Meeting Professionals International has named David DuBois, who currently is executive vice president of the association's foundation, as its interim COO and the effective head of the association until a successor can be found for outgoing president and CEO Ed Griffin, who is scheduled to leave the association April 30
(Meetings Today, Nov. 11, 2002). Meanwhile, the Dallas-based foundation announced funding for a handful of research projects.
Though MPI had said it hoped to have a new CEO in place upon Griffin's exit, that was complicated by the volunteer CEO search committee's "unanimous decision to resign" in February following the leak of search criteria to an industry newspaper
(Meetings Today, Feb. 10). A new committee was formed thereafter.
No timetable was given by MPI as to the hiring of a permanent CEO. "Because this is one of the most influential positions in the meetings industry, we are taking adequate time to ensure the most qualified leader is appointed in the best interest of MPI membership, volunteer leaders, staff and the industry," said Theresa Breining, chairwoman-elect of MPI. Breining in August will begin her term as chairwoman of the association's board of directors.
DuBois has extensive experience in the association and the industry, serving as MPI's COO from 1995 to 2000, when he left to become president and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association. He returned to MPI in 2002 as executive vice president of the foundation following his dismissal from PCMA. He will continue his role with the foundation.
In other MPI Foundation news, $185,000 was approved this month for three research projects: An $80,000 grant to Rochester, N.Y.-based event production firm Fusion Productions to update tools developed in 1995 to measure meeting return on investment, a $75,000 grant to The George P. Johnson Co. of Boston to study the role of meetings in corporate marketing programs and a $30,000 contribution to the Convention Industry Council to help launch Project Attrition, a study of the impact of attrition, attendee behavior and hotel reservation management.
The foundation, which is funded solely by contributions from suppliers, association chapters and individuals, has funded and produced influential research in the past, but its output has slowed in recent years, as a recessed economy diminished fundraising success. DuBois has expressed optimism that trend would reverse itself
(Meetings Today, April 22, 2002).The foundation "is dedicated to supporting the pursuit of research and development for the continued advancement of the meeting and event industry," DuBois said. "Therefore, it is imperative that we gather information and implement solutions against today's timely issues."