ConventionPlanit.com, an online search directory in the meetings industry, has named a new director of new business development.
Michael J. Hatch will focus on penetrating key accounts within the tradeshow and service provider categories, as well as other select accounts.
Hatch has more than 25 years of experience in the exhibition industry, including managing corporate exhibit and event programs for both AT&T and Holiday Inns International. He also founded and managed an exhibit and graphics, design and production company for 17 years that served thousands of exhibitors and launched more than a dozen new exhibit and graphic systems nationwide.
Most recently, Hatch founded HATCH Marketing & Consulting, a leading provider of sales and marketing technologies and sales support services for exhibitors and event organizers including sponsorship, advertising and booth sales, marketing campaign development and execution, and deployment of CRM, marketing automation and lead development programs including Salesforce.com, Pardot, Marketo and ConventionPlanit.com.
“For the past nine years I have watched ConventionPlanit.com develop into an exceptional search engine and RFP management tool for meeting planners, and a high-quality lead development and RFP generator for service providers and meeting venues,” said Hatch. “During the past five years, online planning tools and search advertising have replaced traditional methods and marketing channels, and I look forward to the opportunity of putting ConventionPlanit’s high-tech, high-touch tools to work for our planners and service providers.”
Hatch has also been active with the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (now EACA-TSEA) since 1976. He served on the Board of Directors; chartered and chaired TSEA’s Washington metropolitan chapter for five years; received TSEA’s Best of Show (TS2) Award for Exhibit Design, and its highest award – the Chairman’s award for outstanding service to the exhibition industry.
“We are excited to have Michael join our team at ConventionPlanit.com,” said Katherine Markham, Co-Founder and Principal, ConventionPlanit.com. “He brings experience and knowledge of the trade/exhibit industry and will help to expand this area for our members and clients.”
