Chicago -- Julie Silverstein, the chief operating officer of SmithBucklin, the nation's largest association-management company, has added the title of president. She is the first woman president in the firm's 57-year history.Silverstein will continue to oversee the company's business units, including convention and trade show services, according to yesterday's announcement."It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge the immense impact Julie's leadership and vision has had on the growth of our company and our clients," said company chairman and chief executive Henry Givray. Silverstein joined SmithBucklin in 1987 as an association manager, serving several technology user group clients. She was instrumental in establishing the International Oracle Users Group, in 1993, and served as the organization's first executive director. In 1999, Silverstein was promoted to vice president of the technology business unit, and in 2000 was promoted to chief operating officer for client management. In 2002, she was promoted to corporate COO.SmithBucklin provides management services to more than 210 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups, and government institutes or agencies combined. The company manages more than $200 million in annual client budgets and employs a staff of 630 people.