FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2006

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

ATLANTA — Cynthia Holloway, Director, Corporate Communications, Tyco Healthcare, of Mansfield, Mass., was named President of the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) for 2006–2007.  Holloway was officially installed as HCEA President during the HCEA 2006 Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, June 24–27.

Holloway’s experience spans more than 15 years in healthcare exhibiting and marketing.  Currently, she is responsible for corporate communications activities including public and media relations, internal communications, corporate advertising and branding, developing a corporate convention strategy and program and continuing to provide strategic marketing and corporate communications support to Tyco’s U.S. Surgical division’s Autosuture and Syneture businesses.

In her acceptance speech at the HCEA Annual Meeting, Holloway explained to attendees that the more exhibit managers know, the more value they bring to their organizations’ exhibit programs and to their companies. “If you know your company’s current business strategy, not just in marketing, but across all functions, you can plan and execute a much more targeted and effective program,” explained Holloway.

On industry and political challenges facing healthcare exhibit marketers, Holloway added, “HCEA is celebrating its 76th anniversary this year, which is amazing. Especially when you consider how many times over the years we’ve heard the weeping and wailing about the certain death of conventions and meetings.  Many of us have personally experienced the fall-out from this: the layoffs, the downsizing, the re-sizing, the de-sizing. And yet we have survived and grown.”

Holloway added, “Most recently, we’ve had the scrutiny from the public, the government and the regulators focused specifically on healthcare meetings and conventions. And yet we        continue to survive and we continue to grow. We are obviously doing something right! There is value in conventions and meetings.” 

Regarding HCEA educational opportunities, Holloway explained to the conference attendees that, “Many of us in HCEA think that learning is important. So important, that we have been intently focused on making our educational offerings more comprehensive and extensive than they have ever been. The more you know, the more value you bring to the table and HCEA is the best resource for healthcare exhibit marketing education.”

Holloway holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado and has served on Exhibitor Advisory Councils for both the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the American Urological Association (AUA).

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.