Black Meetings and Tourism

November/December 2013

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•pg_39-53_mj__BMT_pg3-58 1/8/14 10:39 PM Page 40 BY GLORIA M. HERBERT AS we begin our year long celebration of our 20th Annivrsary, Black Meetings & tourism will again review the progress and success of those African-Americans who continue to make significant strides in our industry. This is our opportunity to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and contributions of our brothers and sisters who have managed to perform at the highest professional levels despite the challenging economic times we have all faced in recent years. As always, there are several faces that are gone from last year's list, as well as a few new or returning faces that have been added. Stella Beene-Venson, after distinguished service as the president of the National Coalition of Black Meetings Planners, is gone, replaced by the new NCBMP president, but no stranger to the "Most Influential" list, Dr. Beverly Bryant. Also off the list is Charlotte Haymore, founder and longtime president of Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC), who stepped down from her post with the organization (to devote more time to her travel agency, Charlotte's Cruises, and pursue her blossoming speaker's career), passing the torch to Brenda Bryant, who replaced her as president. Also gone is Dr. Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, former assistant commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development, who now serves as executive director of The Tennessee Economic Council on Women. And finally, Valerie C. Ferguson, a fixture on the list for many years and one of the highest ranking executives in the Lodging 40 industry, has taken a hiatus which we trust will be short lived. Two other names are missing from the list – not because they haven't earned a place among the "Most Influential," but because we were unable to get their updated profiles before publication date. Lewis H. Dawley III, while still a SMG executive, has a new role at the facility management company, and Tonja Ray-Smith, is the executive director of the Yazoo County CVB. Hopefully we'll have better luck connecting with them next year. Other new faces on the list are Ernie Wooden, the former Hilton executive who assumed the mantle of president/CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and Charles Jeffers, who has brought his considerable skills to the fore by spearheading the highly successful marketing of East Point, GA as a senior V.P. with the Atlanta CVB. Putting together this list every year makes us, and I hope you, so very proud of those who we are recognizing. But as a result of the process involved it also becomes obvious that so much more needs to be done in the area of diversity and inclusion. As always, those listed here are to be commended for their achievements, their tenacity, and their determination to succeed in an industry that has been slow to embrace the concept of inclusiveness. Overcoming the challenges they've had to face in order to reach the top of their profession, they've earned the right to your respect, admiration and recognition. And most importantly, they deserve your consideration when it comes to booking business with them, for them or from them. Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2013: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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