Suzanne Fletcher, director of travel, meetings, food service and fleet transportation for Weyerhaeuser, will be affirmed as president of the National Business Travel Association at the organization's annual convention and trade show in San Diego, following a recent election shakeup. Fletcher's opponent, Amgen senior travel manager Betty Sweetman, earlier this month withdrew her candidacy for NBTA president, citing personal and professional reasons
(BTNonline, Aug. 2)."My decision is certainly one that's based on personal choice," Sweetman said. "There are lot of opportunities ahead for me and my team at Amgen. The day job clearly was the right choice for me." Sweetman added that she remains a "staunch supporter" of NBTA, passionate about the organization's role in legislative advocacy.
"The educational opportunities have been invaluable. Bringing that back into Amgen has really helped from a personal-development standpoint and has brought a lot to the company. You can't beat that," said Sweetman, who did not preclude the possibility of another run in the future. "Circumstances have to be right to do that, and when the time comes again in the future, a few years down the road, I'll reevaluate all circumstances and opportunities."
A direct member for 15 years, Fletcher served on NBTA's board in 1998 and said in her platform statement that she plans to focus on broadening the association's international and legislative presence, as well as expanding NBTA's network of affiliates and industry partners
(BTN, Aug. 1). Fletcher declined to comment, noting that she had not, at the time of publication, officially become president.
"While it's unfortunate that Betty Sweetman chose to withdraw from this year's hotly contested election for a new president, quite frankly, NBTA was in a no-lose situation with strong candidates for our top two leadership positions," said Kevin Iwamoto, global commodity manager for Hewlett-Packard Co. and NBTA chairman.
"Both Suzanne Fletcher and Betty Sweetman have all the necessary qualifications and more to be an effective president as do Charles Franklin and Kevin Maguire for vice president," he said.
Iwamoto, who served as NBTA president from 2001 to 2003, will resign from his role as chairman this week at the convention. "I can step down after six years of senior leadership on the NBTA board feeling satisfied and gratified that our strategies and succession plans are falling into place and that the future of our association and place in this industry is secure," he said. "Having said that, there's no place for complacency nor an intent to rest on our laurels."
NBTA direct members attending the San Diego convention and trade show still will elect a new vice president, fill one at-large board seat and vote on a bylaw change that would allow the creation of student and educator memberships, with results to be announced at an Aug. 17 general session.