APPOINTMENTS AND HIRES

ASAE Names New Vice President of Government Affairs

James L. Clarke was named VP of government affairs Jan. 14 for the American Society of Association Executives, Washington, D.C.

Clarke, who replaces Robert Boege who left last month, most recently was staff director of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Washington, D.C.
(ASAE, 202/626-2798)

Alexander Awarded Highest Burson-Marsteller Honor

Dawn A. Alexander, a director in Burson-Marsteller's Washington, D.C., office, has been awarded the office's top honor: the "Harold Burson Award of Excellence" for her role as a media relations specialist and business strategist for clients in the U.S. and abroad. The award is presented annually, along with a $5,000 stipend. (Burson-Marsteller, 202/530-4618)

PR Veteran Brotman Serves as Announcer for Inaugural Parade

Charlie Brotman, founder and CEO of Charles J. Brotman Communications Inc., a PR and ad firm in Washington, D.C., was the parade announcer for the 11th Presidential Inaugural Parade.

Brotman, a native of Washington, D.C., began his 40-year tenure as an inaugural announcer during the Eisenhower administration. He's also been a frequent announcer at sporting events. (Charles Brotman, 202/296-7200)

Corporate Promotions

John M. O'Haugherty, formerly VP of sales, has been promoted to senior VP and CEO of LodgeNet Entertainment Corp.'s Lodging Division. LodgeNet is a specialized communications company, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., providing services to the lodging market. (LodgeNet, 605/330-1330)

MMI Companies Inc., Deerfield, Ill., has appointed Sally Benjamin Young to VP, corporate communications. Formerly, Young served as director of corporate communications for Caremark International Inc., Northbrook, Ill.

She will head all marketing and corporate communications for MMI, an international healthcare risk management company. (MMI, 847/374-2426)

Agency Promotions/New Hires

John Deats has joined LobsenzStevens, an international consortium of 55 independent PR firms based in New York City, as senior VP and managing director of the healthcare division; and Nancy Tamosaitis has come on board as VP and manager of the technology/new media division.

Deats was managing director and senior VP of Creamer Dickson Basford, New York; and Tamosaitis was a senior new media and new business consultant with Shandwick. (LobsenzStevens, 212/684-6300)

Jeff Gordon has been named senior VP of Golin/Harris, Philadelphia. He comes from CoreStates Bank, Philadelphia, where he was VP and communications team leader. (Golin Harris, 215/790-7836)

Joe Norris has been named president-creative director of Sullivan Higdon & Sink, Wichita, Ks. Norris, who headed strategic marketing for SHS, replaces Al Higdon. (SHS, 316/263-0124)

Hill and Knowlton has hired Elizabeth Hall as managing director for its healthcare practice group in the agency's Washington, D.C., office.

Prior to joining Hill & Knowlton, she was director of communcations for Suburban Hospital, Bethesda. (Hill and Knowlton, 212/885-0300)