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Tim Smith
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Destinations International Announces 68 CDME Recipients
Certification represents tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement
TAMPA, FLORIDA, USA (July 17, 2024) – Destinations International announced that 68 industry leaders earned the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation in 2024. They were recognized at the association’s Annual Convention which takes place July 16-18 in Tampa, Florida, USA.
“Congratulations to the new CDME credential recipients, representing the pinnacle of individual accomplishment in the tourism sector,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “These distinguished leaders have enhanced their professional expertise, preparing themselves to navigate the evolving challenges and competitive dynamics within our industry.”
“Earning the CDME designation marks a significant professional milestone, as it challenges destination leaders to innovate and adapt within our ever-changing sector,” noted Brett Oetting, CDME, President and CEO of Visit Corpus Christi and Chair of the CDME Board of Directors. “In today’s complex environment, it’s crucial that senior executives possess the strategic skills necessary to advance their communities and organizations.”
The CDME program is the only industry certification program specifically designed for destination management professionals and is the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement. The program is designed to prepare destination organization professionals to leverage their experience and to apply their knowledge with a focus on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
2024 CDME recipients:
• Alana Cooper, CDME, President/CEO, Discover Monroe-West Monroe
• Alex Batista, CDME, Vice President, Convention Sales, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Alicia Richie Quinn, CDME, Deputy Executive Director, New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism
• Amanda Eckelbarger, CDME, Director of Destination Brand & Data Intelligence, Elkhart County, IN CVB
• Amanda Fox, CDME, Vice President, Operations & Events, Visit Rochester
• AnaLaura Becerra, CDME, Director of Sales, Travel Santa Ana
• Anna Pohl, CDME, General Manager, Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Annette Pitts, CDME, CEO, Experience Olympia & Beyond
• Bill Solleder, CDME, Director of Marketing, Visit Hot Springs
• Blake Henry, CDME, Executive Director, Visit South Padre Island
• Bree Nidds, CDME, Chief Operating Officer, Discover Lehigh Valley
• Cambria Jones, CDME, Vice President of Marketing, SearchWide Global
• Carla Tate, CDME, Executive Director, Tangipahoa Parish CVB
• Casey Ressler, CDME, President & CEO, Mat-Su CVB
• Catherine Callary, CDME, Vice President, Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
• Claude Molinari, CDME, President & CEO, Visit Detroit
• Cynthia Eichler, CDME, President and CEO, Visit Fort Collins
• Dave Rodney, CDME, President & CEO, SpiritQuest Enterprises
• David Bradley, CDME, Vice President of Business Development, Visit Shreveport Bossier
• David Howard-Wells, CDME, Senior Vice President of Marketing, JNS Next
• Davis Meyer, CDME, Vice President of Government & Industry Relations, Visit Greater Palm Springs
• Donald R. Chube, Jr, CDME, Director of Partnerships and Special Projects, Louisiana Office of Tourism
• Donna O’Daniels, CDME, President and CEO, Visit The Northshore
• Emily Eiland Gonzalez, CDME, Destination Strategy Director, Madden Media
• Emily Zertuche, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Corpus Christi
• Erica Bhakta, CDME Global Account Executive, ConferenceDirect
• Erin White, CDME, Director, Strategic Development, Envisionit Agency
• Heath Dillard, CDME, President & CEO, VisitGreenvilleSC
• Heather Larson, CDME, President & CEO, Meet Chicago Northwest
• Hilina D. Ajakaiye, CDME, Executive Vice President, Meet Boston
• Jamie Patrick, CDME, Executive Vice President Sales and Sports Strategy, Destination Madison
• Jane Ghosh, CDME, President & CEO, Discover Kalamazoo
• Janis Logsdon, CDME, Assistant Director, Elkhart County, IN CVB
• Jayna Montgomery Leach, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Panama City Beach
• Jennifer Bowen, CDME, VP of Destination Development & Community Engagement, Destination Augusta
• Jennifer Vigil, CDME, President & CEO, Destination Panama City
• Jerrine Lee, CDME, Vice President of Sales, Visit Richmond, Virginia
• Jody MacArthur, CDME, Director of Marketing & Sales, Destination Cape Breton
• John Maguire, CDME, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Visit Lake County, Illinois
• John Urdi, CDME, Executive Director, Visit Mammoth Lakes Tourism
• Juliet Velazquez, CDME, Insights Manager, Tourism Economics
• Karen Morris, CDME, Director of Sales, Walton County Tourism/Visit South Walton
• Katie Guasco, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit The Northshore
• Kelly Haussler, CDME, Director, Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
• Lance Woodworth, CDME, President & CEO, Destination Toledo
• Leslie Bruce, CDME, President & CEO, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism
• Luanne Mattson, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, SoIn Tourism
• Maria Grasso, CDME, Chief Sales Officer, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Mark Brazeau, CDME, Director of Group Sales and Relationship Management, Destination Toledo
• Mina Robertson, CDME, Vice President, Miles Partnership
• Mitch Whitten, CDME, Chief Operating Officer, Visit Fort Worth
• Nancy Small, CDME, CEO, Tourism Richmond
• Ned Blair, CDME Director of Sales, Visit Charlotte
• Nerissa Okiye, CDME, Tourism Director, Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing
• Nicole Hankton, CDME, Executive Vice President of Visitors Bureat, Visit Walnut Creek
• Nikki Taylor, CDME, Destination Manager, Discover Avondale
• Omark A. Holmes, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Huntington Beach
• Rebecca Mackenzie, CDME, President & CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance
• Renee McKenney, CDME, President, Tulsa Regional Tourism
• Sonia Fong, CDME, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, MDM Hotel Group
• Terry Natwick, CDME, Sales and Marketing Manager, Discover Crystal River Florida
• Tracy Berkeley, CDME, Chief Executive Officer, Bermuda Tourism Authority
• Tracy Browning, CDME, Executive Director, Ascension Parish Tourism Commission
• Trevor Tkach, CDME, President & CEO, Traverse City Tourism
• Vanessa L. Puopolo, CDME, Vice President, Visit Fresno County
• Wendy Olson Killion, CDME, Founder, Wendy OK Consulting
• Whitney Waara, CDME, Chief Operating Officer, Traverse City Tourism
• Yvonne Chau, CDME, Destination Development Manager, Travel Alberta
For more information about CDME or Destinations International, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
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About Destinations International
Destinations International is the world’s largest and most reliable resource for destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 8,000 members and partners from over 750 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward-thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About the Author
Tim Smith has 20+ years of strategic communications experience spanning roles in government, industry, agency and association settings. Most recently, he led corporate communications for Delaware North, a global leader in travel, hospitality and entertainment. Previously, he was Managing Director – West Coast at APCO Worldwide and Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Edelman, providing clients with senior communications and public affairs counsel. He has lived and worked outside the United States for more than a decade, including as a U.S. diplomat tasked with promoting trade and investment.
As Vice President of Communications, Tim is responsible for development and execution of strategic communications to support the association’s mission, enhance and elevate brand, and strengthen impact. He serves as primary contact for media and manages communication with global stakeholders, including association leaders, members, policymakers, media, academia, tourism industry and staff.
Tim is active in civic and professional organizations and has served on the boards of the Public Affairs Council, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and PRSA Puget Sound, among others. He has three grown children and currently resides with his wife outside of Buffalo, New York.