A 30-year veteran of the Irving CVB, Maura was named executive director in October 2003.  A leading business travel destination, Irving is home to the world headquarters of ExxonMobil, Kimberly-Clark, Flowserve and Fluor, among others.  She led the team that delivered the on-time, under-budget and architecturally distinctive Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, and has oversight of its day-to-day operations, which prior to COVID averaged 250 events per year.

As Chief Advocacy Officer, Jack Johnson manages the overall public policy operations at Destinations International including member advocacy education and training, development of destination tools and best practices, coalition work with peer organizations, industry research and related public affairs activities.  He also oversees the board governance, the Destination Management Accreditation Program (DMAP) and the DestinationNEXT (Assessments and Planning) Program. 

Julie is a nationally recognized industry expert on DMO and Association finances.  Since founding CFO by design in 2012, Julie has had the privilege of working with DMOs and associations across the nation, providing strategic consulting, ensuring financial accountability, and most importantly, giving confidence to her clients.  Julie is a sought after speaker providing executive education and insight into timely and relevant issues (such as navigating the Payroll Protection Program and understanding legislation that impacts DMO’s and Associations).  

Introduced to the world of destination organizations by a random internship application to Visit Baltimore (then known as Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association), Andreas Weissenborn began an unexpected career into hospitality that left him with a continued passion towards the tourism industry.

As Vice President of Marketing for Travel Manitoba, Cody leads dynamic marketing strategies that catapult Manitoba into the global spotlight. His innovative approach leverages cutting-edge trends and disruptive technologies to significantly boost visitation to the province, enhancing its reputation as a premier destination.

Vimal Vyas is Vice President of Data, Security and Digital Innovation for the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. As data and digital innovation VP, he is responsible for leading the Bureau's strategic data and technology innovation programs as well as integrated digital efforts, including digital product (web/mobile) development, data integration, cloud-based software solutions, infrastructure, content/Internet marketing technologies and business analytics/intelligence.

Emily Scheiderer is a hospitality enthusiast with a background that includes both DMO and hotel experience. Emily’s passion for inclusivity has driven her to make meaningful connections both in and out of the industry that have included a two-year commitment to the ISAE Government Affairs committee and serving as an ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s ResearcHERS campaign. As a self-described “data nerd”, she enjoys any opportunity to expand her mind and learn. 

Read some of Emily's recent publications: 

With over ten years of tourism industry experience, Alyssa Poulin is Destinations International's Director of Content Development. Alyssa leads content strategy, creation, and distribution within the Destinations International Advocacy & Research Team. She creates and curates compelling content about destination organizations, the tourism industry, and Destinations International's tools and offerings. With a deep background in destination development, she believes in the power of sustainable travel.