2010 Leadership Team
The purpose of the Leadership Team is to allow the association to fully utilize the tremendous wealth of talent available from its members on a volunteer basis to advance programs of common interest not otherwise capable of being developed and implemented. The group also assists NTA's Board of Directors in the decision-making process by acting as the vital link between the general membership and the Board.
The incoming NTA Chairman and CEO appoints 40 individuals to serve on the Leadership Team. Each member of the team is also assigned to serve on a committee, which will allow smaller groups of members the opportunity to focus on specialized initiatives in a smaller, more intimate setting. The Leadership Team meets as a group in February to assess current NTA initiatives and develop new opportunities and benefits for members. In addition to the in-person meeting, members of this team and committees will be asked to participate in relevant conference calls or Web seminars throughout the year, depending on their particular area of expertise.
To view guidelines used in the selection process, click here.
Below is the 2010 NTA Leadership Team
Meetings & Events Committee
This committee is charged with continuing NTA Convention planning and enhancements to the events that will generate increased attendance. Additionally, the committee will develop a plan for future domestic events to replace the Tour Operator Spring Meet. Staff Liaison: Lee Carter
Chair:
Lisa Itel
Travel Oregon
670 Hawthorne Avenue SE
Suite 240
Salem, OR 97301-6884
Phone: +1.503.378.8875
Fax: +1.503.378.4574
E-mail: lisai@traveloregon.com
Board Liaison:
Laurie Lincoln, CTP
Main Street Tours Inc.
1751 W. Torrance Blvd, Suite N
Torrance, CA 90501
Phone: +1.310.212.0791
Fax: +1.310.212.0968
E-mail: laurie@mainstreettours.com
Committee Members:
Katie Baasen
Georgia Department of Tourism
75 5th Street NW
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30308-1020
Phone: +1.404.962.4080
Fax: +1.404.962.4093
E-mail: kbaasen@georgia.org
Seth Downs
Anderson Vacations
#311 1117 1st Street SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0T9
CANADA
Phone: +1.403.245.6200
Fax: +1.403.245.6210
E-mail: sdowns@adnersonvacations.ca
Scott Hartcorn
Shilo Inns Suites Hotels
11600 SW Shilo Lane
Portland, OR 97225
Phone: +1.503.641.6565
Fax: +1.503.644.0868
E-mail: scott.hartcorn@shiloinns.com
Taunya Wolfe Finn, CTP
Wolfe Adventures & Tours
29 Gronton Road
Shirley, MA 01464
Phone: +1.978.448.3600
Fax: +1.866.666.9531
E-mail: taunya@wolfetours.com
Dawn Rueckl, CTP
Wells Gray Tours Ltd.
250 Lansdowne Street
Kamloops, BC V2C 1X7
CANADA
Phone: +1.250.374.0831
Fax: +1.250.374.2711
E-mail: dawn@wellsgraytours.com
James Scoon
Wyoming Travel & Tourism
1520 Etchepare Circle
Cheyenne, WY 82007
Phone: +1.307.777.2852
Fax: +1.307.777.2877
E-mail: james.scoon@visitwyo.gov
Consumer Awareness Task Force
This new committee will investigate ways of marketing NTA using, as an example, social media to leverage the relationship between partners and the consumer. Its goal will be getting the message of packaged travel to the consumer. Staff Liaison: Kate Bunnell
Chair:
Tom Armstrong
Tauck
10 Norden Place
Norwalk, CT 06855-1452
Phone: +1.203.899.6814
Fax: +1.203.899.6610
E-mail: tarmstrong@tauck.com
Board Liaison:
Jennifer Sutcliffe
Manager Travel Industry Marketing
Arizona Office of Tourism
1110 W Washington St, Ste 155
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2957
Phone: +1.602.364.3693
Fax: +1.602.364.3702
E-mail: jsutcliffe@azot.gov
Committee Members:
Dineene Bradley
Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
One Riverfront Plaza
401 W. Main Street, Suite 2300
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: +1.502.584.2121
Fax: +1.502.560.0011
E-mail: dbradley@gotolouisville.com
Thomas Jaffa, CTP
Jaffa Travel & Receptive Services
PO Box 16171
Seattle, WA 98116
Phone: +1.206.932.3792
Fax: +1.206.932.3244
E-mail: jaffacotej@aol.com
Renee Eichelberger
St. Louis Convention & Visitors
701 Convention Plaza
Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: +1.314.992.0643
Fax: +1.314.621.7729
E-mail: reichelberger@explorestlouis.com
Bob Hoelscher, CTP, CTC, CTIE, MCC
Flemming Tours Inc.
1137 Colonnade Center
St. Louis, MO 63131
Phone: +1.314.288.2000
Fax: +1.314.288.2007
E-mail: bob@flemmingtours.com
Allen Glander
Main Street Tours Inc.
1751 Torrance Boulevard
Suite N
Torrance, CA 90501
Phone: +1.310.212.0791
Fax: +1.310.212.0968
E-mail: allen@mainstreettours.com
China Inbound Task Force
The China Inbound Task Force will serve as an advisory group for the China Inbound Program, the Visit USA Center managed by NTA and other programs that will help US members market effectively to the Chinese leisure market. The group will advise NTA on education needs and business opportunities, review and facilitate NTA's China Inbound Best Practices. The Task Force will also assist with networking and contacts in China to help facilitate communications and activities with the CNTA. Staff Liaison: Ken Goode
Chair:
Philip Sheldon
Hanns Ebensten Travel Inc.
923 White Street
Key West, FL 33040-3355
Phone: +1.305.294.8171
Fax: +1.305.292.9665
E-mail: hetravelphil@aol.com
Board Liaison:
Fred Dixon
NYC & Company
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019-5818
Phone: +1.212.484.1245
Fax: +1.212.246.6310
E-mail: fdixon@nycgo.com
Committee Members:
Stuart Carroll
Carroll International Travel LLC
201 Massachusetts Avenue NE
Suite C9
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: +1.203.543.8118
Fax: +1.202.543.1566
E-mail: stuart@travelroom.com
David Huang
Chinese Host Inc.
6288 Spring Mountain Road
Suite 110
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: +1.702.968.3018
Fax: +1.702.968.3019
E-mail: davidhuang@chinesehosts.com
David Huang
Triway International Group
7115 Leesburg Pike
Suite 202
Falls Church, VA 22043
Phone: +1.703.854.1000
Fax: +1.703.807.0699
E-mail: hq@triwayinc.com
Stephen Russell
China USA Travel Inc.
836 Fairmount Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
Phone: +1.651.226.9730
Fax: +1.651.528.6213
E-mail: srussell@ohenetwork.com
Ted Bravos, CTP
International Tour Management
625 Market Street
Suite 810
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: +1.415.957.9489
Fax: +1.415.957.9474
E-mail: itmitourdirector@aol.com
Glenda Taylor
California Tourism
980 9th Street
Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: +1.916.319.5419
Fax: +1.916.444.0410
E-mail: gtaylor@visitcalifornia.com
Harry Chen
My Joy Holidays
199 California Drive
Suite 199
Millbrae, CA 94030
Phone: +1.650.259.9599
Fax: +1.650.259.0599
E-mail: harry@myjoyholiday.com
Best Practices Committee
This group will continue the work of the 2009 committee to develop the best practices program that shall serve NTA members as the packaged travel industry standards. The committee will also work to take the best practices, once established, and create the possibility of an accreditation program for NTA members.Staff Liaison: Catherine Prather
Chair:
Ed Hall, CTP
VisitRochester
45 East Avenue
Suite 400
Rochester, NY 14604-2225
Phone: +1.585.279.8305
Fax: +1.585.232.4822
E-mail: edh@visitrochester.com
Board Liaison:
Jim Warren
Star Destinations Inc.
1903 N Hwy 71
Box 456
Carroll, IA 51401
Phone: 1.800.284.4440
Fax: +1.712.792.5229
E-mail: jim@stardestinations.com
Committee Members:
Kate Simpson
Academic Travel Abroad Inc.
1920 N Street NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: +1.202.785.9000
Fax: +1.202.342.0317
E-mail: ksimpson@adademic-travel.com
Shelley Thiessen
Sun Fun Tours Ltd.
#101-929 Laval Crescent
Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4
CANADA
Phone: +1.250.314.9923
Fax: +1.250.374.5938
E-mail: shelle@sunfuntours.ca
Michael Thomas
Thomas Tours Inc.
763 Carl Ave
New Kensington, PA 15068
Phone: +1.724.337.9000
Fax: +1.724.337.9341
E-mail: michael@thomastours.com
Kimberly Hickie
Yankee Candle Company, Inc.
PO Box 110
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Phone: 877.636.7707
Fax: +1.413.665.4726
E-mail: khickie@yankeecandle.com
International Advisory Task Force
The International Advisory Task Force will serve as an advisory group for NTA's international programming and recruitment to ensure that NTA considers business and cultural differences that may impact the association's value to international organizations. They will identify business and education needs for expanding NTA's international diversification and develop a strategic and targeted approach for growth opportunities.Staff Liaison: Catherine Prather
Chair:
David O'Gorman
Discover Ireland Tours
5 Churchill
Carrigaline
Co. Cork, IRE
IRELAND
Phone: 011 353 214373024
Fax: 011 353 214834531
E-mail: david@discoverirelandtours.com
Board Liaison:
Mahen Sanghrajka
Big Five Tours & Expeditions Inc.
1551 SE Palm Court
Stuart, FL 34994
Phone: +1.772.287.7995
Fax: +1.772.287.5990 E-mail: mahen@bigfive.com
Committee Members:
Luca Arioli
Intertravel
Via Lamberti 39/41r
Florence 50123
ITALY
Phone: 55.280706
Fax: 55.212689
E-mail: larioli@intertrvelviaggl.it
Gabriela Ibarra
Mexico Tourism Board
2829 16th Street
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: +1.202.265.9020
E-mail: gibarra@visitmexico.com
Susan Krulic
Bavaria Tourism Marketing
122 E 42nd Street
Room 2000
C/O German National Tourist Office
New York, NY 10168
Phone: +1.212.661.7200
Fax: +1.212.661.7174
E-mail: bavaria@d-z-t.com
Pilar Laguana
Guam Visitors Bureau
401 Pale San Vitores Road
Tumon 96913
GUAM
Phone: +1.671.646.5278
Fax: +1.671.646.8861
E-mail: plaguana@visitguam.org
Kelly Dean
Ottawa Tourism 130 Albert Street Suite 1800Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4CANADAPhone: +1.613.237.5150E-mail: kdean@ottawatourism.ca
Identity Task Force
The Identity Task Force will further develop NTA's brand, including strategies for communicating and living the brand. Additionally, the group will advise on creative designs for refreshing the NTA logo and look and feel to align with the brand.Staff Liaison: Lisa Thompson
Chair:
Bob Hofmann
Broadway Inbound Inc.
330 West 42nd Street
Floor 22
New York, NY 10036-6902
Phone: +1.212.302.0995
Fax: +1.212.302.0997
E-mail: bob@broadwayinbound.com
Board Liaison:
Jorge Cazenave
Cazenave Argentina
Martin Y Omar 460 Local 4
1642 San Isidro, Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
Phone: +54.11.4798.0164
Fax: +54.11.4798.0372 (fax)
E-mail: jorge@cazenaveargentina.com
Committee Members:
Neil Amrine
Guide Service of Washington, Inc.
734 15th Street NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: +1.202.628.2842
Fax: +1202.628.2812
E-mail: neil@dctourguides.com
Janet Harrington
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau
PO Box 6128
Gulfport, MS 39506
Phone: +1.228.896.6699
Fax: +1.228.896.6788
E-mail: janeth@gulfcoast.org
Melissa Hopper
Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau
323 East Main Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: +1.757.664.6620
Fax: +1.757.622.3663
E-mail: mhopper@norfolkcvb.com
David Lusvardi
Nevada Commission on Tourism
555 East Washington Avenue
Suite 5600
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: +1.702.486.6859
Fax: +1.702.486.2789
E-mail: dlusvardi@travelnevada.com
Christopher Shepler
Sheplers Mackinac Island Ferry
PO Box 250
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Phone: +1.231.436.5023
Fax: +1.231.436.7521
E-mail: chris@sheplersferry.com
John Shaffer
Luray Caverns
PO Box 748
970 U.S. Highway 211
Luray, VA 22835
Phone: +1.540.743.6551
Fax: +1.540.743.6634
E-mail: john.shaffer@luraycaverns.com
Neil AmrineGuide Service of Washington, Inc.
734 15th Street NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.628.2842
Fax: 202.638.2812
E-mail: neil@dctourguides.com
Partnering Task Force
This committee will explore how to drive NTA members to do business with each other first as a strategy for membership success and value. Members First has become the mantra of Chairman Cathy Greteman, and the Partnering Committee will identify plans that include virtual and in-person member-to-member business opportunities.Staff Liaison: Chris Horsley and Karla DiNardo
Chair:
Edward Dresel
Destinations Unlimited Inc.
PO Box 548
Southington, CT 06489-0548
Phone: +1.860.621.9178
Fax: +1.860.621.9347
E-mail: destone@megahits.com
Board Liaison:
Paul Nakamoto
Roaring Camp Railroads
PO Box G1
Felton, CA 95018-0346
Phone: +1.831.335.4484
Fax: +1.831.335.3509
E-mail: pauln@roaringcamp.com
Committee Members:
Liz Gilbert
Entertainment Cruises
Pier 62, Chelsea Piers
Suite 200
New York, NY 10011
Phone: +1.212.727.7735
Fax: +1.212.727.7738
E-mail: lgilbert@entertainmentcruises.com
Mark Hoffmann, CTP
Sports Leisure Vacations
9812 Old Winery Place
Suite 1
Sacramento, CA 95827
Phone: +1.916.361.2051
Fax: +1.916.361.7995
E-mail: markslt@aol.com
Jillian Simpson
Alaska Travel Industry Association
2600 Cordova Street
Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: +1.907.929.2842
Fax: +1.907.561.5727
E-mail: jsimpson@alaskatia.org
Jay Smith
Sports Travel and Tours
60 Main Street
Hatfield, MA 01038
Phone: +1.413.247.7678
Fax: +1.413.247.5700
E-mail: jay@sportstravelandtours.com
Jayne Lundberg
Western Discovery LLC
1175 Fairview Drive
Suite M
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: +1.775.329.9933
Fax: +1.775.329.1045
E-mail: jayne@westerndiscovery.com
George Cooley II, CTIS
Destination DC
901 7th Street NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: +1.202.789.7051
Fax: +1.202.789.7037
E-mail: george.cooley@destinationdc.com