ACOM appoints new president and announces industry award winners

The Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM), an association dedicated to advancing the practice of convention services management in the meetings industry, has appointed a new president. ACOM has also announced several industry awards in conjunction with Successful Meetings magazine.

Eric Blanc, who is a Certified Meeting Professional and the director of sales and marketing for the Tampa Convention Center, is now ACOM’s new president. Blanc was formerly the senior convention services manager at the Tampa Convention Center and also the national sales manager with Freeman Companies.

“As a professional who has worked in hospitality for nearly 20 years, I can truly say it is a great honor to be named the new president of ACOM,” Blanc said. “ACOM prides itself in providing tools and education to convention services managers to further their professional growth and development and I am excited to be a part of that team.”

Blanc holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Marketing from Florida State University. He also graduated from the International Association of Assembly Managers Public Assembly Facility Management School.

ACOM and Successful Meeting’s industry awards included the CSM of the Year Awards, which honored Diane Liberty from Hyatt Regency Deerborn; Sheila Mires from Baltimore CVB, and Kristin Hurley from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Carla Quercioli of the Northern Kentucky CVB was announced ACOM’s Member of the Year. Felicia Davis of the Atlantic City CVA was honored with the President’s Award and Judy Marshall from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. was awarded ACOM’s Meeting Professional of the Year Award.