OUT-OF-TOWNERS: This year, the American Association of Exporters

and Importers (AAEI) is convening outside New York City — in Washington, D.C. — for the first time. Read about AAEI’s challenges and new initiatives on p. 24.

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PLENARY

News and notes for the meetings and conventions industry

Team San Jose Rebounds O

ON_THE_WEB: Download a PDF of the San Jose city manager’s report

at http://1.usa.gov/ report-TSJ.

www.pcma.org

NE YEAR AGO, THE FUTURE DID NOT look bright for Team San Jose. The com- bination CVB and venue-management organization was over budget by three-quarters of a million dollars, and its embattled CEO, Dan Fenton, had resigned. But things are looking up. In December, City

Manager Debra Figone, who had been asked by the San Jose City Council to generate an RFP for new management of the San Jose Convention Center and downtown theaters, recommended in a report to the council that the RFP process

pcma convene February 2012

be halted and that Team San Jose be allowed to continue in its current role. On Dec. 13, the council unanimously approved Figone’s recommendation, ending a year of upheaval within Team San Jose. Not that Team San Jose had stood by waiting for the hammer to drop. Last February, the board of directors created a new COO role and appointed Hilton Hotels veteran Dave Costain to the position. A month later, former San Jose airport director Bill Sherry was installed as CEO continued on page 27

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