Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541144
18 B M & T ••• November/December 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ure that as validation. For him, the goal is simple: ensure that Portland is seen not through the lens of its struggles, but through the evidence of its renewal. When the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals arrives in Portland in 2025, the city will not only host a conference. It will host a reckoning with its values. For James Jessie, the moment is more than economic impact. It is a stage to affirm that Portland stands firm on equity and inclusion even as other parts of the nation retreat. "We are doubling down," Jessie said. "We know our industry is stronger when every voice belongs at the table." This gathering is also profoundly personal. Thirty years ago, Jessie was invited into the profession through NCBMP, finding mentors and peers who became his compass. To wel- come the very organization that shaped him is, in his words, "a chance to give back." His early recognition in Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine as part of the "Pacesetter" section marked the beginning of a career that has now come full circle. For Portland, the message will be clear. The city is not defined by its setbacks but by its determination to lead inclu- sively. For Jessie, it is proof that his path from Phoenix to Portland, from young professional to chief executive, has always been guided by the same principle: progress that includes everyone. Beyond Travel Portland, James Jessie's influence stretches through the wider industry. He serves on the International Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International, and he has been a long-standing member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. For Jessie, these affiliations are more than titles. They are platforms to advance the values he considers essential to the industry's survival. Chief among them is his conviction that diversity, equity, and inclusion must remain at the center of profession- al practice. "Popular or unpopular," he said, "I will always be the one beating the drum for DEI." Family remains at the center of James Jessie's life. He and his wife, Jolie, have shared 28 years of marriage, raising three children who continue to guide his perspective as adults. Their Saint Bernard, affectionately called the "fourth kid," is just as much a part of that circle. To recharge, Jessie turns to the outdoors. Boating on Oregon's rivers, fishing, hiking, and golf all provide space to reflect beyond the demands of lead- ership. A former University of Oregon football player, he still enjoys the game but finds his greatest joy in travel with Jolie. Attending the Paris Olympics together cemented Paris as their second home. When asked to sum up his vision, James Jessie answered without hesitation: "The treasures of Oregon will continue to lift Portland to its highest points." He speaks of a city where beauty, culture, and community partnerships move together to shape prosperity. For him, the measure of success is simple: delegates who arrive with expectations and leave with more than they imagined. Jessie carries that standard as both a responsibility and a promise. At one point in our conversation he laughed, adding, "Portland is not Maine," a tongue-in- cheek reminder that he balances humor with the weight of leadership. His record of guiding destinations through chal- lenge is the reason he now leads Portland, and it is the reason planners can be certain their investment here will deliver. "Every five or six years our industry is tested, and you have to be ready to lead from the front, not chase from behind."- James Jesse QUOTE WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Travel Portland100 SW Main Street, Suite 1100 Portland, OR 97204 (503) 275-9770(877) 678-5263 www.travelportland.com Skyscrapers view of downtown Portland Oregon over the Willamette River A