Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/405793
B M & T ••• July/August 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 4 A s we at Black Meetings & Tourism embark on our third decade of publishing, we needed to take a moment to thank all of our colleagues and friends who have helped and encouraged us to continue moving forward through the good times, as well as during the challenging times. Much of the reward of our work at BM&T comes in the form of gratitude and appreciation for our dedicated efforts to serve this industry and our community. There is nothing that can compare to the satisfaction we feel when we are able to recognize and honor those amongst us, past and present, upon whose shoulders we all stand. Likewise, it warms our hearts when we are also able to motivate and assist those who are attempting to nav- igate through the labyrinth of career paths that face them and all too often include obstacles and roadblocks that must be overcome for people of color. There are far too many folks for us to thank individually, but there are several I simply must single out Solomon J. Herbert Publisher/Editor-In-Chief E-Mail: BMandTMag@aol.com Black Meetings & Tourism is published bi-monthly by SunGlo Enterprises, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207 •Telephone: (818)709-0646/Fax: (818) 709-4753 Copyright 2014 by SunGlo Enterprises. All rights reserved. Single Copies, $6.00 Subscriptions $45.00. Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. •Postmaster send address changes to Black Meetings & Tourism, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207. for their steadfast and unwavering support. Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis has been an ardent supporter of Black Meetings & Tourism wherever and whenever possible. From his days as the first African-American CVB presi- dent in Oakland, and in his subsequent CEO positions in Charlotte, Houston and now in Minneapolis, he has always recognized the value of the African- American market that we serve, and the value that Black Meetings & Tourism brings to the table. It's not just that we are able to successfully connect him with this $56+ billion underserved segment and help bring meeting and leisure travel business to Minneapolis. He also understands the crucial role Black Meetings & Tourism plays as an agent of change by keeping attention focused on issues relevant to African-Americans and other people of color in our industry. Thank you Melvin. I would be remiss if I didn't also men- tion Brenda Scott-Savage, who was the first African-American female CVB presi- dent in Mobile. The support, encourage- ment, consultation and friendship she has provided us over the years have been invaluable. Thank you Brenda. Mike Gunn (Birmingham, AL), Roy Jay (Portland, OR), Elliot Fergu- son (Washington, DC), Ronnie Burt (Kansas City, MO), Al Hutchinson (Mobile, AL), Wanda Collier Wilson (Jackson, MS), Ava Pope (Greensboro, NC) and Al Tucker (Fort Lauderdale, FL) are just a few of the others who have con- sistently been staunch supporters of Black Meetings & Tourism and our mission to promote diversity and inclusion in our industry. We appreciate the confidence you have in BM&T to always include us on your budgets, and we cherish the lifelong friendships with each of you that have evolved over the years. Thank you all. I also want to thank all of my staff at BM&T, especially our executive assis- tant Victoria Head, office manager Dorothy Canty, administrative assistant and grandson Paul Herbert, my son Solomon J. Herbert II, who writes sto- ries, produces our beautiful covers, and maintains our online products/services, our brilliant graphic designer Robert Ingram, our senior sales manager Regina Buggs, and of course my wonderful busi- ness partner and beautiful wife Gloria Herbert. None of what we've accom- plished could have happened without the hard work and commitment of the BM&T team. And for all those that space would not allow me to mention here, thank you as well.