North Carolina Governor's Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Program 2011
Mar 02, 2016
Program for the North Carolina Governor's Conference on Hospitality and Tourism.
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Transcript
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Dear Tourism Industry Professionals,
On behalf of the State of North Carolina, it is a pleasure to offer warm greetings to everyone attending the 2011 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism. I am pleased to welcome you to the beautiful city of Asheville for the most comprehensive summit of our state’s travel and tourism industry.
Thanks to your dedicated efforts, North Carolina remains one of the most visited states in the country. This year’s conference will feature some of the nation’s leading experts on tourism-related issues and trends. Each day will provide something new and exciting to learn, as well as excellent opportunities to exchange thoughts and ideas with colleagues and industry partners.
Asheville is one of our state’s most popular tourist destinations. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, Asheville is an exquisite, diverse city that offers visitors many activities such as hiking, sightseeing, arts and numerous cultural events. Asheville is also home to one of the South’s most venerable and famous resorts, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, and also Biltmore, the largest private residence in the country.
Once again, thank you for attending the 2011 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism. We are proud of the accomplishments of North Carolina’s tourism industry and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Bev Perdue
STATE Of NORTH CAROlINAOffICE Of THE GOvERNOR
20301 MAIl SERvICE CENTER • RAlEIGH, NC 27699-0301
BEvERly EAvES PERDuEGOvERNOR
March 2011
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Contents
Conference Agenda
Hotel Floor Plan
Speakers’ Biographies
Conference Sponsors
Division Staff
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27
2011 Winner’s Circle Award Recipients19
North Carolina is committed to
sustainability and is proud of the many
green initiatives taking place across
the state. This guide is printed on 10
percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Program sponsored and published by Journal Communications Inc.
On the Cover: The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
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Conference Encourages Sustainability
To be a leader in creating a more sustainable tourism industry, the North Carolina Division of Tourism is working with the Asheville Convention & Visitors
Bureau and The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa to implement green practices at the 2011 NC Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism. All attendees are encouraged to contribute to our efforts to be more environmentally and socially responsible by adopting these and other sustainable practices at their businesses and organizations.
For the past few years, the North Carolina Division of Tourism has not printed a direct-mail registration form or informational piece. Again this year, the Division will not be distributing a hard copy of its strategic plan; this year the plan will be available electronically. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but it will be interactive and allow for changes throughout the year. Continuing to “green” the Governor’s Conference will serve as a platform to further the dialogue on finding ways for the tourism and hospitality industry to protect and preserve North Carolina’s natural and social resources.
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa supports and encourages environmental awareness by implementing recycling and waste management in business practices and operating procedures. This support includes a commitment to purchase, use and dispose of materials in a manner that best utilizes natural resources and minimizes any negative environmental impact.
The resort makes a concerted effort to be environmentally conscious with multiple green initiatives. By participating in these programs, the resort and its guests are saving a significant amount of energy while protecting the environment.
In 2008, The Grove Park Inn was honored with a prestigious Green Award for luxury hotels by the International Restaurant & Hotel Awards. In 2008 and 2009, the resort received first place in the Employee Transportation Coordinator Champion Award. The Association for Commuter Transportation annually honors outstanding achievements by organizations in commuter transportation management. The resort won for its employee bus pass program and other efforts to reduce employee automobile usage.
2011 Tourism Education Foundation of NC Silent Auction
The Tourism Education Foundation of North Carolina is a nonprofit organization created by the North Carolina Travel Industry Association to help the state’s tourism industry prepare for a dynamic future. The foundation’s objective is to
enhance the tourism industry by developing knowledgeable leadership. The main purposes of the foundation are:
• To promote the development of talent, experience and leadership in the tourism/hospitality industry in North Carolina for the benefit of the profession and the general public.
• To promote education research in tourism in North Carolina by providing financial support, leadership and professional expertise – principally by awarding scholarships and student aid to individuals who want to pursue a course of study related to the tourism and hospitality industry. The Tourism Education Foundation of North Carolina is approved by the IRS as a 501 C (3) organization, which means that all contributions are exempt from federal income tax.
The silent auction supports a combination of undergraduate scholarships and graduate scholarships for students attending North Carolina colleges or universities in tourism or hospitality management programs.
Please help support the foundation by participating in this year’s silent auction. The 2011 Silent Auction will be open during the conference in the Hoover-J room.
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SunDAy, MARCH 13
Noon – 4:00 p.m.Exhibitor Set Up Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.Conference Registration
Vanderbilt Prefunction
2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.Tourism Education Foundation of NC Silent Auction
Hoover - J
Place your bids on attractive donated items from across North Carolina. Proceeds support undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students attending North Carolina schools and demonstrating promise as future leaders of the tourism and hospitality industry.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Legislative Update
Coolidge
Up-to-date information on the changing state political and economic landscape and how it affects the North Carolina tourism industry. Learn about new laws and proposed legislation that affect your businesses and communities.
Facilitated by John Beatty, special projects coordinator, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Panelists: Dana Simpson, partner with Smith Anderson and Legislative Counsel for Coalition; Jim Hobbs, director, Hospitality Alliance of North Carolina; Kelly Miller, executive director, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, NC Restaurant & Lodging Association
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Opening Reception
Sammons Wing
Knock off the road dust and come have some fun! Catch up with your friends and colleagues to find what new initiatives are working in their communities. Our hosts are pulling out all the stops to welcome you.
Sponsored by
Historically, a meeting place for some of America’s greatest minds.
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Harvey Firestone Sr.
Harvey Firestone Jr.
Fred Seely
Henry Ford
Thomas Edison
1918
To make your next meeting or convention a part of history,
call 866.474.6110 or visit groveparkinnmeetings.com.
57970 GPI NC Governors.indd 1 2/18/10 9:37 AM
MonDAy, MARCH 14
7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Conference Registration
Vanderbilt Prefunction
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Exhibitor Marketplace
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Tourism Education Foundation of NC Silent Auction
Hoover - J
7:30 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.Celebrate NC Tourism Breakfast
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
Wake up to a new addition to the Governor’s Conference agenda! Assistant Secretary Lynn Minges will showcase travel industry achievements and upcoming opportunities. Asheville’s Drum Circle, a signature Grove Park Inn breakfast, a warm welcome from Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, greetings from hosts Kelly Miller and Craig Madison, and a valuable door prize help get the day off to a fast start. Set your alarm and come early. Program and plated breakfast begin promptly at 7:30 a.m.
J. Keith Crisco, Secretary of Commerce
Lynn Minges, Assistant Secretary for Tourism, Marketing and Global Branding
Terry M. Bellamy, Mayor of Asheville
Kelly Miller, Executive VP and Executive Director, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Craig Madison, President & CEO, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
8:55 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.Beverage Break With Exhibitors
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Opening General Session
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
FRom SucceSS To SIGnIFIcance
Nido Qubein, president, High Point University
Out of adversity emerges abundance. Difficult times often are filled with opportunities. Nido Qubein came to the United States as a teenager with little knowledge of English, no contacts and only $50 in his pocket. From his beginnings working in a tourism office as a teenager, Qubein’s life has been an
Conference Agenda
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amazing success story. Today, he is president of a leading university and chairman of a national retail company – and one of the most sought-after leadership speakers on the professional circuit. Qubein will share his own story and his ideas and strategies for succeeding through even turbulent times. This dynamic, authentic, entertaining speaker delivers a powerful, inspiring message on finding focus, balance and meaning in business and in life. You’ll leave this presentation entertained and inspired to be impactfully innovative.
Sponsored by
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Refreshment Break & Spotlight on Exhibitors
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Concurrent Educational SessionsBeST PRacTIceS In a chanGInG medIa LandScaPe
Coolidge
Travel marketers have long relied on a blend of public relations and marketing to reach consumers. But PR has grown in importance for many organizations as budgets shift with the economy. As the media evolves from traditional titles to include online influencers, how can marketers develop PR-worthy campaigns and best work in the current media landscape? Learn about a savvy destination campaign directed toward bloggers, and hear from a travel journalist who recently transitioned from a print role to creator of rich online content. This session will help you build a strategy that takes advantage of the latest media opportunities and trends.
Moderator: Margo Knight Metzger, public relations manager, North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development
Tanner Latham, freelance writer and multimedia storyteller
Dodie Stephens, public relations manager, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Marla Tambellini, director of marketing, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
manaGInG new TechnoLoGIeS FoR TouRISm maRkeTInG
Eisenhower
Technology is revolutionizing the channels available for marketing to visitors. This panel of
experts will present creative strategies for using these emerging channels to grow your business. The discussion includes case studies on how destinations have shifted from traditional media to digital, including social and mobile channels, as well as demonstrations of new technology that enable companies to find new insights about their websites, and a preview of where Visit Charlotte is taking its mobile strategy.
Moderator: Wit Tuttell, director of tourism marketing, North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development
Ted Sullivan, vice president destination marketing, MMG Worldwide
Mike Rivello, marketing manager, Visit Charlotte
Doug Kaufman, CEO and co-founder, Spring Metrics
ReSeaRch RePoRT
Taft
Recent hard economic times have resulted in steep declines in hospitality industry performance. Hear how the United States and, more importantly, the North Carolina hotel industry have fared during this difficult period. Discover what successes have been achieved as we have traveled the road to recovery. Be “in the know” about the opportunities and pitfalls to be aware of to best navigate through the days ahead.
Chad Church, director of special services, STR Global
ceLeBRaTInG noRTh caRoLIna’S cuLTuRe and heRITaGe
Wilson
Arts, culture and heritage activities can be key factors in destination positioning. Leveraged properly, they reinforce and broaden a destination’s positive image among residents and visitors. This workshop examines the different roles of DMOs and cultural organizations in promoting a “place,” as well as some expectations each can and should have of the other. It will also explore ways of forging creative partnerships between arts councils, DMOs and cultural agencies, as well as driving attendance at cultural events.
Shelly Green, president and CEO, Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau
E’Vonne Coleman, vice president, Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau
maxImIzInG YouR PReSence wITh onLIne TRaveL comPanIeS
Roosevelt
Learn the latest techniques to maximize your presence and return from online sites such as Orbitz and others.
David Bahlman, Orbitz Worldwide
Jim Walsh, Travelocity
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11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.Tourism Winner’s Circle LuncheonWinner’s Circle and Bill Sharpe Awards
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
Sponsored by
www.unctv.org
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Concurrent Educational SessionmeeT The medIa: RoundTaBLe dIScuSSIonS wITh nc medIa ouTLeTSCoolidge
Get to know editors from some of the most important travel media outlets in the Southeast at these roundtable meetings. The breakout will feature six eight-minute rotating sessions where the editors will talk about what type of stories they are looking for, and you will be able to tell them why they should write about your business or destination. Outlets include Our State, AAA GO Magazine, The Charlotte Observer, Southern Living, WRAL’s Tarheel Traveler, UNC-TV’s The State of Things and freelance writers for state and national media outlets.
SPoRTS maRkeTInG: cReaTInG SIGnaTuRe SPoRTInG evenTS FoR YouR communITYEisenhower
This breakout session will highlight how convention and visitors bureaus and sports commissions can be involved in starting sporting events. The experienced panelists will discuss the basics of how to get started, the benefits of locally created events, share examples of successful events, and go over the keys to success and challenges other communities have faced. Be sure to attend this insightful panel discussion to see how you can put your community on the map in this very successful market segment.
Moderator: Chuck Hobgood, director, NC Amateur Sports
Panelists: Jesse Newsome, Jacksonville-Onslow County Sports Commission; Kim Strable, Greensboro Sports Commission; Chris Clouden, Charlotte Regional Sports Commission
ReSeaRch RePoRTTaft
Recent hard economic times have resulted in steep declines in hospitality industry performance. Hear how the United States and, more importantly, the North Carolina hotel industry have fared during this difficult period. Discover what successes have been achieved as we have traveled the road to recovery. Be “in the know” about the opportunities and pitfalls to be aware of to best navigate through the days ahead.
Chad Church, director of special services, STR Global
Conference Agenda
aTTRacTIonS FoRumRoosevelt
This moderated session brings North Carolina’s visitor attractions together to discuss common goals and will serve as a forum to determine if attractions need to meet more frequently. Don’t miss this opportunity to share, learn and discuss common issues such as emerging ticket technology, the pros and cons of revenue partnerships, and shifts in visitor expectations.
Moderator: Chris Cavanaugh, Magellan Strategy Group
how To make TRIPadvISoR woRk FoR YouWilson
In 2010, the North Carolina channel on TripAdvisor generated an average of nearly 3 million page views per month. During this session, learn how to make TripAdvisor work for you by utilizing best practices in reputation management, digital advertising, social networking and content distribution.
Mark Mamber, national DMO sales manager, TripAdvisor Inc.
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Refreshment Break & Spotlight on Exhibitors
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Keynote – State of the Industry
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
TRendS chanGInG deSTInaTIon maRkeTInG
Berkeley Young, president, Young Strategies Inc.
Travel trends are changing at a rapid pace and so is destination marketing. This entertaining and thought-provoking session will address some of the shifting trends that demand we adjust the way we market and sell our destinations. Examples will be shared about innovative approaches taken by some destinations to drive increased interest from many different travel segments.
Sponsored by
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Exhibitor Tradeshow
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
6:00 p.m.Dinner at Biltmore’s Antler Hill Village
George Vanderbilt envisioned Biltmore in 1888, while on a short vacation to Asheville. His imagination was sparked by the area’s beauty. He felt inspired to create a relaxed country estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains that would welcome family and friends.
Biltmore invites our friends attending the 2011 NC
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Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism to experience our legacy of hospitality by strolling through our newest addition to Biltmore Estate, Antler Hill Village. Opened in March 2010, the village connects the estate’s present and past, providing a relaxing place for dining, shopping and historical exhibits.
Creative food stations, featuring Biltmore’s Field to Table concept, will highlight our commitment to sustainability while showcasing the extraordinary talents of our culinary team. Of course, no visit would be complete without a sampling of Biltmore’s award-winning wines.
An evening of entertainment, exploration and legendary hospitality awaits you at Biltmore!
Sponsored by
TueSDAy, MARCH 15
7:30 a.m. – NoonExhibitor Marketplace Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
7:30 a.m. – NoonRegistrationVanderbilt Prefunction
7:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.Tourism Education Foundation of NC Silent AuctionHoover - J, pick-up begins at 11 a.m.
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.2012 Governor’s Conference Preview BreakfastVanderbilt Grand A & B
Ladies and gentleman, start your engines with a high-octane breakfast courtesy of the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, “Where Racing Lives!” Please be seated at breakfast by 8 a.m. for a plated meal and a special presentation – and be prepared to get your Moonshine Riser on!
Sponsored by
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.Refreshment Break & Spotlight on Exhibitors
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Keynote General Session
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
how To cReaTe a cuLT FoLLowInG FoR YouR deSTInaTIon
Scott Deming, president, Scott Deming’s ESP
This session will break all boundaries of the typical customer service or brand-building process. Scott Deming will take you on a fast-paced, humorous, high-energy journey through the six critical steps to creating the ultimate customer experience and building a powerful, emotional brand. He will inspire you to turn a typical visitor into an evangelist and every target audience into a cult community! And as he says, “It is this community and these evangelists who will take you to the Promised Land.”
Sponsored by
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.Refreshment Break & Spotlight on Exhibitors
Vanderbilt Prefunction & Grand C
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.Partner Marketing Programs
Vanderbilt Grand A & B
Join the Division team and LKM for an overview of the 2011-12 co-op program. This year’s program will focus on the range of cost-effective partner opportunities as well as a review of recent updates to VisitNC.com. From broad-based programs in new publications and mediums, to niche and state-of-the-art interactive programs, don’t miss this chance to learn about more than 30 cooperative programs.
Wit Tuttell, director of tourism marketing, North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development
Jennifer Jenkins, vice president, LKM
Noon – 1:00 p.m.Division Mini-TRAC Updates
Coolidge, Eisenhower, Taft, Roosevelt
The Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) program is a new initiative by the Division that provides instant accessibility for our industry partners and all tourism-related businesses to the staff of the Division for one-on-one sessions in an informal setting. Our mission is to assist businesses and partners with research, marketing and promotions, funding opportunities, business and entrepreneurial development, trail development, attractions and community planning, tourism vision planning and more. Drop in to talk to us about advertising and marketing, operations, research and industry development, film, wine and sports.
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Floor Plan
Vanderbilt Wing
Prefunction
Roosevelt Taft Wilson
Elevators
Hoover
Eisenhower
Coolidge
Rest
roo
ms
Restrooms
Glass Atrium Elevator
Level 8
The Vanderbilt
Terrace
A B C
The Grand Ballroom
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Speakers’ Biographies
Secretary J. Keith Crisco
Secretary J. Keith Crisco
was appointed Secretary
of Commerce by Gov. Bev
Perdue in January 2009. He
brings 40 years of experience
in business and commerce to the position.
For more than 20 years, Crisco served as
president and chairman of Asheboro Elastics Corp.,
a company he formed with partners in 1986. This
highly successful company has offices in seven
countries, manufacturing facilities in Central
America and the United States, and sales around
the world. Prior to that, he worked for eight years
as the president of Stedman Elastics in Asheboro.
Crisco earned a bachelor’s degree in
mathematics and physics from Pfeiffer University
in Misenheimer and a master’s degree in business
administration from Harvard University. After
graduate school, the Stanly County native worked
as assistant to the executive vice president for
Burlington Industries. He worked for the company
for 10 years, including stints in Chicago and
New York City. From 1970-71 Crisco served as
a White House fellow in Washington, D.C.,
as assistant to the U.S. Secretary for Commerce
during the Nixon administration.
Born and raised on a farm near Aquadale, N.C.,
Crisco has served on the Asheboro City Council,
as chairman of the Pfeiffer University board of
trustees, as chairman of the N.C. Center for Public
Policy Research and as chairman of the National
Elastic Manufacturer’s Association. He also served
as chairman of Globio, a children’s educational
website based in Portland, Ore., that uses wildlife
photos to create a dialogue to connect children
around the world.
Crisco also served on Randolph Community
College’s board for 16 years and as an active
member of the UNC School of Public Health
Advisory Council. He has been active with the
N.C. Community Foundation, Action for Children
North Carolina, and various land trust and
environmental organizations. His personal interests
include country music, genealogy and baseball.
He and his wife, Jane, have three children and
six grandchildren. They live in Asheboro and the
Town of Oriental in Pamlico County.
Lynn Davis MingesLynn Minges is the
Assistant Secretary of
Tourism, Marketing and
Global Branding for the
North Carolina Department
of Commerce. In this role,
she provides leadership and strategic direction
for the state’s tourism, film, sports and wine
industries while marketing the state as
the preferred location for domestic and
international business. She reports to
Commerce Secretary J. Keith Crisco.
Minges serves on the executive committee
and the board of directors of the U.S. Travel
Association and is an active member of the
National Council of State Travel Directors,
where she has chaired and served on numerous
committees. She is a past chair and executive
committee member of Travel South USA, and
is a member of the board of directors of
Southeast Tourism Society. She also serves on
the Business Advisory Council of the John
A. Walker College of Business at Appalachian
State University.
Under her leadership, the department has
been recognized with numerous national and
international awards for marketing excellence.
Minges was recently recognized by Triangle Business Journal with its Outstanding Women
in Business Award.
Minges is a graduate of Peace College and
North Carolina State University and has been
with the state in progressive leadership roles for
18 years.
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Scott DemingScott Deming draws on
nearly 30 years of real, in the trenches, corporate life. He has experienced successes, failures, celebrations and disasters. He has experienced the satisfaction
and the frustrations of being an employee – and he has endured the hardships and reaped the rewards from 20 years of owning and operating a multimillion dollar, national advertising and marketing firm. Now he takes his depth and breadth of experience and packages it into one of the most dynamic, energetic, easy-to-understand programs and sends his attendees away not only excited to make a change, but armed with the tools to do so.
Deming’s marketing and advertising firm, RCI, consistently created award-winning, groundbreaking services and programs. Now, with a style and energy unlike any other, he teaches his successful techniques to audiences. Deming is on a mission – to bring emotion, sincerity, caring and humanity back into customer service. He is taking his nearly 30 years of advertising and marketing experience and showing proof positive that RELATIONSHIPS RULE and building a BRAND through emotional experiences, not just great advertising is the key to SUSTAINABLE personal and professional success.
Deming has been interviewed for his fresh ideas, unique processes and popular presentations on national television and radio shows, newspapers, and national magazines and trade publications. He has written articles on the topics of “Emotional Brand Building” and “Creating the Ultimate Customer Experience” for numerous magazines, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Business Week, Sales and Service Excellence and INC., to name a few. And now, his ideas and processes can be found in his internationally best-selling book The Brand Who Cried Wolf.
Nido QuebinNido Qubein is president of
High Point University, which enrolls 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 50 countries. He has authored more than two dozen books and
audio programs distributed worldwide in more than 20 languages and is a columnist for several publications. His foundation has granted more than 600 scholarships to college students nationwide.
Qubein came to the United States as a teenager
with little knowledge of English, no contacts and only $50 dollars in his pocket. From his beginnings working in a tourism office as a teenager, his life has been an amazing success story. He has been the recipient of many honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Horatio Alger Award for Distingushed Americans, Sales and Marketing International’s Ambassador of Free Enterprise and induction into the Global Society for Outstanding Business Leadership and the International Speakers Hall of Fame.
He serves on numerous boards, including a Fortune 500 company with $115 billion in assets, and La-Z-Boy Corp., one of the world’s most recognized brands. He is chairman of several companies such as Great Harvest Bread Co., which has 218 stores in 41 states.
Toastmasters International named him Top Business and Commerce Speaker and awarded him the Golden Gavel Medal. He is the founder of the prestigious National Speakers Association Foundation and addresses more than 100 business and professional groups around the world each year.
Berkeley W. YoungBerkeley Young is the
president of Young Strategies Inc., and has 20 years of travel/tourism research, marketing, management and retail experience. Young’s travel
industry experience covers a range of management positions, including stints at a destination marketing organization, a chamber of commerce, a golf resort and a research and planning firm.
In 2004, Young formed his Charlotte-based company, focusing on research and strategic planning for all aspects of the travel industry. Young’s firm specializes in working with city and county destination marketing organizations in the research-based development of branding and marketing, as well as local tourism infrastructure. In the past 10 years Young has worked with more than 100 destinations in 26 states, and is a popular speaker at regional and national conferences and conventions.
Speakers’ Biographies
-Good Housekeeping Pg1.indd 1 2/11/11 10:28 AM
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Winner’s Circle Award Recipients
William (Bill) A.V. Cecil Jr.William Amherst Vanderbilt
Cecil Jr. is the president and CEO of The Biltmore Co., which owns and operates Biltmore in Asheville, N.C. A National Historic Landmark, Biltmore
is the private estate of the late George W. Vanderbilt, Cecil’s great-grandfather. The estate, which is completely self-sufficient and receives no outside funding, is open to the public and welcomes more than a million guests annually.
The estate includes Biltmore House, America’s largest private home, designed by renowned 19th-century architect Richard Morris Hunt. Frederick Law Olmsted, known as The Father of American Landscape Architecture, designed the gardens and forests surrounding Biltmore House. Biltmore also features the most visited winery in the United States, producing about 170,000 cases of award-winning wines each year. In addition, the Inn on Biltmore Estate® now welcomes guests year-round with gracious Vanderbilt hospitality. There are retail shops and fine restaurants, as well, to make any visit to Biltmore more enjoyable. In addition to these offerings, guests can take advantage of the great outdoors with biking, hiking, rafting and equestrian activities.
Cecil has also served in many capacities across the estate, including his work as project coordinator for the construction of Biltmore’s winery; eventually becoming winery manager, then president of the Biltmore Wine Co. He has also served as assistant vice president of operations, vice president and senior vice president of The Biltmore Co. He is a member of The Biltmore Co. executive committee and its board of directors.
Community relations is another important focus for Cecil, and he has served on the Western North Carolina Regional Advisory Board for Wachovia Bank/Wells Fargo since 2007. He served on the board of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (1997-2009), including the office of chairman (2007-2008). In addition, Cecil served on the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors (2005-2008) and was a member of the Manna Food Bank Board of Directors (2000-2006), including holding the office of president (2005).
A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Cecil earned a geography degree with a concentration in environmental conservation. He is also a graduate of Leadership Asheville 8, the Young Executive Institute (an intensive senior management training program at the University of North Carolina), and Bell Leadership Institute’s Leader’s Roundtable program. He has been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization/World Presidents’ Organization since 1998. Cecil, his wife and three children reside in Asheville.
The mission statement of The Biltmore Co.: “The preservation of Biltmore as a privately owned, profitable working estate” remains the standard for guiding Cecil’s efforts to enchant guests and to maintain the business of preservation.
Gary EverhardtGary Everhardt became the
fifth superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1977. He brought 20 years of professional experience with the National Park Service with him to the
Parkway, including more than two years as the director of the service.
After receiving a degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University, he began his National Park Service career as a civil engineer on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He later served in engineering positions at the Park Service’s Southeast Regional Office and at the Southwest Regional Office, where he was regional chief of maintenance. In 1969, he was appointed assistant superintendent for operations at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, where he was directly responsible for all park operations, including visitor protection, interpretation, maintenance and administration. He was named superintendent of Grand Teton Natonal Park in Wyoming in 1972. There, Everhardt helped plan and conduct the Second World Conference on National Parks, held during the National Parks Centennial in 1972. For those efforts, he received the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Award.
Everhardt was sworn in as the ninth Director of
2011NC GoverNor’s CoNfereNCe oN
Hospitality & tourism
21
the National Park Service in January 1975. During his tenure in Washington, the service took great strides forward in the areas of visitor services and safety. With President Gerald Ford’s support, it was proposed that the National Park System be doubled in size with the addition of nearly 32 million acres of new park land in Alaska. The National Park Service was the only federal bureau to carry out a sustained program of activity during observance of the nation’s Bicentennial.
Since his return to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Everhardt has been particularly effective in establishing or enhancing favorable relationships with Parkway neighbors and other agency officials. Through his leadership, a near-dormant construction program was revived, and the final section of the Parkway motor road around Grandfather Mountain was completed and opened for use in 1987.
Because of his accomplishments with the National Park Service, Everhardt received the Department of the Interior’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in 1985. In 1990, the National Park Foundation honored him with the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal award for his noteworthy contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation. In 1996, Everhardt was the recipient of the NC Travel Council’s Bill Sharpe Travel Award presented at the Govenor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism. In 1998, he was presented with the Walter T. Cox Award at the Annual George B. Hartzog Lecture at Clemson University for his sustained achievement in public service, providing inspirational leadership for wise management of our natural and cultural resources. He also received the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, presented in 2000 by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.
Everhardt has been involved with the Asheville Federal Executives Association, the Appalachian Consortium, the Western North Carolina Associated Communities and the North Carolina National Parks, Parkway & Forest Development Council.
Everhardt and his wife, Nancy, reside in Arden. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler
Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler was named director of the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) in October 1994. Since that time, the museum has become
one of the leading art museums in the American South. Its program of major exhibitions, ranging from presentations of the work of Rodin, Monet and the School of Paris to ancient Egyptian art,
have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to the museum from across the nation and around the world.
Prior to joining the museum, Wheeler was Director of Development at the Cleveland Museum of Art from 1985 to 1994. From 1977 to 1985, he served as Deputy Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, where he was responsible for overseeing the construction of the original NCMA building.
Under Wheeler’s leadership of the North Carolina Museum of Art, the attraction unveiled its much-anticipated design for an ambitious expansion in 2006. Wheeler’s vision for a spacious, light-filled structure to house the museum’s collection became a reality upon completion of the building in spring 2010.
Today, the 127,000-square-foot West Building, surrounded by sculpture gardens and reflecting pools, presents works drawn from the institution’s outstanding permanent collection of more than 5,000 objects spanning the periods from antiquity to the present day. The expansion initiative also transformed the museum’s original building into a center for temporary exhibitions, collections management, education and administration.
Wheeler has worked to develop the museum’s collection, including securing a gift of 29 Rodin sculptures from the Cantor Foundation, making the NCMA the largest repository of Rodin’s work in the American South. He has also helped to build the modern and contemporary collections.
Wheeler’s awards include the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters from the Republic of France, the Medal of Arts from the city of Raleigh, the first Mary D.B.T. Semans Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, the Leadership Award from the Triangle Business Journal, the Design Guild Award from the North Carolina State University College of Design and the Thad Eure Memorial Award from the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. In December 2000, he was named Tar Heel of the Year by The Raleigh News and Observer, which called him “the godfather of the Triangle’s cultural boom” and cited his skill at melding “arts, politics and commerce into a powerful new cultural force.”
Wheeler grew up in Lakeland, Fla. He has Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and French from Pfeiffer College, and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in European history from the University of Georgia.
Winner’s Circle Award Recipients
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PlATinuM SPonSoRS Navigate-Media/Meredith Travel Marketing
Time Inc./American Express Publishing
Good Housekeeping
Biltmore
A&V Company
DiAMonD SPonSoRS Asheville Convention & Vistors Bureau
Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort and Spa
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Journal Communications Inc.
Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy (LKM)
UNC-TV
Western Carolina University
Conference Sponsors
SilVeR SPonSoRS Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians/Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel
BRonze SPonSoRS AAA Going Places
AAA World
Blue Ridge Outdoors
Budget Travel
Carolina Country
Geiger Ad Specialties
Madden Media
The Magazine Guys/Country Living/Shermans Travel
The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer
North Carolina Sports Association
Outpost Design
TripAdvisor
FRienDS Travelocity
We would like to recognize the following sponsors, whose contributions make this conference possible. We encourage you to visit these important partners in the Exhibitor Marketplace and take a moment to thank them for their support and hospitality.
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NC Division of Tourism Staff
AdministrationLynn Minges, Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Marketing and Global Branding [email protected]
Amy Berenson, Assistant to the Assistant Secretary [email protected]
Bryan Gupton, Director of Operations and Industry Relations [email protected]
Juli Cooney, Assistant to the Director of Operations [email protected]
Martha Slate, Business Manager [email protected]
Community Relations & OutreachEleanor Talley, Industry Relations Manager, [email protected]
Domestic Marketing/Group Tours/SportsKristi Driver, Manager of Group Travel, [email protected]
International MarketingHeidi Walters, International Tourism Marketing Manager [email protected]
Public RelationsMargo Metzger, Public Relations Manager [email protected]
Suzanne Brown, Public Relations Program Assistant [email protected]
Bill Russ, Photographer [email protected]
Publications/ Extranet ContactsKathy Prickett, Publications Manager [email protected]
Nicolle Jones, Database/ Extranet Manager [email protected]
ResearchMarlise Taylor, Manager of Research [email protected]
Sustainable TourismAlex Narr, Sustainable Tourism Coordinator [email protected]
NC Wine & Grape CouncilJustin Furr, Director of Wine and Grape Council [email protected]
Evelyn Law, Assistant to the Director [email protected]
NC Film OfficeAaron Syrett, Film Office [email protected]
Cheryl Mauro, Assistant to the Film Office Director [email protected]
Guy Gaster, Production Services Executive [email protected]
Tourism DevelopmentAndre Nabors, Manager of Tourism Development [email protected]
Tourism MarketingWit Tuttell, Director of Tourism Marketing [email protected]
Dana Grimstead, Assistant to the Director of Tourism Marketing [email protected]
Visitor Services/Inquiry/Welcome CentersWally Wazan, Visitors Services Program Manager [email protected]
Cynthia Ferguson, Visitors Services Program Assistant [email protected]
Larry Strickland, Warehouse Manager [email protected]
Evelyn Ruth Ragan, Receptionist [email protected]
InquiryJade Feliciano, Supervisor [email protected]
Welcome CentersI-26 East Welcome Center Margaret Ritchey, Manager [email protected]
I-26 West Welcome Center Vickie Sealock, Manager [email protected]
I-40 West Welcome Center Tina Evans, Manager [email protected]
I-77 North Welcome Center Oma Boyd, Manager [email protected]
I-77 South Welcome Center Louie Comer, Manager [email protected]
I-85 North Welcome Center Mary Perkinson, Manager [email protected]
I-85 South Welcome Center Donna Williams, Manager [email protected]
I-95 North Welcome Center Edith Jenkins, Manager [email protected]
I-95 South Welcome Center Karron Littleturtle, Acting Manager [email protected]
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