Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/105245
ICI•pg_42-52__BMT_pg3-58 1/22/13 3:27 AM Page 43 years in the hotel industry as general manager, assistant 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, Secretary/Treasurer of the Destination & Travel Foundation, Richmond 2015 board member for the UCI World Road Cycling Championship, Destination Marketing Association International Sales & Marketing Committee and board member for the Manchester YMCA. 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 26 years, she's been the go-to person for setting up meetings for various organizations, committees and members of the church's organization and hierarchy. 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 Black Meeting Planners and serves as the organization's current president. KATHLEEN JACKSON BERTRAND, with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau since 1983, serves as senior vice president, community and governmental affairs. Bertrand has been instrumental in the ACVB's development of diversity marketing programs and its governmental relations. She is the highestranking woman staff member in the history of the organization. Bertrand serves on numerous industry and civic 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." She is a highly requested speaker for college and high school programs that focus on hospitality and its diverse career options. Under her direction the ACVB publishes its African-American visitor publication, Atlanta Heritage Guide, which just celebrated its 23th consecutive year in print in 2012. Bertrand's most recent projects include the production of the BronzeLens Film Festival, a new film festival, now in its third year, that celebrates Atlanta as both a destination and the new mecca for film and film production by people of color, and the Hospitality Career Fair, an annual event which opens the doors to employment opportunities within Atlanta's hospitality industry to graduating seniors, to those within the industry looking to change, and to those persons from other industries with transferable skill sets looking for entre into the hospitality industry. BM&T ••• Bertrand is also a well-known and honored jazz recording artist/writer, with performances ranging from two Olympic Games to performances before two presidents and jazz concerts world-wide. A three-time Montreux Jazz Festival performer, most recently she was the headliner, along with jazz great Roy Ayers, at the 35th Atlanta Jazz Festival. Bertrand's discography includes 5 CDs, including her newest 2011 CD release "Katharsis." ERNEST P. BOGER, CHA, FMP, CHE, CHA, FMP, CHE, is tenured associate professor and chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Management(HRM) Department within the School of Business and Technology at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore(UMES), Princess Anne, MD. Dr. Boger exercises CEO accountability for a thriving Bachelor of Science Degree Program, designed to produce entry level managers for a variety of Foodservice, Lodging and Travel/Tourism related professional careers. Prior to UMES, he held leadership roles with Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina, West Indies and Wiley Universities as well as The Jamaica Hotel School/Hotel Casa Monte, Kingston, Jamaica and Parry Property Management Co. of Dallas, TX. Under his recent leadership, UMES was accredited by the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) as the 20th University nationwide, and the First HBCU, to offer the Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Golf Management. Similarly, the overall HRM degree program was guided to ACPHA accreditation earlier this year. With 40+ years of industry operations and training expertise, he is recognized as the "Dean" of Black College Hospitality Educators. Dr. Boger regularly provides consulting services in hospitality marketing and training to U.S., Caribbean, and African companies and governments. He has held leadership positions with more than 20 major industry organizations, including currently, the Professional Certification Commissions of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and the National Restaurant Association (NRA). A prolific writer, Dr. Boger has authored 10 book chapters and more than 100 articles on industry subjects. Among other things, he has received the BM&T/TPOC APEX Award and was designated a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) Emeritus by the AH&LA. The first African-American to be so recognized. BENNISH D. BROWN serves as the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau's [TRCVB] new president and CEO. Brown has a strong background in the destination marketing industry and served the last 12 years as the executive director of Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor Bureau in South Carolina. Brown, who began his work at the TRCVB in June., leads the TRCVB's staff of 15 and reports to the TRCVB's board of directors. While at Rock Hill/York County CVB, Brown grew the organization's budget from $200,000 to $1.1million in seven years, led the organization to become the first Destination Marketing Association International [DMAI] accredited CVB in the state, managed a merger between the CVB and Sports Commission, hosted a Ladies Professional Golf Association [LPGA] event and more. November/December 2012 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 43