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B M & T ••• March/April 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 ERNEST P. BOGER, CHA, FMP, CHE, CHA, FMP, CHE, is tenured associate 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 accountabil- ity for a thriving Bachelor of Science Degree Program, designed to produce 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 leadership, 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 major industry organ- izations, including currently, 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 A prolific writer, Dr. Boger has authored 10 book chapters and more than 100 articles on industry subjects. Among other things, he has received the BM&T/TPOC APEX Award and was desig- nated a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) Emeritus by the AH&LA. The first African-American to be so recognized. LARRY ATCHISON serves as Associate Director of Sales at the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. In his position, Atchison works with organizations based in the Mid-Atlantic from his office in Albuquerque, NM. A 34-year veteran of the hospitali- ty and meetings industry, Atchison has been with Albuquerque for 23 years. Past positions held within ACVB include National Sales Manager and Interim and Vice President of Convention Sales & Services. Atchison has worked with a variety of diverse organizations and is particularly skilled at developing great relationships with convention and meeting groups. Among several others, Atchison has been instrumental in bringing the following groups to Albuquerque for their national and regional conven- tions: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club and the COGIC - National Leadership Conference CLEO BATTLE was appointed executive vice president of the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau in January 2013. Battle's responsibilities include developing relationships with clients in Washing-ton and Chicago, repre- senting the Louisville Bureau at industry trades-hows and confer- ences and providing strategic leadership and oversight of the Bureau in all aspects of its fiscal and daily operation. Battle has worked in the hospitality industry for 28 years. Prior to coming to the Louisville Bureau, Battle spent the last 12 years as vice president of Sales & Services for the Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau in Richmond, VA. He also held the positions of director of Sales and sales man- ager at the Richmond CVB. Battle began his hospitality career in the hotel industry working for Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotels. and for Streetwise Partners, which brings together low- income individuals and volunteer business professionals to develop workplace skills and employment networks. Ashford holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Industrial Technology from Purdue University. STEPHANIE MAYS BOYD current- ly serves as a member of the Senior Management team as director, Sales and Marketing with SMG/ Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). With over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, Boyd leads the sales team through her leadership by developed