Conferon, the United States largest independent meeting planning firm, announced continued expansion of the Conferon Sales Network (CSN) with the latest additions to its sales team of National Account Managers.  

Lisa Zent, Lexington, Kentucky market: Former Conferon Washington D.C. office Account Executive, Lisa makes the transition to National Account Manager, and will be opening a new office for us in Lexington, Kentucky.

Lisa comes to the CSN after a great track record of client management in Washington and is looking forward to continuing her contributions to the company in this new role.

Charles Magill, Central Region: Charles comes to us from Wyndham International in New Orleans where he served as the Area Director of Sales and Marketing.

He started his career in the hospitality industry in 1973 with the Royal Orleans Hotel, and then moved on to serve in various sales and management positions for the Fairmont Hotel, the Broadmoor Management Company, Omni Hotels and the Windsor Court Hotel.

Charles was a member of the international marketing committees of both Preferred Hotels and Resorts and Leading Hotels of the World. He resides in New Orleans, and will focus on maximizing new client opportunities in the Central region of the U.S.

Luis Sanchez, North Florida market: Adding its third Florida location, Luis comes to Conferon to build on a strong track record of achievement in the hotel sector of our business.

Since 1997, Luis has served as a Sales Manager covering both corporate and association accounts throughout the southeast for the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and the Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach—a well-established independent deluxe beach and golf resort near Jacksonville. Prior to that he served as a Sales Manager at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott Resort for two years.

Before moving to Florida, he worked in several sales and convention service capacities for the Arlington Marriott, Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, and the Hyatt Regency Austin. Luis graduated in 1990 from the University of North Texas with a B.S. in Hotel & Restaurant Management. He is an active member of The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and Meeting Professionals International.

Christa Salibo, CMP, Texas market: Opening our second Dallas area office, Christa comes to us from Accenture where she served as a Specialist in Meeting Management since 1998. Prior to her role at Accenture, she served Anderson Worldwide as an Executive Assistant and Meeting Planner. Christa studied marketing at Dallas Baptist University and owned her own business called Gift Baskets & Beyond.

George Eliades, CAE, Metropolitan Washington D.C. market: George spent the past four years as an independent consultant, providing innovative and versatile solutions to associations and corporate cultures in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Prior to that, he served as president and CEO for the Society of American Wood Preservers for 16 years. He is a recipient of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Key Award, the highest public recognition awarded by ASAE to association CEOs for excellence in leadership and is a past Chairman of the Board of the Greater Washington area chapter of ASAE.

He is also a past Chairman of the Council of Chemical Association Executives, and received a Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America and a C-Flag from the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives, among other honors.