Conference Center Industry’s Highest Honor
Is Presented
at the International Association of Conference
Centers’
22nd Annual Conference
.
| ST. LOUIS, MO – April 24, 2003 –
Jack Kealey, senior vice president, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, was presented
the prestigious Mel Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service at the International
Association of Conference Centers’ (IACC) 22nd Annual Conference.
The award, established in 1985, is named after the late Mel Hosansky, its
first recipient. It is bestowed annually by IACC’s Board of Directors.
Kealey was chosen for his exemplary leadership in advancing the conference
center concept and for his service to IACC and the industry. An innovator
and |
Jack Kealey |
longtime member of IACC, Kealey served on the Board of Directors for 8
years and has chaired several of the association’s committees.
IACC President Geoff Lawson said in presenting the award: “Jack has
made countless contributions to our industry during his 26-year career
which includes key senior management positions with Harrison, Hilton and
Aramark.” Among his many accomplishments, Kealey:
-
Initiated the development of Harrison’s Total Quality Management program,
the first in the conference center industry.
-
Created the first online service for customers through a partnership with
Prodigy.
-
Launched the industry’s first employee empowerment program.
-
Created the first CD rom-based marketing collateral in the industry.
-
Assisted in developing curriculum for IACC’s Conference Center Management
course at Cornell University and served as an instructor for the program’s
introduction.
-
Conducted seminars on “Understanding Conference Centers” in New York, Boston
and Chicago.
-
Served as facilitator and/or panelist for many of IACC’s annual conference
programs and regional educational seminars.
-
As an IACC Board member, chaired the Advisory Services, Marketing, Membership
Development and Professional Development Committees.
-
Assisted with the introduction of IACC special interest groups (SIGS).
A respected authority on conference centers, Kealey has been often quoted
by the media and is tapped regularly to address issues relating to conference
center differentiation.
As senior vice president of ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, Kealey is integrally
involved in development, operations and marketing for the growing brand,
the result of an acquisition of Harrison Conference Services by ARAMARK
in June 2002.
Offering a collection of the world’s most effective environments for
learning, communication and personal growth, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging operates
more than 50 conference centers, corporate training centers, and specialty
hotels in educational environments – each strategically located close to
leading business destinations. The company supports the stringent
standards of IACC and harnesses the power and expertise of its founding
entities to expand its contributions to the industry.
 To
learn more about ARAMARK Harrison Lodging or to book a meeting, log onto
www.aramarkharrisonlodging.com,
or call their sales office at 1-800-422-MEET.
IACC is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1981 to promote advancement
and awareness of the conference center industry. For more information,
contact Tom Bolman, executive vice president, IACC, 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63141; (314) 993-8575; fax (314) 993-8919; email tbolman@iacconline.org;
or visit IACC’s web site at www.iacconline.org. |