People 1-1-2003

Meetings & Conventions: People January 2003

People

By Terence Baker

Donna McEntire is the meetings manager for Arlington, Va.-based JEDEC (www.jedec.org), a trade association concerned with standards in the semiconductor industry. She plans 30 meetings a year, along with a national conference. Previously, McEntire worked for 10 years at JEDEC’s former parent organization, the Electronic Industries Association, which stages the mammoth annual Consumer Electronics Show.

After recently organizing a conference in China, what advice can you offer planners? First call the U.S. embassy in Beijing. The staff helped us contact those involved in the semiconductor industry within China. Also, it is important to have great ground support. We worked with a wonderful public relations company there that took care of translation services and helped us understand cultural differences.

Why China? It is the next large market to emerge, and my association feels it is important to stress industry standards throughout the world. Also it is great exposure for our members. Nine U.S. companies made the trip, and we had 480 attendees at the two-day show.

Any standout impressions? Beijing reminded me of New York City: full of energy, excitement and construction projects. Initially, I was very hesitant about going, but now, I hope someday to have the opportunity to travel there again. My association is thinking of going back to that part of the world, so this particular dream might become a reality.

When did you start planning meetings? I started straight from high school, so my real education has come from doing the job and learning from my colleagues.

PLANNERS

Two take posts at art materials trade association
Rick Munisteri and Rachel VanOoyen have joined the Huntersville, N.C.-based National Art Materials Trade Association. Munisteri has been named marketing director, with responsibility for association marketing, booth sales, sponsorships and educational seminars; VanOoyen is membership director, responsible for trade show registration, membership recruitment and retention, and member programs and benefits.

Prange joins Computer Applications in Radiology
Heidi Prange, CMP, is the new director of meetings at the Great Falls, Va.-based Society for Computer Applications in Radiology. Formerly, she was director of meetings at the Reston, Va.-based Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, where she worked for eight years.

Promotion, not detention, for Kappenhagen