HCEA Concludes 2012 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Names New Board

HCEA's 2012-2013 Board of Directors

Board Officers:

• President: Susan Huff, Medtronic
• President Elect: Betsy Wadas, CME/H, Genentech
• Vice President: Janie Ward, CME/H, Abbott
• Treasurer: Susan Weatherbee, Boston Scientific
• Secretary: Kim Foley, Philips Healthcare
• Immediate Past President: Peggy Furman, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

2012-2014 Board Directors:

• Christine DiDomenico, Purdue Pharma L.P.
• Christine Farmer, Sanofi
• Carol Fields, CME/H, Edwards Lifesciences
• Karen Kingston, CME/H, CMP, B. Braun Medical
• Dawn Will, Pfizer

2012-2013 Board Directors:

• Randy Bauler, CEM, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Diane Benson, CTSM, GE Healthcare
• Sheree Budrecki, Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Anna Mosback, Covidien Surgical Solutions
• Karen Prieto, Forest Laboratories, Inc.
• Michael Seymour, CME, 3D Exhibits

2012-2013 Appointed Board Directors:

• Sara Peterson, CEM, American Academy of Dermatology
• Michelle Turenne, American Thoracic Society
• Kyle Wood, Delphi Productions

Despite Tropical Storm Debby, which struck during the event, the Atlanta-based Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) hosted 633 attendees at the 2012 HCEA Annual Meeting, which took place June 23-26 in Orlando, it announced last week.

A major theme of the meeting, according to the association, was new technology. For instance, keynote speaker James Spellos, president of Meeting U., urged attendees to think about the intersection of social media and meetings. Plus, several sessions — including Spellos' address, as well as the HCEA State of the Industry Report and a special marketing workshop — were live streamed for the first time to remote attendees.

"During this year's Annual Meeting, we are pleased to showcase this technology that HCEA believes will prove valuable for members," Jackie Beaulieu, executive vice president, said in advance of the meeting. "Video-streaming allows members who are unable to attend the event to experience the great presentations. It essentially extends the value of our conference and increases our reach."

Also during the HCEA Annual Meeting, a new board of directors was named: Susan Huff, director of global conventions for Medtronic Inc., was installed as HCEA's 2012-2013 board president.

"Watch face-to-face in action," Huff said during her acceptance speech. "This is our profession; we create environments to make this happen. At the same time, we're facing more competition from other marketing channels, such as the web, virtual events and social media. While acknowledging these other channels can complement the face-to-face channel, we need to continue to demonstrate the value of face-to-face. This is where HCEA can help."

The next HCEA Annual Meeting will take place June 22-25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.hcea.org.

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