Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
Each year we take a close look at convention & visitors bureau across the nation in our con- tinuing effort to document the rate of progress that African-Americans are making in the hospitality/travel industry. While we cannot report any substantial progress in the upward mobility of African-Americans since we examined the ranks of CVBs in 2008, there are several changes worth noting. A couple of familiar faces are gone – like Larry Walter, who exited his post as vice president, of Marketing for Visit Jacksonville, and Kathleen Bertrand, who continues to serve senior vice-president – Community & Government Affairs for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, but is pursuing other interests including her professional singing career rather than her ascension up the corporate ladder. Returning this year are industry veteran Ahmeenah Young, who took the helm as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and Brenda Scott, who left her posi- tion with the Arlington CVB, only to resurface a short time later as vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitors Bureau. A new face on the list (but not in the industry) is Michael Munn, who has served chief of staff and director of Business Development for the Boston Convention Marketing Center (BCMC) since 2004. Our list of potential CVB president candidates is up from 33 in 2008 to 37 this year, but still not nearly where it needs to be or should be, when you consider there are nearly 500 CVBs throughout the U.S. and only seven of them are headed by African-Americans. Naturally we realize that there are certainly more qualified Blacks out there in our industry that have not as yet come to our attention, so if you know of anyone who should be on our list, please let us know about them. As we reiterate every year, this annual feature is our effort to head off the use of that tired old phrase "We'd love to consider an African-American for this position, but we can't find a qualified Black person to hire." This cadre of eminently qualified, highly skilled and experienced hospital- ity industry professionals are ready, willing and able to take on the responsibilities of a convention and visitors bureau president/CEO should the opportunity present itself. The list that follows is only the tip of the iceberg. It does not even include former bureau heads like Carroll Armstrong or Leslie Doggett (Baltimore Area CVA) or Ron Davis (Oakland CVB), all of whom have a proven track record and whose wealth of expertise would be an asset to any organization. Suffice it to say that there are many, many African-Americans and other people of color, who based on their qualifications, deserve to be considered for heading a CVB when an opening occurs. Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2008: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com LARRY ATCHISON serves as senior director of Sales, Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Atchison has represented ACVB for 17 years and has directed Sales from the Bureau's Washington, DC office from 2003- 2006. He provides insight and assistance to meeting planners BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT