Black Meetings and Tourism

March / April 2015

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31 B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Bertrand serves on numerous indus- try and civic boards, and has been recog- nized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of "Atlanta's Top Hospitality Leaders," by Black Meetings and Tourism magazine as one of the "Most Influential African-Americans in the Meetings/Tourism Industry," and by the Atlanta Business League as one of "Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence." Most recently, Success Magazine named Bertrand to its 2013 list of the "25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry." She is a highly requested speaker for college and high school programs that focus on hospital- ity and its diverse career options. Under her direction, the ACVB publishes its African-American visitor publication, Atlanta Heritage Guide, which just cele- brated its 25th consecutive year in print in 2014. In 2007, Bertrand founded HIP – Hospitality Industry Professionals – an organization dedicated to growth of diverse leadership within the broad- based hospitality industry through edu- cation, professional development, men- toring, and networking. The organiza- tion recently established the Kathleen Bertrand HIP-Atlanta Scholarship, given annually to a deserving hospitality industry student. Her most recent projects are the Hospitality Career Fair, an event which opens the doors to employment oppor- tunities within Atlanta's hospitality industry to graduating seniors and per- sons from other industries with trans- ferable skill sets looking for entry into the hospitality industry, and the found- ing and production of BronzeLens Film Festival, now in its 5th year, that cele- brates Atlanta as both a destination and the new mecca for film and film produc- tion by people of color. Bertrand is also a well-known and honored jazz recording artist/writer, with performances ranging from two Olympic Games to performances before two sitting presidents and jazz concerts world-wide. A three-time Montreux Jazz Festival performer, Bertrand's discography includes 5 CDs, with her 6th as yet unnamed project scheduled for release in the summer of 2015. ERNEST P. BOGER, CHA, FMP, CHE, CHA, FMP, CHE, is tenured associ- ate professor and chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Management-(HRM) Department within the School of Business and Technology at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore(UMES), Princess Anne, MD. Dr. Boger exercises CEO accountability for a thriving Bachelor of Science Degree Program, designed to pro- duce entry level managers for a variety of Foodservice, Lodging and Travel/-Tourism related professional careers. Prior to UMES, he held leadership roles with Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina, West Indies and Wiley Universities as well as The Jamaica Hotel School/Hotel Casa Monte, Kingston, Jamaica and Parry Property Management Co. of Dallas, TX. Under his recent lead- ership, UMES was accredited by the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) as the 20th University nationwide, and the First HBCU, to offer the Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Golf Management. With 40+ years of industry operations and training expertise, he is recognized as the "Dean" of Black College Hospitality Educators. Dr. Boger regularly provides consulting services in hospitality marketing and training to U.S., Caribbean, and African companies and governments. He has held leadership positions with more than 20 smajor industry organizations, including current- ly, the Professional Certification Commissions of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Dr. Boger was presented with the H.B. Meek Award by CHRIE during its 2013 Summer Convention in St. Louis. It is the highest award the organization bestows for lifetime achievement. He is only the 2nd African American to receive the award in the 68 years of the organization's history BENNISH D. BROWN serves as the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau's [TRCVB] president and CEO. Brown has a strong background in the destination marketing industry and served the 12 years as the executive director of Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor Bureau in South Carolina before assuming his current post. Brown, who began his work at the TRCVB in June, 2012, leads the TRCVB's staff of 15 and reports to the TRCVB's board of directors. While at Rock Hill/York County CVB, Brown grew the organization's budget from $200,000 to $1.1million in seven years, led the organization to become the first Destination Marketing Association International [DMAI] accredited CVB in the state, managed a merger between the CVB and Sports Commission, hosted a Ladies Professional Golf Association [LPGA] event and more. A prolific writer, Dr. Boger has authored 10 book chapters and more than 100 arti- cles on industry subjects. Among other things, he has received the BM&T/TPOC APEX Award and was designated a Certified Hotel Admin-istrator (CHA) Emeritus by the AH&LA. The first African-American to be so recognized.

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