FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 2, 2006
CONTACT: Mary E. Power, CAE, President & CEO
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-9030
mpower@conventionindustry.org
CONVENTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL (CIC) ANNOUNCES
NEW APEX COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
McLean, VA – March 1, 2006 – The Convention Industry Council
is pleased to announce the recent appointment of three (3) commissioners
to its Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Commission. The APEX Commission
is responsible for general oversight of the APEX initiative and represents
the nine (9) segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.
Each commissioner brings extensive leadership experience to APEX during
their 3-year rotating term.
Theresa “Terri” Breining, CMP, CMM, President
of Concepts Worldwide and APEX commissioner representing the convention/meeting
management sector, will assume the chairmanship of the APEX Commission.
Mickey Schaefer, CAE, President of Mickey Schaefer
& Associates LLC, has filled this role since 2000 and will step
up as APEX Consultant during the critical first four months of the APEX
initiative in 2006.
As one of APEX’s original commissioners, Terri Breining
has been involved with APEX since 2000. Additionally, her 30 years of
industry experience in the meetings industry and work with Meeting Professionals
International (MPI) provides a solid foundation as she leads the commission
into APEX’s implementation phase. "I am so honored to be
given the opportunity to guide the APEX commission on an interim basis
as we move into this phase of the initiative,” said Breining.
“This is a critically important time for APEX, as the work done
by so many over the last 5 years is finally becoming real and we're
now able to show the people, the organizations and the entire industry
that this is far more than just a great idea - we're actually putting
to use the best practices and standard processes.”
Dennis Edwards, Senior Vice President
of the Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, has recently
been appointed to the APEX Commission to represent Convention Bureau
segment of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Dennis
brings a history of extensive leadership roles through his work with
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and its foundation,
in addition to his work with the American Society of Association Executives
(ASAE). “As long as there are meetings, there will always be a
need for APEX,” said Edwards. “The more
we can standardize how Convention and Visitors Bureaus work and interact
with meeting planners, the better off we will all be and APEX is certainly
the key to this effort.”
The Convention Services segment of the industry is represented by Doris
Sims, Vice President of Bureau Services of the Greater Louisville
Convention & Visitors Bureau, and newly appointed APEX Commissioner.
As Past President of Association for Convention Operations Management
(ACOM), Doris offers strong experience in working with Convention Services
as well as their clients. ”I am very excited to join the commission
during the actual implementation phase of APEX. We have talked about
APEX for several years and now we are "bringing the vision to reality,”
said Sims. “The APEX toolbox will be especially
helpful for the convention services sector of our industry. Bottom line
it will make us more effective and efficient managers allowing us more
time to provide quality and personal service to our clients.”
CIC’s 30 member organizations represent more than
100,000 individuals as well as 16,500 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 and develops programs
to promote professionalism within the industry and educates the public
on its profound economic impact. In addition to the Certified Meeting
Professional (CMP) Program and the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX)
initiative, CIC’s other programs include the Hall of Leaders,
Project Attrition, the Prestigious CIC Cup, and the CIC Economic Impact
Study. Additional information on the Convention Industry Council can
be found at www.conventionindustry.org.
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