Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/704649
Tennessee Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Besides being a major player in the state's tourism industry for many years, he has also served the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable (TTR) faithfully as a board member, TTR Government Relations Committee member and chair, and chair of the annual TTR salute to the legislature. Last year he served as chair of TTR after serving as vice-chair during 2010. Tayl or was named as the recipient of the 2010 Tennessee Tourism Roundtable Knight of the Roundtable Award, an award given in recognition of an individual for their outstanding contri- butions of leadership, service, and professionalism to the Tennessee tourism industry and for their involvement with and service to the Tennessee tourism. LINDA HAITHCOX TAYLOR has over 30 years of experience in organiza- tional an d business management including research, project creation, implementation, fundraising, public relations, special events management and budget development. Her career has the benefit of unique experiences, which includes corporate, higher education, small and minority owned business and non-profit management. She has worked for and with Fortune 500 corporations such as Bristol-Myers; with leading insti tutions of higher education such as Howard University and Bowie State University; with several African-American owned corporations; with Capitol Hill special interest political groups such as the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO), the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the National Policy Alliance (NPA); with the 1992 Clinton and the 2008 & 2012 Obama Presidenti al Campaigns; with numerous U.S. Congressional and state political campaigns; and with two of America's highly respected African-American organizations: UNCF (The United Negro College Fund); NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. During her tenure with the NAACP, Haithcox-Taylor direct- ed the Economic Development Department which included managing more than 50 corporate agree ments under the Fair Share Program; the Corporate Advisory Council; the Commerce and Trade Council; and the Economic Reciprocity Initiative which monitored and issued annual industry reviews on the hotel, telecommunications and other industries. Haithcox-Taylor has managed the National Policy Alliance which represents the presidents and chairs of Black elected offi- cials national organizations. As ex ecutive director, She is respon- sible for national policy advocacy, as well as leadership meetings and communications throughout the year with the NPA mem- ber organizations and with the White House administration. Haithcox-Taylor is also the founder and president of Women Love Sports Too! (WLST) that helps women under- stand, appreciate and enjoy sports as a career option, business CALVIN TAYLOR is vice president of G overnment Relations for the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he works closely with state government, city officials and the local hospitality industry in Memphis in enhancing the development and growth of Memphis tourism. In addi- tion he serves as the bureau's director of the Memphis tourism education foundation, which administers the city's official hospitality tourism training p rogram. Taylor is co-founder of the Beale street development corpora- tion, the organization that reintroduced the historic district as a tourist destination. He also worked as publicity director at Southland Racing Corporation, the southeast's largest pari-mutuel waging center. Additionally he is a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and is a past chairman of the MONICA SMITH, CMP, C ASE, CDME is the president & CEO of the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Smith leads the CVB's efforts to market Macon-Bibb County as a destination for leisure travel, con- ventions, and group tours. She is the President of the Georgia Association of CVBs (GACVB), the Vice President of the Southeast Tourism Society (STS), and a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). Smith earned a bachelor's degree in hotel administra- tion from Cornell University in 1995. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, watching football and basketball, and traveling with her husband and three children. was the CEO and president of Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau. He also has served as the vice president of Economic Development for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and as deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Comm- erce. During his tenure in the hospital- ity industry, he has served as director of Finance and Administration at both the Wichita and San Jose (CA) Convention and Visitors Bureau s. Rolfe is a graduate of Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, holding a bachelor's degree in business administration and has been involved with numerous boards and civic organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau (TACVB), YMCA of Houston, the Ensemble Theatre and on the Advisory Board of the Greater Houston Black Chamber. B M & T ••• March/April 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 38