Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/704649
35 B M & T ••• March/April 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 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 meeting planners. It is the purpose of NCBMP to be the preeminent organization in educating African American associa- tion executives 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 respective 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 th e African American community. 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 Entertainment Facilities which include the Convention Center, Conference Center, Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena and RITA D. MCCLENNY was appoint- ed president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) on Novembe r 9, 2012 by Governor Bob McDonnell.. As the leader of the state tourism office, McClenny heads the team responsible for marketing the state as a top tourism and hospitality destination as well as promoting Virginia as the ideal location for film and television productions. Previously McClenny served for 21 years as the head of the Virginia Film Office, which is a division of the VTC. As president and C EO of VTC, McClenny serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Travel Association, the National Council of State Tourism Directors, and the Southwest Virginia Heritage Foundation. In 2010, Governor McDonnell appointed her to serve on the Commission to Honor the Contributions of Women of Virginia. In addition, McClenny serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Film Festival, the HCA-Chippenha m Medical Center and the Richmond Coliseum Advisory Board. MICHAEL D. MUNN was appointed chief of staff and director of Business Development for the Boston Convention Marketing Center (BCMC) in the Spring of 2004 by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Munn is responsible for business management and developing programs in support of the BCMC and implementing diversity initiatives that focus on Boston's multicultural and multinational qualities. During his 22-plus years in the Meetings industry, he has held positions with the National Managed Health Care Congress; vice president of Sponsorship Programs, International Data Group (IDG); show director for ComNET DC and ComNET San Francisco and manager of Business Development & Partner ROBERT L. JOHNSON is the founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies, an innov ative business network that provides strategic invest- ments in a diverse portfolio of compa- nies. Within The RLJ Companies portfolio, Johnson owns or holds interests in businesses operating in hotel real estate investment; private equity; financial services; asset man- agement; insurance 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 enter- tainment, 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, J ohnson 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 & Telecommuni- cations Association (NCTA), a trade association representing more than 1,500 cable television companies. Prior to joining the NCTA, Johnson was press secretary for the Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy, Congressional Delegate from the Distri ct 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. American Royal Center. Oscar is responsible for a $35 million depart- mental budget and 100 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 nine (9) years. McGaskey has been in his current position for eleven (11) years. During this time he has been directly responsi- ble for over $250 million in new construction and renovation proj- ects. He has also been recognized by the City Council of Kansas City for his leadership and commitment to providing a high level of customer service at the Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Facilities.