PEOPLE
In Memoriam: A message from Visit Philly:
as President & CEO in 2018.
Jeff was the author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing” and co-authored “Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality: A Guide for Business Practice.”
New York City has a new mayor. Hours before being sworn in as the 110th mayor during the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, Eric Adams announced several key appointments, including tourism.
By Krystalb97 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72845653
Fred Dixon is to continue in his role as president & CEO of NYC & Company. Dixon joined the DMO as a vice president in 2005.
Alexis Berggren is appointed president & CEO at Visit Evansville, Indiana. She takes over the role from Jim Wood and joins from Old National Events Plaza where she had been general manager since 2017.
Jeff LeMaster has been named Chief of Communications for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. He moves across from the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment.
Ariane Hiltebrand is the new Director of Marketing and External Relations at Miami Beach Convention Center. She joins from Sonoma County Tourism where she had been for the past 10 years, most recently as Director of Marketing Planning & Insights.
Scott Peacock is the new Director of Tourism Marketing at Visit North Carolina. He was with Visit Raleigh as Director of PR & International Tourism for five years and was also previously in a PR role at Visit North Carolina.
In Virginia, Kristi Olsen-Hayes has been appointed Deputy Director, for the York County Economic Development and Tourism Development. She has been with the department for nearly 20 years.
Margie Sitton has announced her retirement from the San Diego Tourism Authority. She departs as Senior Vice President – Sales, a position she has held since 2008.
John A. Marshall departs as Senior Director – Tourism Market Development at NYC & Company. Prior to joining in 2018, he had been with Top of the Rock Observation. Desk for 12 years and also led pre-opening sales for the NFL Experience Times Square, produced by Cirque du Soleil.
Rachel Riley has been promoted to Associate Vice President of Communications at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. She joined the organization in 2017 and was named to the 2021 Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
Also at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Scott Higgins, who joined the team in 2017, has been promoted to Director of Sales.
Gonzalo Rubio has started in a new position as Sports & Entertainment Sales Manager at Visit Lauderdale. He joined the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2017.
Jerrine Lee has been promoted to Vice President of Sales at Richmond Region Tourism in Virginia. She joined the organization in 2016 and moves across from Vice President of Sports.
Jordan Musall, Data Intelligence Advisor, departs Indiana’s Hamilton County Tourism after 7.5 years to join SMARInsights in Indianapolis as a research analyst.
Marc Fein has departed his role as Director of Strategic Communications for the City of Fort Lauderdale, moving to Texas to join the communications team for the City of Irving, Texas.
After providing care on behalf of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau to the meetings industry for nearly 24 years, Director of Sales Maureen Buckley has transitioned from that role to provide care to her sister.
Rostana Wardack takes on a new position as Director-National Accounts, West at NYC & Company. She has been in senior sales roles at Fairmont, Marriott International, and Caesars Entertainment Group.
Julie Holman has joined Destinations International as Vice President-Membership Engagement. She had been working in a contract role for DI since last summer. Holman’s background includes key roles at MPI and Destination Toronto.
Brian Screptock, MBA joins the team at Longwoods International as Director of Client Services. A tourism research professional, Screptock’s experience includes Brand USA.
Nina Williams brings her experience and talents to MMGY Global as Associate Art Director based in Greater Kansas City.
Steve Jaffe has joined Zartico as Product Marketing Manager. His experience is in tourism, media, and technology, including an earlier role at Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.
Ashley Dowgwillo has joined the team at Paradise Advertising and Marketing as an Account Director based in Austin. Her DMO experience. includes Marketing & Music Manager at Visit Austin.
Ellison “Tommy” Thompson has been named as the new CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority succeeding longtime leader Racquel Brown. He had been Deputy Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
