Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
ELLIOTT FERGUSON serves as president and CEO of Destination DC, the official convention and tourism cor- poration for Washington, DC. A 24-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads Destination DC's efforts to generate eco- nomic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, oversee- ing the organization's convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance and business development operations. Ferguson began his tenure with Destination DC in 2001 as senior vice president of Convention Sales and Services and has served as president and CEO of Destination DC since 2009. Prior to working at Destination DC he served as vice president of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has also served as director of Sales for both the Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Ferguson currently serves on the board of directors for the following organizations: the U.S. Department of Commerce's Travel and Tourism Advisory Board; U.S. Travel Association; Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID); the District of Columbia's Taxicab Commission; DC Jazz Festival; Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI); Greater Washington Sports Alliance; Capital Partners for Education; I Talk to Strangers, Inc.; and the Ryan Kerrigan "Blitz for the Better" Foundation. Ferguson also serves on Brand USA's Marketing Advisory Group; DC Business Coalition and Hospitality Alliance of Washington, DC. Ferguson is a longtime resident of Capitol Hill, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and is an active mentor with Capital Partners for Education. GERRY FERNANDEZ is founder and president of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), a national non-profit organiza- tion that promotes the business benefits of cultural diversity in the food and hospi- tality industry while helping its members attract, develop, and retain multicultural talent. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Fernandez has held leader- ship positions with several well known companies including General Mills, The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Hemenway's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar and The Capital Grille, now owned by Darden. Fernandez founded MFHA in 1996 while employed at General Mills as a National Account Manager. Since then, MFHA has grown into a respected and well known non-profit with over 1,000 members. MFHA was the first organiza- tion to bring about a national discussion on diversity management in the hospitali- ty industry and today, MFHA remains the only non-profit organization focused on promoting the business case for diversity within the restaurant, foodservice and lodging segments. As President of MFHA, Fernandez has been influential in aiding dozens of com- panies with their diversity talent manage- ment initiatives and has been directly involved in creating programs designed to attract, develop and retain multicultural talent to the industry. He is an accomplished speaker and has presented nationwide and in Canada, London, England, Vienna, Austria, the Caribbean, Mexico, and in Beijing, China. Fernandez is a trustee of Johnson & Wales University, a member of the board of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and a Life Member of the NAACP. He is a member of The Women's Chef's & Restaurateurs Association, the National Council of La Raza, The Women's Foodservice Forum and the National Association of Black Meeting Planners. Gerry Fernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Foodservice Management from Johnson & Wales University where he also earned a Culinary Arts degree in 1976. Gerry is married, has three sons, six grandchildren and lives with his wife, Debra (Jackson) in Warwick, Rhode Island. SHANITRA R. FINLEY joined the Yazoo County CVB in 1998 as assistant director, and in June 2014 accepted the posi- tion of executive director. In her 16 years as a tourism professional in Yazoo County, there is not much in the world of Travel & Tourism that Ms. Finley has not experi- enced. From arranging Group and FAM Tours, to preparing budgets and attending to payroll, to representing Yazoo County on Mississippi's state tourism boards, she uses her skills in business and her extensive imag- ination to promote Yazoo County and encourage the broadening of Yazoo County's tourism assets. In 2011, she was awarded a Community Service Award dur- ing the annual CVB Honors Awards, pre- sented by the Yazoo County CVB, for her years of dedicated service to Yazoo County. Finley currently resides in Yazoo City with her two children, where she enjoys trav- el planning, business consulting, and tax preparation as hobbies. 33 B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com