"ISHP accomplished all that we set out to do, and more, in our first year," said Neil Locke, outgoing ISHP president and principal of Neil Locke & Associates. "We have begun to establish industry purchasing guidelines for specific product areas, such as fabrics and linen buying guides, and are posting them on our Web site, www.ishp.org; we have increased industry awareness of the profession; and we have raised more than $75,000 for Camp Pacific Heartland, our national community service project."

"Neil provided the leadership and vision to launch the association, and our new team is ready to take the organization to the next level," said Benjamin. "We will continue to focus on defining industry issues and standards, while expanding our membership, improving relations between suppliers and the purchasing community, enhancing training and raising money for charity."

Other elected officers include: Executive Vice President, William Langmade, president of Purchasing Management International; Vice President, Membership, David Shulman, partner of Project Dynamics; and Secretary/Treasurer, Ann Kline, vice president Cendant Supplier Services, Inc., a division of Cendant Corporation. Elected as board members at large were Michelle Finn, publisher of Hospitality Design and Stacy Horowitz, group publisher of ICD of Hotel Journal.

ISHP, a non-profit organization, is composed of independent and corporate hospitality purchasing executives, who, as a group, spend approximately $3 billion annually in the hospitality industry. ISHP members' common goal is to enhance the professionalism of hospitality purchasing by establishing high standards in ethics, efficiency, etiquette and education. In addition, the organization is involved in community service activities, concentrating on Camp Pacific Heartland, a national camp for children infected and affected by the AIDS virus.

ISHP qualifications include five consecutive years of purchasing experience, or three consecutive years purchasing history with 15 years industry experience. Independent purchasing agents must have served a minimum of five clients in the past year.

ISHP will hold its next general meeting at the Hospitality Design show in Las Vegas, in March. All hospitality purchasing professionals are invited to attend. Additional information about ISHP membership is available at the organization's Web site www.ishp.org, or by calling (631) 246-9300.