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RILOUS CARTER NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, CATERING/CONVENTION SERVICES AND PARK EVENT OPERATIONS FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has named Rilous Carter to the newly created position of vice president, Catering/Convention Services and Park Event Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. In this role, he will lead the teams responsible for driving catering sales, services and banquet operations, as well as theme park event operations across the 40-square-mile resort. A veteran Disney leader, Carter most recently served as vice president of Epcot and Walt Disney World Park Event Operations. "As we looked at talent across the organization and considered the future needs of our clients and business, it became evident that one seasoned leader with a proven track record was uniquely qualified to lead the evolution of this impor- tant side of our business and further enhance the overall experience for our guests and cast," noted George Aguel, senior vice president, The Walt Disney Company. Carter will oversee the execution of signature festivals, specially ticketed theme-park events and select Disney media events. He will also manage the development and sustainability of guest and client standards that enhance Disney's world-renowned reputation for service. Carter began his Disney career in 1997 as a manager in Food & Beverage Operations. He has since held leadership and executive roles in numerous Disney resorts and theme parks. Prior to joining Disney, Carter was assistant general manager at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in Ohio. An advocate of professional development, Carter has served as executive champion for PULSE, the Diversity Resource Group for Disney cast members of African and Caribbean descent interested in cultural, educational and professional advancement. He has also served as a relationship and recruit- ment liaison between Walt Disney World Resort and University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. TAMPA BAY & COMPANY'S NEW CEO BRINGS RECORD OF SUCCESS Hiring a leader with a long record of success in Asheville, N.C. and Atlanta, Tampa Bay & Company has named Kelly Miller as its new president and CEO, fol- lowing longtime director Paul Catoe's retirement.Miller was selected in part for his regional approach to destination marketing. Tampa Bay & Company's Board of Directors approved the selection committee's recommendation in October, and Miller accepted the formal offer. Paul Catoe, cur- rent president and CEO, will continue in his position until December 31, 2011, and Miller's tenure will begin in January 2012. In more than 12 years as executive director of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce,Miller led efforts to establish Asheville as one of the top vacation destinations in the country. Under his leadership, overnight leisure visits increased 44 percent (from 2.3 to 3.32 million visitors annually), and hotel sales grew 82 percent from $93 to $169 million. TheAsheville organization was named 'CVB of theYear' by the Southeast Tourism Society twice in the past decade, as Miller helped build a coalition of tourism, government and private sector leaders that believe "tourism builds community" through economic development. Miller was awarded American Chamber of Commerce Executives' yearlong Ford Foundation Fellowship for Regional Sustainable Development, focusing on helping Chamber executives grow and develop competitive economies and communities. Miller has also worked for the Atlanta CVB, the Atlanta Market Center, and Centennial Hall Convention Center in Juneau,Alaska. 6 Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com NEWSMAKERS