Press Release

For Immediate Release
19 May 2008

ACTE HONORS FOUNDING MEMBER WITH “ADVANCING THE INDUSTRY AWARD”

Washington, D.C. -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) honored Michael Spooner, Manager of Travel and Relocation for JCPenney Company, with the “Advancing the Industry Award” at the ACTE Global Education Conference in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Spooner has the distinction of being one of two serving members remaining from the original 10 who founded ACTE in 1988. The ACTE Advancing the Industry Award is presented to individuals who have shared a major contribution in innovative travel management, process development, or a major conceptual exchange between components of the travel management profession.

“Michael Spooner embodies the definition of commitment and service to others,” said association President Richard Crum. “For more than 20 years, he has been volunteering, serving, and contributing to ACTE. Many times you will read how an organization is struggling to adhere to the principles of its founders. That isn’t a problem at ACTE. For one thing, the founding principles are pretty straightforward. For another, we could always ask Michael as someone who’s been here from the beginning.” Crum added that the presentation of this award is especially significant on the 20^th Anniversary of the association’s founding.

Spooner became a founding member of ACTE and served on its first Board of Directors (then the Board of Governors), in 1988. He was part of the team that wrote the initial ACTE bylaws, the articles of incorporation, and the accounting manual. He served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer from 1990 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1996. He was the recipient of the ACTE Presidents’ Award in 1991 and in 1995.

Spooner began his career with Reynolds metals Company in 1973, and was eventually named auditor, international controller, a member of the treasury staff, and travel manager. He joined JCPenney in 2001, as manager of travel and relocation.

Ask Michael Spooner what has changed about travel since he entered business and you’ll hear from a witness to technological evolution. In 1973, some agents were still writing plane tickets by hand. “This industry was one of the first to utilize every technology change from computers to communications,” said Spooner. I remember faxing travel documents on a machine the size of a desktop. Now you can book tickets on an iPhone or a Blackberry.”

When asked about the secret of ACTE’s enduring popularity, Spooner replied, “The association was always about people. We wanted to get beyond the politics and the buyer-supplier designations that divided the industry. That formula has carried ACTE around the world.”
ABOUT ACTE:
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) represents the global business travel industry through its international advocacy efforts, executive level educational programs, and independent industry research. ACTE's membership consists of senior travel industry executives from 82 countries representing the €200 billion business travel industry. With the support of sponsors from every major segment of the business travel industry, ACTE develops and delivers educational programs in key business centers throughout the world. ACTE has offices in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on ACTE, please go to www.acte.org.

For more information, contact:
Debbie Flynn
CEO
Brighter Group
The Pod, London's Vertical Gateway
Bridges Wharf, Battersea
London SW11 3BE England
T: 020 7326 9880
F: 020 7326 9890
E: [email protected]
W: www.brightergroup.com