This book includes a plain text version that is designed for high accessibility. To use this version please follow this link.
LEADERSHIP PROFILES


Kathie Canning Executive Director, Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center


Clients have been asking for additional ways to be sustainable. We do a lot of recycling, and we’re just trying to make sure that it’s vis- ible. We just added brand-new recycle cans throughout both buildings and signage that explains that we recycle everything off-site. We also coordinate client donations that are left over from events, such as tote bags, paper, pens, and food donations — it does make a difference. Events hosted at the OCCC have donated an estimated $2 million this year in items to local charities here in Orlando.


Who has been your mentor in the meet- ings industry? Since I’ve been here at the convention center, it really has been Tom Ackert, who is retiring; and Bill Peeper, retired CEO of Visit Orlando. And when I first started in the industry on the hotel side in New York City, my director of sales — her name was Kathy Girard.


What are you most looking forward to in 2013? There have been so many changes with the new management team, new events, and the capital-improvement program that I’m really looking forward to all of it.


Upgrades and Improvements in Orlando


What’s new for meetings and conventions at your venue that you’re most excited about? The Orange County Convention Center [OCCC] has expanded five times in its 30-year history — we’re turning 30 in Febru- ary — so now it is time for us to reinvest and update some of the spaces that have been here. We’re in the process of a major capital- improvements project for the next five years, which is about $187 million. We’re going to completely update the West Building, we’re adding another ball-


94 PCMA CONVENE JANUARY 2013


room, adding furniture groupings in the concourses to make it a little more relaxed and less industrial-feeling, and also updat- ing all of our air-conditioning units, all of our power, and putting on a new roof. And we’ve recently upgraded the wireless system, so we can handle more attendees on cell phones, tablets, and portable devices with much bet- ter coverage.


What are meeting planners asking for now that they weren’t asking for a year or two ago?


PCMA.ORG


What is the biggest challenge — and the biggest opportunity — facing the meet- ings industry today? The biggest challenge is the perception that conventions and meetings are not business- related by government organizations. The biggest opportunity is to engage attendees all through the year with the use of technol- ogy and social media so that it’s almost as if the meeting goes on and on and you can always reach your audience.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108