Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
ed in the Chicago Heights Alumni Chapter and moved into the Chicago Alumni Chapter in 1985), He is a 33rd Degree Mason and a Shriner. He is also a member of Who's Who Among Black Americans and holds membership in a num- ber of other organizations, including the Religious Conference Management Association, Christian Meeting Association, International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, NAACP, Christian Meetings & Convention Association, Urban League and Rainbow Push Coalition, among others. ALBERT TUCKER serves as vice president of Multicultural Business Development for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Con- vention & Visitors Bureau. In his role, Tucker is responsible for developing partnerships and alliances with community, civic and business leaders both locally and nationally to attract a larger number of multicultural meetings and conventions, as well as family reunions to Greater Fort Lauderdale. For the past eight years, Tucker has helped increase multicultural participation in the tourism and con- vention sales market by more than 60%. During summer 2007 more than 100 family reunions chose Greater Fort Lauderdale as their gathering place, along with other mul- ticultural business produced an economic impact of more than $55 million to the community. Tucker has been the visionary in the development of The Gospel Complex for Education and Preservation, which will be located in Lauderhill, FL. This $50 million project will provide the gospel music industry with a home to pre- serve the rich history of this genre and will serve as a cen- ter for economic and educational empowerment for all. The Gospel Complex is scheduled for completion in early 2011. Tucker currently serves on the Executive Board of the Urban League of Broward County and is a member of the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale. He is also a member of the State's Multicultural Committee for VISIT FLORIDA. CALVIN TAYLOR is vice president of Bureau Development for the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. Taylor works closely with state government, city officials and the local hospitality industry in enhancing the development and growth of Memphis tourism. Additionally, he oversees the day- to-day needs of the MCVB's 500+ subscribers. As co-founder of the Beale Street Development Corp., the organization that re- introduced the historic district as a tourist destination, Taylor has also worked as the PR director for Southland Racing Corp., the Southeast's largest pari-mutuel waging center. Taylor is also a member of the national Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and serves on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable. Taylor is currently the president of the Tennessee Association of convention and Visitors Bureaus. 65 Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2008: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com FLOYD WILLIAMS, JR., CMP, serves as director of National Accounts and Tradeshows for the Jackson (MS) Convention & Visitors Bureau. Williams works with organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 100 Black Men of America, National Conference of Black Mayors, African American Episcopal Church, American Tennis Association and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Southern Regional Convention, NAACP South East Region, and the USSSA Black American World Series. He served on the NCBMP planning committee and was prior director of Conventions for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Southern Region. Williams is active in National Pan-Hellenic Council, Leadership Jackson Alumni Association and Jackson State National Alumni Association, and currently serves as a board chair for Big Brother and Big Sister, and chair of the Alpha Foundation Board. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a member of Pearl Street A.M.E. Church, he received his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2003. AHMEENAH YOUNG is an accom- plished senior executive in the tourism and hospitality industry with outstanding credentials and a proven record of results. Across all of her professional posts she has consistent- ly maintained diligent focus on growth in productivity and made bot- tom-line profitability a priority. As president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Young recommends and implements all contractual and vendor services, directs all recruiting processes and participates in selec- tion of PCCA employees. She oversees marketing, public rela- tions and customer service programs as well as development of budgets, financial policies and fiscal controls for the operation of the PCCA. Young currently sits on boards for Sunoco Welcome America!, Temple University's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Art Sanctuary, MANNA, North Philadelphia Health Systems, Philadelphia Academies, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Mount Airy USA, and the Philadelphia Airport. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.