Destinations International Announces 70 CDME Recipients

Destinations International Announces 70 CDME Recipients

Certification represents tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement

PORTLAND, Ore., USA (July 22, 2026) – Destinations International announced that 70 industry leaders earned the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation in 2026. They were recognized at the association’s 2026 Annual Convention taking place July 21-23 in Portland, Oregon, USA.

“We congratulate the newest recipients of the CDME credential, the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement,” said Don Welsh, president & CEO of Destinations International. “Their commitment to professional growth reflects the leadership, expertise and forward-looking perspective needed to guide destination organizations through an increasingly complex and competitive environment.”

“Achieving the CDME designation is an important milestone that reflects both rigorous learning and a commitment to leadership excellence,” said Kathleen Davis, CDME, president & CEO, Destinations Texas, and chair of the CDME Board. “The program equips senior destination professionals with the strategic insight and practical skills to strengthen their organizations, serve their communities and help shape the future of our industry.”

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.

2026 CDME recipients

• James Adams, CDME, Executive Vice President Commercial and CFO, Destination Greater Victoria

• Derek Allman, CDME, Associate Director of Marketing & Communications, Visit Raleigh

• Amanda Auer, CDME, Operations Director, Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau

• Tania Armenta, CDME, President & CEO, Visit Albuquerque

• Brenda Armstrong, CDME, Senior Director, Co-Op Development, Sojern

• Adam Berrios, CDME, Executive Director, Visit Sandy Springs

• Jamie Bohler Smith, CDME, Executive Director/CEO, Visit Hendricks County

• Jennifer Brannon, CDME, National Account Director, Visit Newport Beach

• Nicole Brown, CDME, VP of Operations + Partnerships, Culinary Tourism Alliance

• Nicolle Campbell, CDME, Director of Sales, Visit Fort Wayne

• Jennifer Christie, CDME, Director of Marketing and Industry Relations, Visit Loudoun

• Chelsea Cipriani, CDME, Vice President of Platforms, Tempest

• Dan Cook, CDME, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Marcus Cox, CDME, Executive Director, Welcome to Memphis

• Zac Craig, CDME, Director of Sales & Marketing, Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate

• Dylan Deane-Boyle, CDME, President & CEO, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

• Kera Deakins, CDME, Deputy Director, Visit Laramie - Albany County Tourism Board (WY)

• Kara Dense, CDME, President and CEO, Greenbrier County Convention andVisitors Bureau, Inc.

• Erin Dinkel, CDME, Director of Research, Downs & St. Germain Research

• Marlo Dorsey, CDME, CEO, Visit Hattiesburg

• Nicole Everett, CDME, Communications Director, WCFL Tourism

• Kinney Ferris, CDME, Executive Director, Visit Oxford (MS)

• Rachel-Jean Firchau, CDME, Founder & Head of Content Strategy, Rachel Off Duty

• Emily Forsha, CDME, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, Travel Lane County

• Sara Foster Calero, CDME, President, Oneida County Tourism

• John Friebele, CDME, Executive Director, Destination Bryan

• Kristen Guthrie, CDME, VP, Marketing and Communications, Visit Fort Wayne

• Tony Hall, CDME, Chief Operating Officer, Discover Durham

• Mackenzi Havlicek, CDME, Executive Director, Visit Eau Claire

• Tammy J. Heon, CDME, Manager, Tourism Development, Florida Adventure Coast

• Charlene Hoffman, CDME, CEO, Visit Boulder CO

• Rachel Insler, CDME, Vice President of Marketing, NYC Tourism and Conventions

• Jon Jarosh, CDME, Chief Communications Officer, Destination Door County

• Kristen Jahn Smith, CDME, Executive Director, Visit Cranbrook

• D. Bradley Kent, CDME, SVP and Chief Sales Officer, Visit Dallas

• Sean Keliiholokai, CDME, Chief Sales Officer, Visit West Hollywood

• Kristen Keltz, CDME, CEO, Skagit Tourism Bureau

• Jody Kirk, CDME, Destination Stewardship Manager, Tourism Tofino

• Brett Laiken, CDME, RBI Partnerships

• Kay Maghan, CDME, Public Relations Manager, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism

• Ami McCormick, CDME, Senior Manager, National Sales, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

• Karen Mitchell, CDME, Senior Destination Project Manager, Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4)

• Cahal Mowery, CDME, Vice President of Sales, Choose Chicago

• Kim Mueller, CDME, Director of Sales, Ocean City 

• Chris Peters, CDME, CEO, Explore Burnaby

• Carly Pereboom, CDME, Executive Director, Tourism Nanaimo

• Jonathan Pettus, CDME, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Jackson

• Todd Read, CDME, Senior Tourism Manager, Go SoIN

• Tyler Riopel, CDME, CEO, Tourism Jasper

• Cara Rousseau, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer, Discover Durham

•  Michael Rudowski, CDME, Vice President of Research & Insights, Visit Dallas

• Amanda Scherlin, CDME, Vice President of Visitor Experience, Visit Estes Park

• Katy Schneider, CDME, Vice President of Marketing, Visit Fort Collins

• Erin Scott, CDME, Director of Destination Sales, Explore Utah Valley

• Ashley Sneed, CDME, Marketing Manager, DED MO GOV

• Sheila Snow, CDME, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Discover Monroe West Monroe

• Adam Stoker, CDME, President/CEO, The Brand Revolt

• Deana Taylor Brewer, CDME, VP HR and Employee Engagement, Visit Cincy

• Melissa Thomas, CDME, Director of Marketing & Tourism, Celina Economic Development Corporation

• Kathleen Trainor, CDME, Executive Director, Tourism Barrie

• Heather Walker, CDME, VP of Client Services, Visit Dallas

• Jessica Waters, CDME, Marketing and Communications Director, Ocean City

• Marissa Werner, CDME, Director of Sports Milwaukee, Sports Milwaukee

• Aaron Werner, CDME, Executive Director, Visit McKinney

• Carl Whitehill, CDME, Vice President, Destination Gettysburg

• Annie Wise, CDME, Executive Director, Sunshine Coast Tourism

• Helen Wilson, CDME, CEO, Wind River Visitors Council

• Claudia Wood, CDME, Global Sales Manager, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB / Florida's Paradise Coast (Collier County)

• Glorianna Yamin, CDME, Vice President of Marketing, Discover Puerto Rico

• Stefanie Zinke, CDME, Vice President of Global Sales, Visit Tampa Bay
   

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