Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1436811
21 B M & T ••• November/December 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com He has held sales positions with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in Buffalo, N.Y., Hilton Head, S.C. and Maui, HI. In 1995, he joined the Hilton Hotels Corporation as National Sales Manager for the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kamuela, HI. Green spent seven years at various properties as Director of Sales and Marketing through- out Hawaii including The Ihilani Resort and Spa, The Orchid at Mauna Lani and The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa. In 2002, he was named the Director of Sales and Marketing for two of the top Starwood Hotels and Resorts proper- ties in Los Angeles, The Westin Century Plaza Hotel and Spa and The St. Regis Los Angeles. In 2006, he sub- sequently served as Vice President, Hotel Marketing for Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino by Sheraton in Las Vegas. Darren moved to New York in 2009 to lead the sales and marketing team for the four W Hotels in Manhattan as Complex Director of Sales and Marketing. Green was selected as one of HSMAI's 2018 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing & Revenue Optimization, and a recipient of the Events Industry Council's 2020 Social Impact Award. He cur- rently serves on the Global Board of Trustees for MPI Foundation, a non-profit organization that propels the meeting and event industry forward through innovative research and pan-industry initiatives. DZIDRA JUNIOR Dzidra Junior recently joined YMCA of the Rockies as Vice Presi- dent of Business Deve- lopment. She is responsi- ble for creating and developing a dynamic and sustainable strat- egy to advance the mission of YMCA of the Rockies by increasing revenue across multiple channels as well as direct- ing all activities of the marketing, communications, reservations and sales teams. Dzidra has worked in the hospitality industry for 29 years. Prior to coming to YMCA of the Rockies, she spent 15 years as Director of Global Sales for MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, Nev., where she successfully developed and executed the strategy for the diversity business case. Additionally, Dzidra successfully worked to strengthen community partnerships that helped attract national conventions to MGM Resorts International's Las Vegas and regional properties. Dzidra has also held leadership positions for Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas Hilton, now known as Westgate Resorts. `Dzidra is was President of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals at the point she received her award, and she serves on the Diversity Task Force for Destinations International. Her additional board service includes The International School of Hospitality, Delta Education Foundation, and Association of Latino Professionals for America. She is a member of Meeting Planners International (MPI) and Professional Conference Management Association (PCMA). YMCA of the Rockies is a non-profit, mission-based organization that operates two year-round family vaca- tion and conference centers, both located in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, as well as an overnight summer camp for youth. Its mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs, staff and facilities in an environment that builds a healthy spirit, mind and body for all FRED DIXON Fred Dixon is President and CEO of NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization. He joined the organization in 2005 as Vice President, Tourism and rose to become CEO in 2014. With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, Dixon has the overall responsibility for developing and implementing New York City's tourism, meetings and events strategy and program- ming to grow business and leisure travel from across the US and from around the world. At NYC & Company, he has built a sales and marketing team that is at the core of the organization's strategy to increase visitation and economic impact across the City. In 2019, New York City wel- comed a record 66.6 million visitors, which generated $72 Billion in economic impact and powered more than 400,000 jobs across the five boroughs. Dixon built a global network of 17 global outposts comprising sales, marketing and press professionals in diverse feeder markets from Australia to the UK, China to Mexico and India to Brazil that more than doubled international visitation to 13.5 million by the end of 2019. In 2020 during the early months of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Dixon organized the Coalition for NYC Hospitality and Tourism Recovery which brought industry leaders together from across