Nikole R. Good, CAE
Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association CEO
Gulf Shores, Ala.
ngood@astna.org
Types of meetings and events: Board retreats and committee meetings, annual membership meetings, receptions and dinners, education classes, charity 5K runs, opening parties, and offsite events and teambuilding activities
Average number of attendees: 600
Describe your current position.
As CEO of Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association, I oversee the organization’s strategic direction, from board leadership and volunteer engagement to conference management and education/publication initiatives. Additionally, as executive director of the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference, I manage all planning and logistics, coordinating speakers, attendee experience, social events, and hotel partnerships to ensure a successful conference.
How did you get started in the meetings and events industry, and how did your experience lead to your current position?
Initially, I was asked to fill this role with a fellow executive director of another association when the previous planner retired after our 2020 conference was canceled due to COVID-19, and I have since taken over as the sole planner and executive director. It was an interesting experience planning my first conference ever during a pandemic for the 2021 conference year. My experience as the CEO of ASTNA and throughout my 15 years attending the conference as a partner and exhibitor positioned me well for this role.
What skills do you think are essential for planning successful meetings and events?
Planning great meetings and events takes a mix of key skills. Flexibility and organization are at the top of the list, along with good communication, emotional intelligence, and solid people skills.
What is your philosophy or approach to challenges and unexpected issues?
My approach to challenges and unexpected issues is all about staying flexible. There is nothing like planning a beachside social event only to hear that wind and chilly weather mean moving it indoors. It can be disappointing, but being able to go with the flow makes all the difference. Flexibility is key in meeting planning and just about every aspect of life.
How do you keep up with industry trends, changes, and cutting-edge developments?
I prioritize continuing education to stay current with industry trends and advancements. I will soon be working on my Certified Meeting Planner designation, and I believe ongoing learning and collaboration with fellow planners are essential for keeping a pulse on the meetings and events industry.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is the variety—there is always something different to tackle. I appreciate using my creativity to make each event fun and memorable. I also love connecting with attendees, speakers, and hotel staff and building relationships professionally and personally.
How would you describe your most significant professional success?
My biggest professional success as a meeting planner has been seeing our attendee numbers double from 2019 to 2024, despite the cancellation in 2020. In just three years, both attendee and exhibitor numbers doubled. Another key achievement has been overseeing an association’s operating budget as it more than doubled, with assets nearly tripling in six years.
Please share an anecdote about how you handled a meeting or event that did not go as planned.
At our critical care medicine conference, we set up a mock but realistic scenario of a boating accident on the beach. We had incredible actors with fake injuries, blood, realistic screams, and extras playing bystanders. We notified the local police and fire department about our training, but somehow, not everyone was in the loop. People from a neighboring hotel called 911, and before we knew it, the police arrived in a boat, and beach rescue rolled up in their four-wheeler to take control of the scene.
Thankfully, once we explained, they relaxed and watched the rest of the scenario play out. After police, beach rescue, attendees, and actors left the scene, I remained on the beach, covering up the fake blood in the sand.
What is the best professional advice you ever received?
Balancing confidence with humility is essential. While confidence in your abilities is key, staying humble is just as important. Recognize when others have more expertise, and do not hesitate to ask for help or advice when you need it (even when you think you do not need it).
What advice would you offer others in the industry?
Build a strong personal brand—it is what others think of when they hear your name. Define what you want to be known for, and let your work, attitude, and presence consistently reflect that. Integrity and transparency are vital to success, whether in meeting planning, another career, or life in general.
