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As senior vice president of Sales at the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, James Jessie, Jr. over- sees the daily operations of the sales department. This includes citywide sales for the Phoenix Convention Center as well as hotel sales represent- ing all Greater Phoenix hotels and resorts. To date, Jessie's major accom- plishment is leading the sales effort to successfully open the $600 million expanded Phoenix Convention Center which was accompanied by a $350 million headquarter hotel. Jessie started with the Greater Phoenix CVB as a national sales manager in 1999, and served as director of Sales before assuming his current post. Jessie previously worked in sales at both the Lane County CVA and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association. BrianWalker is a convention servic- esmanager for theDetroitMetro Con- vention and Visitors Bureau (DMC- VB). In this role, he advises meeting professionals and local host committees on available member and DMCVB services.Walkerworkswith internal and external customers while serving as a liaison between themeeting profession- al, DMCVB industry partners and metro Detroit's hospitality community to secure the necessary contracted services to facilitate a successful and effective event. Walker is a CertifiedMeeting Professional (CMP) with dis- tinguished performance in operations, meeting planning, sales and marketing and food and beverage. Prior to joining the DCMCVB, he worked at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. Hospitality veteran Lee Weinstock has been appointed the new director of sales forHalfMoon, a RockResort, inRoseHall, Jamaica. In his new role, Weinstock will concentrate on driving sales for the 400-acre resort,advancing and maintaining relationships with key partners as well as leading a sales team consisting of wedding and event planners, group and travel industry sales personnel.He brings over 20 years of experience in the travel industry to HalfMoon, previously serving as the group sales manager at Secrets Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica, as well as director of destination services at both the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, Florida. 12 As account director (Eastern Region) for the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, Theda "TJ" Jackson is responsible for bringing national convention groups based in the north- east and southeast U.S., as well as national African-American groups, to Austin for meetings and conventions. In this role, Jackson handles not only prospecting and sales calls, but also site visits, tradeshows and client events. She serves as a crucial link between Austin's hotels and potential southeast market and African-American meeting groups, providing information and key contacts to ensure client satisfaction. Jackson is dedicated to seeing the client through the sales process from start to fin- ish, introducing groups to Austin and, once booked, connect- ing them to the best service providers the city offers. The SMG-managed Greater Col- umbusConventionCenter has promot- edRichardCook to operationsmanag- er.A23-year veteranof theOperations Department, he previously was the facility's operations coordinator. TheGreaterColumbusConvention Center, located in downtown Colum- bus,hosted an estimated 2.5million vis- itors in 2010. The facility is owned by the Franklin County Convention Facil-ities Authority and is managed by Philadelphia-based SMG. Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, sta- diums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facili- ties and convention, congress and exhibition centers. The International Civil Rights Center & Museumin Greensboro, NC has appointed Rev. Robert N. Andrews, II to director of Develop- ment. Andrews has nearly 20 years of experience in managing non-profit service organizations and university development offices. He holds a bach- elor's degree from N.C. A&T State University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity, with a concentration in Religious and Non-Profit Organization Administration. Andrews also serves in leadership roles in many non-profit, academic, professional and civic organizations and is continu- ally recognized for his dedication and contributions to reli- gious, local and state-wide communities. Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com