FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 19, 2007
CONTACT: Mary E. Power, CAE, President & CEO
Convention Industry Council
202.429.8634
mpower@conventionindustry.org

CONVENTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL WELCOMES SIX NEW MEMBERS OF THE APEX COMMISSION

Washington, DC – January 19, 2007 – The Convention Industry Council (CIC) welcomed six new industry leaders to the APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) Commission on January 1, 2007. The new members will continue to work towards the APEX Commission’s charge of both spreading the APEX best practices throughout the industry and promoting implementation. 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 six new members of the APEX Commission are:

M. Theresa “Terri” Breining, CMP, CMM, President, Concepts Worldwide will take over as Chair of the APEX Commission, leaving her previous role as Commissioner for the Convention and Meeting Management sector.

Gregg H. Talley, CAE, President, Talley Management Group will be representing the Convention and Meeting Management sector.

Mike McCool, Director of Technology Services, The Freeman Companies will be representing the Service Contractors sector.

Shawn Pierce, Director of Infrastructure, Hanley Wood Exhibitions will be representing the Exhibition Management sector.

Ty Helms, Senior Vice President of Sales, Hyatt Hotel Corporation will be representing the Housing sector in place of outgoing Commissioner Richard B. Green, Vice President of Association Sales and Industry Relations, Marriott International.

Leslie DeVries, Regional Vice President, ARAMARK – Sports and Entertainment, will be representing the Food and Beverage sector.

The charge of the APEX Commission is to oversee the APEX initiative and bring the tools, processes, and recommendations established by APEX’s panels to all members of the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry.

“The greatest contribution APEX will make to the community is embedded in the ability for systems to talk to other systems in such a way that we substantially improve the experience for meeting and convention participants,” commented Mike McCool.

The Convention Industry Council and the APEX Commission are thrilled to see what this new group of enthusiastic commissioners will add to the APEX initiative in the years to come.

“The long awaited benefits of APEX are available now, can be used now, and will see even greater application and adoption in 2007,” said Gregg Talley. “I am excited to be a part of it and help to spread the message. Talley Marketing Group will be using all APEX tools available by the middle of this year and [we are] counting on our partners to be working with them as well.”

“APEX will set the voluntary standards for information and data interchange in the meetings and exhibitions industry,” said Shawn Pierce, incoming Exhibition Management representative. “I will make sure that mass amounts of exhibitors and attendees are considered when creating processes and data interchange rules.”

“I am honored to be asked to lead this group of dedicated professionals,” said Terri Breining, incoming Chair. “The work now is to drive implementation and continue with the development of next generation tools so that we can all work more effectively and efficiently. In addition, we'll be focusing on creating educational curriculum so that planners and suppliers of the future enter the industry with APEX as part of their foundation.”

The Convention Industry Council would also like to thank the outgoing APEX Commissioners for their hard work and dedication. These Commissioners graciously extended their terms to six years to ensure completion of the APEX development phase:

Mickey Schaefer, President of Mickey Schaefer & Associates, was instrumental in the inception of APEX and works with CIC. She has Chaired the APEX Commission for six years.

M. Teresa “Terri” Breining, CMP, CMM, President, Concepts Worldwide, who will be taking over as Chair of the APEX Commission, previously served as APEX Commissioner representing the Convention and Meeting Management sector.

Carl Mitchell, President of Shepard Exposition Services, served as APEX Commissioner representing the Service Contractors sector.

Jack Withiam, Jr., CEM, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of George Little Management, LLC, served as APEX Commissioner representing the Exhibition Management sector.

Richard B. Green, Vice President of Association Sales and Industry Relations, Marriott International, served as APEX Commissioner representing the Housing sector.

Brian Findley, LES, Director of Event Management for Renaissance Nashville Hotel, served as APEX Commissioner representing the Food and Beverage sector.

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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 32 member organizations represent more than 103,500 individuals as well as over 17,300 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 Hall of Leaders Program, other CIC programs include the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program, the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative, Project Attrition, the Prestigious CIC Cup, and the CIC Economic Impact Study. For more information, visit the CIC website at www.conventionindustry.org.