FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2006

CONTACT: Mary E. Power, CAE, President & CEO
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-9030
mpower@conventionindustry.org

CONVENTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL (CIC) APPOINTS
NEW LEADERSHIP IN 2006

McLean, VA – February 2, 2006 – The Convention Industry Council is pleased to announce the recent appointment of two new officers to its Board of Directors. John H. Graham IV, CAE, President and CEO of American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), has been named Vice-Chair. Eric Allen, Executive Vice President of Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) and Vice President of the Kellen Company, joins the leadership team as Delegate at Large. Thomas M. Mobley, Jr, Senior Vice President, Convention Centers of Global-Spectrum returns as Chair for a second term.

“I am honored to be working with an extremely knowledgeable and visionary group of professionals on the CIC Board of Directors, and I look forward to working with them and the CIC staff to elevate and enhance the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industries,” said John H. Graham IV, CAE. “We take seriously the challenges ahead in unifying the meetings industry behind a set of accepted practices, as well as our other responsibilities, and we understand the vital need for a healthy, cohesive and successful industry moving forward.”

"It's a tremendous honor to have been selected to serve on the CIC Executive Committee. CIC has accomplished some great things in the past few years, especially with the APEX initiative, and I will certainly do everything I can to help CIC bring its development to completion, as well as continue its many other activities in support of this great industry in which we all live,’ said Eric Allen. “This is a challenging time for CIC, but also a time of great potential. I think CIC has outstanding leadership in place on the Executive Committee, and it's a privilege to serve alongside these professionals and contribute to CIC's continued success."

The officers of the 2006 Board of Directors are as follows:
Chair
Thomas M. Mobley, Jr.
Senior Vice President, Convention Centers
Global-Spectrum

Vice Chair
John H. Graham IV, CAE
President & CEO
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

Secretary/Treasurer
Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., PhD, CAE
President/CEO
Meeting Professionals International

Immediate Past Chair
Michael D. Gehrisch
President/CEO
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)

Delegate At Large
Brenda Anderson
CEO
Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE)

Delegate At Large
Eric Allen
Executive Vice President
Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA)

Legal Counsel
Jeffrey W. King, Esq.
King, Pagano & Harrison

President & CEO
Mary E. Power, CAE
President/CEO
Convention Industry Council

Please visit CIC’s website (www.conventionindustry.org) for more information on CIC’s Board Members.

Other important changes at CIC as we begin the new year are as follows:
Steven Carey, Ph.D., CAE, Lead Strategist of Association Management & Marketing Resources (AMMR), has been hired to develop and conduct the RFP for CIC management, review submissions and make recommendations to the steering committee. All responses to the RFP are required by the end of February 2006. The steering committee will review all proposals and prepare its recommendation for the full board approval by the April 9th CIC Board Meeting in New Orleans. Mary Power, CAE, President & CEO of CIC, has also been given a contract naming her as part of the CIC management for organizations responding to the RFP.

An essential focus of CIC’s work plan for this year is the APEX Initiative. To spearhead this essential initiative during these critical kick off months, Mickey Schaefer, CAE, of Mickey Schaefer & Associates LLC, will step up as APEX Consultant for the first four months of the year. Her vision and tireless efforts which created the APEX Initiative, will continue to serve CIC during this transition phase. 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, while Schaefer serves as consultant during this four-month period.

"As chairman of the CIC, I feel very fortunate to have such qualified and dedicated individuals involved with all of our program this year,” said Thomas M. Mobley, Jr, Senior Vice President, Convention Centers of Global-Spectrum. “All of us are committed to ensuring that the fine work of CIC successfully continues.”

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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***Photos available by request only***
Please contact Amy Hawthorne, CIC Project Coordinator
ahawthorne@conventionindustry.org