The Donut Hole

PATRONSKI NAMED PCMA CHAIRMAN - DEMANDS CHANGES

The Professional Convention Management Assn. board of directors has elected John Patronski, executive vice president of industry development at GES Exposition Services, chairman for a two-year term.

Interviewed at his election celebration in the Conrad suite at the Hilton hotel, Patronski told supporters, "Change is in the wind, my friends, and with change, you usually get a couple fortune cookies." At the top of his to do list, immediatly following a daily nap, Patronski plans to name meat the official food of the PCMA. "We always talk about meeting the needs of our members, meeting the needs of our staff, meeting the needs of our partners," he explained, "Well, I think the first step in that process is obviously Meat!"

"I also feel its time to change the name of the organization to properly reflect the changing times of the industry. " In a disasterous attempt to keep up with the times IAEM recently tried to change its name to IAEE. The impending doom of this decision forced a delay and review. The Trade Show Exhibitors Association also considered a name change to Trade Show Executives & Trade Show Events, but that didn't fly with members either.

At a recent board meeting Patronski proposed, Professional Carnivore Meateaters Association. "I proposed this change to boost membership among floor managers, plus we could have kept the logo and all those shirts from Land's End." I other board actions, a proposal was brought forward to prevent industry insiders from becoming chairman of the board.