Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
This year we are taking another close look at convention & visitors bureaus across the nation in our continuing effort to document the rate of progress that African-Americans are making in the hospi- tality/travel industry. The good news is that industry veter- an Rickey Thigpen was selected to head Visit Jackson, after Wanda Collier-Wilson, who had held that post for a num- ber of years, stepped down in 2018. When you consider that there are nearly 500 CVBs throughout the U.S., and we can only identify 12 African- Americans holding down the president/CEO post, obvi- ously we still have a long way to go. As we have reiterated in the past, this recurring feature is our effort to head off the use of that tired old phrase "We'd love to consider an African-American for this posi- tion, but we can't find a qualified Black person to hire." This cadre of eminently qualified, highly skilled and expe- rienced hospitality industry professionals is ready, willing and able to take on the responsibilities of a convention and visitors bureau president/CEO should the opportunity present itself. The list that follows is only the tip of the iceberg. Suffice it to say that there are many, many African-Americans and other people of color, who based on their qualifications, deserve to be considered for heading a CVB when an opening occurs. LARRY ATCHISON serves as sen- ior director of Sales, Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Atchison has represented ACVB for 17 years and has directed Sales from the Bureau's Washington, DC office from 2003-2006. He pro- vides insight and assistance to meet- ing planners considering Albuquer- que. His primary concentration is with larger groups that would utilize Albuquerque's Convention Center. He is active in the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP), Society of Government Meeting Professional (SGMP) and Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA ). ESSENCE BANKS serves as Executive Director of the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network. A native of New Orleans, she began her service as chairman of the NOMTN board in 2014. She was Director of Six Sigma/Operational Excellence at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel (Marriott International) as a member of the BY GLORIA M. HERBERT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT BLACK CVB P R E S I D E N T / C E O ? B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 17