PHILADELPHA, September 25, 2000 – The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) announced today the appointment of three new board members and one new staff member, effective immediately.

John Anderson Fry is Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as chief operating officer of the University, responsible for all matters related to finance, investments, human resources, physical facilities, real estate, public safety, information systems and computing, auxiliary enterprises, technology transfer and internal audit and compliance. Mr. Fry also serves as President and CEO of P2B, a venture company recently formed by the University to commercialize new ideas from faculty, students and staff at Penn. Prior to joining Penn, Fry was Partner-in-Charge, National Higher Education Consulting, at Coopers & Lybrand in New York. He serves as the chairperson of the University City District and is a member of the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., University City Science Center and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Dr. Janet Haas is President of the William Penn Foundation, which is devoted to supporting children, youth and families; the natural and physical environment; and arts and culture in the Philadelphia region. Prior to assuming the presidency, Dr. Haas specialized in physical medicine and rehabilitation, with a particular emphasis in neurologically impaired patients. She continues to serve as adjunct attending staff at the Drucker Brain Injury Center at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, and as assistant clinical professor at the Temple University School of Medicine. She remains active as a medical editor and author.

Brian P. Tierney, Esq., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Tierney Communications, the region's largest full-service strategic communications agency with billings in excess of $230 million and 210 employees. Tierney Communications includes advertising, public relations, direct response, interactive, public affairs and research. Clients include Verizon, Pennsylvania State Lottery, Deloitte Consulting Group, ARAMARK, PECO Energy, IBM, Sunoco, the Philadelphia Orchestra, CIGNA, and Disney Regional Entertainment. Tierney Communications is part of True North Communications, one of the largest communications companies in the world. Brian Tierney has also been active in the U.S. Small Business Administration and in the Republican National Committee.

"We’re very fortunate to have the commitment of these new board members," said Fred Shabel, Chairman of GPTMC’s board. "John Fry brings to the organization combined academic and business acumen, Janet Haas an emphasis on regional opportunities, and Brian Tierney is one of the leading marketers in the region."

Gabriella Mazzucca joins GPTMC as Director of Public Relations. Mazzucca is responsible for day-to-day management of the agency’s in-house public relations team charged with generating publicity of the five-county Philadelphia region. She brings 10 years of experience in marketing communications for major consumer products, with an emphasis on travel and tourism. Her specialties are in national media relations, major event promotion, celebrity management and broadcast communications. Most recently she was Account Supervisor at Porter Novelli, a New York-based public relations firm, and managed the Princess Cruises, Southwest Airlines and Concierge.com accounts

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