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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Juli Finnell Jones
APEX Project Manager
(703) 610-0273

New Legal Advisory Council is an Integral Part of the Accepted Practices Exchange

MCLEAN, VIRGINIA - November 15, 2002 - The APEX Legal Advisory Council (LAC), a new component of the Convention Industry Council's APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) initiative was launched recently. The APEX LAC is charged with reviewing all APEX panel recommendations, preliminary and final, providing input and suggestions on any perceived legal challenges.

While this three-member council provides insight and recommendations, the Convention Industry Council's legal counsel will remain the final arbiter in the case of disagreement among the LAC members.

The LAC will meet at least monthly to review all new panel recommendations and investigate any areas of concern identified by panel members, or the industry at large. Seven volunteer panels are currently developing accepted practices in the areas of terminology, history/post event reports, RFPs, resumes & work orders, housing & registration, meeting & site profiles, and contracts.

Selected by the APEX Commission, with industry input, the Legal Advisory Council volunteer members who have committed to a three-year term are:

Lisa M. Sommer Devlin, Esq.

A veteran of numerous jury trials, countless arbitrations and successful settlement negotiations, Ms. Sommer Devlin is one of the most experienced women insurance defense litigators in the State of Arizona. She was one of the first five women certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.

For the past several years, Ms. Sommer Devlin has devoted most of her practice to hospitality work. Her clients include Hilton Hotels Corporation, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and other major hotels. She drafts standardized contracts, provides legal training for sales staff and handles convention and meeting-related litigation nationwide. The Arizona Hotel and Motel Association named her its 1998 Allied Member of the Year for her assistance to the state's hospitality industry. In 2002, she was named one of the "25 most influential people in the meeting industry" by Meeting News magazine.

She attended the University of Iowa where she received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Journalism with High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa; and her Juris Doctor, also with High Distinction, and Order of the Coif.

Ms. Sommer Devlin began her litigation practice in Phoenix in 1984. In July 1999, she joined the law firm of Kurtz Sommer Devlin. For many years she has taught trial advocacy at the State Bar of Arizona Trial College and has been a facilitator at the State Bar's Professionalism Course. She has been a faculty member at numerous seminars both locally and nationally on hospitality related topics. She is a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys.

James M. "Jim" Goldberg, Esq.

James M. "Jim" Goldberg is a principal in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Goldberg & Associates, PLLC. His practice focuses on the representation of trade associations and professional societies, as well as independent meeting and event planners and other providers of services to the association community.

A frequent writer and speaker on association and hospitality industry legal issues, Mr. Goldberg is the author of "The Meeting Planner's Legal Handbook," a widely distributed publication that is also used as the text for his course on "Meeting and Exhibition Law and Ethics," taught each fall at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Virginia. The book is also used as required or recommended reading for meeting planning courses at The George Washington University and Metropolitan State College in Denver.

Mr. Goldberg is a charter member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. He is also an active participant in the District of Columbia Bar's Committee on Tax-Exempt Organizations.

Mr. Goldberg has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Syracuse University and received his law degree from The George Washington University.

Mark Roysner, Esq.

Mark Roysner has twenty years of hands-on experience in the hospitality and meeting industry. Mr. Roysner began his career in the hospitality industry in 1981 in the sales division of the Hilton Hotel Corporation. Eight years later, in 1989, he started his own company, producing both public and trade shows. In 1990, he joined the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau (now L.A. Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau) as Associate Vice President. Presently, Mr. Roysner is a practicing attorney, specializing in the meeting and convention industry. His firm, Roysner & Associates, provides its association, tradeshow and corporate clients with the business and legal expertise necessary to help them avoid the pitfalls that occur with the myriad of legal and contractual issues confronting the industry on a daily basis.

Mr. Roysner has authored two industry-related publications. His first book, published by the International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) in 1998, is entitled "Convention Center Facilities Contracts: Making Sense of Your Agreement and Current Conventional Wisdom." His second book, "Hotel Contracts: A Road Map to Successful Hotel Negotiations," commissioned by the IAEM Foundation, was released in December 2000. Both publications provide an in-depth, yet easy to follow analysis of contractual issues and negotiating strategies, which are often overlooked or misunderstood in hotel and convention center facility contracts.

Because of his extensive knowledge and experience in drafting and negotiating a wide range of meeting and tradeshow related contracts, Mr. Roysner has been a sought after lecturer on legal topics at numerous industry events throughout the country, as well as being asked to provide legal commentary and analysis for various industry trade publications.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council. The mission of APEX is "To spearhead an industry-wide initiative that brings together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices which create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings industry."

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is composed of 30 leading national and international organizations representing more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms or properties involved in the meeting, convention, exhibition and travel and tourism industries. It provides an important forum for member organizations to work together to enhance the industry.

###

The APEX E-News, is the means by which the findings and activities of this industry-wide initiative can be shared with volunteers, financial supporters, press, and the meeting, convention, and exhibition industry community.

The email format has proven to have excellent “Pass-Along Power.” Every subscriber is encouraged to forward the newsletter to friends and colleagues in the industry via email. The first issue was sent to 915 individuals in August 2002. In 60 days, its circulation grew by 64 percent to more than 1500 in October 2002.

One of the primary tenets of the APEX initiative is that all industry members must be involved in order to develop the best, accepted practices for the industry. The APEX E-News makes that possible by providing a forum for action, education, and discussion.

Each issue of this concise monthly publication features:

Volunteer(s) of the Month - highlighting the efforts of the many volunteers who make APEX possible.

City Discussion Group Schedule - providing details on upcoming meetings throughout the U.S. and Canada at which industry members can learn about APEX and provide input on the development of accepted practices.

Resources Available - showcasing tools available for learning about and sharing the goals of the initiative.

Help Needed - outlining opportunities for individuals to be involved in APEX development.

Anyone can become an APEX E-News subscriber by sending an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to xxx. APEX will not sell, exchange, or give away email addresses for any reason.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council. The mission of APEX is “To spearhead an industry-wide initiative that brings together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices which create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings industry.”

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is composed of 30 leading national and international organizations representing more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms or properties involved in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and travel and tourism industries. It provides an important forum for member organizations to work together to enhance the industry.

###

©2004 Convention Industry Council
Contact the CIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Juli Finnell Jones
APEX Project Manager
(703) 610-0273

New Legal Advisory Council is an Integral Part of the Accepted Practices Exchange

MCLEAN, VIRGINIA - November 15, 2002 - The APEX Legal Advisory Council (LAC), a new component of the Convention Industry Council's APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) initiative was launched recently. The APEX LAC is charged with reviewing all APEX panel recommendations, preliminary and final, providing input and suggestions on any perceived legal challenges.

While this three-member council provides insight and recommendations, the Convention Industry Council's legal counsel will remain the final arbiter in the case of disagreement among the LAC members.

The LAC will meet at least monthly to review all new panel recommendations and investigate any areas of concern identified by panel members, or the industry at large. Seven volunteer panels are currently developing accepted practices in the areas of terminology, history/post event reports, RFPs, resumes & work orders, housing & registration, meeting & site profiles, and contracts.

Selected by the APEX Commission, with industry input, the Legal Advisory Council volunteer members who have committed to a three-year term are:

Lisa M. Sommer Devlin, Esq.

A veteran of numerous jury trials, countless arbitrations and successful settlement negotiations, Ms. Sommer Devlin is one of the most experienced women insurance defense litigators in the State of Arizona. She was one of the first five women certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.

For the past several years, Ms. Sommer Devlin has devoted most of her practice to hospitality work. Her clients include Hilton Hotels Corporation, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and other major hotels. She drafts standardized contracts, provides legal training for sales staff and handles convention and meeting-related litigation nationwide. The Arizona Hotel and Motel Association named her its 1998 Allied Member of the Year for her assistance to the state's hospitality industry. In 2002, she was named one of the "25 most influential people in the meeting industry" by Meeting News magazine.

She attended the University of Iowa where she received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Journalism with High Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa; and her Juris Doctor, also with High Distinction, and Order of the Coif.

Ms. Sommer Devlin began her litigation practice in Phoenix in 1984. In July 1999, she joined the law firm of Kurtz Sommer Devlin. For many years she has taught trial advocacy at the State Bar of Arizona Trial College and has been a facilitator at the State Bar's Professionalism Course. She has been a faculty member at numerous seminars both locally and nationally on hospitality related topics. She is a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys.

James M. "Jim" Goldberg, Esq.

James M. "Jim" Goldberg is a principal in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Goldberg & Associates, PLLC. His practice focuses on the representation of trade associations and professional societies, as well as independent meeting and event planners and other providers of services to the association community.

A frequent writer and speaker on association and hospitality industry legal issues, Mr. Goldberg is the author of "The Meeting Planner's Legal Handbook," a widely distributed publication that is also used as the text for his course on "Meeting and Exhibition Law and Ethics," taught each fall at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Virginia. The book is also used as required or recommended reading for meeting planning courses at The George Washington University and Metropolitan State College in Denver.

Mr. Goldberg is a charter member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. He is also an active participant in the District of Columbia Bar's Committee on Tax-Exempt Organizations.

Mr. Goldberg has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Syracuse University and received his law degree from The George Washington University.

Mark Roysner, Esq.

Mark Roysner has twenty years of hands-on experience in the hospitality and meeting industry. Mr. Roysner began his career in the hospitality industry in 1981 in the sales division of the Hilton Hotel Corporation. Eight years later, in 1989, he started his own company, producing both public and trade shows. In 1990, he joined the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau (now L.A. Inc., The Convention and Visitors Bureau) as Associate Vice President. Presently, Mr. Roysner is a practicing attorney, specializing in the meeting and convention industry. His firm, Roysner & Associates, provides its association, tradeshow and corporate clients with the business and legal expertise necessary to help them avoid the pitfalls that occur with the myriad of legal and contractual issues confronting the industry on a daily basis.

Mr. Roysner has authored two industry-related publications. His first book, published by the International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) in 1998, is entitled "Convention Center Facilities Contracts: Making Sense of Your Agreement and Current Conventional Wisdom." His second book, "Hotel Contracts: A Road Map to Successful Hotel Negotiations," commissioned by the IAEM Foundation, was released in December 2000. Both publications provide an in-depth, yet easy to follow analysis of contractual issues and negotiating strategies, which are often overlooked or misunderstood in hotel and convention center facility contracts.

Because of his extensive knowledge and experience in drafting and negotiating a wide range of meeting and tradeshow related contracts, Mr. Roysner has been a sought after lecturer on legal topics at numerous industry events throughout the country, as well as being asked to provide legal commentary and analysis for various industry trade publications.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council. The mission of APEX is "To spearhead an industry-wide initiative that brings together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices which create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings industry."

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is composed of 30 leading national and international organizations representing more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms or properties involved in the meeting, convention, exhibition and travel and tourism industries. It provides an important forum for member organizations to work together to enhance the industry.

###

The APEX E-News, is the means by which the findings and activities of this industry-wide initiative can be shared with volunteers, financial supporters, press, and the meeting, convention, and exhibition industry community.

The email format has proven to have excellent “Pass-Along Power.” Every subscriber is encouraged to forward the newsletter to friends and colleagues in the industry via email. The first issue was sent to 915 individuals in August 2002. In 60 days, its circulation grew by 64 percent to more than 1500 in October 2002.

One of the primary tenets of the APEX initiative is that all industry members must be involved in order to develop the best, accepted practices for the industry. The APEX E-News makes that possible by providing a forum for action, education, and discussion.

Each issue of this concise monthly publication features:

Volunteer(s) of the Month - highlighting the efforts of the many volunteers who make APEX possible.
City Discussion Group Schedule - providing details on upcoming meetings throughout the U.S. and Canada at which industry members can learn about APEX and provide input on the development of accepted practices.
Resources Available - showcasing tools available for learning about and sharing the goals of the initiative.
Help Needed - outlining opportunities for individuals to be involved in APEX development.

Anyone can become an APEX E-News subscriber by sending an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to xxx. APEX will not sell, exchange, or give away email addresses for any reason.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council. The mission of APEX is “To spearhead an industry-wide initiative that brings together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices which create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings industry.”

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) is composed of 30 leading national and international organizations representing more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms or properties involved in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and travel and tourism industries. It provides an important forum for member organizations to work together to enhance the industry.

###