# Michelle Metter

> Michelle Metter is the co-founder, partner and CEO of Fast Forward, a San Diego-area events and media company founded with Ken Loyst in 2004. Her work spans San Diego Food + Wine Festival, SommCon, beverage trade events, sponsorships and professional education. She also co-founded the hospitality scholarship nonprofit Fast Forward Futures and participates in event-industry advocacy.

- **Role:** Co-founder, Partner and CEO at Fast Forward
- **Organizations:** Fast Forward, SommCon, San Diego Food + Wine Festival, Fast Forward Futures, Society of Independent Show Organizers, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Events Coalition, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance Ambassadors Circle
- **Education:** WSET Level 2 certification in wine and spirits, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- **Known for:** Co-founded Fast Forward in 2004 with Ken Loyst., Co-founded Fast Forward Futures to raise funds for hospitality education scholarships and grants., Built and led a portfolio spanning consumer festivals, beverage conferences and trade shows.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Before Fast Forward, served as director of marketing and sponsorships at the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association.
- **—** — Before Fast Forward, served as vice president of public relations at Formula PR, leading its travel and tourism division.
- **2004** — Co-founded Fast Forward with Ken Loyst; launched the festival now known as San Diego Food + Wine Festival.
- **2019** — The festival drew more than 10,000 attendees; a San Diego Tourism Marketing District account reported approximately $1 million in member-hotel room-night revenue associated with its funded marketing.
- **2023** — Festival hospitality scholarship announcement reported more than $600,000 granted since inception through its ongoing partnership with Fast Forward Futures.
- **2024** — San Diego Food + Wine Festival marked its twentieth anniversary.
- **2026** — Identified as partner and CEO on Fast Forward’s team page; named to the inaugural ECA Ambassadors Circle.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Fast Forward in 2004 with Ken Loyst.
- Co-founded Fast Forward Futures to raise funds for hospitality education scholarships and grants.
- Built and led a portfolio spanning consumer festivals, beverage conferences and trade shows.
- Selected as one of 28 inaugural ECA Ambassadors Circle members in August 2026.
- Holds WSET Level 2 certification in wine and spirits.
- Lectures on event production at San Diego State University, according to Fast Forward’s team biography.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Published an essay dated January 28 explaining the intentional alignment of SommCon with San Diego Food + Wine Festival week.
- **2026-02** — Featured in the February 24 Revenue Room conversation Beyond the Booth: How to Engineer Ecosystems that Compound Revenue.
- **2026-04** — Participated in Capitol Hill meetings with wine-industry colleagues during SommCon DC, discussing industry conditions and tariffs.
- **2026-08** — Named to the ECA Ambassadors Circle on August 5.
- **2026-11** — Scheduled: San Diego Food + Wine Festival runs November 1–8; SommCon San Diego runs November 3–5 at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

## Links

- Website: https://www.fastforwardevents.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-metter-89b7a25/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemettersd/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michelle-metter
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22