DeClerck grew up in the Quad Cities. She first learned there was a difference in perception of traditional female roles when she asked to take over a newspaper route and was declined for the position until they couldn’t find a boy to take it. They “settled” on DeClerck. She went on to excel in that role and won Newspaper Carrier of the Year.

DeClerck’s entrepreneurial spirit was born after she left a major international insurance company, where she had overseen all of their sales division events. She knew it was time to use her expertise to run her own events. Conference Event Management was born, and she had her first client on the day she decided to start the company. She’s been traveling the globe with her business since. Through Conference Event Management, DeClerck leads teams through incentive travel, conferences, trade shows, special events and other conferences where large groups of people gather.

During the pandemic, DeClerck was forced into a “Covid-related vacation” as events were put on hold and she could no longer work. Her NAWBO sisters helped by checking in on her throughout the long period of loss and doubt. “I was so thankful for those who realized it would be extremely difficult for me to just sit still after more than twenty years of long days in the hospitality industry and living on the road and in hotels,” said DeClerck. “I wasn’t sure how I would come out of the shutdown, and it took a while to learn how to enjoy being at home and learning how to relax.”

When DeClerck sets her mind to something, she’s going to accomplish her tasks. She is a huge believer in accountability partners. She started a mastermind group with fellow Goldman Sachs Babson College classmates which meets monthly, and she loves making a difference in her community. DeClerck’s passions lead her to help support hunger initiatives, Clive Community Services, the Iowa refugee resettlement, Can Play and many other charities. She also loves a good business chat and is always ready to help other women business owners find their path to success, or to connect them to others they should know.   

When asked what the title of her biography could be, she threw out “Surviving wild, big hair and finding the most joy among the biggest setbacks.”