(Washington, DC) The National Restaurant Association today announced that effective July 1, 2001, Dick Gaven, an industry veteran of nearly 30 years, is stepping down from his position as senior vice president of the Association's Convention office in Chicago. He will become senior vice president emeritus and will retire in June 2002. Mary Pat Heftman, who currently serves as vice president, Convention, has been promoted by National Restaurant Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson to assume full responsibility for the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and the Executive Study Groups, effective July 1, 2001.

"Dick Gaven has served the National Restaurant Association with dedication and distinction for the past 28 years, having joined the Association in 1973. During his tenure, the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show has doubled in size to become the premier educational programming event in the restaurant industry, boasting 90,000 attendees and more than 2,000 exhibitors from all over the world," Anderson said.

"In addition to being a leader in the hospitality industry, Dick has been a key influence in the Chicago trade show industry, serving on the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau Advisory Board. His voice was also instrumental in the expansion of McCormick Place, where the NRA Show is held each year, and in achieving labor reforms for the benefit of our exhibitors. While we are sad to see him retire, we are both pleased and fortunate that Dick will remain with us for the coming year in an advisory capacity, sharing his wealth of industry insights and experience," he said.

In announcing Heftman's promotion, Anderson said, "In Mary Pat, we have the ideal person to continue to grow our Show and keep it the foremost event in the hospitality industry. Her expertise in all aspects of our very successful Show over the years has led to the development of new and innovative programming. We look forward to her continued innovation and imaginative ideas as we continue in the 21st century." She will report directly to Anderson.

Heftman joined the National Restaurant Association in 1990 and has held various positions in the Convention office. A nationally recognized leader in the trade show industry, she completed a two-year term as chairperson of the Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO) and has served on the Board as well as various committees of the Midwest Chapter of the International Association of Exhibition Managers (IAEM).

Heftman holds a B.B.A. degree in marketing and management from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 844,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.3 million employees. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

Kristin Nolt
202-331-5964
National Restaurant Association