Andy Anderson
Senior VP of Sales & Marketing
Destination Hotels & Resorts

Andy Anderson, a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the hospitality industry, has led sales and development efforts for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Foresthills Hotels & Resorts and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. His resume also includes key sales positions with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels. Today, as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Destination Hotels & Resorts, Anderson oversees the sales and marketing efforts for 29 individual properties in tandem with corporate programs.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recognized Anderson with the "President's Award" in 1992. Two years later, MPI recognized him again, this time with one of its most prestigious awards, "Supplier of the Year."

Louise Barnes
Former Director of Corporate Events
VMware, Inc.

As the Director of Corporate Events for VMware, Inc., Louise Barnes is responsible for the strategic planning and integrated program approach to VMware's industry tradeshow, launch and VMworld events. Based in Palo Alto, California, VMware, Inc. is the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems.

Prior to joining VMware, Inc., Barnes spent eight years at Schwab Institutional as Director of Client Education & Events. Her background also includes a position as Senior Event Manager for Carlson Marketing Group, where her corporate accounts included Oracle and Varilux.

With regard to her participation on the EMAB, Barnes says, "This is a great opportunity to help design a magazine that addresses the needs of corporate planners in the venue search and selection process."

Hillary Bessiere
Director of Meetings and Events
NetApp

Hillary Bessiere counts more than 13 years in the meetings and events industry. For the past eight years, she has managed event logistics for more than 30 meetings a year within Symantec's Americas Sales region. Prior to joining Symantec, she served as an account executive at Ketchum Public Relations in San Francisco, where she developed national media tours with renowned chefs to promote consumer products such as Kikkoman Soy Sauce, California Strawberries and Spice Islands Spices. Before Ketchum, Bessiere worked at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport as the Public Relations Manager.

Along with managing promotions and events, Bessiere coordinated bi-annual familiarization trips for meeting planners. "The events industry provides a working environment that is dynamic, exciting and challenging," says Bessiere. "But most of all it's truly gratifying to see your hard work pay off through successful and memorable events."

Michael J. Dimond
Former Senior VP of Marketing
The Broadmoor

Michael J. Dimond ranks among the most celebrated leaders in the meeting and hospitality industry. Recently retired from his position as Senior Vice President of Marketing for The Broadmoor in Colorado, Dimond's career spans four decades in top management and marketing positions with Hyatt Regency Hotels, Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Boca Raton Hotel & Club, and Caesars Palace.

Dimond's affiliations with professional industry organizations include service on the boards of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). His many industry honors include the ASAE's Academy of Leaders Award and Supplier of the Year from MPI.

Dimond was inducted into Convention Industry Council's (CIC) Hall of Leaders and is a member of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Hall of Fame. In 2003, HSMAI further honored Dimond as one of "The 25 Most Extraordinary Sales & Marketing Minds in the Hospitality & Travel Industry."

Kelly Foy
CEO
Elite Meetings International, LLC

Kelly Foy founded Elite Meetings International, LLC in 2006, after having spent 11 years traveling the globe in search of the finest hotels and resorts. His goal: to create the meeting and incentive industry's first and most trusted peer-rated endorsement of first-class properties to host conferences, special events and business retreats. Together with fellow board members and the EMI staff, Foy has successfully launched the first issue of Elite Meetings magazine and its web counterpart, EliteMeetings.net. Both resources are designed to be the definitive resource for meeting and incentive planners seeking the very best properties to host events. Part of Foy's idea is to bring attention as much to the grand luxury resorts and metropolitan hotels as smaller, outstanding destinations off the beaten path.

Glenna Fulks
Site Procurement Manager
AO North America

A procurement manager with AO North America, Glenna Fulks' career began as an aide to Mike DeWine, current Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and a candidate for the U.S. Senate. She left the political arena to become a Global Meetings Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she spent much of her time in international locations planning events for the telecommunications industry.

Six years ago she moved to the pharmaceutical industry, where she sources at least 65 programs a year, performs site visits and handles contracts for all meetings.

The best part of her job, she says, is that she's able to maintain her working relationships with vendors she has known for years. "The concept of Elite Meetings is going to dramatically improve the process and procedures of how meeting planners succeed in their roles," Fulks says. "The chance to participate in such an exciting venture with Kelly Foy, the Elite Meetings team and the other talented members of the Advisory Board is a rare opportunity."

Mable Jones
Director, Sales Administration
AAA

In her 26 years with AAA, Mable Jones has served as a Training and Development Area Manager, Territory Sales Manager, and currently, as Director of Sales Administration, a role that includes taking part in both Travel and Insurance AAA processes. Her more than 18 years of experience in event planning include coordinating annual sales banquets and incentive trips for AAA, and events for many of the nonprofit boards she serves on, including UNFC, YWCA and the Booker T. Washington Business Association.

"I am proud to be on the EMAB," she says, "as it allows me to meet and work with meeting planners responsible for agent recognition and to learn about fabulous destinations during annual EMAB meetings and the Elite Meetings Alliance."

Carol M. Lynch
Vice President of the Global Sales-Group
Starwood Hotels & Resorts

As Vice President of the Global Sales-Group, North America for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Carol B. Lynch oversees eight Global Sales offices in North America. She leads a sales organization of 77 senior and global account directors and is responsible for $915 million in annual revenue. Lynch joined Starwood in 1985 as a Senior Sales Manager in the New York Global Sales Office. In 1989, she opened a satellite office for Sheraton Global Sales in Stamford, Connecticut. When she assumed the role of Director of the New York Global Sales Office, she led the effort to integrate the Sheraton and Westin Global Sales Offices into a Starwood Global Sales Office that sells all brands in the Starwood portfolio.