For this Smart City Spotlight, we spoke with Heidi Bierek, an Event Coordinator at the San Diego Convention Center. Heidi’s journey has been shaped by her passion for people, hospitality, and creating meaningful event experiences. Bringing years of experience and a people-first mindset to her role in San Diego, Heidi shared the personal and professional story that led her here today. Heidi Bierek, this is your spotlight!
H: My journey in hospitality has always been centered around people, connection, and creating meaningful experiences. Most recently, I served as a Sales Manager with Marriott in San Diego—a city that has always felt like home to me.
In 2023, I made the intentional decision to step away from my role and move to Tucson to support my elderly parents and ensure they had the care they needed. During that time, I was offered an exciting opportunity as an Event Coordinator with the Phoenix Convention Center. I embraced the change, relocated to Phoenix, and was able to grow professionally while also making sure my parents were safely and comfortably settled into assisted living.
Although that chapter was incredibly meaningful, my connection to San Diego never wavered. When the opportunity came to return in the same role, I was beyond thrilled. Today, I bring not only my experience in hospitality and events, but also a deeper sense of purpose, adaptability, and appreciation for what truly matters—both in my work and in the relationships I build.
Every day kicks off with a team line-up—it’s one of my favorite parts of the day. We connect, get aligned on what’s happening, and share our “boosters and boulders”—what’s going well and what we might need to tackle together.
From there, it’s all about teamwork. We stay in constant communication, support each other, and push to be our best—not just for our customers, but for the convention center as a whole. For me, it always comes back to the people. When you have a strong team behind you, there’s nothing you can’t overcome—and together, we truly rise to the top.
San Diego has always been home to me, both personally and professionally. While my journey took me to Tucson and Phoenix to support my family and embrace new opportunities, every step was guided by both purpose and passion. Returning to San Diego in a role I love isn’t just a career move—it feels like coming full circle, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.
I was born and raised in Seattle, but San Diego has always been the dream—and one I was determined to turn into reality. Now, after raising two amazing kids, I am back here and loving every minute of it.
I’m a natural people person and truly believe I’m here in this city for a reason—to connect with others and make a difference. And if you know me, you know I’m also an animal lover, horses and doges especially. These days, that honor belongs to my best friend, Roscoe the Big White Dog—feel free to check him out on Facebook or Instagram!
We want to thank Heidi Bierek for taking the time to reflect on her journey with our company! To read more Smart City Spotlights, check out our blog!
