Meet The Team

Laurie co-founded Ultimate Ventures, a DMC Network Company, in 1993. A recognized visionary, her commitment to the destination management industry has earned the respect of her peers. She was named “Destination Management Professional of the Year” in 2010 by the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI).

As an industry expert, Laurie co-wrote the transportation chapter in the second edition of ADMEI’s “Guide to Destination Management” textbook. She has been a speaker for organizations such as ADMEI, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). She has actively served on the Visit Dallas Board of Directors, sitting on both the executive and marketing committees as well as on the Board of the Dallas Sports Commission. She has also served as President of the Texas Live Events Coalition, and on the Leadership Councils of Visit Dallas and the National Federation of Independent Business for Texas.

On the weekend, you can find our fearless leader on a bike ride or enjoying a movie night with her family. However, her true “zen” is sixty feet under as a passionate scuba diver and divemaster.

Val is the Vice President and co-founder of Ultimate Ventures, where she leads the company’s dynamic marketing initiatives amidst the burgeoning growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Prior to her focus on marketing, Val garnered industry acclaim in the special events realm, earning prestigious honors such as multiple ILEA Esprit Awards, ADMEI Achievement Awards, and Texas Star Awards.

Val holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, complemented by a transformative junior year abroad with Semester at Sea, where she first connected with her future business partner, Laurie Sprouse. Val is also recognized as one of the inaugural industry professionals to achieve both the Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designation and for her company to receive Accredited Destination Management Company (ADMC) status.

Beyond her professional achievements, Val finds joy in exploring new facets of North Texas with friends and cherishes time with her two beloved rescue dogs, Apollo and Artemis.

Beverly Brin brings more than two decades of hospitality experience to Ultimate Ventures, with a diverse background in convention management, corporate and non-profit event management, and incentive travel management.

Beverly launched her career in the incentive travel arena, where she operated and managed multiple international and domestic travel programs. She then worked at the national headquarters of the American Heart Association, where she managed meeting projects for the organization’s annual Scientific Sessions conference, which draws 35,000 attendees. Later, as the organization’s director of meetings and exhibits, Beverly oversaw management of more than 400 meetings and conferences annually. Beverly then returned to the field of incentive travel and corporate events as operations director for LINC, a division of Telesis Marketing.

As UV’s General Manager, Beverly has a unique ability to focus on the big picture while simultaneously juggling the day-to-day details. Her positive attitude, team mentality and grace under pressure sets the tempo for the UV office. Thanks to her leadership both at Ultimate Ventures and throughout the DMC industry, Beverly was named the 2014 DMC Professional of the Year by the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI). An advocate of continuing education, Beverly was the 2012-2013 Chair of the ADMEI Certification and Accreditation Board. She also served on the 2012 ASAE Dallas Host Committee. In 2007, Beverly was named ADMEI Destination Management Rising Star by her DMC industry peers, and in 2023, she received ADMEI’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Delaney, a native Texan hailing from the Dallas area, discovered her passion for event planning at a young age, and this passion has shaped her career in the corporate event planning industry. Since joining the Ultimate Ventures team in 2016, Delaney has excelled in creating and executing exceptional events for her clients.

Delaney’s creative flair and attention to detail are evident in the seamless execution of events, whether it’s a corporate gala, conference, or team-building retreat.

Outside of work, Delaney cherishes spending time with her son and family, balancing her professional dedication with personal interests such as playing volleyball and exploring new travel destinations. She also proudly supports Texas A&M football, passionately cheering on the Aggies every season.

Proactive, hard-working, and 110% committed to her client’s success, that’s Dylan.

She started her career as a meeting planner upon graduating Loyola University Chicago.  After three years in the “Windy City”, she made her way back home to Texas and has been an integral part of the Ultimate Ventures team for over five years. Her depth and breadth of experience has grown exponentially having planned and operated hundreds of programs across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including many award-winning programs.

Even during the pandemic, Dylan remained fully engaged keeping UV “program-ready” and never taking a break from her DMC duties. Over the years, her clients have had nothing but praise for her work: “”Dylan is a rockstar!”; Dylan was wonderful to work with – everything went off without a hitch.”; Dylan made sure that everything ran smoothly and that everyone had a great time.”; and perhaps most telling, “Dylan handled everything with ease – and I was able to go home at a reasonable time.”

In her spare time, Dylan enjoys traveling with friends and family, her dogs, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Marie was born and raised in Dallas and is proud to call Texas home. She brings over 25 years of project management, corporate solutions, hospitality services, logistics planning, and leadership to Ultimate Ventures!

Throughout her career, Marie has excelled in leading teams to achieve operational excellence, consistently prioritizing and exceeding client satisfaction. Marie is passionate about leveraging her local expertise and collaborative spirit to support the UV team in creating unforgettable experiences for our clientele.

Outside of work, Marie cherishes spending time with her daughter, exploring the vibrant arts scene, and cheering on her Dallas Cowboys.

Debbie Bastian brings over 25 years of hospitality experience (more than 20 of which have been with Ultimate Ventures) and her trademark outgoing personality to the position of Director of Operations. With a diverse background in destination management, transportation services, and venue operations, Debbie utilizes her experience to deliver exceptional service regardless of the size or scope of the program. She works closely with each client to ensure that their vision and expectations are executed flawlessly. With her superior customer service skills and attention to detail, she leads her team to averaging 4.9 out of 5.0 customer satisfaction ratings.

Debbie and her team are driven to see their clients succeed by being proactive, dependable and committed to delivering the exceptionally high standards for which UV is known.

In her free time, you will find Debbie with the wind in her hair on the back of a motorcycle or relaxing at the lake with her family.

Laura is a “people” person with a keen eye for detail. She earned her degree in Hospitality Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and started her career with a summer internship at Ultimate Ventures.

Laura joined the UV team full-time as an Operations Coordinator and quickly advanced to Operations Manager. In 2020, she briefly worked as a venue manager, handling sales, catering, and event management, before returning to Ultimate Ventures as a Program Manager. In her current role as Senior Program Manager, Laura excels at building relationships with clients and creating memorable experiences for their guests.

In her spare time, she enjoys trying new brunch spots; cozying up with a good book and a cup of coffee; and spending time with her husband, new baby Andrew, and their dogs.

As Accounting and Office Manager for UV, Roxanne brings over 15 years of bookkeeping experience to the Ultimate Ventures team.

Roxanne was born in Los Angeles, CA and moved around throughout her life, also living in Oklahoma, Florida, and Mexico.  After graduating from University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Business Admin and International Trade, she started her career at Honda Finance as Department Administrator before transitioning to work as photographer.

A couple of years down the line, Roxanne and her family found themselves with a unique opportunity to buy a franchise restaurant. She handled all bookkeeping, payroll, and private dining and special events.  Unfortunately, after 7 years the restaurant had to close its door.

Ultimate Ventures is extremely grateful to have found Roxanne around that time as she has become integral to success in the office. During her free time, Roxanne loves to experiment in the kitchen with new recipes, travel to new destinations, brunch on Sundays, enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and binge-watch TV shows with her daughters.

Key is a native Texan, born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Growing up in the service industry with a family-owned restaurant, she was drawn to the hospitality world from an early age and developed a deep appreciation and love for bringing people together in celebration. Key received her degree in Hospitality Travel and Tourism as well as certificates in Event Planning and Communications from the University of North Texas.

Since joining Ultimate Ventures, she has been an integral part of the team, bringing her passion and creativity to create unforgettable experiences for guests. Key has successfully created and managed numerous large-scale events, showcasing her exceptional design skills and creative problem-solving abilities. Her ability to execute events with precision and flair has earned her a reputation for excellence among her clients.

Her dedication and local insight have been key to her success, and it’s exciting to watch her career and reputation flourish as a young industry professional. Outside of work, Key enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling, and watching a good musical at home.

Alesis was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She knows our destination well thanks to frequent moves around the North Texas area growing up and attending college in Denton at the University of North Texas (UNT).
In college, Alesis shifted her academic focus, when she discovered her passion for events, and changed her major from Interior Design to Event Design and Experience Management, with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. During her time at UNT, she organized the first semi-annual capstone class silent auction event, leaving a lasting impact and legacy.

Upon graduation, Alesis’s dedication and hard work were recognized as she was promoted to the role of Program Coordinator at Ultimate Ventures. This promotion followed her internship with Ultimate Ventures where she demonstrated exceptional commitment and contribution to the team and our clients.

In her free time Alesis enjoys many hobbies from building recipes, making music, playing recreational sports, and curling up with a good book or video game.

McKenzie’s journey from Sam Houston State University to joining Ultimate Ventures reflects her passion for logistics and keen attention to detail. As an intern, she seamlessly integrated into the team, showcasing her skills that ultimately led to her becoming a valuable member of the staff.

Growing up in Dallas provided McKenzie with a unique perspective on the demanding yet exciting world of event planning in North Texas. This firsthand experience has kept her in tune with the city and industry’s fast-paced nature and allowed her to stay ahead of the curve with the latest trends.

McKenzie’s conscientious nature is a standout trait, as she excels in identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions. Her communication skills and motivation to meet deadlines make her a pleasure to work with for both clients and vendors.

McKenzie spends her weekends trekking the woods with her dog Dakota, baking sweet treats for her friends, or curled up watching her favorite scary movies.

Angelica’s passion for serving others was ignited early through her involvement in her family’s catering business. Growing up in the service industry, she developed a deep appreciation for hospitality and the art of making people feel welcome and cared for. These experiences honed her ability to connect with others and create meaningful, positive interactions—skills that have shaped her approach to both life and work.

Angelica pursued her passion by attending the University of North Texas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Event Design and Experience Management. Her education, combined with her upbringing, has made her a natural in the events industry.

In her free time, Angelica enjoys spending time with family, hiking local trails, and crafting.