Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
considering Albuquerque. His primary concentration is with larger groups that would utilize Albuquerque's Convention Center. He is active in the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP), Society of Government Meeting Professional (SGMP) and Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA ). DVORA A. EVANS, CMP heads the Conventions & Tourism Department for the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (nation's oldest and largest Black chamber) and, in addi- tion to coordinating several of the chamber's annual events, is responsi- ble for the marketing of the City of Dallas to increase the business and economic opportunities created by Dallas' ethnic meetings market for the local business community. Evans has been active in the meetings industry over 13 years and holds membership in several industry organizations. She has written and contributed to articles for several national publica- tions and has served as a speaker at top industry conventions including MPI, ASAE, ACCED-I, NSMH and NCBMP. Dvorah currently serves as the Vice President of Finance for the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of MPI, which is one of MPI's largest chapters with over 1,000 members. Her past leadership roles include 2 terms on the MPI International Board of Directors, ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Scholar (first from the State of Texas), countless business and association boards and committees and she was selected Association TRENDS Magazine Young & Aspiring Association Professional, which recognizes outstanding business and industry leaders under 40 in the association community. Dvorah also serves on boards and committees of several charitable organizations including the Dallas Women's Foundation, Genesis Women's Shelter, Girl Scouts of North Texas and the YWCA Young Leaders Board. In educational efforts, Evans teaches meeting management courses at Richland College and helped spearheaded the devel- opment of a hospitality curriculum at Paul Quinn College (Dallas' only historically Black college) YOLANDA BULLOCK-COOPER serves as the vice president of Short- Term and Multicultural Sales for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). Bullock- Cooper works to increase meeting and convention opportunities for the 6th largest city in the nation by highlighting the PCVB's diverse meeting services and one-stop- shop convenience. Her team is responsible for approximately 80% of the leads generated. In addition to overseeing the short-term initiatives, Bullock-Cooper is directly responsible for multicultural & religious sales opportunities. Since the inception 21 years ago of the Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC), (a divi- sion of the PCVB), multicultural meetings & conventions have exceeded $1 billion in overall economic impact. Bullock-Cooper joined the PCVB in 1997. A 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Bullock Cooper began her career in the casino gaming industry, and has worked in numerous hotels in key sales & marketing management positions. She is a graduate of the National Urban League Leadership Institute, and continues to serve on various industry related committees. Bullock Cooper co-facilitated the first ever PCMA session on Multicultural Marketing during the 2006 convention in Philadelphia, PA and has been featured in Black Meetings & Tourism, The Philadelphia Business Journal, Meetings East, and Hispanic Meetings & Travel. CLEO BATTLE is vice president of Sales and Services for the Richmond Metropolitan CVB. He is responsi- ble for attracting meetings and con- ventions to the Region and servicing those groups while in Richmond. Prior to his current position, he served as the Bureau's director of Sales. He also spent 10 years in the hotel industry as general manager, assistant general manager and director of sales. Battle serves on numerous boards and committees and holds a Masters of Business Management and Hotel Restaurant Bachelor degree.. RONNIE BURT, serves as the senior vice president of Sales for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association – charged with leading the CVA's sales efforts, aggressively selling Indianapolis' changing convention product and managing satellite offices in both Washington DC and Chicago. Most recently, Burt was vice presi- dent of sales and services for the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association. With nearly 20 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, Burt began his career as a marketing executive at Caesars Hotel and Casino. He joined the Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association in 1999 as director of national accounts. In 2006, he served as the interim president and CEO. Burt is an active member of several professional industry asso- ciations, including the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). 59 Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2008: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com