Rod Abraham, founder of the Professional Meeting Planner's Network, recently announced that he is selling his company, The Professional Meeting Planners Network, to his chief executive officer, James Montague, as of January 1, 2004. The 14-year-old company, based in Durham, N.C., is one of the largest providers of on-site meeting planners for hire.
Maura Gast, acting executive director of the Irving (Texas) Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been elected to the 2003-2004 board of directors of the International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus. Gast has been with ICVB for 12 years.
Francesco C. Leboffe has joined The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C., as director of learning initiatives. Among the organizations for which Leboffe has worked are Hilton Hotels Corp., American Bankers Association, Direct Marketing Association, and American Society of Association Executives.
After four years directing sales for the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Fredia M. Brady has been promoted to director of sales/event services. Brady will oversee the sales staff as well as the event managers who coordinate the shows and conventions with clients.
Francisco J. Ortiz has been named CEO of the Mexican Tourism Board. Since October 1999, Ortiz has worked for Vicente Fox (both as a candidate, and as president) as marketing and communications coordinator, and most recently as public opinion and image coordinator in the Fox administration. Ortiz replaces Maria Elena Mancha, who served as CEO since February 2002.