People 10-1-2002

Meetings & Conventions: People October 2002

People

By Terence Baker

Deborah Brice, CMP, is the meetings manager for the National League of Cities (www.nlc.org), a Washington, D.C.-based association of municipal officials from 1,700 cities across the United States.

How did you reach your current position? I was working as an executive assistant for the Washington, D.C.-based American Association on Intellectual Disabilities; unofficially, I had done some planning already, but the more I did, the more I knew it was my calling. It is a wonderful profession. I get great satisfaction putting things together and having people enjoy what I plan. Another side of it is that although conventions and meetings have basic organizational steps, your creativity and ideas are what take the event where you want it to go.

What are some of the larger events you organize? Our annual convention held in December takes up most of my time. This year it is in Salt Lake City, and we expect 9,000 members. The other main event is an education seminar on government legislation, which always is held in March in Washington, D.C. I love planning these events, but I am not so keen on doing all the paperwork afterward.

What events have you been most proud of? Every year I help organize our Undoing Racism Day, which is held and recognized through the country. In addition, we increasingly are concerned with security issues, what the association terms “hometown security.” There is a great deal of networking between cities regarding the topic; I think this sharing reflects the spirit of the present age.

How do you spend your free time? Planning events. I do volunteer work for my church and organize a community carnival in my home town. I also enjoy volleyball, which I play wherever anyone throws up a net.

PLANNERS

Potter starts at Benchmarc360°
Eddie Potter, CMP, has been named vice president of the Association Management Services division of Benchmarc360°, a conference, meetings and events management company based in Norcross, Ga. In addition, Potter is the president-elect of the Georgia chapter of Meeting Professionals International and will officially assume his duties in July 2003.

Caporale joins new planning company
Carmel Rose Caporale, CMP, has joined Swarthmore, Pa.-based Lead Dog Inc., a conference, meetings and special-events company, as partner and director of meeting services. Previously, she was with Blue Bell, Pa.-based Meetings & More, which recently merged with Lead Dog.

Promotion, not detention, for Kappenhagen