The Global Business Travel Association hired a "dean of
education and director of certification" and plans to invest
"millions of dollars in the coming years on education," according to
executive director Mike McCormick, speaking during the Institute for Supply
Management-GBTA Travel & Meetings Summit in New Orleans.
The new GBTA education dean is Amanda Cecil, faculty advisor
to GBTA's Strategic Meetings Management Certification task force and former
assistant professor in the tourism, convention and event management department
at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Cecil will work with
GBTA event programming manager Elizabeth Maddox and consultant Scott Gillespie
on convention programming. Gillespie, who has helped GBTA develop various
events, was tasked to help develop sessions for its annual convention in August
following Alana Joyce's departure last month from the association.
GBTA's first certification director is Heather Trusty.
Trusty formerly worked on certification programs for the National Certification
Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, National Glass Association and
American Physical Therapy Association.