Al Rutherford – Convention & Meeting Planning
Al Rutherford is the Managing Partner of Rutherford and Associates. He leads the firms consulting and event management practices and has served in this capacity since founding the firm in 1990.
After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas Al chose to begin his career in hotel management with Loews Hotels. He began in the management-training program and was rapidly promoted to Hotel Manager on Duty. After a series of successfully executed special projects which included a term as the Hotel's Communications Manager, liaison to the Princely Family of Monaco and to the Saudi Royal Family he was promoted to Senior Hotel Manager where he worked closely with the General Manager and continued to oversee hotel operations.
In order to broaden his knowledge of the industry Al was recruited by and joined the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this capacity he was responsible for the convention sales and marketing of the City of Dallas. His primary markets were Scientific and Engineering Associations and the majority of his time was spent in the solicitation of citywide convention groups. In this role he represented the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Market Hall and the Infomart as well as major hotels.
After a successful tenure with the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Al was recruited by Marriott Hotels. Al had decided to return to the hotel industry and accepted a position in the Marriott General Manager development program. At the onset he focused his attentions on sales and marketing management. It was during his tenure with Marriott that a corporate meeting planner who respected his talents suggested that he form an event management company in order to supplement their corporate event staff. After careful consideration Al succumbed to his entrepreneurial spirit and formed Rutherford and Associates.
In addition to working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations, Al has also provided event-consulting services to The White House. During the first six years of the Clinton Administration Al consulted with The White House on the creation and execution of Presidential Events. During the last two years of the Administration Al was appointed Associate Director of Advance. As an aide to the President, Al was responsible for both domestic and international travel missions. He also traveled with the President serving as his Trip Director.