ATLANTA - Christy Eichers, Convention Manager, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, was elected President of the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) for 2002-2003. Eichers was officially inducted as HCEA President during the HCEA 2002 Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, June 22-25.

During her speech at the Annual Meeting, Eichers called upon all HCEA members to take full advantage of their membership benefits. She touted the value of the HCEA Directory of Healthcare Meetings and Conventions, the HCEA Web site, the ListServe Online Discussion Forum and the Certified Manager of Exhibits designation, among other benefits. "HCEA is our association," said Eichers. "Instead of thinking of HCEA as an annual event, I'd like to challenge you to use HCEA throughout the year."

She also encouraged HCEA members to become more involved in the association by recruiting new members. In addition, Eichers stated that by the 2003 Annual Meeting she would like to see HCEA Web site hits from members increase by 35 percent and 100 new people sign up for the ListServe. "The resources HCEA has to offer will help you do your job better and simplify some of your challenges," said Eichers.

Eichers, who currently manages Medtronic's cardiology and electrophysiology conventions, has worked for the company in positions of increasing responsibility since 1997. Her duties have also included managing cardiac surgery and perfusion conventions. Before joining Medtronic, Eichers worked as a meeting planning professional.

Eichers has also served on the Annual Meeting Committee for the last three and a half years, participating on the Camaraderie Committee in 2001.

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

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