Jessica Pagonis possesses extensive experience in meeting and event management, currently serving as Deputy Senior Director of Meetings at Optica since January 2023. Prior to this role, Jessica held multiple positions at The Optical Society (OSA) from March 2012 to January 2023, culminating in the role of Director of Meeting Operations, where responsibilities included managing large conferences with attendance exceeding 15,000, overseeing budgets of over $5 million, and executing various international and domestic events. Earlier roles include EEO Production Manager at USIS, Event Planner at National Conferencing, Inc., Meeting Manager at the National Recreation and Park Association, and Meeting Manager at the Optical Society of America. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Virginia Tech, earned between 1992 and 1996.