Archive for May, 2010
Velma Hart honored with APEX Award
May 17th, 2010 | 
Author: ASAE Chairman Hart honored with 2010 APEX Award
WASHINGTON — ASAE Chairman Velma Hart was honored with the 2010 APEX Award for Distinguished Service.
Presented by Black Meetings & Tourism magazine, the Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions, which have positively impacted travel and tourism. The Award was presented at the Travel Professionals of Color 8th Annual Conference, April 22. Hart is the first African American chairman of the ASAE Board.
“I’m extremely honored and humbled to be recognized with this highly-regarded Award,” said Hart, CAE, chairman, ASAE Board, and national finance director/chief financial officer, AMVETS National Headquarters. [READ MORE]
Posted in Patrick Callarec is a chef in San Francisco
Callarec named executive chef at Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco has named Patrick Callarec executive chef, following an extensive search to fill the sought-after hotel leadership position.
Callarec’s role will encompass all hotel-specific culinary activities, including dining in The Lobby Lounge, In-Room Dining, banquets and catering.
Born in France, Chef Callarec comes to San Francisco following ten high-profile years on Maui, first as executive chef for The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and then as owner of the award-winning Chez Paul Restaurant in Olowalu, two-time recipient of Honolulu Magazine’s Hale Aina accolade as Best Restaurant on Maui. [READ MORE]
Lois McLaughlin named director in New Orleans
McLaughlin named director of event services at Morial Convention Center
NEW ORLEANS — Lois McLaughlin has been named director of event services at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – the sixth largest convention center in the nation.
In her role as director, she will supervise the planning and execution of all events held at the Convention Center.
McLaughlin will head a team of nine Event Services managers who boast a whopping 136 years experience at the convention center, with five members serving 22 or more years.
A 23-year veteran of the hospitality industry, McLaughlin comes to New Orleans from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, where she served as director of event services. [READ MORE]
Banks Brown wins Distinguished Service Award
Brown awarded 2010 Distinguished Service Award
DENVER, Colo. — Banks Brown has been awarded the 2010 Distinguished Service Award by the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. The award will be presented at the Academy’s Fall Meeting on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.
The Academy was formed in 1995 by a group of attorneys from across the United States who represents clients or serves in-house for companies in the hotel, travel, tourism, convention, meeting and restaurant industries.
In addition to offering industry-specific CLE programs twice a year, the association provides its members with a useful network of recognized and experienced hospitality attorneys and leaders. [READ MORE]
Kenric Hall named GM
Kenric Hall named GM of Embassy Suites Cleveland Downtown named
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Kenric Hall has been appointed General Manager of the 252-room Embassy Suites Cleveland Downtown, effective immediately.
Hall comes to Hilton Worldwide, Embassy Suites’ parent company, with more than 25 years of hotel management experience, having held positions in the areas of event management, food and beverage, and front desk operations. He brings to the property a strong familiarity of the Midwest, along with a proven track record of success in customer service, team building, and sales and marketing.
In his new role, Hall will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the hotel, along with overseeing the daily operations at the newly renovated all-suite property, located steps away from the renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland Convention Center, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Art Museum, Great Lakes Science Center, and the Lake Erie Beach and waterfronts. In addition, the property will be within walking distance of the much-anticipated Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center, which is scheduled to open in 2013.
“Kenric’s professional connection to the Midwest and acute knowledge of the Cleveland hotel market places him in a great position to manage this property,” said Ted Ratcliff, senior vice president, operations, Eastern North America, Hilton Worldwide. “Downtown Cleveland – with its performing arts, professional sports stadiums and convention center – is a hotbed of activity year-round. Kenric has the tenacity to reach this audience and market the Embassy Suites Cleveland Downtown as a premiere hotel destination.”
CEIR names ‘Skip’ Cox to 2010 board of directors
RED BANK, N.J. — Exhibit Surveys, Inc., the leading provider of research and measurement services exclusively for the exhibition and event industry, in January announced that Exhibit Surveys’ CEO and president Jonathan “Skip” Cox has been named to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) 2010 Board of Directors.
Members of CEIR’s board were selected by a nominating committee and announced during the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) annual meeting earlier this month.
“It is gratifying to be nominated and selected to participate on the CEIR Board,” commented Mr. Cox. “I look forward to working with this dedicated Board of Directors to accomplish CEIR’s goal of increasing awareness of the exhibition industry.
“We are pleased to welcome Skip Cox to the CEIR Board of Directors,” commented Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP, executive director, CEIR “His extensive knowledge of exhibition research and measurement and commitment to the industry will be a tremendous benefit to us.”
New VP of sales & marketing to oversee select service hotels for Stonebridge Companies
Trade Show Expo People Making News…
DENVER, Colo. — Stonebridge Companies continues to thrive in the hospitality industry by hiring Steve Battis as their new vice president of sales and marketing for the Select Service Hotels division.
Responsibilities for this position include business plan development, strategic planning, creation and implementation of sales and marketing plans, hotel openings and repositioning, management of operating revenues, and sales associate team leadership for all select-service and extended-stay hotels in the Stonebridge Companies portfolio.
“Steve is a highly motivated individual and brings a disciplined and professional sales management background to our team,” said Kevin Mahoney, chief operating officer for Stonebridge Companies.
Working with InterContinental Hotels Group for over eight years, Battis was responsible for revenue generation, account management, sales and marketing initiatives, and sales teams mentoring for more than 20 Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites throughout southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Prior to that, he spent five years in corporate group sales with Marriott International hotels at the Irvine Marriott, Atlanta Marriott and Renaissance Concourse hotels.
“Stonebridge Companies has fostered exceptional relationships with Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Carlson Hotels, and InterContinental Hotels Group. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the select-service hotels, I intend to create even more opportunities for growth,” Steve Battis said.
Alexis Terry joins ASAE & The Center to lead diversity and inclusion initiative
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alexis Terry has joined ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership as director of diversity and inclusion.
Her main responsibility is to develop and facilitate a strategic, organization-wide initiative to ensure that ASAE & The Center represents a diverse and inclusive organizational model for the association community and to support the membership in their efforts to embed such practices into their own organizations.
She will also support the work of ASAE & The Center’s diversity committee, a body of ASAE & The Center members who guide the organization’s diversity and inclusion initiative, and work with DELP (Diversity Executive Leadership Program) scholars to assist in their continued professional development and involvement in the organization.
Prior to joining ASAE & The Center, Alexis held a variety of roles at BoardSource, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing the public good by building exceptional nonprofit boards and inspiring board service, based in Washington, DC. Alexis is the author of BoardSource’s 2008 Next Generation and Governance Findings Report and served as project manager of BoardSource’s Diversity and Next Generation Initiative, a multiyear effort designed to reach and prepare diverse, next generation leaders for board service.
“Alexis joins our team at a crucial time for the association community and we are thrilled to have her,” said ASAE & The Center President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. “She will certainly leverage the diversity and inclusion work that has already been completed, like the Diversity Summit and diversity research, as a tool to develop and implement new strategies and techniques to support this important initiative at ASAE & The Center.”
A graduate of Pepperdine University, Alexis holds a degree in communication and a certificate in nonprofit management. She is currently pursuing an executive certificate in diversity strategy from Georgetown University.
“I am honored and delighted to be able to play a leadership role in ASAE & The Center’s efforts to foster a more inclusive workplace and continue to leverage diversity as a central, not separate, component of good governance and association leadership,” said Alexis. “I intend to work with staff, volunteer leaders, and the association community to advance diversity in its broadest sense, and with a global lens.”
ASAE & The Center has long been a proponent of diversity and inclusion in the association community. The organization’s DELP scholarship, now in its 10th year, helps individuals from underrepresented segments of the association community advance into the ranks of leadership in the association profession. In addition, ASAE & The Center has recently selected 25 diverse individuals for the second year of its Leadership Academy, a program that focuses on preparing young professionals for executive positions in the association and nonprofit industry.
Beyond Exhibit Logistics adds senior account manager Beverly Ballance
LAS VEGAS — Industry veteran Beverly Ballance earlier this year joined I&D leader Beyond Exhibit Logistics (BEL) as Senior Account Manager located in BEL’s Las Vegas facility. From their facilities in Las Vegas, Chicago and Orlando, BEL provides coverage of all major U.S. convention cities from coast to coast. All three locations provide full service support to clients including I&D services, exhibit build, refurb, and rentals.
Ballance brings more than 25 years of trade show industry experience to her new role overseeing day-to-day operations at BEL’s busy Las Vegas facility.
“Beverly’s experience is a great addition to the BEL team,” said Eric Nitsche, BEL general manager. “She has jumped right in and put her expertise to work for our clients and their day-to-day needs. She brings great attention to detail and a can-do it attitude to every aspect of our operations. We’re glad to have her on our team and our clients are too.”
From Trade Show Expo
Janet DiFabio Good of MC² earns CTSM status
CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y. — MC² account executive Janet DiFabio Good has received her designation as a certified trade show manager from Exhibitor magazine’s CTSM program.
Good was notified by CTSM Executive Director Jan Nelson.
A combination of classroom requirements, a comprehensive exam and an intensive portfolio presentation, the CTSM program is a rigorous, college-accredited program affiliated with Northern Illinois University Outreach.
Good completed the course of study over the past three years while holding a full-time position with exhibit and event company MC². In addition to required seminars and a three-hour final exam, the certification requires thorough-going development of a seven-point project case study called a portfolio. The portfolio demonstrates the application of knowledge gained through the program in a real-life example.
Good has been an Account Executive with MC² for the past 15 years. She is a graduate of Drexel University where she earned B.S. degrees in Business Marketing and Commerce and Engineering.
Prior to joining the trade show arena, Good held positions advertising, publishing, and point-of-purchase display industries.