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IAEE Welcomes Chairperson Carrie Ferenac

December 9, 2021

2022 Board Election Results Announced

PHILADELPHIA, 9 December 2021 – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced the results of the elections for its 2022 Board of Directors. Members of IAEE’s Board of Directors are elected on an annual basis by the official voting member of each IAEE member company. All officers serve a term of one year, except the secretary/treasurer who may hold the office for two years. The directors each serve three years in staggered terms to ensure continuity in the governance of the association.

Carrie Ferenac, Co-Founder and President of CNTV, will serve as 2022 IAEE Chairperson of the Board. Ferenac and her business partner, Marcelo Zolessi, co-founded Convention News Television (CNTV) in 2007 after seeing a need for digital content and live production in the exhibitions and events industry. Now, the company produces live and remote content for more than seventy clients annually. The video stories bring events to life and offer associations and for-profit show organizers a new stream of revenue through sponsorships. CNTV also partners with IAEE, PCMA, TSNN and Tradeshow Executive to produce video content and live coverage of industry events throughout the year. Ferenac also volunteers her time and energy to projects that forward the industry, including Legislative Action Day and the Exhibitions Mean Business campaign.

“As incoming Chairperson, I encourage all members to renew their passion for the industry by getting involved and supporting IAEE’s initiatives for 2022,” Ferenac said. “We are seeing a lot of enthusiasm and optimism as our industry recovers from the pandemic. Despite new potential challenges, it is important to keep that momentum going into the coming year.”

The newest members to the 2022 IAEE Board of Directors are:

  • Director Bilal Al Barmawi, CEM, CEO, 1st Arabia Company Exhibitions and Conferences Organizers;
  • Director Mark Bogdansky, Vice President, Meetings & Events, Auto Care Association;
  • Director Anytra Lowe, Senior Vice President, Client Services, Freeman;
  • Director Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President, EmeraldX; and
  • Director Necoya Tyson, CEM-AP, CGMP, CCEP, Vice President, Banker Education & Events, Texas Bankers Association.

(NOTE: The IAEE Board of Directors approved the appointment of Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President, EmeraldX to fill the unexpired term of Jennifer Heinold, CEM, ending 31 December 2022, at which time he will be eligible for a full three-year term. Heinold resigned from the board due to two directors from the same company being on the board, which the IAEE Bylaws does not permit.)

Continuing Board of Directors members include:

  • Chairperson-Elect Dennis Smith, Senior Director, Exposition Sales & Business Development, AVIXA;
  • Secretary/Treasurer Janet Sperstad, CMP, Program Director, Meeting and Event Management, Madison College;
  • Immediate Past Chairperson Robert McLean, Jr., CPA, CAE, CEM, Executive Vice President, Promotional Products Association International;
  • Director Mary Bender, Vice President of Sales & Operations, Taffy Event Strategies;
  • Director Marie Browne, Group Vice President, Reed Exhibitions;
  • Director Chuck Grouzard, Executive Vice President, Exhibition Sales, GES;
  • Director Christopher Harar, President, NTP Events, National Trade Productions, Inc.;
  • Director Justine L. McVaney, Senior Vice President of Event Planning & Operations, National Association of Broadcasters;
  • Director KV Nagendra Prasad, CEM, Head-Operations and Leasing (Transit Oriented Development), L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited; and
  • Director Brian Scott, President and CIO, ClearTone Consulting.

Ex-officio Directors are:

  • Xuebin Gu, CEM, Founder and CEO, WeMeet, representing the IAEE Asia Council;
  • Chen Huifeng, President and CEO, DLG Convention and Exhibition Holding Limited, representing the IAEE China Council;
  • Gwen Venable, CEM, Executive Vice President of Communications, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, representing the Chapter Leaders Council;
  • John Rozum, Director, Ag and Utility Exhibitions & Events, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, representing the IAEE MATSO Council;
  • Jacqueline Russo, President, Global Expositions, Inc., representing the Past Chairpersons’ Advisory Group; and
  • Michelle Metter, Partner, Fast Forward Event Productions, representing the IAEE Consumer Events Council.

The announcement was made during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2021 in Philadelphia, Pa. Click here for more details about the event.

About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Buttine Exhibition Insurance, Convention News Television (CNTV), Freeman, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Personify – A2Z Events, Swapcard and Synchronicities (Visit Anaheim, Visit Baltimore and Visit San Antonio). Visit www.iaee.com for more information.

Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
Sr. Communications & Content Manager
+1(972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com