Donna Sanford, Event Industry Veteran, to Manage Engage365.org

Online, August 14, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Donna Sanford promises to "kick things up a notch" as new community manager of Engage365 (www.engage365.org); Online community for event and association technology and social media to continue growing under her expertise.

Industry veteran and founder of EXPO Magazine, Donna Sanford is bringing her knowledge, enthusiasm and humor to Engage365 as its new community manager. Widely read for more than 20 years, her columns in EXPO were noted for their keen observations and biting commentary - a tradition she promises to continue at Engage365.

"I've long coveted a 'Community Manager' position since it's so much like publishing a magazine," says Sanford. "You have to stay on top of the news, notice emerging trends and follow and solicit input and best practices from practitioners in the field. Plus, I get to spout off my opinions whenever I want - what's not to love?"

Sanford has plans to add more media, more conversation, more blogs and advice and more features to the already popular online community and resource for event and association technology and social media. "I love technology in both my personal and professional life," says Sanford. "In fact, since leaving EXPO in 2010, all my consulting work has been in technologies - primarily virtual events and social media, two technologies that live and die on engagement."

With more than 2,300 current members, Engage365 is one of the largest active communities in the event and association industries. Members come from all facets of the industry, from association trade show organizers and corporate meeting planners, to membership directors and education and training professionals. In addition to conversations among members, Engage365 features hundreds of articles, monthly Webcasts, a vendor marketplace and a weekly Twitter chat.

Tara Barnes, Director of Marketing for Pathable, the event industry white-label social networking platform which owns Engage365, says she looks forward to seeing how Sanford makes her mark on the community. "There's really no one better for this position," she says. "Donna has been in the industry her entire career. She's worked at associations, been a meeting planner and trade show organizer, and during her last year at EXPO launched both an event and a publication just for technology. We're very happy to have Donna on board and think that the community will thrive under her management."