People 8-1-2000

> Meetings & Conventions: People August 2000

EDITED BY LISA GRIMALDI

Debbie Ball has been a director for six years at The Olive Partnership, a London-based conference and event management company that organizes 300 events annually for its international corporate clients. In her position, she plans conventions, meetings and incentives the majority of which are held in Europe and the United States.

Is coffee your beverage of choice?
Champagne would always be my beverage of choice to get me through the day but on a more sensible note, I tend to choose tea.

Do you have a favorite venue for meetings?
This is a really difficult question; I tend to change my mind each time I travel. But if I have to pick a favorite venue in the United Kingdom, it is Stapleford Park in Melton Mowbray. It is the most wonderful country house hotel, perfect for exclusive-use events and, as it has its own stables, great for anyone like me who enjoys horseback riding.

What do you like best about your job?
I really enjoy meeting all the different types of people involved in our industry. I also get a great deal of satisfaction out of being able to provide people with solutions to their challenges, such as finding just the right venue, creating just the right theme and ambience for an event, and making sure all the attendees have a great time.

What part of your job would you like to hand off?
Handling taxes and VAT. My managing director tends to take the lead in all things financial, and we have great accountants, but they are always dragging me off to some seminar on the changes in taxation or the best way to manage VAT. It’s like sitting in a meeting held in a language you have never experienced before. But it’s a necessary and important area nonetheless, or so they keep telling me.

Who or what keeps you sane?
My colleagues, although some of them would certainly argue that I am a borderline case anyway. A sense of humor is what keeps us all going when things get busy or stressful. In particular, my co-directors, Paul and Sarah, are great sources of support whenever I need it and they’re always available for a drink.

L.G.

PLANNERS

EXHIBITGROUP/GILTSPUR NAMES CORDIAL EVP
C. Alan Cordial has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing for Roselle, Ill.-based Exhibitgroup/ Giltspur, an exhibition marketing firm. Previously, he served as president of Pittsburgh-based Creative Productions, an event firm that recently was acquired by Exhibitgroup/ Giltspur. Cordial has 23 years of experience in the trade show and special events industry.

DEUSCHL JOINS GOLDMAN SACHS
Piper Deuschl has been appointed senior meeting planner at Goldman Sachs, the global investment banking and securities firm. Prior to joining the New York City-based company, she was a meeting planner for the Arlington, Va.-based American Association of Pension Actuaries. Deuschl has 10 years of industry experience.

JRDAGGETT & ASSOCIATES HIRES EDINGER
Heidi Edinger, CMP, was named director of marketing, communications and new business development at Chicago-based JRDaggett & Associates, a meeting, trade show and event planning firm. She formerly served as director of Midwest regional sales for the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau and has 10 years of experience in the conventions industry.