The Convention Industry Council has promoted Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, from chief operating officer to chief executive officer and announced a redefined mission statement for the organization.

Kotowski has served as COO since her company, Talley Management Group, started managing the meetings industry’s Washington, D.C.–based umbrella association in 2008. While the position of CEO had been officially empty since Colin Rorrie left a temporary position at CIC in 2008, Kotowski had essentially been doing the job.

"Karen has done an incredible job for us over the past 16 months in managing the day-to-day activities of CIC and in planning forward on all of our critical initiatives," said Deborah Sexton, chair of the CIC Board and president of the Professional Convention Management Association. "She deserves this title to match her responsibilities."

Gregg Talley, CAE, president and CEO of Talley Management Group, remains with CIC as chief strategy executive. He oversees strategic initiatives for the association, while Kotowski runs day-to-day operations. Lawrence Leonard, CMP, has been named APEX director for CIC. The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) is a CIC effort to develop and implement industry-wide accepted practices to create and enhance efficiencies in the meetings industry. Leonard is the former director of conferences for the National Association of Homebuilders.

CIC’s Strategic Committee met in April to review the organization’s mission. "We refined CIC's current mission statement to align with our existing activities as well as future activities identified in the planning process," Sexton stated.

The mission focuses on four strategies, Kotowski said, which are: providing an opportunity for information exchange and addressing global issues; developing best practices and guidelines to promote excellence in the industry; advocating the value of the collective industry to key stakeholders; and facilitating collaboration among member organizations. CIC staff is currently working on fleshing out the specific tactics of the plan, she added.

Meanwhile CIC has two major initiatives under way: the "Face Time. It Matters" campaign, and the Economic Impact Study. Find more information at CIC’s Web site.