Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/52019
Conference Management Association, Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives and Destination Marketing Association International. Ferguson currently serves on the Downtown Business Improvement District, The Military Bowl, The Historical Society of Washington, DC and the Franciscan Monastery USA Inc.'s Board of Directors. Ferguson is a longtime resident of Capitol Hill, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and is an active mentor with Capital Partners Inc. VALERIE FERGUSON serves as regional vice president of Operations for Loews Atlanta Hotel. With three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Ferguson brings a wealth of expertise to the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Travel by Travel Agent magazine and one of the Top 100Women in C o r p o r a t e America by Ebony, Ms. Ferguson con- tinues to be a leader in hospitali- ty and tourism across the country. Ferguson is a Past Chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) where she spearheaded "Opportunity of a Lifetime," a campaign organized to pro- mote hospitality careers throughout the United States. Ferguson joined the Loews Atlanta in the spring of 2010 as the Regional Vice President for the company's first new-build hotel opening in 10 years. This new position will mark a return to Atlanta for Ferguson who gained status as a city icon during her years in the market service as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta and general manager positions at Hyatt properties in Atlanta, Chicago and Flint, Michigan. Prior to joining the Loews Atlanta team, Ferguson served as the regional vice president & managing director in Philadelphia, beginning in 1998 to over- see the $115 million conversion of the landmark PSFS Building into the luxury, 48 convention-driven Loews Philadelphia Hotel. She was further charged with leading the property through its high- profile opening in the spring 2000. Ferguson's numerous awards and accolades are tribute to her dedication and passion for the hospitality industry. She actively participates in numerous businesses, civic and educational endeavors and travels throughout the country to key hospitality industry events as well as high schools and col- leges to emphasize the importance of hospitality and tourism as vital compo- nents in the nation's economy. In an effort to strengthen the industry, she urges fellow hoteliers to seek out young men and women who represent "the promise of a new generation" and to create diverse leadership programs reflective of today's America. GERRYFERNANDEZis founder and president of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), a national non-profit organization that promotes the business benefits of cultural diversity in the food and hospitality industry while helping its members attract, develop, and retain multicultural talent. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Fern- andez has held leadership posi- tions with several well known com- panies including General Mills, The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel,Hemenway's SeafoodGrill&Oyster Bar and The Capital Grille, now owned by Darden. Fernandez founded MFHA in 1996 while employed at General Mills as a national account manager. Since then, MFHA has grown into a respected andwell known non-profit with over 1,000 mem- bers. MFHA was the first organization to bring about a national discussion on diver- sitymanagement in the hospitality industry and today, MFHA remains the only non- profit organization focused on promoting the business case for diversity within the restaurant, foodservice and lodging seg- ments. As President of MFHA, Fernandez has been influential in aiding dozens of compa- nies with their diversity talentmanagement initiatives and has been directly involved in creating programs designed to attract, develop and retain multicultural talent to the industry. He is an accomplished speaker and has presented nationwide and in Canada, London, England, Vienna, Austria, the Caribbean,Mexico, and in Beijing,China. MICHAEL GUNN, CMP is the vice president of Convention Sales for the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. In this position he is responsible for the day-to-day opera- tions of the Convention Sales staff in booking state, regional, national and inter- national conven- tion business for the Greater Birmi- ngham area. He supervises a staff of 14, and prepares monthly, quarterly and annual sales and marketing business plans. Gunn is a board member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP),CMP Board, and a for- mer member of the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) foundation board. He has over 27 years of industry experience. TANYA HALL is executive director of the Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), which is responsible for increas- ing Philadelphia's share of the multicultur- al meetings, conventions and tourism markets. In 1997, Hall was named to her cur- rent position with MAC. She works with the PCVB sales team to promote Philadelphia to a multicultural client base that includes religious organiza- tions, family reunions, national and regional associations, fraternal organi- zations, professional and trade associa- tions. Hall also works to ensure that Philadelphia's multicultural communi- ties have business, employment and training opportunities within our Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com