The Convention Industry Council announced the recent appointment of three commissioners to its Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Commission. The APEX Commission is responsible for general oversight of the…
The Convention Industry Council announced the recent appointment of three commissioners to its Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Commission. The APEX Commission is responsible for general oversight of the APEX initiative and represents the nine (9) segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Each commissioner brings extensive leadership experience to APEX during their 3-year rotating term.
Theresa “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. Mickey Schaefer, CAE, President of Mickey Schaefer & Associates LLC, has filled this role since 2000 and will step up as APEX Consultant during the critical first four months of the APEX initiative in 2006.
As one of APEX’s original commissioners, Terri Breining has been involved with APEX since 2000. Additionally, her 30 years of industry experience in the meetings industry and work with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) provides a solid foundation as she leads the commission into APEX’s implementation phase.
I am so honored to be given the opportunity to guide the APEX commission on an interim basis as we move into this phase of the initiative, said Breining. This is a critically important time for APEX, as the work done by so many over the last 5 years is finally becoming real and we`re now able to show the people, the organizations and the entire industry that this is far more than just a great idea – we`re actually putting to use the best practices and standard processes.
Dennis Edwards, Senior Vice President of the Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, has recently been appointed to the APEX Commission to represent Convention Bureau segment of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Dennis brings a history of extensive leadership roles through his work with Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and its foundation, in addition to his work with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
As long as there are meetings, there will always be a need for APEX, said Edwards. The more we can standardize how Convention and Visitors Bureaus work and interact with meeting planners, the better off we will all be and APEX is certainly the key to this effort.
The Convention Services segment of the industry is represented by Doris Sims, Vice President of Bureau Services of the Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, and newly appointed APEX Commissioner. As Past President of Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM), Doris offers strong experience in working with Convention Services as well as their clients.
I am very excited to join the commission during the actual implementation phase of APEX. We have talked about APEX for several years and now we are bringing the vision to reality, said Doris Sims. The APEX toolbox will be especially helpful for the convention services sector of our industry. Bottom line it will make us more effective and efficient managers allowing us more time to provide quality and personal service to our clients.
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.
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