Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 TONY GLADNEY serves as vice president of National Diversity Relations for MGM Resorts International, , where he is responsible for enhancing Company relationships with strategic Diversity & Inclusion partners at the local, state and national levels; collaborating with other Company departments to augment sales to diverse customer bases and con- vention market segments; and leverag- ing national relationships to support Company development and expansion into new jurisdictions. Additionally, he works with the Diversity Development team to drive internal Diversity & Inclusion and related employee engage- ment. Gladney brings more than 20 years of experience in the gaming industry supporting programs related to diversity and community affairs. He most recent- ly served as vice president of National Diversity Relations at Caesars Enterta- inment, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Diversity and Inclusion platform of Caesars Entertainment. Prior to that, Gladney was part of the MGM Resorts team, first joining the Company in 1993 as manager of Community Affairs Development at MGM Grand Las Vegas. In 2001, he was promoted to MGM Grand's vice president of Corporate Diversity and shortly thereafter, vice president of National Diversity Relations for the newly formed MGM MIRAGE. Gladney has received numerous awards and recognitions for his stewardship of Diversity & Inclusion programs and his statesmanship in diversity relations. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Business Communication from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. JULIE COKER GRAHAM is sen- ior vice president, Convention Division, for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). Coker oversees a staff of 25 convention sales and services profession- als who are responsible for selling the expanding Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia's hotel package to customers across the country. Coker joined the PCVB after serving as general manager at Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. In her role, Coker oversaw all operational aspects of the 350-room hotel, which is the only hotel in the city located on Philadelphia's revitalized waterfront area. Among her responsibilities were: directing all hotel and employee oper- ations such as managing the assets and pro- viding monthly profit and loss statements, maintaining legal compliance, assessing financial or product issues, and outlining sales and marketing strategies, while provid- ing guidance, mentorship, and leadership to the employees and managers of the hotel. A 20-year Hyatt veteran, Coker began her career there in 1989 as a corporate man- agement trainee at Hyatt Regency Columbus and held various positions at the hotel until 1992. She also held full-time positions, including assistant front office manager, front office manager, hotel assis- tant manager and assistant executive house- keeper at Hyatt Regency O'Hare. In 1994, she was promoted to her first room execu- tive position at Hyatt Deerfield (Chicago) and held the same position at Hyatt Regency Cincinnati before being appointed to join the opening team and lead the rooms division at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in March 1998. In 1998, she was pro- moted to General Manager at Hyatt on Printer's Row in downtown Chicago. From there, she was promoted to general manager at The Lodge, a Hyatt property in Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago. MICHAEL GUNN, CMP is the vice president of Convention Sales for the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. In this position he is responsible for the day to day operation of the Convention Sales staff in booking state, regional, national and internation- al convention business for the Greater Birmingham area. He supervises a staff of 15, oversees the annual budget for the Conventions Sales Department and prepares monthly, quarterly, annual sales and marketing business plans for the Convention Sales Department. Gunn is a board member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP), the Convention Industry Council CMP Board, and the Alabama Travel Council. He is the past board member of Destination Marketing Association, International Foundation Board. Gunn has over 30 years of industry experience. He is a member of American Society of Association Executives, Religious Conference Management Association, and Greater Washington Society of Association Executives. Gunn is the recipient of numerous honors, including Supplier of The Year Award from the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP) in 2001, Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2003, Venus de Milo Award from Meeting Industry Ladies Organization, Ltd. In 2004, Apex Award for distinguished service from Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine in 2007, and Tourism Executive of the Year Award from the State of Alabama Department of Tourism in 2009.