FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2005

CONTACT:
Jennifer Palcher
Frank Skinner
(404) 252-3663

ATLANTA — The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) announced its officers and directors at its 2005 Annual Meeting, June 4–7, in New Orleans. Juleanne Dawson, Bard Access Systems, Salt Lake City, was inducted as president.

Other 2005–2006 HCEA officers are: President Elect — Cynthia Holloway, United States Surgical/Tyco Healthcare, Norwalk, Conn.; Vice President — Sue Jones, Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass.; Treasurer — Geri-Dee Shaffer, Aesculap, Inc., Duluth, Ga.; Secretary — Barbara Costa, Organon Pharmaceuticals USA, Roseland, N.J.; and Immediate Past President — James Hladnik, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.

The association’s 2005-2006 directors are Karen Kingston, B. Braun Medical, Bethlehem, Pa.; Judy Peak, Spectranetics Corporation, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Karen Prieto, Forest Laboratories, New York; Sandra Ratcliffe, Pfizer, Inc., New York; Kim Thompson, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, Calif.; Jan Blanck, Baxter Healthcare Corp., Round Lake, Ill.; George Feehan, GWF Associates, Hamilton, N.J.; and Sherri Sujai, American Society for Microbiology, Washington.

The association’s 2005–2007 directors are Joyce Banister, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Plainsboro, N.J.; Susan Huff, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis; Laine Mann, Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, N.J.; Riki Metzger, Merck Human Health Division, North Wales, Pa.; Barbara Orr, Poretta & Orr, Inc., Doylestown, Pa.; and Kevin Wohlfort, American Urological Association, Linthicum, Md.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents nearly 700 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.