ESPA Welcomes Meet Minneapolis VP as New President

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J. – Feb. 1, 2015 – The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) welcomed a new president, treasurer and board members at its 28th Annual Conference at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Madonna Carr, CMP, vice president of destination services at Meet Minneapolis, was installed as the organization’s president. ESPA serves convention services managers (CSM) with educational and networking opportunities.

“I’m very excited about being president of ESPA in 2016. Now more than ever, clients/planners realize how important convention service managers are to the success of their meetings,” said Carr, who has been with Meet Minneapolis for more than 25 years and vice president for eight years. “I’d like to increase awareness of ESPA and the role we play in delivering a successful meeting. I’d also like to grow ESPA membership by making sure every hotel, center and CVB is aware of ESPA and that ESPA is the ‘premier’ organization for education for services professionals. Attending ESPA provide supreme educational opportunities, great networking and a way for services professionals to earn CEUs towards their CMP certification.”

ESPA also announced the following changes for its 2016 officers: Denise Suttle, CMP, Albuquerque CVB moved into the position of past president; Paul Ruby, CMP, Sheraton Dallas, will serve as president elect; Kathy Denkenberger, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau will move into the position of first vice president; and Amy Cabe, Visit Spokane, will serve as second vice president.

Jamie Huckleberry, director of event services at Pittsburgh’s David L Lawrence Convention Center and one of ESPA and Successful Meeting Magazine’s Convention Services Managers of the Year, will assume the role of treasurer.

Paola Bowman, CMP, CTA, Forth Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tiffany Hoambrecker, CMP, Visit Denver and Suzanne Seder, CMP, Tampa Convention Center were welcomed as new members of the board of directors.

For more information on ESPA, visit www.espaonline.org.

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About ESPA

With nearly 500 members, the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) is dedicated to elevating the event and convention services profession and to preparing members, through education and networking, for their pivotal role in innovative and successful event execution. For more information, visit www.espaonline.org.