Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee

The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee will support and engage strategic planning and programmatic initiatives and opportunities to enable structural social change for the benefit of all our members’ communities focused on 6 core areas: CEO Engagement, Industry Partnerships, University Partnerships, Research, Workforce Development, and Scholarship Initiatives.  We welcome members from all roles, backgrounds, and perspectives throughout the year.

2023 Committee Members​

  • Adam Burke, President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism
  • Adriana Suao, Sr. Vice President, Account Service, Tambourine
  • Angela Nelson, VP, EDI, Travel Portland 
  • Bailey Ashida, Marketing Coordinator, Visit Colorado Springs
  • Barbara Karasek, CEO, Paradise Advertising & Marketing Inc.
  • Brandy Evans, Vice President of Marketing, Visit Wichita
  • Cambria Jones, Director of Marketing, Searchwide Global 
  • Cara Frank, Chief of Staff, Simpleview
  • Carolyn Martin, Destination Experience Sr. Manager, Visit Orlando 
  • Cevat Tosun, Director of MS THEM Program and Eisenhower Chair and Professor of Tourism Studies and Management,
  • George Washington University School of Business
  • Charlene Hoffman, CEO, Visit Boulder, the Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Claire Carlin, VP Partnerships & Alliances, Destination DC
  • Connie Kinnard, SVP, Multicultural Tourism & Development, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Courtney Mann Cacatian, Executive Director, Charlottesville Albemarle CVB
  • Crystal Walker, Director of Sales and Services, Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau 
  • Dzidra Junior, President, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals 
  • Ellen Puffer, HR Director, Chattanooga Tourism Co.
  • Emily Eiland Gonzalez, VP of Marketing & Communications, Visit Mobile
  • Emily Rolston, Group Sales Manager, Destination Missoula
  • Eric Paschal, Senior Director – Operations, Experience Scottsdale
  • Erica Malanga Rodrigues, Director of Marketing, Visit Baltimore
  • George Cooley, EVP, Experience Prince Georges 
  • Gerardo (Gary) Sanchez, Sr. Director of Community Impact, Equity, and Public Affairs, Visit Dallas
  • Greg DeShields, Executive Director, Tourism Diversity Matters
  • Henry Sams, Sales Executive – Destinations, STR
  • Hilina D. Ajakaiye, Executive Vice President, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau 
  • Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO, TravelAbility
  • James Jessie, Chief Sales Officer, Travel Portland 
  • Jason Dunn, Executive Director, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals 
  • Jason Outman, President & CEO, Explore Branson
  • Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales, Discover Albany
  • Jayne DeLuce, President & CEO, Visit Champaign County
  • Jennifer M Vacek, Director, Convention Sales, VisitPITTSBURGH
  • Jennifer Vacek, Director, Convention Sales, Visit Pittsburgh
  • Jennifer Walker, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Dallas
  • Jessica Holt, Director of Public Relations and International Tourism, Visit Raleigh
  • Jessica Strasser, VP, Talent Resources, Visit Detroit
  • John Sage, CEO, Accessible Travel Solutions
  • Jordoun Eatman,  VP, Engagement and Inclusion,  Experience Grand Rapids 
  • José Arana, Group Marketing Director, Discover Puerto Rico
  • Ka Vang, VP, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity & Access, Meet Minneapolis
  • Katharyn DeVille, Vice President, Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourism Bureau
  • Katie Rhoads, Marketing Manager, Visit Loudoun
  • Kellie Henderson, SVP, Searchwide Global 
  • Kelly Nagle, Sr. Director of Communications & Partnerships, Visit Baltimore
  • Kristie Johnson, Human Resources/Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau 
  • L'America Brown, Senior Director of Human Resources and DEI, Visit Indy
  • Lauren Bruggemans, Director of Sustainability & Community Engagement, Visit Greater Palm Springs
  • Leonard Hoops, CEO, Visit Indy 
  • Linda John, Vice President - Destination and Travel Practice, Fired UP Culture 
  • Marie Sueing, Chief Diversity Officer, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp 
  • Maura Gast, Executive Director, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau (aka Visit Irving)
  • Melissa Cherry, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Miles Partnership
  • Melissa Riggle, Executive Director, Visit New Bern 
  • Melody Smith, Marketing Director, Visit Galveston 
  • Michael Robinson, Director, Marketing Solutions, LS Direct
  • Miranda Ji, VP Sales, Destination Greater Victoria
  • Najauna White, VP, D&I, Miles Partnership
  • Nan Marchand Beauvois, SVP, U.S. Travel Association
  • Natasha Richards, Head of Advocacy & Industry Relations, IMEX Group
  • Nerissa Okiye, Tourism Director, Martin County Office of Tourism 
  • Nick Breedlove, Executive Director, Jackson County TDA
  • Nicole Brownell, Vice President, Strategic Advisors, Zartico 
  • Nicole Picton, Manager, People & Culture, Ottawa Tourism
  • Nizar Moosa, Business Manager Destination, Markham Corporation
  • Peggy Williams-Smith, President & CEO, VISIT Milwaukee
  • Rachel Pearson, Vice President of Community & Government Affairs, Experience Scottsdale
  • Renee Areng, Executive Director/CEO, Expore Brookhaven
  • Rickey L. Thigpen, PhD, President & CEO, Visit Jackson
  • Roberta Atzori, Market Intelligence Analyst, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods)
  • Roz Stuttley, Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Choose Chicago 
  • Ryan Shehu, Sales Manager, Visit Detroit
  • Santiago C. Corrada, President/CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
  • Scott Sudduth, Vice President of Tourism Development, North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Sean Dixon, President, Visit Topeka
  • Sergio Piedra, Director, Community Engagement & Advocacy, Discover The Palm Beaches
  • Sonya Bradley, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Visit Sacramento (Co-Chair)
  • Stephanie Brown, Executive VP, SMARInsights
  • Susan Tucker, Director, Houston First Corporation
  • Tania Armenta, President & CEO, Visit Albuquerque
  • Terence Concannon, President/CEO, Go Lake Havasu
  • Tiffany Gallagher, VP of Operations, Civitas 
  • Timothy Bush, CMO, Visit Lake Charles (Co-Chair)
  • Tony Snel,l Visitor Experience Manager, Visit Milwaukee
  • Tracy Campbell, Vice President of Community Engagement and Advocacy, Visit SLO CAL
  • Vimal Vyas, Vice President of Data, Security and Digital Innovation, Visit Raleigh
  • Wesley Lucas, Director of Communications, Visit Austin
  • Yoshiko Maruyama, Chief Consultant, World Business Associates Co., Ltd.
  • Yvonne Drayton, Director of Operations, Tourism Diversity Matters ​

Destinations International Staff Liaison

  • Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Diversity Officer

Share this: