PORTLAND, Ore.
The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is celebrating 10 years as the industry's voice of sustainability by welcoming new leadership.
Executive Director Tamara Kennedy-Hill recently announced her plans to transition from her role at GMIC, commenting, "It has been an honor to serve as the executive director of GMIC these past five years. I have seen firsthand the advancement of sustainability as valued added solution in the global meetings marketplace. GMIC serves as a key partner to advance standards, education and thought leadership."
Kennedy-Hill will be focusing on local tourism and community multicultural advancement endeavors with Travel Portland.
She will be replaced by interim GMIC executive director, Mariela McIlwraith, currently serving as the executive director of the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation (GSMF). McIlwraith has a strong background in sustainability and the meetings industry and is a recognized industry leader, currently serving as the Executive Editor of the Convention Industry Council Manual, 9th Edition. Kennedy-Hill added, "I am thrilled to work closely with Mariela through the transition process to continue to advance the GMIC Global educational framework and credentialing plan for the global marketplace."
GMIC also welcomes a new board of directors that includes Brian Hunt, Maritz Travel; Lindsay Arell, Arell Logic and Colorado Convention Centre; Allen Weidman, InfoComm International; Roger Simons, MCI; and Denise Taschereau, Fairware.
GMIC additionally continues to roll out its refined educational plan. The plan provides a sustainable event certificate pathway for event professionals from basic concepts to practitioner. The pilot certificate course launches July 15, 2013 as a hybrid program culminating in a practicum at the 2014 Sustainable Meetings Conference, April 15-17, 2014 at the Hilton San Francisco.
