Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
LEO HEZEKIAH MING, JR. is the vice president of Human Resources & Administration for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission. Ming is responsible for the Human Resources and Administrative/-Office services functions at the Commissions Marketing and Facilities depart- ments. His role includes all human resources functional areas, such as recruitment, labor relations, compensation, safety and health and employee relations at the CVB and Convention Center complex/ Edward Jones Dome stadium, home of the RAMS football franchise. Ming holds a Masters Degree in KENDRICK J. MIDDLETON serves as vice president of Sales at the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Middleton joined the GHCVB in April 2003 to direct con- vention and tradeshow sales efforts of the fourth largest city in the country, after serving nine years with the St. Louis CVB and five years with the Indianapolis CVB. In addition to a full-time staff of 15 National Account Executives and one Director of Sales and their supporting staff, Middleton also oversees the GHCVB satellite offices in Chicago, Washington DC, New York and Austin, Texas. Middleton is a active member of ASAE, TSAE, PCMA, IAEE, NCBMP, CESSE, MPI, RCMA and DMAI . Middleton has been married to wife Naomi for 20 years and they have two children Blaize (18) and Ravyn (14) . Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2008: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 62 STEPHANIE MAYS-BOYD is vice president, Sales, Marketing and Convention Services at the Pennsyl- vania Convention Center. Mays- Boyd has had a progressive career at the Pennsylvania Conven-tion Center where she arrived in 1996 as an Events Coordinator. Mays-Boyd will lead the sales and marketing efforts to promote the new expansion project of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a construction project that results in one mil- lion sq. ft. of saleable space. Ms. Mays-Boyd served as an Executive Board member for the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Professional Convention Manage-ment Association (PCMA). In 2007, Mays-Boyd received the esteemed Supplier of the Year award from the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners where she cur- rently serves as the chair of the Membership Committee. She is a Board Member for Girls, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA), and is a mem- ber of the following hospitality organizations: Professional Convention Management Association,, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, American Society of Association Executives, Association of Convention Marketing Executives, Religious Conference Management Association, and the Multicultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is currently a member of the 2009 class of the Urban League of Philadelphia's Leadership Summit. The Macon, GA native began her career in hospitality in 1989 at the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is a graduate of Clark-Atlanta University. is vice president, Sales, Marketing and Convention Services at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Mays-Boyd has had a progressive career at the Pennsylvania Convention Center where she arrived in 1996 as an Events Coordinator. Mays- Boyd will lead the sales and marketing efforts to promote the new expansion project of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a construction project that results in one million sq. ft. of saleable space. Ms. Mays-Boyd served as an Executive Board member for the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). In 2007, Mays-Boyd received the esteemed Supplier of the Year award from the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners where she cur- rently serves as the chair of the Membership Committee. She is a Board Member for Girls, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA), and is a mem- ber of the following hospitality organizations: Professional Convention Management Association,, International Associa- tion of Exhibitions and Events, American Society of Association Executives, Association of Convention Marketing Executives, Religious Conference Management Association, and the Multicultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is currently a member of the 2009 class of the Urban League of Philadelphia's Leadership Summit. The Macon, GA native began her career in hospitality in 1989 at the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is a graduate of Clark-Atlanta University. RONALD M. MELTON is executive vice president of services and opera- tions for Travel Portland. In this role, Melton serves as Travel Portland's chief financial and opera- tions officer, as well as oversee the agency's Education and Training Foundation, a nonprofit charitable entity that provides financial assis- tance to candidates training for hos- pitality industry careers. In January 2009, Melton also transitioned into the role of administrator for the Portland Metro Region's Visitor Development Fund (VDF). With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Melton worked most recently as director of finance for the Conference Meeting & Assistance Corp. (CMAC) in Dallas, Texas. Prior to taking his position with CMAC, Melton had spent 10 years as executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. From 1988- 1994, he was the director of finance and administration for the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.