Bruce W. Harris, Founder of Conferon, honored by Experient

TWINSBURG, Ohio - May 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Twinsburg, OH – Bruce W. Harris, founder of Conferon, now Experient Inc, was honored with a special Founders position on the Experient Wall of Recognition in a surprise ceremony in Twinsburg Monday, May 20, 2013.  

A custom plaque heralding Harris’ legendary contributions to the meeting planning industry and Experient was presented to a surprised Harris by Michael Guerriero, president of the Event Management division of Experient, a Maritz Travel Company, and David Peckinpaugh, CMP, president of Maritz Travel.  Experient Twinsburg (former Conferon headquarters) employees and multiple Conferon alumni, including Dave Lutz, CMP, now managing director of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, cheered things along at the surprise luncheon ceremony.

As founder of Conferon in 1970, Harris is credited with defining the meeting planning profession and creating a new industry.  The plaque states, in part:  “The ethical and professional standards that he fostered and upheld in the hospitality industry are among Bruce’s most important contributions.  He was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders in 2004 and was recognized…by Meeting News as one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry” each year it was published.

Harris continues to attribute his success to the team that has surrounded him through the years.  “I can’t think of anything in my life, on the work-side, that has been more enjoyable than being part of this company,” he said.  “It is an absolute positive fact that the only way our leadership position was gained then and is being held today is due to the ongoing commitment by all of you to the high standards to which you hold yourselves for the sake of your clients and supplier partners.”

“Bruce is someone I am proud to call our founder, a mentor, a coach, and most importantly, my friend,” said Guerriero.  “We are all indebted to Bruce for starting this company and quite frankly this industry.  His vision has created a lot of opportunities for everyone here and many, many other companies.  We are proud to say that his vision lives on in Experient and in the people he has influenced throughout his career.”

Peckinpaugh added, “Placing you on our wall of recognition is a small way to honor your vision, leadership and the passion you have had for this business since 1970.  We simply would not be here if not for you.  Your commitment to ethical business practices and industry leadership never wavered and remains an inspiration to us all.”  

ABOUT EXPERIENT: Experient, a Maritz Travel Company (http://www.maritztravel.com/), leads the industry as one of the best known and most respected brands in the event management world. Its core services include providing registration, housing, event planning and management, site sourcing/contract negotiation, and lead retrieval services for association, tradeshow and government clients. Experient employs professionals dedicated to fulfilling its vision of perfecting the event experience to deliver leading-edge thinking, experience and technology solutions for meetings, conventions and expositions around the world. Visit www.experient-inc.com for more information. Media kit and available staff portraits may be found at www.experient-inc.com/press.