JOHN CHRISTISON JOINS APEX COMMISSION

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 8, 2004

CONTACT: Juli Jones, Vice President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-0273

JOHN CHRISTISON JOINS APEX COMMISSION

McLean, Virginia – November 8, 2004 – John Christison, general manager of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, was recently appointed to the APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) Commission to represent the Facilities Management segment of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Christison replaced John K. Smith, former general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center, who served on the Commission since 2001.

The APEX Commission is responsible for general oversight of the APEX initiative and reports directly to the CIC Board of Directors. The nine Commissioners represent the various segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry and bring extensive leadership experience to the APEX initiative.

John K. Smith, who retired from the Georgia World Congress Center on October 29, 2004, said “This initiative is extremely important to the industry and I have been honored to be part of such an incredible endeavor.”

Christison brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the Commission. Holding a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Arizona, Christison began his career in Tucson, Arizona as the assistant director of the Tucson Convention Center. Prior to relocating to Washington to become the general manager of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, a position he has held of 14 years, Christison was the director of the Orlando Centroplex where he had responsibility for the Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando Expo Center, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Ben White Raceway, Tinker Field Baseball Stadium, and the Orlando Arena. He previously served as general manager of the Portland Memorial Coliseum and Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. It was during his tenure in Portland that he completed the design of the Oregon Convention Center.

As Past Chair of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM), Chair Emeritus of the Asia Pacific Exhibition & Convention Council (APECC), and as a Past President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), Christison has also served as Chair of the IAAM Professional Certification Panel and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Convention Facility Management for the Washington State University. He is also currently a principal along with his partner, Warren Buckley, in the consulting firm of Buckley-Christison, a firm specializing in the operation and management of Public Assembly Facilities.

“We are very excited for John [Smith] as he embarks on this new, more relaxing, chapter of his life,” says Mickey Schaefer, CAE, vice president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and chair of the APEX Commission. “John has always dedicated 110% to this initiative and the Commission agrees that he has been a great asset to the group. As John [Christison] joins our team I am confident that he will provide great input and perspective for this segment of the industry.”

“We have been fortunate to have such extremely dedicated and motivated individuals serve on the APEX Commission,” says Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Convention Industry Council. “Although we are disappointed to see John [Smith] go, we are honored to be welcoming John [Christison] to the team.”

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council, is developing and implementing industry-wide accepted practices which will create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.

The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information, develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry, and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the APEX initiative, the CIC is also responsible for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program. Other programs include Project Attrition, the Hall of Leaders, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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©2004 Convention Industry Council
Contact the CIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 8, 2004

CONTACT: Juli Jones, Vice President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-0273

JOHN CHRISTISON JOINS APEX COMMISSION

McLean, Virginia – November 8, 2004 – John Christison, general manager of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, was recently appointed to the APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) Commission to represent the Facilities Management segment of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Christison replaced John K. Smith, former general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center, who served on the Commission since 2001.

The APEX Commission is responsible for general oversight of the APEX initiative and reports directly to the CIC Board of Directors. The nine Commissioners represent the various segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry and bring extensive leadership experience to the APEX initiative.

John K. Smith, who retired from the Georgia World Congress Center on October 29, 2004, said “This initiative is extremely important to the industry and I have been honored to be part of such an incredible endeavor.”

Christison brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the Commission. Holding a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Arizona, Christison began his career in Tucson, Arizona as the assistant director of the Tucson Convention Center. Prior to relocating to Washington to become the general manager of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, a position he has held of 14 years, Christison was the director of the Orlando Centroplex where he had responsibility for the Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando Expo Center, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Ben White Raceway, Tinker Field Baseball Stadium, and the Orlando Arena. He previously served as general manager of the Portland Memorial Coliseum and Civic Stadium in Portland, Oregon. It was during his tenure in Portland that he completed the design of the Oregon Convention Center.

As Past Chair of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM), Chair Emeritus of the Asia Pacific Exhibition & Convention Council (APECC), and as a Past President of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), Christison has also served as Chair of the IAAM Professional Certification Panel and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Convention Facility Management for the Washington State University. He is also currently a principal along with his partner, Warren Buckley, in the consulting firm of Buckley-Christison, a firm specializing in the operation and management of Public Assembly Facilities.

“We are very excited for John [Smith] as he embarks on this new, more relaxing, chapter of his life,” says Mickey Schaefer, CAE, vice president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and chair of the APEX Commission. “John has always dedicated 110% to this initiative and the Commission agrees that he has been a great asset to the group. As John [Christison] joins our team I am confident that he will provide great input and perspective for this segment of the industry.”

“We have been fortunate to have such extremely dedicated and motivated individuals serve on the APEX Commission,” says Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Convention Industry Council. “Although we are disappointed to see John [Smith] go, we are honored to be welcoming John [Christison] to the team.”

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council, is developing and implementing industry-wide accepted practices which will create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.

The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information, develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry, and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the APEX initiative, the CIC is also responsible for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program. Other programs include Project Attrition, the Hall of Leaders, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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