Invited presenters as of 10 June 2008:
Dr. Rich Harrill
Director
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center of the University of South Carolina
Author, lecturer, research, consultant, and traveler, Dr. Rich Harrill is director of the International Tourism Research Institute at the University of South Carolina, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. He also directs the university’s Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center. The institute provides both local and international projects and research while the center focuses on U.S. tourism industry competitiveness. His academic and professional experience combines tourism with economic development and urban planning, giving him an uncommon perspective on and familiarity with all three.
A native of Gaffney, South Carolina, Dr. Harrill earned his Ph.D. in parks, recreation, and tourism management and his master’s degree in city and regional planning from Clemson University. He holds as B.A. in political science from the College of Charleston. He has published his research in urban planning’s top three journals— the Journal of American Planning Association, Journal of Planning Education and Literature, and Journal of Planning Literature. In 2003, he authored Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management (American Hotel & Lodging Association), with a second volume published in 2005. Dr. Harrill is editor of Fundamentals of Destination Management (American Hotel & Lodging Association, 2005), the first comprehensive textbook for the destination management industry. He is coeditor of the International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research and Research Notes Editor of Tourism Analysis.  | David J. Lutz
Managing Director
Velvet Chainsaw Consulting |
Dave is a business improvement consultant that specializes in the convention & meeting industry. His clients include a number of industry leading technology and service providers, CVB’s, Hotels and associations.Prior to going down the consulting road, Dave was with Experient for 22 years where he ran the two largest operating divisions.
Dave is certified in Lean Processes & DFSS for Six Sigma, recently obtained a Hotel Revenue Management Certificate from Cornell and is a Certified Meeting Professional. Dave also has a regular column in Convene on Performance Excellence.
 | Craig Hoffend, CEM
National Accounts Director
Freeman |
Craig began his career with Freeman in 2001 after the purchase of Hoffend Xposition where he served as an Account Executive in 1987 and worked his way up to Executive Vice President from 1995 - 2001. Craig has just recently joined the Corporate Events team for Freeman. Prior to this, he was National Sales Manager for the Freeman Chicago office. Craig recently completed the CEM (Certified Exhibit Manager) program with IAEE, has served as a board member of the IAEE Midwest Chapter (Sponsorship Chair) and participated on the IAEE Committee for Environmentally Responsible Exhibitions. Craig graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a degree in Mass Communications.  | William Swelbar
Research Engineer
MIT’s International Center for Air Transportation
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Prior to accepting his research position at MIT, Bill was President and Managing Partner of Eclat Consulting, Inc., a firm he founded. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Hawaiian (Airlines) Holdings, Inc. Over the past 20 years, he has represented airlines, airports, investors, manufacturers, and labor groups in a consulting role. A significant amount of his career has been spent studying market behavior resulting from structural changes in the competitive environment, including mergers, alliances, new entrant carriers and new aircraft technology. Bill’s work has included competitive assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and other economic and financial advisory services in support of strategic planning, corporate communications and labor negotiations. He is also a much sought-after speaker and also has provided expert witness testimony before various tribunals and before the United States Congress regarding the economics of commercial air transport. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from The George Washington University.
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