Lorie Cooper began her 20-year event management career in 1982 for the non-profit organization California Association of Community Colleges. In 1986 she worked for the US Government as a contract negotiator, and served on the board of directors in the Protocol Division serving as Senior Event Manager for Air Force events with visiting dignitaries, advised the base training division, and was base event director.

In 1994 she began working for ABT Corporation as Director of the Project Leadership Conference, managing 2 annual US events and the International event held in Paris.

In 1999, she served as Corporate Events Manager for Niku Corporation, managing an annual Users Conference with an annual budget of $3M. In 2001 she opened Events Etc., LLC and Event Recruiters, offering full service event management, consulting services, audience development services, telemarketing and new business development.