Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
37 B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com the betterment of the organization. Jeffers previously spent 19 years with Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), most recently serving as senior vice president of operations and executive director for East Point, where he oversaw the destination sales and marketing for East Point to boost hotel demand and vis- itation for the city. Jeffers served as vice president of mem- bership and technology prior to his appointment as senior vice president. During this time he played an integral role in the redesign of several versions of Atlanta.net. Jeffers' previous positions with the Bureau included vice president of technology, director of technology, tech- nical support administrator, manager, information systems, and manager, tech- nology. Jeffers led numerous national and international projects for ACVB, includ- ing manager of operations at 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Welcome South Visitor Center, which serviced more than 20,000 visitors during the Games. Prior to ACVB, Jeffers worked in research at Georgia State University and as a law researcher for the Supreme Court of Bermuda. A 1990 graduate of American International College, Jeffers holds a mas- ter's degree in public administration from Georgia State University and a certificate of information technology management from Georgia Institute of Technology. KEVIN JOHNSON serves as presi- dent of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP). Johnson is also a planner with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in Detroit, MI. The NCBMP, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization dedicated primarily to the training needs of African American meet- ing planners. It is the purpose of NCBMP to be the preeminent organization in edu- cating African American association execu- tives and meeting planners in all aspects of the meeting planning profession such that, as a result, NCBMP members will be able to (a) maximize a greater return on the meeting dollar investment for their respec- tive organizations, (b) effect positive change in the hospitality industry as it relates to African Americans, and (c) become a voice in the hospitality industry on issues that affect the African American community. ROBERT L. JOHNSON is the founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies, an innovative business network that provides strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of companies. Within The RLJ Companies portfolio, Johnson owns or holds interests in businesses operating in hotel real estate investment; private equity; financial services; asset management; insur- ance services; automobile dealerships; sports and entertainment; and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming. Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation's first and leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news, sports and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. Under Mr. Johnson's leadership, BET became the first African-American-owned company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2000, Johnson sold BET to Viacom and remained the CEO through 2005. From 1976-79, Johnson served as vice president of Government Relations for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), a trade association representing more than 1,500 cable televi- sion companies. Prior to joining the NCTA, Johnson was press secretary for the Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy, Congre- ssional Delegate from the District of Columbia. Johnson holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies from the University of Illinois. OSCAR C. MCGASKEY, JR. is the Executive Director of the Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Facilities. In this position Oscar oversees the City's Convention and Enter-tain- ment Facilities which include the Convention Center, Conference Center, Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena and American Royal Center. Oscar is responsible for a $35 million convention and tourism budget and 125 fulltime employees. Under Oscar's leadership the Kansas City Convention Center has received the prestigious Prime Site Award from Facilities & Destinations magazine for the past eight (8) years. This award is based on opinions from meeting planners, association executives and tradeshow managers who produce meetings and conventions in convention centers in the United States.