CIC Announces Appointees to CMP Governance Commission

April 13, 2015

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has announced the first appointees to the newly formed Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Governance Commission. The governing body, previously known as the CMP Board, is comprised of CMPs who represent all sectors of the CMP community including association, government, independent and incentive planners, industry suppliers, destination professionals, catering professionals and meeting management educators.

The Convention Industry Council relies on seasoned CMPs to govern the CMP program and ensure it remains current to the requirements necessary to be successful in the meeting management profession. Nominations for this new governing structure were open in January and February to all interested CMPs. A nominating committee composed of past and present CIC Board and CMP Board Chairs, reviewed and evaluated all applications and interviewed finalists.

“The number of CMPs who volunteered to serve on the Governance Commission, in the first year of an open nominations process, is incredible,” said Karen Kotowski, CEO of CIC. “The interest is further proof that we have a CMP community that is devoted to the future of the CMP credential and the future of our profession.”

The following individuals were elected to serve on the 2015 CMP Governance Commission:

Michelle Bartolone, CMP-HC
CEO
Meeting Sites Pro, Inc.

Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP
Chief Operations Officer
International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Agnes Canonica, CMP, CMM
General Manager – Americas
MD Events

Amanda Cecil, PhD, CMP
Associate Professor and Program Director
Indiana University

Barbara Connell, CAE, CMP
Chief Operating Officer
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Matthew J. DiSalvo, CMP
Chief Sales Officer
SER Exposition Services

Aleka Garcia, CMP, CMM
Director, Strategic Meeting Management
Pacific Communications

Amy Philips Hanley, CMP
Senior Director, Meetings and Exhibits
American College of OB/GYN

Verena Jandak, CMP
Marketing Manager, US, Canada, Australia, India
Vienna Convention Bureau

Leslie Jones, CMP
Chief Operating Officer
National Association for Catering and Events

Steven Lorenz, CMP. HMCC
Strategic Account Manager
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc.

These new Commission members join the already seated Executive Committee of the Commission:

Chair
Joanne H. Joham, CMP, CMM
Regional Director North America
International Congress and Convention Association

Vice Chair
Janet Sperstad, CMP
Program Director
Madison Area Technical College

Immediate Past Chair
Melody Kebe, CMP, CGMP
Network Services Directorate
Defense Information Systems Agency

“I look forward to working these fine professionals as we set the strategic direction for the future of the CMP program,” said Joanne Joham, 2015 Chair of the CMP Governance Commission, “Because the CMP program is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the timing of the restructure of the Commission is perfect.”