WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) recently announced that John Sneed, Convention Sales Manager for the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), is the winner of the 2011-2012 Patsy B. Smith Award. Sneed will accept the prestigious award on June 11 at an awards luncheon during the AENC Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Four Seasons in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Patsy B. Smith Award is AENC’s highest award presented in the Affiliate membership category and recognizes outstanding professionalism and exemplary service to the association community. A member of AENC since 2000, Sneed has served on and chaired several AENC committees, and was a member of the Board of Directors for two years.
John W. Sneed, II, CHSP joined the Wilmington and Beaches CVB as Convention Sales Manager in July 2009. As the Wilmington and Beaches CVB’s Convention Sales Manager, Sneed’s duties include selling Wilmington, North Carolina and its island beaches as a convention and meeting destination to state, regional and national markets. He also promotes the Wilmington Convention Center, Wilmington’s largest meeting facility. Prior to joining the CVB, Sneed held sales managerial positions for the Clarion Hotel (GF Management) in Greensboro, the High Point Radisson (Boykin Hospitality), and the Marriott in Columbus, Ohio. He also worked for two years as Sales Manager for the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2004, Sneed was certified by the American Hotel & Motel Association as a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP).
In addition to AENC’s Patsy B. Smith Award, Sneed’s industry awards include the Society of Government Meeting Professionals’ President’s Award (2009) and Supplier of the Year (2004). He was also named to Boykin Management Company’s “Million Dollar Club” for booking over $1 million in total revenue for three consecutive years. Sneed served for eight years on the board of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) North Carolina Chapter and was named Regional Director in 2009.
“AENC’s Patsy B. Smith Award is among the meeting industry’s most prestigious honors. We are very proud of John and his accomplishments,” states Kim Hufham, president/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches CVB. “John’s sterling reputation and contacts in the travel industry, combined with his expertise in convention sales, have proven to be great assets in marketing the destination and the Wilmington Convention Center to meeting professionals.”
Established in 1955, Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) is committed to providing high quality professional development and networking opportunities to help members develop their fullest potential and foster the recognition and respect of the association management profession. Members include CEOs and staff of associations across North Carolina, as well as representatives from the association service and hospitality industries. For more information on AENC, visit ww.aencnet.org.
The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for New Hanover County, North Carolina which stimulates economic development through the promotion of travel and tourism.
