shawn Diaz
Compliance Manager
Shawn brings more than 12 years of executive-level experience in compliance operations, organizational strategy, risk management, and process improvement to Mirage Events Group. Throughout her career, she has successfully led cross-functional teams, implemented enterprise-wide initiatives, developed operational frameworks, and partnered with senior leadership to execute strategic priorities while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
During her tenure at TruStage, she was recognized for revitalizing underperforming teams, strengthening organizational knowledge management, developing scalable operational processes, and aligning business objectives with measurable performance outcomes.
Shawn served as a Special Investigations Unit Claims Investigator, conducting complex fraud investigations, developing anti-fraud training programs, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to mitigate organizational risk. She also served as an Agency Liaison for the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection.
At Mirage Events Group, Shawn applies this extensive operational background to every client engagement. Her expertise in strategic planning, process development, risk assessment, stakeholder collaboration, and quality assurance helps ensure that every project is thoughtfully planned, efficiently managed, and executed with precision.
