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managing director of The Westin Hotel – Detroit Renaissance Center (now under Marriott ownership), responsible for the marketing and operations of one of the nation's largest hotels. He also served as general manager of The Westin Miyako in San Francisco; The Westin-O'Hare in Chicago and The Westin Hotel Cincinnati. In addition to his chairmanship of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, Alexander is a board member of the Michigan Society of Association Executives, The Parade Company (Detr- oit), The Detroit Riverfront Conser- vancy, The Detroit Zoological Society, New Detroit and Forgotten Harvest. JESSIEALLENis the generalmanag- er of the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility, the sec- ond-largest con- vention center in the nation. Allen has man- aged several departments with- in the Orange County Government struc- ture during his 33-year tenure. LARRYATCHISONserves as senior director of Sales, Services & Sports at the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). In his new position, Atchison has the primary responsibility of directing the con- vention and sports sales initiatives within the bureau. Atchison, a 29- year veteran of the hospitality and meeting industry, has been with ACVB for 19 years. After serv- ing as ACVB's sales manager for four years inWashington, D.C., he returned to Albuquerque where he was promoted to Senior Director of Sales in 2006. He also served as Interim Vice President of Convention Sales & Services for the Bureau in 2010. CLEO BATTLE, is vice president of Sales and Services for the Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. Battle has worked in the hospitality industry for 23 years. He began his position as vice president at the Bureau in 2000. Previously he served as the Bureau's director of Sales and Sales Manager. Before joining the Richm- ond Metro CVB, he spent 10 years in the hotel industry as general manager, assis- tant general manager and director of Sales in Syracuse, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver. Battle, a native of Denver, Colorado attended Metropolitan State College earning a B.A. degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management in 1988. He later earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Averett College in Virginia in 1997. Battle currently serves as president of the Virginia State University Hospitality Advisory Board, American Society of Association Executives Industry Partner Alliance Committee, International Association of Exhibitions & Events Diversity Task Force, Destination Market- ing Association International Sales & Marketing Committee and a member of the Manchester YMCA Board. STELLA BEENE-VENSON is the meetings and travel administrator for the United Methodist Church's General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. For the last 25 years, she's been the go-to person for setting up meet- ings for various organizat ions , committees and members of the church's organi- zation and hierar- chy. Her clients within the church range from youths considering the ministry, to women in the clergy, to the church's Board of Directors. Beene-Venson is a long time member of the National Coalition of BlackMeeting Planners and serves as the organization's current president. KATHLEEN JACKSON BERT- RAND, with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau since 1983, serves as sen- ior vice president, community and govern- mental affairs. Bertrand has been instrumental in the ACVB's develop- ment of diversity marketing pro- grams and its gov- ernmental rela- tions. She is the highest -ranking woman or African- American staff member in the history of the organization. Bertrand serves on numerous boards and has been recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of "Atlanta's Top Hospitality Industry Leaders," by Black Meetings & Tourism magazine as one of the "Most Influential African-Americans in the Meetings/Tourism Industry," and by the Atlanta Business League as one of "Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence." Under her direction the ACVB publishes its African-American visitor publi- cation, Atlanta Heritage Guide, which just celebrated its 21th consecutive year in print in 2010. Bertrand's most recent proj- ect is the production of the BronzeLens Film Festival, a new film festival that cele- brates Atlanta as both a destination and the new mecca for film and film production by people of color. Bertrand is a well-known and honored jazz recording artist/writer, with perform- ances ranging from two Olympic Games to performances before two presidents and jazz concerts world-wide. A three-time Montreux Jazz Festival performer, Bertrand's discography includes 5 CDs, including her newest 2011 CD release "Katharsis." ERNEST P. BOGER, CHA, FMP, CHE, CHA, FMP, CHE, is tenured associ- ate professor and chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Management(HRM) Department within the School of Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 45