Experience

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  Greater Ottumwa Convention and Visitors Bureau

  • Executive Director

    • May 2018 - Present

    As Executive Director of the Greater Ottumwa Convention and Visitor's Bureau, have accomplished the following :• Won bids for several meetings and conferences including Babe Ruth World Series (2021), American Planner’s Association (2021), Professional Developers of Iowa (2020), Iowa Missouri Ford Car Show (2019 and 2020), Theological Conference (2019 and 2021).• Incorporated the CVB as a separate corporation and formed a new CVB Board• Provided marketing support for over 200 area events and changed sponsorship program from block grants to marketing and advertising expenditures• Developed and implemented economic impact model to measure community financial impact of local events• Conducted several month - long niche Instagram campaigns that increased Instagram following by 141%• Completed redesign of CVB website. Website sessions increased by 25%• Conducted Destination Advocacy/Customer Service training for 32 Ottumwa businesses and organizations• Worked with other community organizations on the Gateway Signage Program, Riverfront Redevelopment, Bridge View Center Hotel and Iowa Great Places Application• Developed regional niche itineraries with surrounding CVBs• Revamped and expanded organizations social media platforms. Provided multiple weekly Facebook and Instagram posts on area events.• Provided weekly E Mail blasts featuring area events and selling points• Designed new visitor guide and restaurant guideHotel tax disbursements increased by 8% from 2018 to 2019.

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  US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

  • Chicago, IL

  • Midwest Regional Manager

    • May 2007 - Sep 2017
    • Chicago, IL

    Promote and sell the US Virgin Islands as a destination to the travel trade and consumer markets . Duties include conducting product training's for travel companies and travel agents, completing over one thousand individual sales calls per year, conducting presentations to niche market groups such as diving and wedding and attending trade and consumer shows. Territory expanded from Midwest to entire United States. Selected as Outstanding Sales Manager of the Year for three out of six years. Position eliminated due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

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  Atlantis Submarines

  • St. Thomas, USVI

  • Marketing Manager

    • Apr 2003 - May 2007
    • St. Thomas, USVI

    Responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing marketing and sales programs for Atlantis Submarine's tours in St Thomas, St. Martin, Aruba, Barbados and the Cayman Islands. Target markets included large on - island hotel properties and cruise ship companies. Achievements included developing a new point of sale program for Atlantis staff, devising promotional and incentive programs for secondary sellers and securing wholesale accounts with companies such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz.. Increased gross sales by 12% over a three year period.

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  Caribbean Adventure Tours

  • St. Croix, VI

  • Business Owner

    • Jun 1995 - Mar 2003
    • St. Croix, VI

    Conceived, created and operated an Eco Tour company that featured kayaking tours in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The tours offered by the company featured ecological, historical and cultural narratives that accompanied the kayaking activity. Also developed a night time bioluminescence tour. The company’s tours were recognized in several media outlets including The New York Times, Islands Magazine and The Discovery Channel.

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  Kramer and Associates

  • Wahington, DC

  • Senior Associate

    • Aug 1984 - Sep 1992
    • Wahington, DC

    Scope of work included marketing and sales support for US and European defense related companies wishing to enter North African, Sub Saharan and Middle Eastern Markets. Duties included drafting market feasibility and penetration studies, drafting competitive and risk analyses for specific markets and conducting sales to both government and private sector customers. Major clients included: Westinghouse, Martin Marietta, Rockwell International and Fabrique National.