Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 KEITH TALBERT is a native of Kansas and has served in his current posi- tion for 2 years as the director of sales for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Talbert's responsibilities include overseeing the convention sales staff and monitoring sales efforts. Prior to OKC, he served two stints at Visit Wichita in Wichita, Kansas and a stint at the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation in Nashville, Tennessee, both as a convention sales manager. Talbert is a proud Shocker alum of Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing degree and a Master of Business Administration degree. KASEY L. SUMMERVILLE currently serves as Director of National Accounts for the City of Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. She promotes Little Rock as the place to host National Conferences, Meetings, and Events in a Multicultural context and especially in the LOREN ALEXIS SIMPSON serves as Director of Digital Communicat- ions for the Long Beach Convent- ion and Visitors Bureau. The former celebrity stylist oversees digital strategy for Visit Long Beach, including content marketing, social media, public relations and eCommunications. She's revamped the @visitLB voice on social media, doubling followings across platforms. National media wins include features in CNN Travel, MSN.com, TravelAge West, Orbitz and Travelocity. She's an accomplished profes- sional with a well-rounded understanding of the digital landscape. Awards, Dallas Business Journal 2017 Minority Business Leader Award, and featured in Professional Convention Management Association Convene Magazine as a one of the Ascent program Luminaries. Richards, who has been with VisitDallas for 30 years, is also a member of several community and civic organ- izations, including Women's Foodservice Forum Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, Texas Diversity Council, Downtown Dallas Inc. Board of Directors, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism Board of Directors, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) , and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Richards is a graduate of North Texas State University (currently the University of North Texas) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations and a minor in Business Marketing. Faith Communities. Kasey is already distinguishing her- self and is establishing seminal relationships across the nation about the gains of southern hospitality, along with the genuine people and popular attractions Little Rock has to offer. Prior to assuming this assignment, Summerville was elected eight consecutive times as the Assessor for Clark County, Arkansas, where she served for almost 15 years. An avid community activist, Kasey is a member of the Saint Paul A.M.E. Church of Arkadelphia, and has given effective leadership to a number of local com- munity and state initiatives. She is a past President of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus where she served for two terms. A published author, Kasey wrote Bridges and Footstools: 365 Days of Wisdom to Help You Live, Learn and Grow (2010), which is a collection of inspirational and motivational quotes for encouraging wellness and being. Summerville is a graduate of Arkadelphia High School and began her college education at Henderson State University, and completed the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management at Philander Smith College. She also holds a Masters of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University. Summerville is fondly loved and respected, and quite often invited to speak by a variety of community groups and professional organizations. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, listening to music, dancing, and reading inspirational books and blogs. Summerville has two adult children.