Conference and Meeting Management Certificate Program -- UGA Continuing Education

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Connie Bergeron, Certified Meeting Planner (CMP), is Vice President of Site Selection at Benchmarc360, Inc., where she negotiates contracts on behalf of worldwide corporate and association clients. With 20+ years of hospitality experience, she is a "Platinum Series Presenter" for Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

Beverly Cosmann, CMP, Catering Sales Manager Westin Buckhead, is responsible for soliciting new catering accounts, as well as maintaining relationships with existing accounts to meet and/or exceed food and beverage revenue goals. She is responsible for overseeing client functions to ensure customer satisfaction. Her many years of experiences as a Convention Sales Manager and Event Manager in Metro Atlanta, and as an Account Executive for Mexico's leading hotel chain qualifies her to teach the elective, "Food and Beverages: Tips and Trends." Cosmann is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, holds a diploma in Fashion Design and Management from Johannesburg, South Africa, and is certified in FDMC from the Guild of London. This training helps to add panache to any event!

Joan Eisenstodt is Chief Strategist of Eisenstodt Associates, LLC, in Washington, D.C. She has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of meeting and conference planning and has been named one of Meeting News magazine's "25 Most Influential People" in the meeting industry each year of the List. She is an inductee into Convention Industry Council's Hall of Leaders.

Kevin M. Gaffney is Manager of Expositions for the ASME International Gas Turbine Institute where he manages all aspects of an annual international 300-booth exposition. He is a member of the International Association of Exhibition Management and currently sits on the Board of the IAEM Atlanta SE Chapter.

James M. Goldberg, Esq. is a practicing attorney whose firm represents associations and independent planners. He is the author of The Meeting Planner's Legal Handbook, a widely distributed desk reference. He is also a charter member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys.

Susan Henderson, CMP, DMCP, is CEO of Atlanta Arrangements, Inc., a large destination management company with domestic and international clients. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field and serves on the boards of ACVB and ADME. Susan currently services as President of the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME.)

Lee J. Howard is President of Lee J. Howard Entertainment, Entertainment Consultants, Providers, and Producers, whose goal is to "Inspire and uplift others through music." Noted for their high level of communication, service and use of systems to ensure event success, his firm has produced music for over 3,000 events.

Gregg S. Lauer, CMP, is Director of Global Events at Manhattan Associates, a leading supply chain software company headquartered in Atlanta. Past planning positions include Dun & Bradstreet Software and Per-Se Technologies. Gregg also has an extensive hotel background with several years in Convention Services. He most recently was Director of Catering and Convention Services for over 8 years at The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta.

Andrew McDonald, G.R.S.M., I.R.A.M. is Owner and Managing Partner of productionpeople, Inc., a full-service production company serving corporate clients in audio-visual, lighting and staging support. Andrew began his career as a musician in London and performed all over the world. For the past eleven years, he has used his artistic and musical background to custom design productions and technical support for clients.

Paige Havens, Managing Partner of Spitfire Media Group has over 20 years experience of marketing and event management developing programs in the public, private, and for-profit sectors. She has won numerous awards for her business, community relations, and philanthropic activities.

Kathy Brooks Rhodes, President of Health Professional Association Management, is a 20 plus-year veteran of the hospitality industry. Since 1997, Kathy has devoted her time to being an association management company. HPAM manages multiple associations and currently produces over 150 meetings per year including trade shows.

Susan Stewart, Ph.D in Human Resources and Adult Learning, CMP, is president of S. Stewart and Associates, a professional meeting planning firm. She currently serves as planner for four associations, with meeting attendance ranging from 1,000 to 25,000.

The following are members of the Conference and Meeting Management Advisory Board, in addition to the above listed presenters:

Jerry Demery, CMP, General Manager of Meeting Consultants, Inc.

Ann Godi, CMP, is President of Benchmarc360, Inc.

David Fowler, CMP, Senior Project Manager for IBM Global Services

Ron Olejko, Director of Meeting Services for the American College of Rheumatology.

EJ Siwek, CMP, is President FLASHpoint Technologies, LLC