Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/4253
Black Meetings & Tourism October/November 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com estate, hospitality/restaurant, pro- fessional sports, film production, gaming and recording industries. Under The RLJ Companies umbrella, Johnson owns or holds interests in companies operating in the professional sports, hospitali- ty/restaurant, real estate, financial services, gaming and recording industries. Core assets of The RLJ Companies include RLJ Develop- ment, a privately held hotel invest- ment company, which acquires and develops upscale select- service hotels, including Hilton-branded and Marriott-brand- ed hotels in major North American urban markets. In February 2006, RLJ Development entered into an agreement to acquire 100 hotels for approximately $1.7 billion, bringing total holdings to 111 hotels. Other assets include RLJ Urban Lodging Fund, a private equity hotel investment company, RLJ Asset Management Group, RolloverSystems, a financial services company in Charlotte, NC. NAN MARCHAND serves as executive director of the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). A 20+-year hospitality industry veteran, she began her tenure on October 2, 2006. In her position, Marchand directs the Pasadena CVB's extensive mar- keting efforts to attract meeting and convention business, as well as leisure travelers to Pasadena. She also plays a major role in the devel- opment of Pasadena's growing hos- pitality industry, which in 2007 gen- erated an estimated $555.6 million in revenue for the city, an increase of 6% over calendar year 2006. Tourism in Pasadena supported approximately 2,635 local jobs, with total measurable tax rev- enue for the city increasing 1.6% in calendar year 2007 over 2006 to approximately $11.6 million. Since 2001, Marchand has been head of her own tourism marketing firm, NM & Associates, which boasts such clients as the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, Anaheim/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, AMTRAK, the Beverly Center, and LA INC., The Convention & Visitors Bureau. From 1987-2001, she served as vice presi- dent of sales for Universal Studios Hollywood (USH) where she managed a staff of 54 sales professionals. She started with USH in 1986 as a sales representative and was subsequently promoted to travel and sales marketing manager in 1988 and then to director of travel industry sales and marketing in 1990. OSCAR MCGASKEY, JR. is the executive director of the Kansas City Convention and Entertain-ment Facilities, which consist of the Convention Center, Music Hall, Kemper Arena and the American Royal complex. McGaskey is responsible for a $20 million operating budget, 120 employees and managing a $150 million capital improvement pro- gram. He has held this position since June 2004 and was previously the general manager of the Dallas Convention Center from 1992- 2002. RONALD M. MELTON serves as executive vice president of Services and Operations for Travel Portland. In this role, Melton serves as Travel Portland's chief financial and operations officer, as well as oversee the agency's Education and Training Foundation, a nonprofit charitable entity that provides financial assistance to can- didates training for hospitality industry careers. This past January, Melton will also transitioned into the role of administrator for the Portland Metro Region's Visitor Development Fund (VDF). With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Melton worked most recently as director of finance for the Conference Meeting & Assistance Corp. (CMAC) in Dallas, Texas. Prior to taking his position with CMAC, Melton had spent 10 years as executive vice president and chief finan- cial officer for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. From 1988-1994, he was the director of finance and administration for the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. HOWARD MILLS, SR. - CMP is a dynamic, results-ori- ented executive with an extensive business background that includes over 35 years as a chief meeting/con- ference planner for the National Urban League, from which he retired in 1995. He is a founding member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and con- tinues to be a tireless advocate for inclusion and advancement of Blacks in the industry. Mills served as Chairman Emeritus of the NCBMP and was re-elected as chairperson of the organization in January 2008.. Mills freelances as a trainer and consultant in the meetings industry. He regularly attends industry conferences to keep abreast of changing trends, share experiences and to network with meeting planners and suppliers. He remains steadfast in his commitment to mentor and work with young people in the industry. Through his vigilant networking, he brings together young people and key industry practitioners, often resulting in 52