Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/105245
ICI•pg_42-52__BMT_pg3-58 1/22/13 3:27 AM Page 44 RONNIE BURT, a seasoned sales and marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, serves as vice president of Sales and Services for Destination DC and most recently was senior vice president of Sales and Service for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. In this role, Burt oversees a team of 25 people that include leading strategic sales and service efforts, housing and business development for the nation's capital and its growing convention facilities, to include the new Washington Marriott Marquis. Burt began his career in marketing at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. He joined the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority as an intern and quickly moved up through the sales ranks to national sales manager. He joined the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association in 1999 as director of national accounts, eventually leading its sales efforts in the role as vice president of convention sales and services. In 2006, Burt served as the interim president and CEO, where he managed a staff of more than 50 employees and a $9 million budget. Burt has also worked for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Atlanta, GA. CLARA CARTER, is the president and founder of the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN), Inc. This San Diego-based destination/meeting management company is focused on global site selection and contract negotiations for groups and organizations seeking exciting destinations for meetings, conferences and conventions. A 20-year veteran of the Hospitality Industry, Carter has distinguished herself as the creator and producer of the nationally known Multicultural FAM tour. This tour is customized to give clients the unique view of a city by incorporating its exciting ethnic & cultural features. The FAM Tour was first launched in San Diego. In FY09/10, Carter was a successful bidder for funds earmarked for multicultural marketing by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District. MCCSN is the only independent meeting management company in San Diego County that has realized the importance of adhering to the needs of an often-underserved segment of the market, the ethnic conference and its attendees. Prior to establishing MCCSN, Carter, a native San Diegan, was employed at a major San Diego corporation. The experience with Corporate America prepared her well as she initially spread entrepreneurial wings with Creative Visions Meetings and Events. Carter is a much sought after speaker and industry expert on issues surrounding multicultural tourism and diversity. National, state and local recognitions include: 2011 BM&T APEX Award for Distinguished Service in tourism; 2010 Small Business of the Year Award – Southern Region of California; named one of the Top 50 People to Watch in San Diego for 2010; 2009 Women Who Mean Business honoree; 2009 Special Star Award (dedication and service to African American Art in San Diego); 2007 the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals named Ms. Carter Meeting Planner of 44 the Year. And for three consecutive years (2009-2011), Black Meetings and Tourism has recognized her as one of the most Influential African Americans in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. JULIE COKER is senior vice president, Convention Division, for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). Coker oversees a staff of 25 convention sales and services professionals who are responsible for selling the expanding Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia's hotel package to customers across the country. Coker joined the PCVB after serving as general manager at Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. In her role, Coker oversaw all operational aspects of the 350-room hotel, which is the only hotel in the city located on Philadelphia's revitalized waterfront area. Among her responsibilities were: directing all hotel and employee operations such as managing the assets and providing monthly profit and loss statements, maintaining legal compliance, assessing financial or product issues, and outlining sales and marketing strategies, while providing guidance, mentorship, and leadership to the employees and managers of the hotel. A 20-year Hyatt veteran, Coker began her career there in 1989 as a corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency Columbus and held various positions at the hotel until 1992. She also held full-time positions, including assistant front office manager, front office manager, hotel assistant manager and assistant executive housekeeper at Hyatt Regency O'Hare. In 1994, she was promoted to her first room executive position at Hyatt Deerfield (Chicago) and held the same position at Hyatt Regency Cincinnati before being appointed to join the opening team and lead the rooms division at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in March 1998. In 1998, she was promoted to General Manager at Hyatt on Printer's Row in downtown Chicago. From there, she was promoted to general manager at The Lodge, a Hyatt property in Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago. Coker is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, where she received a bachelor of science in Hospitality Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She has been a nominee for Hotelier of the Year for IHLA in 2005 and 2006. She was also a nominee for General Manager of the year for Hyatt Hotels Corporation 2004 and 2006. She was recently the recipient of the 2011John Wanamaker Award (Individual Award) given by the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity. WANDA COLLIER-WILSON is president and chief executive officer of the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, a position she has served in since 1998. She leads a 22member staff that has included the management and staff of the Mississippi Telecommunica-tions & Conferencing Center up till October 1, 2008, when the CVB handed over the management of the building to SMG. Collier-Wilson joined the CVB 26 years ago as receptionist and has held every position at the Bureau prior to becoming president and CEO. B M & T ••• November/December 2012 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com