People 2-1-2001

Meetings & Conventions: People February 2001

EDITED BY JENNIFER PHILBURN

While attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Dave McDonnell had visions of a career in broadcasting. But his interests led him to show business of another sort. Today, after working six years in the event planning industry, McDonnell is conference manager at Hachero Hill, a trade show and conference planning company based in Rockville, Md., that serves nonprofit organizations.

What past experiences have shaped you as a planner?
I played basketball in college, which forced me to manage my time between practices, classes, studying and other activities. It might sound like an NCAA promotional ad, but I really believe playing sports promotes teamwork and leadership. It also taught me to keep calm in pressure situations and use sound judgment in making decisions when as we all know happens during an event things start getting a little crazy. And sitting on the bench taught me patience.

Do you have any hobbies?
I’m a closet painter. I started doing it on the side for stress relief. I never studied art, it’s just something I’ve picked up for fun. Some people doodle on a notepad; I use a canvas. I like to paint scenes from some of the places I’ve visited. Sometimes I’ll just remember a particular view, and I’ll paint it later in a more abstract form. I do a lot of nautical scenes with lighthouses.

What’s the best professional compliment you’ve ever received?
I was managing a couple of East Coast-based events for an agency in the D.C. area. When the conference was being moved to a location out West, I was told by my employer that our West Coast managers would handle the event. When the agency found out I wasn’t going to be involved, they immediately contacted my manager and said that either I work on the event again or they were going with another conference planning company. It was nice to hear that.

What’s one of the more challenging aspects of your daily routine?
I work in a six-person office, and the other five are women. It’s difficult sometimes, especially when the conversation of men comes up. I can defend my gender for only so long. • LINDSAY MORRIS

PLANNERS

Schechter named CEO of Meetingxpress.com
Marc Schechter has been appointed chief executive officer of MeetingXpress.com, a new Web-based meeting planning company in Southfield, Mich. Founder and previously CEO of Star Trax Corporate Events, Schechter will play a lead role in development of all aspects of the fledgling firm, including technology, sales and marketing.

CLARKE MOVES TO NTH DEGREE
Michael Clarke has been named director, Eastern regional sales, for events management company Nth Degree, based in Stone Mountain, Ga. He will oversee all accounts in the eastern United States as well as design and implement programs for all of Nth Degree’s various services. Clarke comes to the company from SMG, where he was director of sales and marketing for the Denver Convention Center Complex, an SMG client.