People 9-1-1998

> Meetings & Conventions: People September 1998
September 1998
People

EDITED BY CHRYSTAL INGRAM WHITE

Joyce Timmerman is the owner of TWJ Incentives, an independent meetings, incentives and special events firm based in Palm Springs, Calif.

What popular song would make a good meeting planners' anthem?
"Unforgettable." We want to make every event we do really stand out, even if the attendees only remember one thing about it.

What's your favorite meal?
Down-home Southern cooking -- ribs, corn-on-the-cob, corn bread and pecan pie.

Who would you choose as a celebrity planning partner?
Harrison Ford. I bet he'd be capable in every situation. He'd probably be a good negotiator -- remember Air Force One? And he's not bad to look at, either.

What is your best travel tip?
Appreciate cultural differences. You can offend people very easily if you treat them the way you would people in the States.

What was your first job?
I was an accountant for the Scott Paper Company. I was very active in the National Association of Accountants and planned a lot of their meetings as a volunteer. I thought planning would be a great way to earn a living, so I quit my job to become an independent corporate planner.

LISA GRIMALDI

DANFORTH MOVES TO SPECIAL D
Shannan Danforth has joined the staff of Special D Events, Inc., as event planner. Special D is a corporate event planning firm in Troy, Mich., whose clients include General Motors North American Operations and Chevrolet Motor Division, both based in Detroit, and the FTD Association in Livonia, Mich. Danforth was formerly manager of media relations for the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.

LAURIE JOINS AOCA
Joyce Laurie has been named director of conventions and meetings for the Automotive Oil Change Association, based in Dallas. Previously, Laurie held meeting planning positions with Dallas-based Associated Locksmiths of America, Fort Worth-based National Association of Women in Construction and the Irving, Texas-based International Association of Assembly Managers.

MANN JOINS MPI
Debbie Mann, CMP, is now manager of conferences and meetings for Dallas-based Meeting Professionals International. Previously, Mann was meeting manager for the Birmingham, Ala.-based Professional Convention Management Association.

Suppliers

If you would like notice of a career move considered for inclusion in this column, contact Loren G. Edelstein, Executive Editor, M&C, 500 Plaza Dr., Secaucus, N.J. 07096; fax: (201) 319-1796; e-mail: [email protected].