FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Emma Wallace
(202) 429-8634

CIC APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP FOR 2008;
COLIN C. RORRIE, JR., PHD, CAE NAMED INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO

Washington DC – January 18, 2008 – The Convention Industry Council is pleased to announce that Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD, CAE, will serve as the interim President and CEO of CIC.

Prior to his appointment at CIC, Rorrie served as President and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). He also spent 21 years as Executive Director at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), a national professional organization representing the emergency medicine specialty.

“As we continue the search for a new executive, we recognized the necessity of having an industry professional oversee our organization’s growth,” said Brenda Anderson, Chair of the CIC Board of Directors and CEO of Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE). “Colin’s experience will enable CIC to continue to serve the needs of its members as we move forward in 2008.”

Rorrie has served on the boards of ASAE & The Center, the American Association of Medical Society Executives, and the Medic Alert Foundation. Rorrie earned his Doctor of Philosophy and Masters of Art degrees from the University of Iowa, and his undergraduate degree from Beloit College.

In addition to Rorrie’s appointment, the 2008 CIC Board of Directors elected Brenda Anderson, CEO of Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE), as Chair of the Board; Eric Allen, Executive Director of Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) and Vice President of the Kellen Company, as Vice Chair; and Deborah Sexton, CMP, CAE, President and CEO of Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) as Secretary and Treasurer.

The officers of the 2008 Board of Directors are as follows:

Chair
Brenda Anderson
CEO, Society of Incentive and Travel Executives

Vice Chair
Eric Allen
Executive Director, Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association
Vice President, Kellen Company

Secretary/Treasurer
Deborah Sexton, CMP, CAE
President and CEO
Professional Convention Management Association

Immediate Past Chair
John H. Graham IV, CAE
President and CEO
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership

Legal Counsel
Jeffrey W. King, Esq.
Crowell & Moring LLP

Interim President and CEO
Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD, CAE

The Convention Industry Council’s 31 member organizations represent more than 100,000 individuals and 16,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. CIC facilitates the exchange of information develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry; and educates the public on its profound economic impact. CIC’s programs include the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program, the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative, the Hall of Leaders, Project Attrition, and the CIC Economic Impact Study. For more information, visit www.conventionindustry.org.

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