MPI Exec Takes Over Foundation Meeting Professionals International has named David DuBois, CMP, as executive vice president of the MPI Foundation. The new title is in addition to DuBois' role as the chief operating officer of MPI.
The foundation's board of trustees approved the newly created position, in which DuBois will develop campaigns and relationships to help secure donations to the charitable foundation. Established in 1987, the MPI Foundation supports the work of MPI through research about the meeting planning profession.
Contact: MPI, 4455 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75244-5903; 972/702-3000; fax: 972/702-3070; Web site: www.mpiweb.org
European Incentive Executive to Lead SITE in 2000 On Jan. 1, Tasso Pappas will take office as president of the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives for the year 2000. Pappas, a SITE member since 1982, is managing director of the Brussels-based destination management company CIB Performance. SITE's board of directors elected Pappas as well as the following members of the 2000 executive committee: Carolyn Dow, Scottish Convention Bureau, president-elect; Robert Guy, Pacific World, vice president-finance; Peggy Whitman, Marriott Incentive Awards, vice president-education; Ann d'Eon, ADI Meetings & Incentives, vice president-marketing; Moira Hearn, Select Group Marketing, member-at-large; and Wendy Moffatt, Spectra Travel England, immediate past president.
Contact: SITE, 21 W. 38th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018-5584; 212/575-0910; fax: 212/575-1838; Web site: www.site-intl.org
NACE Hosts Annual Leadership Conference The National Association of Catering Executives will host its annual Leadership Conference Jan. 6-8 in Baltimore. Board members from each chapter will discuss chapter administration, meeting programs, organization, management, public relations, membership and finances.
In addition, the 2000 NACE Educational Conference has been scheduled for July 19-22 at the Wyndham Beach Resort in Miami Beach, Fla.
The Certified Professional Catering Executive examination will be given during both conferences. Contact: NACE, 5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 328, Columbia, MD 21044; 410/997-9055; fax: 410/997-8834; Web site: www.nace.net
Bridal Group Sets Rome Meeting The Association of Bridal Consultants is planning its Global Horizons Conference for March 13-20 in Rome, according to Gerard Monaghan, ABC president. He says the premise of the conference is to help U.S. wedding professionals learn about weddings in another culture during the course of a week. "We are planning to have meetings with the four top designers in Italy, along with visits to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum," he says.
Such global conferences are important, Monaghan says, because "there is a growing trend and demand for ethnic weddings, thanks to the interest in celebrating heritage. The more you know about a culture, the better you can be as a consultant."
The conference fee is about $2,000, which includes the conference sessions, hotels, airfare from Newark, N.J., two meals a day and guided tours.
Contact: ABC, 200 Chestnutland Road, New Milford, CT 06776-2521; 860/355-0464; fax: 860/354-1404; Web site: www.bridalassn.com
NCA Conference Program Set The National Caterers Association has announced plans to host its Annual Education Conference, Feb. 19-23 in Washington at the Willard Inter-Continental and the J.W. Marriott hotels. According to NCA executive director Diane Welland, the five-day conference will include hands-on seminars, roundtable discussions, a trade show and off-site events designed for catering professionals. Sessions will include up to six concurrent tracks, comprising Master, Design, Chef, Introductory, Sales and Panel Exchange.
Contact: NCA, 860 Bay St., Staten Island, NY 10304; 800/622-0029; fax: 718/420-0025; Web site: www.ncacater.org
