Meeting News - October 20, 2008 - (Page 9)

People Making News Fairhall Joins PCMA as Research VP Gail Fairhall became vice president of research for the Professional Convention Management Association in June. Fairhall’s experiences include healthcare and insurance management functions, research and new service development, academic and practice management, and education and corporate training. Most recently, Fairhall served as director of benefits and financial services at Oswald Trippe and Co. Her association experience includes CEO of American Veterinary Medical Association Group Health Life Insurance and vice president and consultant with the National Alzheimer’s Association. Fairhall also has held positions with Right Management Consultants, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rush University, and HCA Chicago Lakeshore Hospital. Fairhall holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Chicago Institute of Clinical Social Work, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor of arts degree from Michigan State University. “I am very pleased to welcome this industry and association veteran into the ranks of PCMA,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO. “As we embark on our new three-year strategic plan, research is a key tenet. In order to fulfill that tenet and best serve our members and the industry, it is important to add a dedicated staff member. Gail is perfectly positioned to help PCMA become even more relevant to members and to our industry.” as Sonesta aggressively looks to expand its presence, with a focus on projects in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Silberstein brings over 30 years of experience in the lodging industry, including the last 15 years as vice president of development for Carlson Hotels, with responsibilities for the Radisson and Regent brands. Prior to that, Silberstein served as vice president of sales and marketing for ITT Sheraton’s North America division’s eastern region. Silberstein resides in Newton, MA, with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. “Philip is the ideal individual to develop Sonesta’s domestic franchise and add management opportunities to the brand,” said Stephanie Sonnabend, Sonesta’s president and CEO. “We are confident in his ability to expertly lead us in the next phase of our company’s development. Philip brings to Sonesta a proven track record in successful brand growth.” Calistoga Ranch, the Napa Valley resort and lodging club, as general manager. Most recently, Thornburg served as general manager of the Lodge at Pebble Beach in California—a position she assumed after six years as general manager of Hotel Teatro, the boutique hotel in Denver. Prior to that, Thornburg was director of food & beverage for 10 years at the Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, CO, where she played a key role in helping the hotel achieve Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond status. In her new position, Thornburg oversees all operations for the 46-room resort, including a restaurant, a full-service spa, and the 27 owner lodges situated on a 157-acre site. s In June, Jon Hunter was named general manager of the 1,070-room Omni Hotel at CNN Center in downtown Atlanta. Previously the director of operations at the Omni hotel in Charlotte, NC, and before that, operations director at the Omni hotel in Jacksonville, FL, Hunter brings to the Atlanta property more than four years of experience within the Omni brand. He oversees day-to-day operations, managing the hotel’s ﬁnancial, branding, and organizational activities. s Earlier this month, Kiela Hine was named president of Convention Connection Speakers Bureau, based in Malibu, CA. Hine has been with Convention Connection for 17 years, and she also is the treasurer of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus. s Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris has announced Geraldine Dobey as its general manager. Dobey has more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, working for Hilton for 13 years and most recently serving as general manager of the Hilton Paris. She replaces Serge Ethuin, who is now the general manager of the Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotel. r Shout Outs s Liz Giannini has joined PCMA as manager of chapters and membership. Giannini has been responsible for membership, marketing, and regional programming throughout her ﬁve years in association management. During that time, she worked as membership coordinator for the Society for Clinical Data Management and most recently as program manager for the Women’s Foodservice Forum. Giannini graduated from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communication and print journalism. She is involved with the Association Forum of Chicagoland, and she served as co-chair of its Young Professionals SIG from 2005 to 2007. s In August, Coni Thornberg joined Sonesta Taps Silberstein as an EVP Sonesta International Hotels announced in September that Philip M. Silberstein will be its new executive vice president of development for the Sonesta Collection. Silberstein will oversee projects, E-mail your personnel announcements in the meetings and hospitality industries to Terri Hardin, Editor-In-Chief, at terri.hardin@nielsen.com, or mail them to MeetingNews, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. www.meetingnews.com October 20, 2008 MeetingNews 9 http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - October 20, 2008

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