2012 Begins With Flurry of Association Staff Changes

February 27, 2012

This year has been a busy one so far for association staffing and executive-level changes, with several appointments being announced.

National Association of Convenience Stores appointed Molly Hoyt its meetings coordinator. Prior to joining NACS, Hoyt worked at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, where she served as a meetings concierge and eventually assistant banquet manager, supervising all banquet functions at the hotel.  

Destination Marketing Association International has named Cindy Kong, CMP, as its director of meetings effective Feb. 22.  Kong has more than 20 years of professional meeting management experience. 

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions hired Stephanie Robert to begin in February as vice president, membership and marketing services.

Prior to joining IAAPA in 2012, Robert served as the director of marketing and communications for the National Association of Convenience Stores, a trade association serving the convenience retail industry.

The National Restaurant Association named Liz Garner to the policy and government affairs team as director of commerce and entrepreneurship.

In this position, she will help advance the association’s tax and profitability priorities, working with member companies, policymakers, and other stakeholders as an advocate for the restaurant industry, the nation’s second-largest private sector employer, with nearly 13 million workers nationwide.

Garner previously served as director of government relations for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) representing the supermarket industry.

Meeting Professionals International appointed its new COO, Cynthia D’Aoust, after a comprehensive search.

D’Aoust will report directly to the organization’s president and CEO, Bruce MacMillan, and will lead operational deployment of MPI 3.0, MPI’s strategic business plan, through key business units of the organization.

D’Aoust brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to MPI. She has held key positions in business development, project and operations management and business intelligence with Maxvantage (the strategic alliance between Maritz Travel Company and American Express) and with the Maritz Travel Company – Meetings, Events and Incentives Division.

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