Black Meetings and Tourism

March/April 2011

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Felicia Davis, convention services manager at the Atlantic City Convent- ion & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), was named the 2010 President’s Award Winner by ACOM, the Association for Convention Operat- ions and Management Each year, the president of ACOM has an opportunity to recognize a member that has shown continued sup- port and enthusiasm for the association, in special recognition for their volunteer support and efforts towards the betterment of ACOM. Davis has been an ACOM member since 2001, when she started her employment with the ACCVA. As a convention services manager, she assists meeting and convention planners with attendance building, arrangements for temporary staffing and spouse tours, among other things After announcing a collaborative merger agreement with the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau in late 2010, the SanDiegoConvention &Visitors Bureau recently established aNorthCounty specialist sales teamto provide efficient and resourceful serv- ice tomeeting and convention planners looking to hold their events in San Diego’s diverse North County region. Jonathan Friedman, the new director of Sales, leads the North County specialist team whose primary target is the western region.Friedman handles the alternative energy, legal and auto- motive markets and brings more 20 years of experience in the hotel and convention industry,most recently as theDirector of Sales for the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica,CA. Jamie Dawkins has been promoted to convention services coordinator at NewOrleans’ historic InnOnBourbon. In her new role, Dawkins will be responsible for handling all meeting and social event bookings for the hotel’s 4,500 sq. ft.ofmeeting space. Her clien- tele will include individuals, corporate customers and meeting planners. Dawkins will also manage event logis- tics, including food and beverage needs, audio/visual requests and roomset-up. Dawkins got her start in the hospitality industry 13 years ago, as an intern atThe InnOnBourbon. Shewas trained to handle PBX, reservations, front desk, sales and administrative opera- tions, and assist with general customer service duties. She was eventually promoted to group sales assistant. 10 The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, located in Nassau, The Baha- mas, has announced the appointment of Tekeyo T. Bodie as catering & con- vention manager. Bodie brings with him more than eight years of food and beverage, catering and sales experi- ence to the resort. His hospitality career began at the Four Seasons Resort, Great Exuma in The Bahamas, where he managed and supervised banqueting staff, organized and managed meetings, as well as solicited new business. For the past year, he served as the Food & Beverage manger for Kerzner International, where he managed daily food & bever- age operations, and group accounts. Bodie holds a Certificate of Achievement in Guest Services Training from Johnson and Wales University, and a Certificate from The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Ann Ellison has been appointed sales director for theChicagoNational SalesOffice ofDisneyDestinations. A graduate of theUniversity ofHouston and a 17-year veteran of the sales industry, Ellison leads the team responsible for sales efforts targeting theMidwest association and corporate market. Ellison brings a wealth of sales and hospitality industry experience to the position. She spent the majority of her career – 16 years – with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. She also held a leadership role withMarriot Hotels and Resorts in California. Ellison was most recently regional director of Sales for theDallas Convention&Visitors Bureau based in Chicago, during which time she was responsible for theMidwestmarket. Wayne Darbeau was appointed the Port’s President/CEO by the Board of Port Commissioners on December 10, 2010. Darbeau has served as the Port’s vice president, Administration. He’s been an executive leader for the past 12 years. During that time, he has held other key leadership positions within the Port, including senior director, director and administrator. Darbeau earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts; an M.A. in International Relations from the University of San Diego; and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Redlands. He has a stellar reputation as a results-oriented visionary leader with the strategic and systems know-how to motivate the work- force to high achievement in team-based settings. Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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