Karen Williams *Chair* *2009-10*	Karen Williams has been a leader in the hospitality industry for more than 29 years. Currently, she serves as Executive Vice President of the Louisville CVB. Karen plays a key role in assisting the President and CEO in pursuing initiatives that affect the long-term success of the industry locally, regionally, and nationally. Karen is a member of several local and national industry organizations including Skal Club International, MPI, PCMA, and serves as an APEX Commissioner with the CIC. She has served on the boards of MPI, DMAI and the Louisville Sports Commission and Leadership Louisville. Karen is the Incoming Chair of the Destination and Travel Foundation Board and serves on the Advisory Board of the Sullivan University Nation Center for Hospitality. She is a graduate of Leadership Louisville’s Program for senior executives, the Bingham Fellows.
Timothy Schneider *Chair-Elect* *2009-10*	Timothy Schneider is President & CEO of Los Angeles-based Schneider Publishing Company, Inc., a company he founded in 1988 at the age of 26. The company publishes magazines and provides other information services primarily for specialized group travel markets. Association News is an advertiser-supported monthly trade magazine for association executives and meeting planners at more than 40,000 state and regional associations nationwide. SportsTravel is an advertiser-supported monthly magazine for the sports event industry. He serves as publisher and editor-in-chief of both magazines. Schneider Publishing Company also owns and produces TEAMS: Travel, Events And Management in Sports, an annual conference and expo for the international sports event industry. In 2005, Timothy founded the SportsTravel Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation which will provide grants to deserving amateur athletes and teams who otherwise might not be able to participate in sporting events and tournaments due to the cost of travel. A native of Kansas, Timothy received an AB in government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He is an active member of numerous industry organizations and served two terms on the board of directors of the National Association of Sports Commissions.
Barry Biggar, CDME *Secretary/Treasurer* *2009-10*	Barry Biggar is the President & CEO of Visit Fairfax. Prior to his current position Barry was President & CEO of the Bryan-College Station, Texas CVB. Barry also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Lexington, Kentucky CVB. Biggar has been a member of DMAI since 1991 and during this time he has served on the DMAI Board of Directors, Chaired the Education Committee for three years, has served on numerous other committee’s and is currently the Chair of the DMAI Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). He holds the recognized certification of Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME). Biggar holds a diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Hotel and Restaurant Management and attended the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada.
Steve Moore Immediate Past Chair *2009-10*	Steve Moore is President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix, Arizona CVB, and served as the 2008-2009 Chair of the DMAI Foundation and also Chairs the current Destination Excellence campaign. He has been a member of DMAI since 1976. Moore came to Phoenix in March 2002, after serving 13 years as President/CEO of the San Antonio, Texas CVB. Prior to his tenure in San Antonio, Moore spent 14 years serving the Houston, Texas CVB in various capacities, including Executive Vice President. Steve is active in several professional organizations including PCMA, ASAE, USTA and MPI. Locally, Moore serves on the executive committees of the Arizona Tourism Alliance, Valley Hotel & Resort Association, Valley United Way, Arizona Super Bowl ’14 Bid Committee and the Greater Phoenix Business Leadership Coalition. Steve is an alumni of the University of Houston.

Roy Benear *2007-10*	Roy Benear is the Senior Vice President for the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. Prior to joining the Austin CVB, he was Vice President of Convention Sales for the Denver Metro CVB. Roy’s extensive career includes 15 years with Hilton Hotels working at both the New Orleans Hilton Riverside, and the Washington, D.C. Hilton and Towers, as well as 5 years as a Director of Sales for GES Exposition Services, and Hargrove, Inc. In 2001, he joined the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau as Eastern Regional Director of Sales. He is also active in several industry related organizations. Roy is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). A New Orleans native, he attended Louisiana State University.
Robert Canton *2007-10*	Robert Canton is the Director of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Sports, Convention & Tourism Practice and has been a DMAI Business Partner since 2001. In addition to his involvement with DMAI, Mr. Canton's past professional and business affiliations include the International Association of Assembly Managers (where he has served on the Convention Center/Exhibition Hall Committee), the Urban Land Institute, and Association of Luxury Suite Directors. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, and the Advisory Board of the University of New Haven Sports Industry Program. He previously served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Leisure Property. He serves as a guest lecturer at the University of Tampa and is a frequent speaker at events organized by the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, Urban Land Institute, IAAM, International Downtown Association, International Convention Center Conference, Association of Internationale des Palais de Congress, European Stadium & Arena Managers Association, and International Association for Exhibition Management. Mr. Canton received a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of South Florida and a Master of Tourism Administration from The George Washington University, where he was presented with the Dr. Philip W. Ogilvie Award for Highest Academic Achievement.
Robin Carson *2009-12*
Bruce Charendoff *2009-12*
Craig Davis, CDME *2009-12*	Craig Davis is Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for VisitPittsburgh, which is dedicated to generating convention, trade show and leisure travel business for the Pittsburgh region. In this leadership role, Craig is responsible for key operations within the organization, and oversees several departments, including Convention Sales, Convention Services, Tourism & Cultural Heritage and the Marketing & Communications Departments. Formerly, Craig was the Executive Director of Convention Sales, where he manages a seasoned team of people responsible for convention sales for the entire region. Prior to joining VisitPittsburgh (formerly called the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau), Craig was the Director of Marketing for the Westin William Penn Hotel (now the Omni William Penn). His previous experience in the hospitality industry includes four years with the Toronto Hilton and Toronto Airport Hilton as Director of Convention Services and three years with the Drake Hotel in Chicago as Director of Sales & Marketing. He also spent time as the Marketing Director at the Vista Hotel in Pittsburgh before being transferred to Chicago. Craig is a native of Canada and a Graduate of University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario in computer science. In 2001, he became a proud U.S. Citizen. In 2002, he became a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), a designation that’s recognized by the Convention and Visitors Bureau industry as its highest educational achievement. He is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh in 2009, and serves on the board of directors of Catholic Charities of Allegheny County.
Roger Dow *2009-12*	Roger Dow is President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Travel Association, the national umbrella organization representing all segments of the $740 billion U.S. travel and tourism industry. Prior to joining U.S. Travel, Roger rose through the ranks at Marriott International in a career that began as a summer lifeguard at the sixth Marriott hotel and spanned 34 years. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, Global and Field Sales, leading Marriott's 10,000-person worldwide sales organization. Roger most recently was recognized by his peers as the 2008 Association Executive of the Year, according to Association Trends.
Dawn Drew *2009-12*
Lisa Gregg *2009-12*
Rosemary McCormick *2009-12*
Patrick Moscaritolo *2008-11*	Since 1991, Mr. Moscaritolo has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB). As CEO and President of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, he directs a staff of 50 people with a budget over $12 million. Mr. Moscaritolo has been the recipient of distinguished leadership awards from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, the Massachusetts Tourism Coalition and the Massachusetts Lodging Association. He has received Yankee Magazine’s Massachusetts Travel Industry Person of the Year and the Spinazzola Foundation’s Spirit of Leadership award for his efforts to promote Boston’s restaurant industry and for his charitable contributions to the Boston community. Mr. Moscaritolo serves as a Board member of the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission, the Back Bay Association, and the Travel Industry Association of America. He is an honors graduate of Boston Latin School, a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College and has a Masters Degree from the London School of Economics.
Doug Neilson *2007-10*	Doug Neilson is currently working as a Consultant for VISIT Milwaukee. He previously served as President & CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. Mr. Neilson has 17 years experience in hotel sales and marketing at Westin Hotels and Resorts, Park Lane Hotels and Hyatt Hotels. Mr. Neilson served 8 years as Vice President of Convention Sales with the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mr. Neilson currently serves as a board member to the Greater Milwaukee Hotel/Motel Association, Governor’s Council on Tourism and Wisconsin Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. His past affilations include the Association of Convention Marketing Executives: President and Board Member; Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI): Board Member; DMAI – MINT: Past Chair and CIC’s Apex Committee: Past Member.
David G. Peckinpaugh, CMP *2007-10*	Prior to joining HelmsBriscoe in June of 2009, David Peckinpaugh served as President & CEO of the San Diego CVB for three years. David also served as the EVP of Sales & Marketing and then as the Chief Marketing Officer for Conferon Global Services (now Experient Inc.). Prior to 1998, David was the Vice President of Sales & Catering for the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. His hotel career spanned 20+ years and included sales and marketing roles at the Broadmoor Hotel, La Costa Resort & Spa and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Denver, San Diego, and Long Beach. David has served on numerous advisory boards, is a frequent industry lecturer and is an active member of PCMA, ASAE & DMAI. David also serves as an Ex-Officio member on the boards of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Economic Development Corporation and the San Diego Hotel & Motel Association.
J. Stephen Perry *DMAI Chair-Elect* *2009-10*	President of the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB, J. Stephen Perry has been a member of Destination Marketing since 2002. Before taking the lead of the NOMCVB, Perry served as Chief of Staff to Louisiana Governor Mike Foster, beginning in January 1996. He brings many years of legislative and executive branch service combined with non-profit, private sector business management, and sales and marketing experience to his position at the bureau. Stephen holds B.A. degrees in History and Russian Area Studies from LSU, with time at Moscow State University in the Soviet Union, an M.A. in Anthropology from LSU. He also completed Senior Executives Program in State and Local Government offered by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Gary C. Sain, CTC, CHME *2008-11*	Gary C. Sain is president and CEO of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc., the only officially recognized sales and marketing organization dedicated to promoting the Orlando area as one of the world's great vacation and convention/meeting destinations. Prior to joining the Orlando CVB in February 2007, Sain was executive vice president, chief marketing officer, and partner of Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, an Orlando-based international advertising and public relations agency specializing in travel, leisure and lifestyle categories. Sain is no stranger to all aspects of travel and tourism marketing – having served as a senior executive in the hotel, cruise line, and convention services industries. Sain received a bachelor’s degree from Davis and Elkins College with a major in business administration and a minor in marketing. He resides in Maitland, Fla. with his wife, Pamela, and has two daughters, Vanessa and Olivia.
Rchard W. Scharf Jr. *2008-11*	Richard W. Scharf Jr. was named president & CEO of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau in March 2004. Scharf has worked for the DMCVB since 1993, most recently as the executive vice president of sales and marketing. From 1988-1993, he owned a publishing and consulting company representing more than 400 colleges and universities as conference sites. His career in the hospitality industry began with Hilton in 1983. Scharf was one of the chief consultants for studies conducted about the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center and the construction of Denver’s new 1,100-room Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel. In 2005, Scharf led a successful campaign to increase the lodging tax in Denver in order to competitively market Denver as a convention and leisure destination. Voters approved the measure by a margin of two to one, resulting in a marketing budget increase of nearly 50 percent. In 1999, Scharf was the second person to be awarded the Colorado Hotel Sales & Marketing Association’s Hall of Fame Award, in 2002 he won the Governor’s Tourism Award and in 2007 he was named Business Person of the Year by the Rocky Mountain News. In 2008, he was awarded the Meetings Industry Council of Colorado’s 2007 Leadership Award. Scharf is an active member of several national and local industry organizations and boards of directors. Scharf is a graduate of Purdue University.
Will Seccombe *2009-12*
Paul Serff. *2009-12*	Paul Serff serves as President and CEO of the Texas Travel Industry Association and the Texas Tourism Foundation. TTIA represents a wide range of attractions, sports franchises, historical/cultural sites, convention and visitors bureaus, hotels, zoos, and many other organizations throughout Texas. Prior TTIA, Paul spent nearly 30 years managing sports and entertainment facilities in Hershey, Pennsylvania and San Antonio, Texas (most recently, Fiesta Texas). He has gained a national reputation, not only in attractions and facilities management, but in travel and tourism as well. Paul served as President of IAAPA and continues to serve on its advisory board. He currently serves on the UTSA Development Board, is a member of the board of the U.S. Travel Association, and serves as chair of the U.S. Travel Association’s Foundation. He is also a member of the Texas State Parks’ Advisory Committee and Texas Homeland Security’s Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Council. Paul has been in volunteer leadership positions on three chamber boards and a tri-county economic development corporation. In San Antonio, he served on the USO, Greater Chamber, Children’s Miracle Network Boards, and the District Boy Scouts’ Executive Council. Paul and his wife Kathy live in Austin.
Gary Sherwin, CDME *2008-11*	Gary Sherwin is President and CEO of the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau and is a 24 year veteran of the destination marketing industry. Prior to joining Newport Beach in 2006, he served for seven years as the Vice President, Market Development for the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority, where he co-authored the book published by DMAI, Destination BrandScience © , which is now the standard for destination brand development across the globe. He also previously served as the Vice President of Marketing for the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Director of Media Relations for the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is a Communications and Political Science graduate of California State University Fullerton, where he was named to the school’s Wall of Fame in 2000 and is an adjunct member of the faculty. Gary is also an instructor and co-creator of the DMAI CDME Brand and Positioning course. Currently he is the Vice President of the Orange County Tourism Council and is Second Vice Chairman of the California Travel Industry Association Board of Directors.
Robin Tauck *2009-12*
Peter Yesawich *2009-12*	Peter C. Yesawich is chairman and chief executive officer of Ypartnership, America’s leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure and lifestyle clients. Yesawich is a frequent commentator on travel trends in such publications as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Business Week, on the CNN, CNBC and MSNBC cable television networks and on National Public Radio. He serves as a featured columnist in several industry trade publications and has authored numerous articles on marketing and advertising strategy in professional journals. He is also a coauthor of Marketing Leadership in Hospitality published by Prentice Hall. Listed in Who’s Who in America, Yesawich is the recipient of the World Travel Award from the American Association of Travel Editors, The Albert E. Koehl Award from HSMAI and the Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation. He was also named one of the 25 Most Extraordinary Marketing Minds by HSMAI and is a member of the board of directors of the Travel Industry Association of America. Yesawich received three degrees from Cornell, including a doctorate in applied psychology, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Yale.
Jim Duda Foundation Executive Director	Jim Duda has over 16 years of experience in events, entertainment and multimedia. Before joining DMAI in 2006 as the Foundation Executive Director and Managing Director of Destinations Showcase, Jim worked for TBA Global Events (formerly PGI, Inc.) as Senior Vice President of Exhibitions, helping numerous associations and corporations build better events through solid planning, marketing and execution. Prior to his experience in the meetings industry, Duda served as COO and co-founder of Reallinx, Inc., a broadband service provider located in Dallas, Texas. He also worked as an account manager for the Synapse Group in Dallas, an Internet marketing company known for its work building the online presence of Hilton Hotels and several other multinational companies. He earned an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business in 1997 and prior to that, spent five years as a talent agent for International Creative Management in Los Angeles.
Michael D. Gehrisch *Ex-Officio* *President & CEO, DMAI*	During his nine years as President & CEO of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Michael D. Gehrisch has reenergized and positioned DMAI as one of the world’s leading hospitality associations. With Michael at the helm, the association repositioned itself in 2005 as Destination Marketing Association International (previously the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus), to enhance the relevancy and visibility of its members to individuals outside the industry. Michael led the industry’s historic Destination Marketing Accreditation Program initiative, which established a consistent standard for destination marketing operations, and which has accredited nearly 100 DMOs around the globe. Michael also guided the Destination & Travel Foundation (the consolidated entity of the DMAI and U.S. Travel Foundations) through two major fundraising efforts, 2001’s Destination Ahead campaign, and the 2009 Destination Excellence campaign, raising over US$6 million for vital destination marketing research and resources. His keen understanding of tools needed for DMO success led to the development of the groundbreaking 2008 Futures Study, which revealed the relevancy, technology, and social responsibility as the most pressing issues facing the industry, and which the Destination Excellence campaign seeks to answer through innovative tools and resources. Additionally, Mr. Gehrisch currently serves on boards for the Convention Industry Council, the U.S. Travel Association, and Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, with previous service on the American Society of Association Executives Board of Directors. The proud recipient of the NYSAE Education & Research Foundation’s 2007 Vision Award, Michael has been named one of the “25 Most Influential Travel Executives” by Business Travel News and one of Tradeshow Week’s “100 Most Influential People in the Tradeshow Business” in 2006, and was ranked among the “Top 25 Most Influential People” in the meetings industry by Meetings News magazine in 2004. Michael has more than 28 years experience in the hospitality industry, including working for 13 years as Executive Vice President for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) in Washington, DC. Earlier in his career, Gehrisch held management positions with Marriott and Hilton hotels.