HEDNA Announces New Executive Director and Management Company
Forest Hill, MD (December 1, 2022) – HEDNA announced the appointment of Leanne Ballard as Executive Director. Ballard will serve as chief staff executive overseeing the strategic direction and execution of the global organization. As an industry expert, she will bring invaluable industry experience and hospitality insights to the leadership role, supporting the HEDNA Board of Directors and guiding the management team.
“Leanne was a natural fit for HEDNA as Executive Director,” stated HEDNA President Sebastien Leitner, Vice President of Global Partnerships at Cloudbeds. “For years, Leanne has been working alongside HEDNA leaders and contributing to the Association in countless ways as a volunteer,” Leitner continued, “so she was a perfect solution to help move HEDNA forward.”
Ballard began her hospitality career at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, where she quickly moved from food and beverage into sales and marketing for various properties in Palm Beach, Miami, and New York. While working in property sales, Ballard played a major role in launching a web services company dedicated to providing technology and marketing expertise to small chains and independent hotels. She ultimately landed global distribution roles with KAYAK and Koddi, Inc. Throughout her career, she has been involved with HEDNA as a champion of advancing hotel distribution capabilities and elevating the importance of leadership roles in the field.
In addition to recruiting an Executive Director, the HEDNA Board has selected Stringfellow Management Group, Inc. (SMG) to provide association management services and headquarters operations for HEDNA, effective December 1, 2022. Stringfellow Group has been tasked to provide full Association Management support to HEDNA permitting the association to focus on expansion in both membership and geographies while maintaining excellent service to its members and supporters.
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About HEDNA:
HEDNA is a global community of hospitality professionals, technology providers, educators, and consultants passionate about elevating the role of distribution. Through influence, collaboration and networking, we elevate careers, harness new business opportunities, and drive the business of hospitality forward, together. Through our global conferences, local networking events, and industry working groups, we help our stakeholders appreciate the nuances of today’s technologies, gauge the impact of today’s trends, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
About Stringfellow Management Group, Inc.:
Stringfellow Management Group, Inc. was founded in 2012 by Fred Stringfellow, CAE. SMG provides full-service management and support services including operations management, leadership and governance support, event management, professional development and certificate program management, financial management, membership coordination, website management, marketing communications, and administrative support. Today, our 50 association professionals serve 25 client organizations using our “Team” model approach to association and meetings management.
HOTEL ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION NETWORK ASSOCIATION
2331 ROCK SPRING ROAD, FOREST HILL, MD 21050 | P: +1 443-640-1085 | F: +1 443-640-1031
www.hedna.org | info@hedna.org