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.