Annette Rummel joined the Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau as president and CEO in 2009. As chief executive officer, Annette leads the individual Destination Marketing and Management Organizations (DMMOs) of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties and the Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB. This has allowed Annette and her team to invite the world to visit a place they proudly call home. Annette has served the Michigan travel and tourism industry for over 40 years. Before her roles with the Great Lakes Bay Region, Annette was the CEO of the Saginaw County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau – Michigan’s #1 community destination.

As President & CEO of Destination Augusta since 2018, he’s led a transformative rebrand and Strategic Plan using DestinationNEXT. With over 20 years in the industry, Bennish previously led tourism efforts in Tacoma, WA, and Rock Hill, SC. He began his career in communications and remains a dedicated storyteller and community connector. Bennish serves on several local and national boards, including the Destinations International Association Board. A proud Gamecock, he holds degrees in broadcast journalism and communications from the University of South Carolina.