HEALTH CARE Katherine M. Pauza has joined Poretta & Orr, Doylestown, Pa., as a senior account supervisor. Prior to her position at Poretta, she was a project management consultant for SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. Poretta & Orr is a full-service communications firm specializing in strategic marketing through conventions. Clients include Centocor, Inc, Astra Zeneca, and Merck & Co.
Nancy Dickey, MD, has been elected to the board of directors of SpiderMed.Com, Inc., a Houston-based company that offers Internet-based management tools for physicians' offices and operates an online retail pharmacy. Dickey is the immediate past president of the American Medical Association.
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUS Paul D. Astleford has joined the Greater Columbus (Ohio) Convention and Visitors Bureau as president and CEO. Astleford had been president of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.
Marcus A. Cade Sr. has been named national sales manager, convention development, for the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. Prior to joining the ACC&VA, Cade was employed by Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum in Atlantic City, N.J.
Myrna LeVert-Vasquez has joined the Pasadena (Calif.) Convention and Visitors Bureau as sales manager. She will market Pasadena's meeting and convention facilities to California associations, with an emphasis on those based in Sacramento. Most recently, she served as corporate events manager for the Hilton Pasadena.
Beth Stehley has been appointed director of convention services at the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Prior to joining the GBCVB, she opened the Hilton Boston Logan Airport Hotel as director of sales and marketing.
The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the promotion of Kristin Gibson to director of convention sales in the Washington, D.C., office. She has worked for the LACVB for three years as director of association sales. Previously, she was a senior sales manager for Omni Chicago Hotel.
Andy Mikschl has been named national sales manager, citywide conventions, for the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau. He will be responsible for citywide corporate and association convention sales. Mikschl's most recent position was national sales manager at Starwood Hotels, including the Sheraton Harbor Island, Westin Harbor Island, and the Westin Horton Plaza San Diego.
HOTELS AND TRAVEL David C. Scypinski, has been named senior vice president, industry relations, for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He had been vice president, industry relations, for Hilton Hotels Corp. Scypinski, who had been with Hilton for more than 20 years, will still be based in Washington, D.C. He will be responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with Starwood's corporate and association accounts and creating and enhancing third-party relationships.
MaryGrace McCaffrey has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Boston Hotel. She recently served as director of group and convention sales for the same property.
Jeff Doane has been appointed director of sales and marketing of the Fairmont Hotel San Jose in San Jose, Calif. He previously was sales manager and director of group sales at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
Abbey Group Resorts in Fontana, Wis., recently promoted Becke Chappell to director of marketing for its three Wisconsin properties. Chappell is responsible for the marketing and advertising of The Abbey Resort & Fontana Spa, Interlaken Resort & Country Spa, and the Inns of Geneva National. Prior to joining Abbey Group Resorts, she was with the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, in Fort Myers, Fla., as its travel industry sales manager.
Lauren Strand-Buckley has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the Hotel Sofitel Chicago O'Hare. Most recently, she was with Remington Hotel Corp., where she managed the sales and marketing efforts for six properties in the Midwest and Texas.
Mary Neister has been promoted to area director of sales and marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., with responsibility for four Starwood hotels in the Greater Boston area. Based at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, she will oversee the sales and marketing efforts of that property as well as those of the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort in Danvers, the Sheraton Colonial Hotel and Golf Club in Wakefield, and the Sheraton Newton Hotel in Newton. She formerly served as director of hotel sales at the Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills in Woodland Hills, Calif.
