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ARDA Announces New Additions to Meetings Team

Dynamic reorganization is next step in ARDA tradition of high-powered events

Press Release: ARDA
November 13, 2002
Washington, D.C. - The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) announced yesterday three new hires to its meetings department and the fulfillment of a fourth meetings position through internal reorganization, creating what the association's president called "a dream team" of meetings planning and development professionals.

The department's four new additions are: Catherine Lacey, director of convention and meetings; Sherry Eggers, convention and meetings manager; Chantal Rotondo, meetings administrator; and Randy Goodhope, director of seminars and awards, who was secured from his former ARDA position as director of education.

Of the new staff members, Ann Diven, vice president of convention and meetings said, "These four people will be valuable to the meetings department and ARDA as a whole. I am incredibly pleased with each selection and look forward to working with each of them."

Goodhope's transition to the meetings department will "maximize Randy's talents and make a great team even better" in the areas of national awards and regional meetings, said Diven.

As meetings director, Lacey will work intimately with the vice president of convention and meetings and will support and strategize logistical functions for ARDA's events. Lacey joins ARDA from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, where she negotiated contracts and developed budgets as a meeting planner. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from Roanoke College.

Convention and Meetings Manager Eggers will focus on marketing outreach, speaker recruitment and will act as liaison to the association's meetings committee. Eggers was previously a marketing coordinator at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where she developed promotional programs and materials aimed at creating educational links between the U.S. and the U.K. She holds a B.A. in English from Miami University (Ohio).

Rotondo's responsibilities will include administrative assistance in support of programming, awards, marketing, communications and sponsorships. She is a recent graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a B.A. in marketing and tourism and an M.A. in event management.
In his new role, Goodhope's responsibilities grow to include key production and development authority over the ARDA Awards program, a long-standing and well regarded industry initiative. As an ARDY winner and seasoned ARDA staff member, he will bring new insights to the program's functionality. Goodhope will retain oversight with respect to ARDA's regional management seminars, held around the country.

"Our meetings are an integral part of our business strategy and of our value to our members," said ARDA President and CEO Howard Nusbaum. "We have the highest of standards regarding their planning and production, and I can say without hesitation that this team's expertise will lead ARDA's meetings to exceed all expectations."

The American Resort Development Association is the national trade group representing and advocating the interests of the vacation ownership industry. For more information, visit www.arda.org
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Contact:  
Jason Tostevin 
(202) 371-6700 x123