Introducing John S. Foster, ESQ. CHME

John Foster with Foster, Jensen, and Gulley is an available resource that specializes in the legal aspects of meetings & conventions, trade shows & events, and association management.

BIO and Professional Background

JOHN S. FOSTER, ESQ. CHME is an attorney, counsel, author and consultant whose firm FOSTER, JENSEN &GULLEY,LLC specializes in the legal aspects of meetings & conventions, trade shows & events, and association management. He has been an associate or general counsel for over four hundred (400) national and regional associations and companies since 1986 and has been named nine times as one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry by Meeting News. His peers have also voted John a Special Recognition Award as “Corporate Member of the Year” through the Georgia Society of Association Executives. PCMA Members voted John special recognition as its “Author of the Year” for his frequent contributions to Convene magazine. John has also been selected as a Subject Matter Expert (SME)for the peer-to-peer assistance program and a former Platinum Speaker for Meeting Professionals International(MPI).The MPI Georgia chapter nominated John for a Lifetime Achievement Award / Hall of Fame member. He is the Author of a soon to be published book: “Hotel Contracts: A Field Guide with Best Practices for Meeting & Event Professionals.”

John is a former outside counsel for Meeting Professionals International headquarters (MPI) in reviewing and revising industry contracts and handling other legal issues. John’s professional experience includes twelve (12) years as a director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and Holiday Inns and he holds the Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) designation from HSMAI. John is also a founding member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys (AHIA) and is active in MPI, PCMA, and IAEE. He is also a long-time member of ASAE and has been a member of the Legal Section and the Meetings & Exposition Sections. John is the former legal columnist for Convene, published by PCMA, and the author of three books on the legal aspects of meetings and conventions: Meeting & Facility Contracts, Meetings & Liability, and Independent Meeting Planners & the Law. John is also a co-author for PCMA’s Professional Meeting Management book, chapter on “Contracts in the Meetings Industry”.

John has been an adjunct professor at Georgia State University and a guest lecturer at the University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of North Carolina in their respective meeting management programs.

FOSTER, JENSEN & GULLEY

Attorneys and Counselors at Law

3355 Lenox Road, Suite 750

Atlanta, Georgia 30326-1353

PH: 404-873-5200

FAX: 404-843-2968

CELL: 404-229-7069

John.Foster@FJGLaw.net