Attendance hit an all-time high of 525, up more than 10 percent from 1999, at the 2000 NACE Educational Conference, July 19-22 in Miami Beach, Fla.

The program offered 30 breakout sessions designed for a range of disciplines, notes Jerry Edwards, CPCE, NACE president, including off- and on-premise catering, restaurant caterers, club caterers, event specialists and suppliers.

Conference highlights included a presentation on design trends by Sean DeFreitas, founder of Designs by Sean of Dania, Fla., and a panel of prominent chefs discussing local cuisine.

At the gala awards dinner July 22, Daniel Briones, CMP, of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., won for best on-premise catered event. Michael E. Rabe, CPCE, Creations in Catering, Honolulu, won for best off-premise catered event. Terri Raborn-Collins, CMP, catering director for the Sheraton Cerritos in Cerritos, Calif., was named catering member of the year. Bob DeFriest, vice president of Panache Party Rentals, Pompano Beach, Fla., was named affiliate member of the year.

The 2001 conference is slated for July 18-21 in Palm Springs, Calif.