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PRESIDENT
Marilyn Healey, CMP
Senior Convention Services Manager
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
E-mail: Mhealey@hyatt.com
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SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Robert E. Desautels, CMP
Senior Manager, Convention Services
Indianapolis CVA
E-mail: bdesautels@visitindy.com
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PAST PRESIDENT
Lyan Tassler
Associate Vice President, Convention Services
Greater Miami CVB
E-mail: TasslerInLA@gmail.com
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DIRECTOR
Rhonda Eaton, CMP
Event Services Manager
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
E-Mail: Reaton@rscva.com
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DIRECTOR
Denise I. Suttle, CMP
Assistant Director of Convention Services
Albuquerque CVB
E-mail: Suttle@itsatrip.org
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EX OFFICIO DIRECTOR
Vanessa Kane, CMP
Manager, Meetings and Events
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States National Headquarters
E-mail: VKane@vfw.org
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BIOGRAPHIES
Marilyn Healey, CMP, President
With 25 years of experience in the meeting planning and hospitality industry, Marilyn Healey, CMP currently serves as Senior Convention Services Manager for the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
A native of San Francisco, Marilyn began her career in 1980 as a Public Relations Manager for a non-profit organization in downtown Los Angeles, where she was responsible for coordinating annual meetings, special event fundraisers, and media events. In 1989, Marilyn moved over to the hospitality side of meeting planning and worked for Hyatt Hotels until 1995. From 1995 to 2000, Marilyn gained additional experience in the meetings industry, working for the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she served as Convention Services and Registration Manager for 5 years. From 2000 to 2005, Marilyn served as Director of Meetings & Convention Services at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel and Conference Center, and then the Hyatt Orange County.
A member of ACOM since 1996, Marilyn received the ACOM Member of the Year Award in 2001, was past Chair of the ACOM Marketing Committee, and Past President of ACOM's Southern California Chapter from 1998-1999. Marilyn currently serves as Second Vice President of National ACOM and is an Executive Committee member.
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Eric Blanc, CMP, President-Elect
Eric Blanc, CMP, has been involved in the Convention and Special Events Industry since 1992. His career spans stints with Tropicana Field as an event coordinator, Tampa Convention Center as a convention services supervisor, GES Expositions as a sales manager and the Freeman Companies where he is currently employed. Eric has also worked on special events such as the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 and the Florida Classic Football Weekend in Tampa, Florida. Eric is currently an account executive for the Freeman Companies in Orlando, Florida where he is responsible for sales and production aspects of the companies Exposition Sales division.
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David Dvorak, CMP, First Vice President
David A. Dvorak, CMP, is Vice President of Catering and Convention Services for Starwood Hotels. David began his career as a meeting planner before joining Hilton Hotels at the New York Hilton as Director of Convention Service. He also served as Executive Director of Convention Service at Bally's Las Vegas and opened Paris Las Vegas, combining convention and banquet operations at the two properties. In 2000, David joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide as vice president of Convention and Meeting Services overseeing Convention/Catering Service departments in 400 of Starwood's North American hotels. In 2002, he joined Conference Direct as executive vice president, heading the Housing and Registration Division. David then rejoined Starwood in charge of convention, catering and banquet operations at the Sheraton New York before taking his current role as vice president of catering and convention service for Starwood Hotels.
David has won numerous industry awards from Successful Meetings magazine, Hilton Hotels, and is a two-time recipient of ASAE's Diamond Award of Excellence in Convention Service. David has been a long time member of ACOM, as well as ASAE, MPI and PCMA.
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Robert Desautels, CMP, Second Vice President
Senior Manager of Convention Services for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association (ICVA), Robert E. Desautels, CMP, has been with the ICVA for twenty one (21) years. His roles have included membership manager, tourism sales, and publications. In his current position, he serves in a liaison role to provide a variety of services and overall assistance to meeting planners and client executives for organizations bringing their meeting, tradeshow and or special event to the city. Desautels also interacts with the Association's sales force, as well as its membership and communication team to help meet the needs of both areas.
Prior to coming to the ICVA, Desautels, an Indianapolis native, spent 18 years with American Fletcher National Bank (now Bank One/Chase) in the areas of property management, telecommunications, community relations, and advertising.
Desautels is active in the community, having served on the board of directors of the Madame Walker Theatre Center, the local USO office and, as past president of the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). He is also the former president of the Serra (International) Club of Indianapolis, a catholic lay organization promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Presently, Desautels serves on the Mission Advisory Council for the Sisters of Providence, an order of Catholic nuns domiciled near West Terre Haute, Indiana. He is also a member of the board of advisors for Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, an agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He is also a member of the 500 Festival Associates.
Desautels has also worked in radio for a local station, and currently assists in the management of the public address announcing team for the 500 Festival Parade. In his business capacity, Desautels is a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Convention Operations Management (ACOM). He also chairs the Marketing/Communications Committee for that organization. He received the designation of CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) in 1996.
He speaks to community groups/organizations on topics that include the ICVA, tourism in the city, and their value of it to the community.
Desautels is a graduate of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, and received his B.S. degree from Xavier University in 1966. He is married to Theresa Ross, and parents to Kelly Stehlik; Rob Desautels and Sharon Desautels.
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Julie Pingston, CMP, Secretary/Treasurer
Julie Pingston, CMP, is the Senior Vice President for the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has been with the GLCVB for since 1993and works in conjunction with the Bureau's President in overall organizational operations. She also has direct oversight over convention services, sports services, visitor services, membership and special events which are coordinated by the organization. Julie was ACOM's Member of the Year in 2004.
Previously, she worked in Washington D.C. for three years at the United States Travel & Tourism Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce. While there, she assisted in planning international conferences and Board Meetings as well as administering a disaster relief assistance grant program.
Julie is a graduate of Alma College in Alma, MI and resides in Holt, Michigan.
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Lyan Tassler, Immediate Past President
Lyan Tassler is a veteran of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, which she joined in April, 1990. She was appointed Associate Vice President of Convention Services in 2007. Lyan has played an integral role in many successful local events, including the 1999 Super Bowl, TIA's International POW WOW in 1994 & 1999, and the 2001, 2007 and 2008 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Conventions. A native Miamian, Lyan has been in the industry a total of 20 years; including stops at Norwegian Cruise Line and Eastern Air Lines. She is an active supporter of United Way and an active participant in the Leadership Circle & Young Leaders Society and the Children's Home Society locally.
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Madonna Carr, CMP, Director
Madonna has been with Meet Minneapolis for the last 16 years and has been Director for the last 10 years. In 1997, Madonna was named “Convention Services Manager of the Year for CVB” by Successful Meetings Magazine. Madonna has been a member of ACOM for the last 10 years and was recently nominated to the ACOM Board of Directors.
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Felicia C. Davis, Director
Felicia Davis is a Convention Services Manager for the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Felicia has been in Convention services with the ACCVA for 7 years. She brings 10 years of extensive Casino/Hotel Service Management experience from her previous tenure with the Trump Marina Hotel & Casino.
Felicia is an active member with ACOM , IAEE and MPI.
Felicia is happily married and has two sons Zion age 10 and Avi age 4.
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Rhonda Eaton, CMP, Director
Bio to come
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Melissa Laskowsky, CMP, Director
Bio to come
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Leta McVeety, Director
Bio to come
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Marcy Roitman-Boothe, Director
Bio to come
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Barbara Stone, Director
Bio to come
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Denise I. Suttle, CMP, Director
Denise Suttle, CMP, is Assistant Director of Convention Services at the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has been with the Albuquerque CVB since moving to New Mexico from Oklahoma in 1991. She is the Assistant Director of Convention Services, working with citywide conventions, sports events, and smaller meetings of all kinds. A member of PCMA since 1996 and ACOM since 2000, she is the editor of ACOMmodate and is currently on the Marketing/Communications Committee.
Denise started at the CVB in convention sales, making the change from senior national sales manager after eight years to convention services manager in 1999.
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Shawn-Ta Wilson, CMP, Director
Bio to come
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Michelle Yeager, CMP, Director
Bio to come
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Vanessa Kane, CMP, Ex Officio Director
Vanessa Kane, CMP, is Manager of Meetings & Events for the Kansas City Headquartered Veterans Organization, VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) with 2.7 million members. Prior to joining the VFW, she worked for ERA (Electronic Realty Associates), a National Real Estate Franchise, for 18 years as Meetings and Travel Manager. Vanessa is a past chapter president (2002-2003) of the Kansas City Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is a charter member of the chapter. She is also a member of the Heartland Chapter of PCMA.
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