Bill Hardman

BILL HARDMAN
As President, & CEO of Southeast Tourism Society, Mr. Hardman directs the organization's efforts in promoting travel to the twelve Southeastern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. STS promotes the Southeast through cooperative marketing efforts, provides continuing education programs for its members and represents the legislative interests of the tourism industry in the southeast region.

Mr. Hardman began his tourism career in 1969 as Assistant Manager of Public Relations at Six Flags Over Georgia. He has held the positions of Director of Promotion for Atlanta's Cumberland Mall; Director of Promotions and Public Relations for the Omni International Complex (now the CNN center in Atlanta); Director of Membership for the Georgia Hospitality & Travel Association; and, Director of Advertising and Membership for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. Prior to being appointed President & CEO of Southeast Tourism Society, Mr. Hardman served as President & CEO of Atlanta's DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1987 to 1997.

Mr. Hardman currently serves on the Industry Advisory Board of Directors for the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Georgia State University. He was a member of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus Board of Directors where he served as the first Chairman of the IACVB Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Travel Industry Association (TIA). Mr. Hardman also served as chairman of the nationally acclaimed TIA tourism industry event, the Marketing Outlook Forum in 2003. During the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, he served as Chair of the Georgia Olympic Marketing Task Force. He was also appointed by Senator Sam Nunn as a delegate to the White House Conference on Travel & Tourism.

In November 2007, Mr. Hardman was appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, to serve a two-year term of the National Park System Advisory Board. The National Park System Advisory Board advises the secretary of the Interior and the director of the National Park Service on matters relating to the National Park Service, the National Park System and programs administered by the National Park Service.

JULIE HEIZER

Julie Heizer

Julie Heizer rejoined the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in September 2003 as Deputy Director, Industry Relations for the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. She is responsible for industry outreach, partnerships, and strategic alliances for several Commerce projects, most notably the multi-million national promotion campaign and the $3.9M Cooperative Agreement between the DOC and the Travel Industry Association. In her "first round" with the DOC (1992-1996), she worked for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration as the Manager of Private Sector Marketing.

Prior to her arrival at OTTI, she held a variety of positions in destination marketing organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including the Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, the Virginia Peninsula Tourism and Conference Bureau and the Montgomery County, Maryland Convention and Visitors Bureau. Her career in the travel industry began 25+ years ago at the Travel Industry Association, where she worked in the marketing, membership and national councils departments.

Julie loves travel, the theatre, good books, good movies, and good jokes - not necessarily in that order!

LYNN B. HERZIG

Lynn B. Herzig

Lynn B. "Spike" Herzig is a New York State native, born and raised in the Adirondack community of Beaver Falls. A graduate of Central City Business Institute, he began his business career as an escort for a Syracuse tour operator and two years later became President of the company. Herzig Tourism Associates was founded in 1978 and the first client was General Mills, where Herzig headed up the successful development of the first North American tour products for their travel subsidiary, Olson-Travelworld.

Additional varied clientele includes special advisor to the Secretary of Tourism for the country of Mexico, Gaylord Entertainment in Nashville, Tennessee, and the development of international tour products for the Illinois State tourism department. For six years he was President of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, a fourteen county, 1500 members' destination marketing organization.

In 2002 he and his brother Gary combined family businesses with the formation of The Herzig Group Inc, which includes tourism consulting, printing and publishing as well as producing and leading seminars and workshops. Their most recent clients included Destiny USA in Syracuse, NY, Cortland County strategic tourism planning and the formation and operation of the Upstate New York Tourism Alliance (UNYTA). They also produce and publish the acclaimed TouringNY.com magazine.

His consulting and seminars have taken him throughout North America and he has spoken at several states Governor's Tourism Conferences. He has been guest lecturer at colleges and universities and presently serves on the Tourism Advisory Board at Finger Lakes Community College. Spike is past president of the prestigious National Tour Association as well as member of the boards of the National Tourism Foundation and the Travel Industry Association of America. He is presently Commissioner on the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. He is past president of the Finger Lakes Arts Council and Grants Services, member of the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a published author including a history of the tour broker industry. Spike and his wife Nancy live in Central New York and have two grown sons and one granddaughter.

ROSEMARY RICE MCCORMICK

Rosemary McCormick

Rosemary McCormick serves as President of the SHOP AMERICA ALLIANCE, the travel trade association representing more than 200 of the nation's premier shopping tourism destinations. She produces the annual Shop America Tourism Conference, serves as publisher of SHOP AMERICA magazine and oversees development and marketing of Shop America Tours. She co-produced the landmark US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit in Washington DC and co-founded the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council.

Since 1993, McCormick has directed McCORMICK MARKETING, a strategic consulting firm specializing in retail development, sponsorship and tourism marketing. Clients have included the nation's leading retail developers, plus global travel and tourism destinations.

McCormick currently serves on the TIA Board of Directors, TIA Executive Committee, DiscoverAmerica.com advisory committee and Pow Wow Planning Committee. She has written a series of Travel & Tourism White Papers and is a frequent speaker on trends in marketing and travel business.

KIM PRIEZ

Kim Priez

Kim Priez's passion for travel and tourism began 26 years ago straight out of college. After graduating from the University of New Orleans with a degree in Business Administration and Management, she sought out opportunities in the fast growing hospitality industry. Over the years, her tourism sales and marketing experience has been shared between only two New Orleans companies.

She began her tourism career with the Sheraton New Orleans as part of the pre-opening team where she served in many different roles including Conventions Services Manager, Banquet Sales Manager and then Travel Industry Sales Manager.

Ms. Priez thoroughly enjoyed the hotel industry but felt selling and marketing the entire city of New Orleans would better utilize her expertise. She joined the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau as an International Sales Manager and was promoted to Vice President of Tourism in 1995. Her responsibilities include welcome center operations, international and domestic tourism sales and marketing and the coordination of four overseas offices and their marketing efforts.

Ms. Priez has also held leadership roles with numerous organizations, including the Travel Industry Association of America, Louisiana Travel Promotions Association, SKAL International, Christian Brothers Foundation and has served on many local advisory panels. She has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Travel by Travel Agent Magazine and is currently serving on the board of the Rhythms of the South Marketing Partnership and Chairman of the SouthCoastUSA Marketing Partnership.

SUSAN WILCOX

Susan Wilcox

In July 2000, Susan Wilcox became the first Chief Deputy Director of the industry-led California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), a nonprofit organization created to market California as a desirable travel destination and to increase the Golden State's share of tourism-related revenues. Susan is responsible for overseeing CTTC's communications and industry relation needs to support the multitude of programs developed through the Commission, and serves as a spokesperson for California's $96.7 billion tourism industry. CTTC's strategy has been to act as a catalyst to leverage resources available for common marketing goals. Cooperative funding has been developed from private and other governmental sources in every major category of California Tourism's program. This unique public/private partnership has not only allowed California Tourism to retain a competitive edge in the global marketplace, but has been the key to creating the most progressive marketing program in the nation.

In late 2006, Susan's diverse responsibilities were streamlined to oversee the Operations and Industry Relations functions as the organization grew to a $50 million budget level. Most recently, Susan has been named to the position of Vice President of Communications at CTTC. In this role, she directs CTTC's media and industry relations and communications efforts, as well as continuing to support the Rural Tourism Program and acting as Co-Chair of the California Cultural and Heritage Tourism Council.

Prior to her role at CTTC, Susan served the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency as the Marketing Director in the Office of Marketing and Communications. In that capacity, she put together the first cooperative advertising campaign for the economic development community and brought together state economic development and tourism partners to create the $1.3 million "Taste of California" events touring the globe with the IMAX film Adventures in Wild California.

Susan is a native Californian who has enjoyed a wide-ranging career in California state government.

PRE-CONFERENCE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

CURT COTTLE

Curt Cottle

Curt Cottle is a consultant based in Columbia SC with more than 20 years experience in marketing and communications, as well as economic and community development. His expertise also includes local leadership and board development; heritage and cultural tourism development; fund-raising strategy and implementation; public policy development and advocacy. Current clients include state tourism offices, heritage areas, tourism regions and communities interested in asset-based strategies for development.

Previously, he was director of the Office of Heritage Tourism Development at the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. He also was the founding president of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, which his office later managed under an agreement with the nonprofit board of directors. Representing the Corridor, Curt served on the Executive Committee of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, for which he was the founding secretary-treasurer, 2001 national conference chairman and project leader for the creation of the Alliance's Heritage Development Institute. He also represented the group to Partners in Tourism: Culture & Commerce.

Curt holds a master's degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He also earned a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina, where he has served as adjunct faculty for both programs.

LINDA DONAVAN HARPER

Linda Donavan Harper

Linda Donavan Harper brings to her position more than 20 years in community and economic development, as well as demonstrated performance in nonprofit management and fundraising. As principal at LHarper & Associates, she worked with more than 200 communities, state agencies, corporations, and nonprofits in 30 states and three countries, developing a national reputation as a visionary strategic planner, creative thinker, and meeting developer.

Since 2000, Harper has also served as Chair of the Board to The Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery. With her broad, day-to-day duties, Harper worked as the de facto executive director of the organization. In this capacity, she was able to increase the organization's budget from $60,000 in 2000 to $550,000 in 2007, recruit more than 500 volunteers, and develop a fundraising strategy that has generated $7 million between 2002 and 2006. Located in Capitol Hill, the Cemetery has been a member of Cultural Tourism DC since 2002.

In addition, Harper worked as director for the professional exchange and community sustainability program at The Countryside Institute in New York. At the National Trust for Historic Preservation, she was a member of the management committee at the National Main Street Center, a widely recognized program including in Washington, DC.

Harper holds a BS in Humanities from Missouri Valley College (Marshall, Missouri) and has pursued graduate level work in art history at the University of Kansas, Lawrence and the University of Missouri, Columbia.

CAROLE SUMMERS MORRIS

Carole Summers Morris

Carole Summers Morris is the president of Meritage Consulting, LLC, located in Charlotte, NC. Prior to forming Meritage, Mrs. Morris served as the Director of Tourism for HandMade in America located in Asheville, North Carolina. HandMade is a regional non-profit organization that has been nurturing craft, culture, and community in western North Carolina for over a decade. In her job, Mrs. Morris oversaw all marketing and tourism related efforts for Handmade, managed the media and PR goals, provided workshops and training and was in charge of all of the organization's agricultural tourism efforts.

Mrs. Summers Morris has also served as the Cultural Heritage Tourism Director for the Kentucky Department of Travel, her work with other cultural heritage organizations includes Main Street programs in KY and TN. She holds an M.A. in Public History and Cultural Resource Management from the Middle Tennessee State University, a B.A. in Art Education from Murray State University, and her Tourism Marketing Professional certification from Southeast Tourism Society at North Georgia State University.

JOY YOUNG

Joy Young

Joy Young is an Arts Coordinator and the Program Director for two initiatives at the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC), Leadership and Organizational Development and Cultural Tourism. The Leadership and Organizational Development program is where Ms. Young manages a grant program and provides consulting and technical assistance services within the agency and to constituents statewide. As well, Ms. Young ensures the availability of training and consulting to arts organizations with the goal of developing arts leaders and sustainable arts organizations for a thriving arts environment in South Carolina. Ms. Young's Cultural Tourism responsibility includes managing a grant program which provides cultural tourism funding and consultations to organization for the development of cultural tourism products, projects and partnerships which create enhanced tourist experiences and generate economic impact through arts based tourism in South Carolina. Ms. Young's experience in arts administration, nonprofit governance and tourism product design gives her a unique perspective in creating well conceived arts based tourism products within the nonprofit arts structure.

Ms. Young holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College and a Master of Arts degree from City University of New York, Hunter College. Ms. Young's education and experience has been supplemented through participation in national workshops and conferences, certification from Communities In Schools-National, Inc. as a Certified Master Trainer and training through the Annie E. Casey Foundation as an Executive Transition Management Consultant.

Ms. Young is a conference presenter, trainer, facilitator, and consultant. She has served as board member to several arts organizations and is an active member in her local community by serving on school committees as a grant-writer, executive board member and youth mentor.

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

John M. Blades

JOHN M. BLADES

After a career spanning more than 20 years at another of America's best known Gilded Age historic house museums, Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California, John Blades was appointed Executive Director of the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in 1995. Since then he has developed all the Museum's policies, procedures and forms, from a mission statement to a collections policy, and completely revamped the Museum's operation. He has overseen improvements to the facility including a state-of-the-art climate control system, the replacement of 40,000 square feet of roof, the installation of a new electrical system, the construction of a new visitor parking lot, the installation of new admission kiosks, the construction of a new Museum Store, the construction of the new Flagler Kenan Pavilion, the rebuilding of Whitehall's dock, the restoration of the seawall, and the installation of a new elevator, research library, and additional staff offices. He has also supervised the creation of a new Web site, a new Docent Program, new event policies and a new series of award-winning Museum publications. Blades oversaw an extensive series of extensive conservation and restoration projects completed for Whitehall Centennial in 2002. These projects included the restoration of a 1,000 foot historic fence and the complete restoration of Whitehall's interiors, including reproductions of historic wallpapers.

Blades is a graduate of the Getty Trust's Museum Management Institute and has served as the Chairman of both the Cultural Executives Committee and the Long-Range Cultural Planning Committee of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. For the American Association of Museums (AAM), he served as the Treasurer/Secretary of the Historic House Museums Professional Interest Council, was a member of the 2000 Programming Committee, a reviewer for the Museum Assessment Program, and a surveyor for Accreditation Review. He has reviewed grants for General Operating Support and Museum Leadership for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and also for the Florida Division of Cultural Resources Cultural Institutions Program and the Division of Historical Resources Grants-in-Aid Program. In addition he has served as Vice President of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, on the Advisory Board of Governors for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, President of the Florida Art Museum Directors Association, and Board Member of the Florida Association of Museums.

Dr. Dale Brill

DR. DALE BRILL

Dr. Brill was recently appointed as Director of the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development by Governor Charlie Crist. Most recently, Dr. Brill served as Chief Marketing Officer for VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism industry marketing corporation.

Before joining VISIT FLORIDA, Dr. Brill championed global technology integration as one of four Global Business Leaders for General Motors Corporation.

His passion for innovation and entrepreneurialism was recognized by his selection to Fast Company Magazine's inaugural list of "Fast 50 Innovators." He has been named as one of the 25 Most Extraordinary Minds by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Dr. Brill admits to being overeducated and doesn't mind being called an academic. After earning his doctorate at the University of Tennessee, Dale served on the full-time faculties of both Boston University and Florida State University.

Dale is still an active baseball player, recently participating each of the last four years in the Roy Hobbs World Series. Dale bats right, throws right and scouting reports confirm he still has trouble handling sliders down and away.

SHARON CALCOTE

As the Director of Development and Sales, Sharon Calcote oversees the core programs of the Louisiana Office of Tourism. A 20-year veteran of the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Sharon spearheads the sponsorship/grant program, tourism product development efforts such as Louisiana Byways, Louisiana Cultural and Heritage Trails, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, as well as the domestic and international travel trade marketing and sales efforts. Her team links Louisiana communities and the Louisiana travel industry from ideas on the drawing board to the tourism trade and consumer marketplace.

She administers a sponsorship/grant program and has wide experience in finding unusual sources of funding. As state and federal grant funds dwindle, it has become much more necessary to be creative in project planning and budgeting. She has learned to capitalize on her experience as a grant writer and grant reviewer. Due to her expertise in economic development as well as the development of tourism resources, she has served as the Lieutenant Governor's designee on the State Bond Commission and the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, she serves on an Advisory Board for the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA) in Washington, DC; the Governor's Advisory Committee for Empowerment/Enterprise Zones Communities, and the Governor's Rivers, Trails and Recreation Advisory Board. Additionally, she serves on the Louisiana Folklife Commission as a vehicle to help communities to more fully develop authentic, quality tourism experiences in their respective communities.

RANDY COHEN

Randy Cohen

Randy Cohen is vice president of Policy & Research at Americans for the Arts, where he has developed the knowledge tools used to advance the arts in America since 1991. His recent work includes the two benchmark economic studies of the arts industry - Arts & Economic Prosperity 3, the national economic impact study of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences; and Creative Industries, a statistical mapping study of the nation's arts businesses using Dun & Bradstreet data. In 2006, he launched the National Arts Policy Roundtable in partnership with Robert Redford and the Sundance Preserve, a convening of national leaders who focus on issues critical to the advancement of American culture. Randy developed the Institute for Community Development and the Arts, which included working with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to create Coming Up Taller, the White House report documenting 225 arts programs for youth-at-risk; and the U.S. Department of Justice to produce the YouthARTS Project, the first national study to statistically document the impact of arts programs on at-risk youth. As a spokesman for Americans for the Arts, Randy has given speeches in 48 states and regularly appears in the news media including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on CNN and NPR.

Randy's background includes working as a policy and planning specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts, founding the San Diego Theatre for Young Audiences and serving as its managing director, and working in medical research for Stanford University and Scripps Clinic. He is a board member of the Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance and Takoma Park Arts & Humanities Commission. Randy lives with his wife and two children in Takoma Park, Maryland.

DIANE COLLONA, AICP

Diane Collona

Diane Colonna has twenty-five years of professional experience in public sector planning and redevelopment in the south Florida area. She managed the City of Hollywood's housing rehabilitation program for several years and later became the city's zoning supervisor. In the 1990's she was Director of the City of Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Department, helping to guide the renaissance of Delray's downtown from a distressed and blighted area to a thriving, popular urban center. Since 2000 Diane has held the position of Executive Director of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). She is charged with promoting the redevelopment of the CRA's 2000-acre district, which includes the downtown as well as several residential neighborhoods and outlying commercial corridors. Under her tenure the CRA spearheaded implementation of the Downtown Master Plan, produced architectural Design Guidelines for new development, and created a Community Land Trust to provide affordable housing.

Diane grew up in the Pittsburgh area and is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. She received her masters in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University, and has resided in Delray Beach since 1987.

GREG DUNN

Greg Dunn

Greg Dunn is VP/Director of Insights of Ypartnership, America's leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure and lifestyle clients. Ypartnership is an integrated marketing communications company that is known for its strategic thinking, breakthrough creativity and innovation in marketing practice. The firm's Research & Brand Strategy Group is also regarded as one of the most respected sources of insights on the emerging travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans and coauthors the widely acclaimed National Travel MONITOR™ survey with Yankelovich Partners.

As VP/Director of insights, Greg is responsible for composing, managing implementation and interpretation of marketing research authored by Ypartnership. He also plays an active role in the development of brand strategy.

Greg joined Ypartnership after acquiring more than 20 years of experience in various industry disciplines working in both management and marketing positions with organizations such as the Sea Island Company, The Boca Raton Resort and Club, The Greenbrier, Radisson, Sea Palms Resort, The Walt Disney Company® and Norwegian Cruise Lines. He also serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in teaching and research in the areas of consumer behavior, gaming and tourism.

Greg earned an MBA with a concentration in hospitality management from the University of Denver and a Ph.D. in hospitality administration with a major in marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also holds a diploma in hotel management from Ecole hôtelière, Lausanne, Switzerland, and is a member of both the American Marketing Association and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

MAYOR RITA ELLIS

Mayor Rita Ellis

A resident of Delray Beach since 1972, Rita Ellis has been one of the most pro-active citizens the City has ever seen. Married to Dean Ellis for over 34 years and the mother of 2 daughters, now 26 and 29 years of age, the couple established Climate Control Services which is now in its 33rd year of doing business in the City. Rita became President of the company in 1997. Rita became active with the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to their Board in 1995. She was Chairman of the Board in 2005. In the interim, Rita Ellis was recognized as Business Person of the Year 2000, and received the Ken Ellingsworth Community Service Award in 2001.

Rita Ellis has been most influential as the Chair of the Downtown Development Authority since 2000 and guided the DDA to become a major player in the Visions 2010 and Master Plan goals for Delray Beach. Rita has been a member of the Joint Venture Board, Neighborhood Advisory Board, Delray Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Beach Property Owners Association Board of Trustees. Rita was elected to her first term on the City Commission on March 8, 2005.

MARJORIE FERRER

Marjorie Ferrer

Marjorie Ferrer is the Executive Director for the Delray Beach Downtown Marketing Cooperative and the Downtown Development Authority. She has held these positions since 1993.

Marjorie has generated more than $3 million in monetary sponsor support and more than $10 million in in-kind sponsor support for events and programs since 1993. Together with local businesses and organizations, she has helped to strengthen and create many events for the purpose of economic development, bringing more than one million visitors to the downtown annually. She is responsible for promoting Delray Beach locally, nationally and internationally.

Marjorie has been a board member for Visit Florida's Cultural Heritage Tourism Committee since 2006. She also sits on the board for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families.

Prior to coming to Delray Beach, Marjorie held positions as Assistant Managing Director of the Miami Seaquarium and was the buyer for the Jordan Marsh group of department stores in Florida. She is married and lives in Delray Beach with her husband, Dr. Joseph Ferrer and two daughters, Alexandra and Darien.

JOE GILLIE

Joe Gillie

Joe Gillie has worked in the arts in Palm Beach County for 32 years. He started his South Florida career as a performer, scenic artist and the Public Relations Director for The Caldwell Theatre Company.

During his 16 year tenure as Executive Director for Old School Square Cultural Arts Center in Delray Beach, he has successfully interfaced with government and community agencies to create one of the most celebrated arts centers in South Florida. Old School Square has won local, state and national awards for preservation and innovative arts programs and was named one of the top three projects in the United States for using the arts to affect a positive change in the community by the International City/County Management Association.

Joe's many years of community service include co-chairing the Delray Beach Millennium Committee, directing Delray's winning 1993 and 2001 All-America City presentations, chairing the Palm Beach County Cultural Council's Cultural Executive Committee, and chairing the Palm Beach County Historical Centennial Committee. In 2001, he received the Ken Ellingsworth Community Involvement Award from the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Joe has a B.A. in Drama and Speech from Averett College in Danville, Virginia and an M.A. in Theater from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

GLENN HASTINGS

Glenn Hastings became executive director of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council almost 13 years ago. His responsibilities also include functioning as the President/CEO of The St. Johns County Visitors & Convention Bureau, aka St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches.

He has worked in Florida's tourism development industry for 26 years including leadership of CVB's in Daytona Beach and the Lakeland-Winter Haven area, and in market development with the former Florida Department of Commerce / Division of Tourism.

Glenn is a member of the Governor's Commission on Tourism, the Visit Florida Board of Directors, and former chair of the Florida Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus. He current chairs Visit Florida’s Advertising & Internet Committee.

DR. TERRY L. MAPLE

Dr. Terry L. Maple

In January 2003, Dr. Terry L. Maple retired as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Zoo Atlanta. Dr. Maple was appointed Zoo Director in 1984 by Mayor Andrew Young when the zoo was a unit of city government, directing all aspects of zoo management, including the programming and design, funding, and implementation of Zoo Atlanta's multi-million dollar revitalization plan. Upon his retirement from the zoo he was honored by the Board of Directors with the lifetime title "Director Emeritus".

During his eighteen years of leadership, Zoo Atlanta became recognized as one of the world's most innovative zoos. In 1987, and again in 2000, the zoo was honored by the Metropolitan Communities Foundation as Atlanta's "best-managed nonprofit corporation." During his tenure as CEO, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) presented five awards to the zoo for excellence in exhibit design and conservation. Zoo Atlanta's partnership with local television produced six Emmy Awards for local programming, and in 1991, the Georgia Wildlife Federation honored Zoo Atlanta as "Conservation Organization of the Year."

Dr. Maple is also Professor of Psychology and Elizabeth Smithgall Watts Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology (on leave) and the Director of the Georgia Tech Center for Conservation and Behavior. For twenty-six years he continuously taught the undergraduate course in Environmental Psychology at Georgia Tech, one of the longest running courses of its kind in the nation. He is the author and editor of more than 200 scientific publications, including Captivity & Behavior (1979), Gorilla Behavior (1980), Zoo Man (1993), Ethics on the Ark (1995), and Saving the Giant Panda (2000). He is the Founding Editor of the journal Zoo Biology published by Wiley-Blackwell, and a former President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Dr. Maple has mentored and trained 25 doctoral students who now occupy important positions in universities and zoological parks throughout the nation.

In June 2005, on-leave from Georgia Tech, he was named President/CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo, and Research Professor of Biology at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Maple's tenth book, A Contract with the Earth, coauthored with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, was published in 2007 by Johns Hopkins University Press.

KELLY MILLER

Kelly Miller

Kelly Miller, CDME, is currently the Executive Director of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mr. Miller has led the 23-member CVB team's efforts for nine years, resulting in unprecedented brand awareness of Asheville, including being named in 2007 as one of the 12 must see global destinations by Frommers, as well as the Bureau being selected as the CVB of the Year twice this decade by the Southeast Tourism Society. Under Kelly's leadership, their new 8,000 square foot visitor center which opened in 2006 attracting nearly 200,000 annual visitors, broke the mold of traditional visitor centers in design, functionality and revenue generation. The Center is considered by many as of of the best in the country. Prior to Kelly's move to Asheville, he worked for the Atlanta CVB for six years as Director of International Tourism, as well as serving as the Bureau's Olympic Games Manager and Director of the 24,000 square foot Welcome South Visitor Center in Atlanta. He is a native of Juneau, Alaska and was a former standup comic before deciding to keep his day job.

Kerri Post

KERRI POST

Kerri L. Post is Vice President of New Product Development for VISIT FLORIDA, the industry-driven, not-for-profit private/public partnership responsible for Florida's global tourism marketing efforts and the state's official source for travel planning.

Ms. Post is responsible for the development of vertical markets, such as the popular segments of nature-based tourism, arts and cultural heritage tourism, and rural tourism. The New Product Development department's goal is to increase new and repeat visitors, extend visitor stays, and spread the economic benefits of tourism throughout the state by highlighting new vacation experiences.

The department produces numerous marketing programs and specialty publications, such as VISIT FLORIDA's Downtowns & Small Towns program and the Trails brochures series (Biking, Hiking and Paddling). The department also provides educational and training programs to assist the industry in product development and marketing initiatives, and offers outreach programs of technical and funding assistance to Florida's 32 designated rural counties. The department works in conjunction with the New Product Development Council, a statewide body of more than 50 industry leaders appointed by VISIT FLORIDA's Board of Directors.

Ms. Post, a second-generation Florida native, serves on numerous committees and boards. Most recently on Americans for the Arts Partners in Tourism, Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development - Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), The Florida Association of Museums Foundation, The Great Florida Birding Trail Steering Committee and the Florida Dept. of Transportation's Scenic Highway Advisory Committee. She was also named one of Florida's Tourism & Hospitality "Trendsetters" in 2004 by Florida Trend magazine. Ms. Post graduated with a Bachelor of Science in marketing and economics from the University of South Florida and resides in Tallahassee, Florida.

RODNEY J. REYNOLDS

Rodney Reynolds

Rodney J. Reynolds, President of RJR Communications, Inc. is the Founder and Publisher of American Legacy Magazine and Executive Producer of American Legacy Television. American Legacy celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout the entire year of 2005.

A Cleveland native, Rodney attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in Graphic Design and Advertising. He has worked for several area companies as an advertising/marketing consultant, yet his first love has always been publishing. Rodney embarked on his first publishing venture with a national, general-purpose publication targeted for Black men, Spectrum Magazine.

Since that time, Rodney's creativity and drive have brought forth such publications as New Visions and the highly successful Renaissance Magazine. Both magazines emphasized black history. Rodney also developed Today's Black Father, which underlined his concern for the black family.

In 1992, Rodney teamed with Corporate Cleveland Magazine and developed Minority Business, a quarterly publication. He served as publisher and editor.

Rodney is currently involved in a joint venture with American Heritage magazine, a division of FORBES Inc. located in New York. This publication, American Legacy, celebrates African-American history and culture. In February 2001, RJR Communications and New Millennium Studios launched American Legacy Television, a nationally syndicated TV program.

In 1998, Rodney was the recipient of the Forty Under 40 award from The Network Journal. In addition, Delta Sigma Theta honored his work with the magazine by awarding him the Lillian Award, its biannual award given to professionals in the communications field. In 1999, Rodney was one of seven individuals recognized by Alan G. Hevesi, Comptroller of the City of New York, for his professional accomplishments. In addition, he received the Key to the City of Evansville, Indiana, and was the recipient of the Percy E. Sutton Award presented annually by the Harlem Business Alliance. Mr. Reynolds also received the "Visionary Award" from the African-American Men of Westchester, the National Business Leader of the Year award from the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland County and the 2002 Triangle of Service award from the Southeast Regional African-American Preservation Alliance. In 2004, Mr. Reynolds was the recipient of the inaugural Earl G. Graves Entrepreneurial Award and in 2005 he was the recipient of the W.O. Walker Community Excellence Award. In 2008 Mr. Reynolds will be inducted into the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.

Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Mount Vernon Public Library, YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester, The Harriett Tubman Home and Rye Country Day School. He is also the Diversity Chairperson for The New York Blood Center/ Westchester Region. His schedule also includes speaking engagements across the country. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Rodney and his wife Lillian are the proud parents of two sons, Rodney Jeremiah, and Richard Joshua. The family attends Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, New York.

CHEF CRAIG SCHMANTOWSKY

Craig Schmantowsky

Chef Craig Schmantowsky is a graduate of Florida International University's School of Hospitality Management and Johnson & Wales University. He holds a Master of Science in Hotel and Foodservice Management, a Bachelor of Science in Foodservice Management and an Associates of Science in Culinary Arts with a concentration in Baking and Pastry Arts.

His Hospitality experience includes Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach and the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, FL. Chef Schmantowsky has traveled around the United States to compete in American Culinary Federation Competitions. He has won several awards both as a professional and as a student competitor.

He is a member of the Florida Restaurant Association and the American Culinary Federation and has received the CHRIE Awards for Apprenti Cuisinier. Craig was the Professional Chefs Association Junior Member of the Year and received 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals in American Culinary Federation competitions. He was also awarded Second place in the Florida Citrus Dessert Classic.

Chef Schmantowsky is currently Chef-In-Residence and Instructor with the College of Hospitality Management at Lynn University in Boca Raton, where his talent and passion for the culinary arts combine to create didactic and experiential situations for students, sometimes taking them around the world as part of the learning experience. After all, as Chef Schmantowsky says "It's all about the food!"

BARBARA STEINFELD

Barbara Steinfeld

Barbara is the Vice President of Tourism Sales for Travel Portland, the CVB of Portland, Oregon. Until recently, she was the cultural tourism director there, the fourth one in the country to be hired by a visitors bureau. Barbara has a BA in anthropology from Northwestern University, 30 years of tourism marketing experience and an appreciation for all art forms. She moved to Portland in 1997 from Florida where she worked in international tourism for nine years, particularly in Latin America and Europe, with the Tampa Convention & Visitors Bureau. Previously Barbara was a development consultant in the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Tourism Division. Originally from Omaha, Barbara spent eight years in Israel where she worked as a tour guide, a community development officer for Save the Children and with turkeys. (Yes, the gobble, gobble kind!)

Barbara is a founding member and past chair of the Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance, a Certified Tour Professional of the National Tourism Association and happily serves on the Boards of Directors of the Travel Industry Association of America's National Attractions Council and National Council of Destination Organizations. She sings alto in the Oregon Repertory Singers and serves on the advisory councils of the Portland Jazz Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival.

VIRGINIA VANN

Virginia Vann

In her role as Vice President of Institutional Marketing, Virginia Vann is responsible for marketing strategy across the Woodruff Arts Center’s four divisions (Alliance Theater, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art and Young Audiences) to increase awareness, access and sales for the Center as a whole. Working with a cross divisional team she is responsible for packaging, promotion and new product development to attract new audiences and to make the Woodruff Arts Center a “must see” destination. Before assuming this role, she served as the director of marketing and development for the Alliance Theatre where she was responsible for marketing, communications, sales, development and customer relationships for the premier theatre of the Southeast.

Prior to formally joining the Alliance, Ms. Vann held a variety of prominent senior executive leadership positions for major corporations such as AT&T, Citicorp and Northwest Airlines. She has managed revenue budgets in excess of $14 billion and been the driving force behind major consumer product launches, as well as high level business development, sales, marketing, planning and operations efforts.

Ms. Vann’s wealth of experience and impressive accomplishments over the past 25 years culminated in her appointment in 2000 as Chief Marketing Officer for Cingular Wireless. As the company’s highest ranking female executive, Ms. Vann and her 400-person team created what quickly became one of the most recognized brands in the country out of the 11 different BellSouth Mobility and SBC Wireless operating companies.

A lifelong arts enthusiast, Ms. Vann served on the Board of Directors for the Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, CA from 1997 to-1998 and on the Alliance Theatre Board from 2001 to 2004. After serving as a volunteer marketing consultant for the Alliance and transitioning to the non-profit realm, Ms. Vann was invited to apply her strategic marketing expertise to the Alliance in 2003. In 2006, through an effort called “one customer, one voice” the marketing and development functions were combined to more effectively focus on the Theatre’s customers.

A Georgian since childhood, Ms. Vann holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Ken Large.

RICH WEIDEMAN

Rich Weideman

Began employment at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in 1981 as a seasonal Ranger on Alcatraz received permanent status the following year. In 1983 was appointed the Lead ranger on Alcatraz, then the Site Supervisor on Alcatraz and by 1988 the Operations Supervisor. Detailed to the District Ranger at Muir Woods National Monument in 1989. In 1990 became the Fort Point and Presidio District Ranger, and in 1996 was promoted to the South District Ranger for Interpretation at GGNRA. Acted as the Chief of Interpretation and Education from September 1999 to June 2000. November 2000, promoted to position of Chief of Public Affairs at Golden Gate.

Rich received his Bachelor of Science in Resource Conservation, 1981, University of Montana, at Missoula. His major accomplishments include: Major accomplishments include: Assisted in develop the award winning Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour in 1987 and the revised Audio Tour in 2006; worked on the Presidio Planning and Management Team to develop the Presidio General Management Plan; worked the team that developed a video and an audio program for Fort Point National Historic Site; was a team member with the group that developed the Crissy Field Restoration and Implementation Plan; Project manager for the development of the very successful Alcatraz Evening Program, which began in July of 1997; Project Manager the team that developed the new Accessibility Tram for visitors on Alcatraz; in 1998 was on the National Park Service management team that wrote the DO 17 the Director's policy on Tourism; Project Manager for the new Alcatraz Discovery Channel Video; in Spring 2006 was selected for a three month detail as the Unilever Management Fellow specializing in marketing; and in 1998-Present NPS Tourism Policy Council member.