FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2005

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

HCEA Commemorates 75th Anniversary at Annual Meeting

ATLANTA — The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) recently proved that 75 is not too old to make positive changes: More educational workshops, a revamped exhibit hall and an all-around positive mood proved to be the keys to success for HCEA’s 2005 Annual Meeting, June 4-7, in New Orleans. Held at the Morial Convention Center and headquarters hotel Fairmont New Orleans, the meeting was attended by 716 participants.

The HCEA Annual Meeting, which was themed “Unmask Your Potential,” gave attendees plenty of training options for increasing their value for their organizations. Highlights of the educational program included sessions on physician expectations in healthcare exhibitions, results measurement, regulatory issues for both pharma and medical device companies and new technologies. Also, the program was segmented by the level of expertise recommended for attending each session, making it simple for participants to find workshops to suit their needs.

The HCEA Exhibition, sporting a new open layout with 115 booths and a new traffic-building activity, was the place to be for learning about a variety of state-of-the-art healthcare exhibiting products and services. And HCEA’s ever-popular networking functions gave attendees ample opportunity to interact with colleagues, New Orleans-style.

HCEA’s keynote speaker was Emory Austin, an inductee into the Speaker Hall of Fame in 1999. Austin helped attendees expand their minds with new approaches to managing change, leadership development and strengthening team structures.

Expounding on team strength and the spirit of cooperation, Eric Allen, HCEA Executive Vice President, explained the significance of HCEA’s 75th Anniversary. “ You want to know what’s made HCEA great for 75 years?” Allen asked the audience during the Business Meeting. “Look around. It’s all of us, because our members care enough to pursue a vision and meet needs, and maintain a vision of this industry as the greatest marketing medium in all of healthcare, and the greatest industry segment in all of the meetings industry.”

In addition, industry veteran Carol Wilson, HCEA Director of Meetings, was honored with the HCEA Distinguished Service Award to acknowledge her decades of service in the healthcare convention marketing industry and her dedication to HCEA. Wilson has been on the staff of HCEA since the Kellen Company assumed management of the association in 1986.

HCEA’s 2006 Annual Meeting will be held June 24–27, in Fort Lauderdale at the Broward County Convention Center. The headquarters hotel will be the Harbor Beach Marriott. For more information on the 2006 Annual Meeting, keep checking the HCEA website at www.hcea.org, or contact HCEA headquarters at (404) 252-3663; fax (404) 252-0774; or e-mail at hcea@kellencompany.com.

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.