Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 MELVIN TENNANT, CAE, is presi- dent and chief executive officer of Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association. He became the organiza- tion's second CEO in 2008. He previous- ly served in similar capacities in Charlotte, N.C., San Antonio, Texas and Oakland, Calif. Since joining Meet Minneapolis, Tennant has overseen convention sales and marketing programs that bring a direct economic impact of $900 million to the area. With an annual budget of $10 million and a staff of 55, Tennant and his team worked closely with the Minnesota Vikings and other organizations as a member of the Minnesota Super Bowl LII Bid Committee to secure the National Football League's Super Bowl for Minnesota in February 2018. Just a few months later, he and his team worked with the University of Minnesota and other local leaders to secure the 2019 National Collegiate Athletics Association Men's Final Four. Both events will be held in the new Minnesota Stadium currently under construction. Under his leadership, Meet Minneapolis launched an affiliate organi- zation, Sports Minneapolis, in May 2014 to market and sell Minneapolis as a site for amateur and professional sporting events, sports-related conventions and related activities. Previously, Tennant's Meet Minnea- polis team also worked alongside the Minnesota Twins to secure the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and played an integral role in laying the groundwork and implementing logistics for Minneapolis Saint Paul's successful hosting of the 2008 Republican National Convention. Additionally, from 2007-2014, Ten- nant served as CEO for Internet Destination Sales System (iDSS), a pri- vate company that delivers a complete web-based series of software applications for destination marketing organizations, associations, hotels and corporations, where he oversaw the company's manage- ment and operations. iDSS was acquired by Tempest in Fall 2014. Tennant contin- ues to serve on its board of directors. Tennant has proved himself a leader in the travel industry. Currently, he is chair- man of the board for Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), and is the first supplier to serve in this position in the organization's 42- year history. During his career Tennant has received many accolades, most notably the RMCA's President Award, MPI's Chapter Legacy Award – Carolina Chapter and Black Meetings & Tourism magazine's APEX Award. Bureau (GFLCVB), where he is focused on ensuring that organizations and fam- ilies of diverse backgrounds select Greater Fort Lauderdale as the destina- tion of choice for conferences and fami- ly reunions. It is Tucker's vision to expose ethnically diverse individuals and groups to Greater Fort Lauderdale so that GFL becomes the destination of choice for individuals of color. Over the past four years Greater Fort Lauderdale has been a magnet for Family Reunions, where that segment of the market has increased by more than 45%. Group business has expanded in a major way and the destination is primed to welcome prestigious organizations such as the American Tennis Association (ATA) 2013, Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) 2014, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) 2014, 100 Black Men of America in 2014, and the National Urban League (NUL) in 2015. ALBERT TUCKER serves as vice president of Multicultural Business Development for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors RICKEY THIGPEN serves as exec- utive vice president of the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau where his responsibilities include Marketing, Promotions, Programs and Projects, Governmental and Community Engagement and IT. During his tenure at the Bureau he also served as Mississippi district director and execu- tive director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Thigpen holds a Master's degree in Leadership from Belhaven University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Mississippi Valley State University. CAROL WALLACE is president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, where she has led the bayside facility for over 20 years. She is responsible for the overall strategic direction, manage- ment and operation of the facility, oversees a full-time and part-time staff of more than 525 and an annual budget that exceeds $33 mil- lion. Under her leadership, the San Diego Convention Center has become one of the most successful facilities in the nation. In her 31-year career, Wallace has earned a reputation as a top industry executive working for the Dallas Convention Center as well as the Colorado Convention Center. When she came to San Diego in 1991, she played a pivotal leadership role convincing key constituents to expand the San Diego Convention Center, resulting in an expan-