On the Move
Workin’ It
Adesso Albums captured a celebrity evening at the El Sueño Gala fundraiser on the set of “Desperate Housewives.” International corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group strengthened its presence in Eastern Europe with the acquisition of BTI Polska. Greater Hartford, Conn., convention industry leaders welcomed the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ 2006 Executive Conference to Hartford. Sheraton Kauai completed a $14 million renovation. Boston’s Marriott Copley Ballroom hosted the Convention Industry Council Hall of Leaders Gala, which honored six lifetime achievements. MG Design was selected by Cargill, a provider of food, agriculture and risk management products and services, to design and build a new 50-foot by 50-foot exhibit environment, which debuted at the Institute of Food Technologists show. Woburn, Mass.-based Festive Occasions created a new specialty linen division. Marc Becker, director of convention sales and services at Paragon Casino Resort, was elected to the Gulf States Chapter of MPI’s board of directors. Judy Lichty, account executive, corporate solutions, with Exposoft Solutions Inc., received the Certified Meeting Professional designation.
On the Job
In its Events & Meetings Management Division, HRG North America appointed Maria da Cunha as vice president of operations and Frankie Khng as event manager for HRG Asia Pacific. Tripp McKenney joined PRA Destination Management Inc. as regional account director for the Southeast. Bill Jett was promoted to executive vice president of AV Concepts. Brent A. Stringfield was named director of operations for Carey Smolensky Productions and Mobile Music Interactive Entertainment. Production Resource Group LLC named Darren DeVerna president of its East Coast operations. 3D Exhibits added Debbie Christensen. MAC Meetings and Events expanded to the Southeast with a new office. Ken Voss was appointed executive vice president, sales and marketing, of Certain Software. Event marketing agency Sparks hired Suzanne Wells as vice president, events. Steve Pascal was named creative director of Access TCA. TBA Global Events LLC appointed Charlotte Downs as senior account executive, destination management, and Mark Shearon as vice president of sales, strategic events division, of its New York team. Chris Bergmann was promoted to senior operations manager of Landmark Event Services. Mark Lynn joined H.B. Stubbs Company as a senior account executive.
Awards and Achievements
Extraordinary Events’ Chris Clark was honored as “MVP” at the 2006 Awards and Installation Gala of the Southern California Chapter of MPI. ProActive Inc. was awarded a Global Paragon Award of Excellence from MPI. PRA Destination Management Las Vegas was named as the top office in the PRA franchise organization. VisitPittsburgh’s national sales director Jerad Bachar received the President Award for Outstanding Dedication from the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals. Kori Gassaway, national sales director in VisitPittsburgh’s Chicago office, received the Tomorrow’s Leader Award from the MPI Chicago Area Chapter. The Overland Park Convention Center was named Best Meeting/Conference Facility by Ingram’s Magazine. Boston boutique hotel Nine Zero was voted one of the world’s most exclusive luxury hotels in Robb Report Luxury Hotels. Scotland’s Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre was recognized by the U.K.’s Green Tourism Business Scheme with Silver Status for environmental awareness. Loews Coronado Bay Resort ranked second in the “500 or more employees” category of San Diego Magazine’s survey identifying the city’s best places to work.