(St. Louis, MO) – December 2011 -- Peter J. Stockmann, President of the International Association of Conference Centers-Americas has announced the election of new directors for a two-year term from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013.

Patti Culwell, Director of Sales, Conference Services and Catering Operations at La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa in Montgomery, TX. A 20-year hospitality veteran, Culwell has been active in IACC, having served on the annual conference planning committee and in management positions at Lakeway Inn & Resort, Del Lago Resort & Spa, La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa.

Lauren Kean, Conference Center Sales Manager at the Executive Conference and Training Center at Dulles in Dulles, Virginia. Lauren recently served as Sales Manager at The Airlie Center and was Vice Chair of the IACC Customer Event for the 2011 Annual Conference and is Co-Chair of the Customer Event for the 2012 Annual Conference.

Daniel Techman was re-elected to the board of directors. He is currently Director of Sales & Marketing at Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-Downers Grove . A 25-year hospitality veteran, Techman has been active on IACC committees including several sub-committees of the Annual Conference Planning Committee, Member2Member, and Leadership Development.

David Haas, Regional Sales & Product Manager at Northern Illinois University, NIU Conference Centers. Haas currently serves as the Board Associate, a non-voting, 15-month advisory role through which Haas identifies emerging trends and advises the Board from a Millennial perspective. He also heads up the Emerging Trends Committee and is active in Sustainability and Leadership Development.

The IACC Americas Board of Directors is comprised of 20 elected members who represent Active, Allied, Affinity Partner and Corporate Headquarters members in good standing.

Peter Stockmann stated, “The election of these hospitality experts brings a wide range of skills and experience to the Board of Directors at a critical time when IACC is moving forward with dynamic initiatives that assist members in providing exceptional meeting experiences.

As the governing body of IACC-Americas, directors are actively involved in all its operating committees and task forces including Annual Conference, Quality, Marketing, Membership, Leadership Development, Sustainability, Emerging Trends, and the IACC Learning Network.

IACC was established to provide and promote market awareness of conference centers as offering separate, distinct and special places and services; to collect and distribute information on the industry and its trends; to provide an exchange of experiences among its members; to address common problems, needs and opportunities; to provide programs and services that assist members in operating more effectively; and to respond to the needs and interests of conference center users as determined by the Board of Directors.

Founded in 1981, the International Association of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry and to providing member properties with the tools necessary to provide an exceptional meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent Universal Criteria and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, France, England, The Netherlands, Germany and Japan. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org. IACC = exceptional meeting experiences.