Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1524031
B M & T ••• July/August 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11 LRCVB NAMES MARKETING DIRECTOR OLUMIDE YEROKUN TO LEAD BUREAU'S MARKETING DEPARTMENT The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LR-CVB) has announced the hiring of Olumide Yerokun as Director of Marketing. Bringing more than a decade of experience to the role, Yerokun will man- age a variety of promotion- al strategies and activities to boost the Bureau's tourism efforts for Little Rock. "Olumide is off to a great start," said LRCVB President & CEO Gina Gemberling. "Olumide's VISIT WILLIAMSBURG WELCOMES SELENA COLES AS NEW PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST Visit Williamsburg proudly welcomed Selena Coles as its newest Public Relations Specialist in April. With her expertise in communication strategies, Selena brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Her public relations and journalism background, combined with her dedica- tion to promoting tourism and fostering meaningful connections, makes her an invaluable addition to the team. Julia Smyth-Young, Interim CEO of Visit Williamsburg, expressed confidence in Selena's abil- ities, stating, "Selena's wealth of experience in public relations and her gen- uine enthusiasm for showcasing the unique charm of Williamsburg make her a perfect fit for our team. We are certain Selena will play a crucial role in enhancing our destination through strategic storytelling and curation, cultivating opportunities for stakeholders and visitors." As the Public Relations Specialist, Selena's responsibilities include media relations, promoting Visit Williamsburg's initiatives and attractions to a global audience, and collaborating on developing strategic communi- cations plans. Her creativity, professionalism, and collaborative spirit will undoubtedly contribute to Visit Williamsburg's continued success. Selena Coles can be reached at selena.coles@visitwilliamsburg.com or 757-920-3128 for media inquiries. ing convention center. "We are thrilled to wel- come such an enthusias- tic, experienced and per- sonable leader to our GICC family," said Mercedes Miller, exec- utive director of the Gateway Center Campus, which includes the GICC, Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. "With a long history in hospitality and years of building con- nections, we are confident in Don's ability to show- case our innovative offerings and attract high-quality events of all sizes to the convention center." A graduate of DeVry University with a bachelor's degree in business operations, Simon gained hospitality and convention experience work- ing as a market research analyst for the GICC in the late 1990s. He later went on to serve in IT and sales positions at a variety of hotels, expanding his convention experience in his role as IT manager for the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Additionally, Simon spent nearly a decade of his career teaching Delphi, a software programming product. The GICC is an award-winning convention center set on the Gateway Center Campus, which is also home to the Gateway Center Arena, the Historic College Park Golf Course and six hotels, all connect- ed to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by the complimentary ATL SkyTrain. The surrounding amenities and resources of the GICC further elevate the overall experience for attendees. social media and marketing experience will serve him well in planning promotional efforts for the LRCVB, and we look forward to seeing him put his plans into action." Yerokun joins the LRCVB after most recently working as a client account manager for Bayard Advertising. Prior to that role, Yerokun led social media strategies for Hendrix College, GWL Advertising and Albright Ideas. He also served as a social media director for ACANA (African Cultural Alliance of North America) and led content and mar- keting strategy for One Tribe Magazine. "I am thrilled with the opportunity to join the marketing team," Yerokun said. "With my experience and passion for driving innovative marketing strategies, I am eager to contribute to the LRCVB's growth and success by creating impactful campaigns that position the city as a regional leader." Yerokun earned his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Morehouse College. Yerokun, who was raised in Little Rock, lived in Georgia and Pennsylvania before returning to Little Rock in 2016.