Upgrade your browser - Unfortunately, this site has updated features that cannot run on this version of Internet Explorer. Download a free upgrade of Internet Explorer.

Team & Leadership

Committed to Serving California Tourism

Join in on Our Vision

Audit Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Member
Michael Dunne

Area Vice President of Operations, West

Hilton Worldwide

Member
Noreen Martin

Advisory Board Member

KSL Resorts

Member
Bob Muhs

Vice President, Government Affairs & Counsel

Avis/Budget Group, Inc.

Chair
Benjamin Webster

Office Managing Shareholder

Littler Mendelson PC

Staff
Caroline Beteta

President & Chief Executive Officer/Director of Tourism

Visit California

Staff
Matthew Sabbatini

Chief Operating Officer

Visit California


Brand and Content Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Ilsa Butler

Chief Marketing Officer

Evans Hotels

Vice Chair
Lynn Bruni-Perkins

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

San Francisco Travel

Member
Dana Allen-Greil

Chief Marketing Officer

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Member
Emily Bird

Area Director of Marketing | Southwest

Marriott International

Member
Julie Buffo

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Oxnard

Member
Cathy Cartier

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit SLO CAL

Member
Andy Chapman

President & Chief Executive Officer

Travel North Tahoe

Member
Brian Chuan

Senior Director of International and Domestic Markets

South Coast Plaza

Member
Sybil Crum

Vice President, Marketing & Commercial Strategy

Disneyland Resort

Member
Aman Dhillon

Chief Executive Officer

Hotel Management Solutions

Member
Sheldon Duncan

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Brand Management

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Member
Linsey Gallagher

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Napa Valley

Member
Omark Holmes

Chief Marketing Officer

Visit Huntington Beach

Member
Maggie Lang

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

The San Francisco Peninsula

Member
David Miller

Chief Marketing Officer

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Member
Jeff Morris

Chief Marketing Officer

Visit West Hollywood

Member
Sue O’Shea

Senior Director of Marketing

Visit Anaheim

Member
Colleen Pace

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Julie Pastor

Director of Marketing & Communications

LEGOLAND California Resort

Member
Don Skeoch

Chief Marketing Officer

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Diane Stracuzzi

Vice President of Marketing

Pebble Beach Company

Member
John Urdi

Executive Director

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California


California Welcome Center Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Cynthia Easey

Tourism Specialist

Citadel Outlets

Vice Chair
Anand Patel

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Fairfield

Member
Todd Aaronson

Chief Executive Officer

Visit Modesto

Member
Joaquin Baena

Marketing Director

Global Marketing & Sales, Inc.

Member
Laurie Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

Member
Emily Bryant

Marketing Manager

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Member
Jeff Chambers

Chief Executive Officer

South County Chamber of Commerce

Member
Susan Childers

Visitor Service Manager

Visit Gilroy

member
Paul Crouch

Welcome Center Manager

Outlets at San Clemente

Member
Kari Crutcher

Executive Director

Ridgecrest Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Member
Leslee Gaul

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Oceanside

Member
Scott Gentner

President & Chief Executive Officer

Pier 39

Member
Andrey Gorbachenko

Destination Services / California Welcome Center Manager

Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau/Ontario Convention Center

Member
Julie Grau

Director of Marketing & Communications

Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau/Ontario Convention Center

Member
Robert Haswell

Executive Director

Placer County Visitors Bureau

member
Debbie Hays

Sales & Community Relations

Discover Torrance Visitors Bureau

Member
Susan Jennrich

General Manager

Outlets At San Clemente

Member
Frank Johnson

Executive Director

Visit Gilroy

Member
Craig Kaufman

Executive Director

Salinas Valley Tourism & Visitors Bureau

Member
Katrina Kessen

Executive Director

Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Alliance

Member
Debbie Manning

President & Chief Executive Officer

El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce

Member
Lisa May

Director of Tourism Development

Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

Member
Tiffany McKenzie

Director of Marketing

Placer County Visitors Bureau

Member
Janelle Myers

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce

Member
Alex Pace

Director

Global Marketing & Sales, Inc.

Member
Manny Pereida

Manager of Administration & Customer Service

Citadel Outlets

Member
Lydia Petroff

Visitor Services Manager

Visit Oceanside

Member
Linda Poindexter

Director of Operations

Desert Regional Tourism Agency

Member
Nicole Ritthaler

Agent Sales Manager

Big Bus Tours

Member
Jennifer Rodriguez

General Manager

The Outlets At Barstow

Member
Barbara Scott-Blakely

Manager

The Outlets At Barstow

Member
Rongiet Urquidez

Property Manager & Marketing Director

Cabazon Outlets

Member
Sarah Winters

Director of Marketing

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Staff
Matthew Sabbatini

Chief Operating Officer

Visit California

Staff
Tori Cruz-Fuchs

Manager

Office of Tourism


CEO Destination Council Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Member
Adam Burke

President & CEO

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Cathy Cartier

Interim President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit SLO CAL

Member
Linsey Gallagher

President

Visit Napa Valley

Member
Peter Gamez

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Oakland

Member
Katherine Janega-Dykes

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Santa Barbara

Member
Misti Kerns

President & Chief Executive Officer

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Member
Tom Kiely

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit West Hollywood

Member
John LaFortune

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit San Jose

Member
Kelly Miller

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Huntington Beach

Member
Anna Marie Presutti

President & Chief Executive Officer

San Francisco Travel Association

Member
Gary Sherwin

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Newport Beach

Member
Mike Testa

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Sacramento

Member
John Urdi

Executive Director

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Member
Claudia Vecchio

President & CEO

Sonoma County Tourism

Member
Julie Wagner

Chief Executive Officer

Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

Member
Mike Waterman

President & CEO

Visit Anaheim

Member
Scott White

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Scott Wilson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Temecula Valley

Staff
Caroline Beteta

President & Chief Executive Officer/Director of Tourism

Visit California


Crisis Communications Task Force Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Member
Suzi Brown

Vice President, Communications

Disneyland Resort

Member
Audrey Eig

Vice President, Publicity and Public Relations

Universal Studios Hollywood & UPR North America Theme Parks

Member
Paul Garcia

Director of Communications

San Diego Tourism Authority

Member
Scott Gediman

Chief, Media & External Relations Public Affairs Officer

Yosemite Public Information Office

Member
Chris Heywood

Senior Vice President, Global Communications

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Karna Hughes

Director of Communications

Visit Santa Barbara

Member
Lara Kaylor

Director of Communications & Public Relations

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Member
Joyce Kiehl

Director of Communications

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Staff
Ryan Becker

Senior Vice President of Communications & Strategy

Visit California


Executive Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Dan Gordon

Chief Executive Officer

Gordon Biersch

Vice Chair of Operations
Carla Murray

President, U.S. Western Region, Full Service MxM

Marriott International

Chief Fiscal Officer
Kevin Fat

Chief Executive Officer

Fat Family Restaurant Group

Member
Shuaib Bulhan

Vice President, North Pacific Operations

The Hertz Corporation

Member
Robert Gleason

President & Chief Executive Officer

Evans Hotels

Member
Dee Dee Myers

Senior Advisor and Director

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Member
Ken Potrock

President

Disneyland Resorts

Member
Kurt Stocks

President/General Manager

LEGOLAND California Resort

Staff
Caroline Beteta

President & Chief Executive Officer/Director of Tourism

Visit California

Staff
Matthew Sabbatini

Chief Operating Officer

Visit California


International Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Hubertus Funke

Executive Vice President & Chief Tourism Officer

San Francisco Travel

Vice Chair
Annie Allen

Vice President of Global Tourism Sales

CityPass, Inc.

Member
Louis de Joux

Senior Vice President, Sales

Universal Studios Hollywood

Member
Benjamin Eastman

Senior Director of Tourism Development

San Diego Tourism Authority

Member
Michelle Israel

Vice President of Sales and Membership

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Member
Ashley Johnson

Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

Newport Beach & Company

Member
Sean Keliiholokai

Chief Sales Officer

Visit West Hollywood

Member
Millie Matz

Director of Sales & Marketing

Santa Barbara Hotel Collection

Member
Gary Orfield

Director of Tourism Development

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Michael Parr

Vice President, International Sales

Wente Vineyards Vineyard Tasting Room

Member
Bart Peterson

Director of Sales

North Lake Tahoe

Member
Kathryn Smits

Senior Vice President, Global Tourism Development

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Lindsey Stevens

Vice President of Marketing Communications

See Monterey

Member
Percy Stevens

Director of Travel Trade

Sonoma County Tourism

Member
Nicky Tang

Asia Pacific Sales Director

Disneyland Resort

Member
Adriel Terbeche

Vice President of Tourism

Visit Anaheim

Member
Jeff van Langeveld

Vice President, Marketing and Sales International

Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Aulani

Member
Michael Vanderhurst

Vice President, Global Tourism

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Staff
Leona Reed

Vice President of Global Marketing

Visit California

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California


Marketing Advisory Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Dan Gordon

Chief Executive Officer

Gordon Biersch

Member
Annie Allen

Vice President, Global Tourism Sales

CityPass, Inc.

Member
Laurie Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

Member
Kevin Bass

General Manager/Vice President

Enterprise Holdings

Member
Scott Beck

President & CEO

San Francisco Travel

Member
Lynn Bruni-Perkins

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

San Francisco Travel

Member
Shuaib Bulhan

Vice President, North Pacific Operations

The Hertz Corporation

Member
Jim Burba

Co-Founder

Burba Hotel Network

Member
Adam Burke

President & CEO

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Ilsa Butler

Chief Marketing Officer

Evans Hotels

Member
Cathy Cartier

Interim President & CEO

Visit SLO CAL

Member
Peter Clarke

Vice President - CMH Operations West

InterContinental Hotels Group

Member
Ron Cohen

President & Chief Operating Officer

Mammoth & June Mountain Ski Areas

Member
Sybil Crum

Vice President Marketing & Commercial Strategy

Disneyland Resort

Member
Sheldon Duncan

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Brand Management

NBC Universal Media, LLC

Member
Cynthia Easey

Director, International Sales & Marketing

Citadel Outlets

Member
Kevin Fat

Chief Executive Officer

Fat Family Restaurant Group

Member
Sandra Fletcher

President

Simco Restaurants Group

Member
Jody Franklin

Executive Director of Tourism

Visit El Dorado

Member
Ed Fuller

President & Chief Executive Officer

Laguna Strategic Advisors

Member
Hubertus Funke

Executive Vice President & Chief Tourism Officer

San Francisco Travel

Member
Linsey Gallagher

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Napa Valley

Member
Peter Gamez

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Oakland

Member
Paul Garcia

Director of Communications

San Diego Tourism Authority

Member
Robert Gleason

President & Chief Executive Officer

Evans Hotels

Member
Geri Gomes

Regional Vice President of Commercial Performance West

IHG Luxury and Lifestyle Americas

Member
Daniel Halpern

President/Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Jackmont Hospitality

Member
Michelle Heston

Executive Director Public Relations, US West and US East

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Member
Katie Hunter

Director of Marketing & Sales

Sierra-at-Tahoe

Member
Katherine Janega-Dykes

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Santa Barbara

Member
Reed Kandalaft

Regional Vice President and General Manager

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts/Beverly Hills

Member
Kerri Kapich

Chief Operating Officer

San Diego Tourism Authority

Member
Nate Kelley

Director of Research

San Diego Tourism Authority

Member
John Kelliher

Founder

Grapeline Wine Tours

Member
Misti Kerns

President & Chief Executive Officer

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Member
Tom Kiely

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit West Hollywood

Member
Tom Klein

Owner

Rodney Strong Wine Estates

Member
John LaFortune

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit San Jose

Member
Terry Lewis

Area Vice President, Operations

Hilton Worldwide

Member
William Loughran

Chief Operating Officer

Concord Hospitality

Member
Joani Lynch

Vice President of Marketing & Sales

Mammoth Resorts

Member
Noreen Martin

Advisor

KSL Resorts

Member
Lisa Mayo

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Tuolumne

Member
Ripton Melhado

Senior Vice President Field Operations

Hyatt Corporation

Member
Kelly Miller

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Huntington Beach

Member
Carla Murray

President, U.S. Western Region, Full Service MxM

Marriott International

Member
Dee Dee Myers

Senior Advisor and Director

Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

Member
Rob O'Keefe

President & Chief Executive Officer

See Monterey

Member
Julie Pastor

Director of Marketing & Communications

LEGOLAND® California Resort

Member
Anand Patel

President & CEO

Visit Fairfield

Member
Sima Patel

Chief Executive Officer

Ridgemont Hospitality

Member
Ken Potrock

President

Disneyland Resorts

Member
Anna Marie Presutti

President & Chief Executive Officer

San Francisco Travel Association

Member
Vanessa Puopolo

Vice President

Visit Fresno County

Member
Stephen Revetria

President

Giants Enterprises

Member
Ted Selogie

Regional Vice President & General Manager

AccorHotels

Member
John Sheperdson

Vice President, Northwest Region

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

Member
Gary Sherwin

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Newport Beach

Member
Don Skeoch

Chief Marketing Officer

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Member
Kurt Stocks

President/General Manager

LEGOLAND California Resort

Member
Scott Strobl

Executive Vice President & General Manager

Universal Studios Hollywood

Member
Amar Tankha

Regional Vice President of Operations

Sixt Rent A Car, LLC

Member
Mike Testa

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Sacramento

Member
Gary Thomas

Senior Vice President of Operations

Aimbridge Hospitality

Member
John Urdi

Executive Director

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Member
Claudia Vecchio

President & CEO

Sonoma County Tourism

Member
Julie Wagner

Chief Executive Officer

Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

Member
Mike Waterman

President & CEO

Visit Anaheim

Member
Benjamin Webster

Office Managing Shareholder

Littler Mendelson PC

Member
Scott White

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Scott Wilson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Temecula Valley

Staff
Caroline Beteta

President & Chief Executive Officer/Director of Tourism

Visit California

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California


Nominating Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Carla Murray

President, U.S. Western Region Full Service MxM

Marriott International

Member
Ed Fuller

President & Chief Executive Officer

Laguna Strategic Advisors

Member
Noreen Martin

Chairman

Martin Resorts, Inc.

Member
Sima Patel

Chief Executive Officer

Ridgemont Hospitality

Staff
Caroline Beteta

President & Chief Executive Officer/Director of Tourism

Visit California

Staff
Matthew Sabbatini

Chief Operating Officer

Visit California


Public Relations Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Paul Garcia

Director of Communications

San Diego Tourism Authority

Vice Chair
Michelle Heston

Executive Regional Director of Public Relations

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Member
Stephen Andrews

Vice President of Marketing & Sales

Passport Resorts

Member
Scott Gediman

Public Affairs Officer

Yosemite National Park

Member
Christina Glynn

Communications Director/Film Commissioner

Visit Santa Cruz County

Member
Meg Heinen

Media Relations Manager

CityPASS

Member
Brittney Hendricks

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Visit Oxnard

Member
Karna Hughes

Director of Communications

Visit Santa Barbara

Member
Joyce Kiehl

Director of Communications

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Lauren Salisbury

Senior Director of Communications

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Member
Lori Lincoln

Vice President, Global PR & Media Relations

San Francisco Travel

Member
Norma Marlowe

Director of Public Relations

Visit Temecula Valley

Member
Megan Johns

Communications Manager

Newport Beach & Company

Member
Tracy Spahr

Director of Public Relations

SeaWorld San Diego

Member
Lindsay Swanson

Communications Director

Visit Anaheim

Member
Birgitt Vaughan

Director of Public Relations

Sonoma County Tourism

Member
Frances Wong

Director of Marketing, Communications & Global Media Relations

Visit San Jose

Staff
Ryan Becker

Senior Vice President of Communications & Strategy

Visit California

Staff
Angie Pappas

Associate Vice President of External Affairs and Media Relations

Visit California


Research Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Nate Kelley

Director of Research

San Diego Tourism Authority

Vice Chair
Vanessa Puopolo

Vice President

Visit Fresno County

Member
Brett Allor

Senior Director, Market Strategy & Research

San Francisco Travel

Member
Jennifer Avery

Vice President, Research & Insights

Universal Parks & Resorts

Member
Conrad Braganza

Senior Manager, Research

Sonoma County Tourism

Member
Shannel Dooley

Business Intelligence Administrator

Visit Anaheim

Member
Jerusha Greenwood, Ph.D.

Professor & Vice Chair, Academic Senate College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences, Experience Industry Management

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Member
Rebecca Kirkpatrick

Analytics Manager

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Lindsey Stevens

Vice President of Marketing

See Monterey

Member
Aaron Nissen

Vice President & Business Intelligence Engineer

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California


Rural Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Jody Franklin

Executive Director

Visit El Dorado

Vice Chair
Lisa Mayo

President & Chief Executive Officer

Visit Tuolumne

Member
Todd Aaronson

Chief Executive Officer

Visit Modesto

Member
Paul Amend

Sales & Events Manager

Big Sur Lodge

Member
Laurie Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

Member
Julie Benbow

Executive Director

Humboldt County Visitors Bureau

Member
Freddy Bi

President & Chief Executive Officer

Discover Inland Empire

Member
Lorraine Chapman

Director of Tourism, Advocacy & Industry Relations

Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau/Ontario Convention Center

Member
Jonathan Farrington

Executive Director

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau

Member
Amy Herzog

Executive Director

Visit Carmel

Member
Joyce Kiehl

Director of Communications

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Member
Lisa May

Director of Tourism Development

Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association

Member
Rhonda Salisbury

Chief Executive Officer

Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau

Member
Terry Selk

Chief Executive Officer

Yolo County Tourism

Member
Juraj Sojka

Director of Tourism

Visit Lake Tahoe

Member
Jennifer Talt Lundin

Marketing Manager

Ventura Port District

Member
Kathy Vreeland

Executive Director

Discover Buellton

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California


Snow Committee Team & Leadership Team & Leadership

Chair
Joani Lynch

Vice President of Marketing & Sales

Mammoth Resorts

Vice Chair
Katie Hunter

Director of Marketing & Sales

Sierra-at-Tahoe

Member
Jackie Calvert

Director of Tourism Marketing & Management

Visit Truckee-Tahoe

Member
Hanna Craig

Marketing Director

Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort + Bear Valley

Member
Tom Fortune

Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Heavenly/Tahoe (Vail Resorts)

Member
Kirstin Guinn

Marketing Director

North Tahoe Community Alliance

Member
Bridget Legnavsky

President & Chief Executive Officer

Sugar Bowl Resort/Royal Gorge Cross Country

Member
Stuart Maas

Senior Director Marketing & Biz Development

Visit Lake Tahoe

Member
John McColly

Chief Marketing Officer

Mountain High Resort

Member
Tucker Norred

Director of Marketing

Boreal Mountain, Woodward Tahoe & Soda Springs

Member
Matt Peterson

Senior Marketing Director

Palisades Tahoe

Member
Travis Scott

Chief Executive Officer

Visit Big Bear

Member
Michael Reitzell

President & Chief Executive Officer

California Ski Industry

Member
John Urdi

Executive Director

Mammoth Lakes Tourism

Staff
Lynn Carpenter

Senior Vice President of Marketing

Visit California