Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/348155
B M & T ••• May/June 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 28 T his year we are taking another close look at convention & visi- tors bureaus across the nation in our continuing effort to docu- ment the rate of progress that African- Americans are making in the hospitality/travel industry. The good news is that two industry veterans have been recently selected to head CVBs – Ronnie Burt will take over responsibilities as presi- dent/CEO of the Kansas City Convention & Visitor's Association in June, and Al Hutchinson assumes the top position at the Mobile Bay CVB in July. Not only that, we discovered Patricia Washington, presi- dent & CEO of the Visit Alexandria, who had managed to slip under our radar when she filled that position a few years back. When you consider that there are near- ly 500 CVBs throughout the U.S., and we can only identify 11 African-Americans holding down the president/CEO post, obviously we still have a long way to go. But progress is progress, and we are pleased to report that we are clearly heading in the right direction. As we have reiterated in the past, this recurring 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 hospitality industry professionals is ready, willing and able to take on the responsibili- ties 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 Leslie Doggett (Baltimore Area CVA), Ron Davis (Oakland CVB), or Brenda Scot t, the industry's first African-American female to head a convention and visitors bureau in the nation (Mobile), all of whom have a proven track record and whose wealth of expertise would be an asset to any organi- zation. 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. New this year to our list are Michael Carter with Visit Tulsa, and Greg DeShields with Philadelphia MAC. Several familiar faces are gone from the list, including Dvorah Evans, Nicole Johnson- Reece, Gary Simon, Ahmeenah Young and Yolanda Bullock Cooper. BY GLORIA M. HERBERT