Stephanie Pace Brown, who is president and CEO of Explore Asheville (N.C.)
Destinations International has announced the 30 Under 30 class of 2018, a group of young destination professionals, ages 30 or younger, who will convene at DI's annual convention in Anaheim, Calif., July 10-13. M&C's parent company, Northstar Travel Group, is a sponsor of this prestigious program.
Participants will receive complimentary registration and three nights' accommodations during DI's annual convention; complimentary registration for the Fundamentals in DI's Destination Marketing course; and year-round professional development help, including regular interactive webcasts, membership in an online community to share ideas and the opportunity to apply to attend the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux's annual conference.
"The 30 Under 30 program recognizes the up-and-coming talent of destination organizations nationwide," said DI Foundation chair Stephanie Pace Brown, who is president and CEO of Explore Asheville (N.C.). "The foundation created this initiative to develop the future leaders of our industry and is proud to have supported the 210 professionals who have participated in the program the past seven years."
"Each year our convention attendees are inspired by the astute, creative minds in the 30 Under 30 program," said Tammy Blount-Canavan, president and CEO of the Monterey County (Calif.) Convention & Visitors Bureau and chair of DI. "The program provides to the best and the brightest additional insights, opportunities and tools for success in destination marketing and management. These young leaders give us a glimpse into a very bright future for our industry."
Following is a full listing of the 30 under 30 class of 2018:
Liana Acevedo, Richmond (Va.) Region Tourism
Sarah Alexander, Galveston Island (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau
George Bansah, Brand USA
Amber Burns, Visit Philadelphia
Jeremiah Cook, Athens (Ga.) Convention and Visitors Bureau
Colleen Costello, Newport Beach (Calif.) & Company
Nick Cusick, Visit Saint Paul (Minn.)
Barry Draper, DuPage (Ill.) Convention & Visitors Bureau
Carleigh Dworetzky, Destination DC
Jonathan Eckelberg, Travel Wisconsin
Alexa Gallagher, Choose Chicago
Nancy Gordy, Edmonton (Alberta) Tourism
Calista Klein, Travel Tacoma + Pierce County (Wash.)
Ali Lechlitner, Visit South Bend Mishawaka (Ind.)
Sarah Justine Leduc-Villeneuve, Tourisme Montréal
Ruida Lu, Tourism Toronto
Fidel Mitchell, CMP, Arlington (Texas) Convention and Visitors Bureau
Randi Morritt, Visit Aurora (Colo.)
Ashley Patton, Visit KC
Kristen Pepper, Huntsville/Madison County (Ala.) Convention & Visitors Bureau
Brianna Prasloski, Tourism Vancouver
Brendan Pringle, Visit SLO CAL
Elizabeth Robinson, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau
Chris Robinson, Visit Salt Lake
Robert Row, Monterey County (Calif.) Convention and Visitors Bureau
Michaelean Stewart, Visit Panama City Beach (Fla.)
Cameron Teske, Greater Green Bay (Wis.) Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tamara Thorhallsson, Visit Seattle
Krystle Whitlock, Greater Newark (N.J.) Convention & Visitors Bureau
Christine Zetzl, Visit Indy