People in the News

The Trade Show Exhibitors Assn. has named Ivy Gard as its new education and meetings manager. Previously, Gard held several positions for other associations, including that of membership coordinator for the Natl. Assn. of Music Merchants.

SmithBucklin Executive Vice President Michael Payne has been appointed chairman of the Professional Convention Management Assn.

The Financial Planning Assn. Director of Meetings Christine Spragg will leave the association to pursue other opportunities, as the office has moved to Denver. A replacement search is underway to fill the Denver-based position, which involves overseeing meetings and focusing on professional development.

The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau Chicago office has hired Heidi Edinger as the new associate director of sales for the Midwestern region. She will help meeting planners to develop events at the PRCC and beef up the facility's 2005 calendar.

The Orlando/ Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau has hired Brenda Rouse-Fitzpatrick as its new director of convention sales. Most recently, she was director of sales for Renaissance Worldgate Hotel in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced its 2004 board of directors. John Taylor, president of PNC Bank, will act as board chairman and Nat Comisar, owner of Maisonette and LaNormandie restaurants, is vice chairman.

Previously executive director of the El Paso Amigo Airshow, Terrie Todd recently joined the El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau as director of sales.

Frank Vavpotic has been named vice president and general manager of the new MICE Midwest division of MICE North America, an exhibit design and marketing firm. Working out of Chicago, Vavpotic heads a Midwest team that includes a Detroit office.

The Georgia Intl. Convention Center has appointed Denise Cole director of sales. She worked most recently at the Georgia World Congress Center as national sales manager.

Global Spectrum, operator of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, has hired Bobby Holland as marketing manager of the convention center. Holland last worked as corporate sales manager of the Richmond Braves baseball club.

Hanley Wood Exhibitions has made several staff changes:

• Dana Bellantone has been promoted from show director to senior show director for the Intl. Autobody Congress and Exposition.
• Ellen Pipkin has been promoted from operations manager to associate show manager for the Intl. Autobody Congress and Exposition.
• Amy Weller has been promoted from operations manager to associate show manager for the Remodeling Show and the Luxury Kitchen and Bath Collection.
• Paul Treanor has been named conference manager for the Remodeling Show and the Luxury Kitchen and Bath Collection, having previously acted in the same capacity for Surfaces and the Remodelers' Show.

Marilyn Harrington, former president of Reed-Midem andgeneral manager of Pri-Med,will oversee the entertainment division of Infinity Expo Group.

PBI Media has appointed former owner and operator of production and consulting firm Signature Trade Shows, Stephen A. Schuldenfrei, tradeshow director for its aerospace group.

dmg world media has appointed four new executives for its international exhibition and publishing business.

• Dick Engebretson is the new executive vice president of consumer events, North America.
• Carol Bell has been made executive vice president of home interest, North America.
• Brenda Daly is the new executive vice president of home interest for the UK.
• Elizabeth Falloon is the executive vice president of the Australasia division.

Submit items for People in the News to Vanessa VanderZanden at vanderzandenv@reedbusiness.com