Convention Sales & Services Committee

The Convention Sales & Services Committee actively reviews and develops strategies and best practices that will support the CVB Convention Sales and Services teams as they navigate the ever-evolving needs of the Business Events Strategist and their corresponding organization. Through the committees’ efforts, CVBs become better equipped to deliver a value proposition that makes them critical in the meeting and event planning and actualization process. Destinations are encouraged to have both a sales and services team member represented and industry partners that have a direct working relationship with CVB Sales and Services teams are also welcomed to volunteer.

2023 Committee Members​

  • Adrienne Siemers, Chief Sales Officer, Nashville CVC
  • Aly Fernandez, AVP Destination Services and VICs, Discover The Palm Beaches
  • Amanda Fox, Director of Event Services, Visit Rochester
  • Amy Zientek, Director of Sales, Visit Lubbock
  • Aurelia Welsh, Senior Director of Sales & Special Events, Visit Baltimore
  • Brandon Hall, Director of Meeting & Convention Sales, Florida, Discover The Palm Beaches
  • Carolyn Martin, Destination Experience Sr. Manager, Visit Orlando
  • Cathy Keller, VP of Sales & Services, Visit Omaha
  • Chelsea Kendall (Whitman), Account Manager, Destination Marketing, Cvent
  • Christine "Shimo" Shimasaki, Managing Director, 2Synergize, a Simpleview consulting company
  • Dana Maugans, Director of Sales, Springfield, MO Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • David Buckenberger, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Deb Goedeke, Destination Services Manager, Discover Albany, Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Desiree Everett, Vice President of Convention Sales, Travel Portland
  • Dustin Arnheim, Choose Chicago (Co-Chair)
  • Fig Wirkler, Director of Sales, Visit Boulder, The Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Jason Lusk, Associate Vice President, Convention Sales, VISIT DENVER
  • Jennifer Vacek, Director, Convention Sales, VisitPITTSBURGH
  • Jon Hixon, Managing Director of Sales, Visit Indy
  • Joyce Russell, Managing Director of Sales, Visit Indy
  • Kelli Blubaum, VP of Convention Sales & Services, Experience Scottsdale
  • Kylie Leslie, Destination Services Manager, Visit Phoenix 
  • Lauren Hyps, Associate Director of Sales, VISITMilwaukee
  • Leslie Johnson, Vice President of Sales & Event Experiences, VISIT Milwaukee
  • Lisa Chamberlain, Group Sales Manager / Tourism Sales Specialist III, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
  • Liz Dane, Regional Director Mid Atlantic, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
  • Lora Stanley, Vice President of Convention Sales, Visit Anaheim
  • Marci Krueger‑Sidebottom, Vice President of Sales and Services, VisitLex
  • Maria Herring, Vice President of Sales and Services, VisitNorfolk
  • Marianne Schmidhofer, Director, Meetings, & Convention Services, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Mario Bass, Chief Sales Officer, Visit San Antonio
  • Mariya Baker, Director of Sales, Explore Branson
  • Mark Lynch, Chief Client Officer, Tempest
  • Michelle Moore, Experience Kissimmee (Co-Chair)
  • Mya Surrency, Co-Founder, Digital Edge
  • Natalie Jamieson, Insights Group Team Lead, Zartico
  • Nathan Hermiston, SVP Sales & Services, Visit KC 
  • Olivia Puglisi, Director of Customer Experience, Visit Baltimore
  • Richard Allchild, Head of Sales, North America, IMEX Group
  • Roberta Tisdul, Director of Convention Services, Visit Indy
  • Rosanna McNeal, Convention Services Manager, VisitNorfolk
  • Scott Craighead, Vice President, Sales, Services, and Sports, Visit Albuquerque
  • Sonia  Fong, Senior Vice President, Convention Development, Louisville Tourism
  • Thomas Riel, Senior Vice President, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Tony Snell Rodriguez, Visitor Experience Manager, Visit Milwaukee
  • Trina Flack, VP of Sales, Catch Des Moines
  • Zac Craig, President, Visit Oklahoma City

Destinations International Staff Liaison

  • Emily Scheiderer, Director of Education, Sales and Services

     

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