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B M & T ••• May/June 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 30 SARA B. HAMLIN has been in the tourism industry for more than 25 years. She is currently vice president of Tourism for the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. Hamlin is responsible for promoting and booking motor coach business, reunions, international group business and implementation of the tourism depart- ment's marketing plan and budget for the greater Birmingham area. She also supervises the operations of three Birmingham area visitor centers. Hamlin serves on the Board of the American Bus Association. She's also on the Board of Governors for the American Bus Association Foundation. Hamlin serves on the Board of the National Association of Motorcoach Operators. Additionally, she is on the Board of the Music Hall of Fame and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. She is involved in the following organizations: Destination Marketing International, Student Youth Travel Association, Alabama Hospitality Association Board of Directors, and Ontario Motorcoach Association AL HUTCHINSON has been appointed president/CEO of the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau and will assume his post on July 1, 2014. With nearly 25 years of experience in the hospitality and destination marketing arena, Hutchinson most recent- ly served as the vice president of Convention Sales & Services at the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). For over 11 years, he led an experienced team of convention sales and service professionals and worked closely with community leaders, industry decision makers, elected officials and hotel, attraction and restaurant part- ners. Prior to his time in Virginia Beach, Hutchinson also served in various leadership positions with the Greater Pittsburgh CVB, the Charlotte Convention Center, The Park Hotel in Charlotte, NC and the Richmond Metropolitan CVB. Hutchinson's first responsibilities will be to assess the current organizational vision and strategies of the Mobile Bay CVB. He will also meet with key hospitality and community leaders and become familiar with recent sales and marketing programs, current projects underway and future plans of action. CHARLES JEFFERS, senior vice president of operations and executive director for East Point, sales and marketing of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), is leading the partnership between ACVB and the City of East Point. Jeffers oversees the destination sales and marketing for East Point to boost hotel demand and visitation for the city. An 18-year ACVB veteran, Jeffers previously served as vice president of membership and technology prior to his appointment as senior vice president. Jeffers' previous positions with the Bureau included vice president of technology, director of technology, technical support administrator, manager, information systems, and manager, technology. Prior to ACVB, Jeffers worked in research at Georgia State University and as a law researcher for the Supreme Court of Bermuda. JAMES JESSIE is the senior vice president of Sales at the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, where his responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations of the CVB's 20-person sales team and guiding the agency's sales efforts for the Phoenix Convention Center. A 19-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Jessie has also held positions with the Lane County Oregon CVA and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association. He began his tenure at the Greater Phoenix CVB as a sales manager in 1999. Jessie serves on the board of directors for the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission and the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce. MICHAEL D. GUNN, CMP, with more than 30 years of industry experience, is responsible for the operation of the convention sales staff in booking state, regional, national and international convention business for the Birmingham area. He supervises a staff of 15 sales and administrative professionals. In addition to his supervisory responsibilities, Gunn oversees a multimillion dollar budget for the convention sales department and compiles monthly, quarterly and annual sales and marketing business plans. He also directs placement and media buys for the CVB's million dollar advertising budget. Gunn is a member of the board of directors of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP) and serves on the board of Certified Meeting Professionals. He is a past member of the Destination Marketing Association's International Foundation Board. The NCBMP named Gunn the "Supplier of the Year" in 2001. He received his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2003, and in 2004 he was honored with the Venus de Milo Award from the Meeting Industry Ladies Organization, Ltd. In 2007, Gunn received the Apex Award from Black Meetings & Tourism magazine. The Alabama Tourism Department named him "Tourism Executive of the Year" in 2009, the most prestigious award in the state's tourism industry.