2012 Leadership Team
The Leadership Team allows 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 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.
View guidelines used in the selection process.
Below is the 2012 NTA Leadership Team
Canadian Task Force | China Task Force | Contact Committee | Faith Tourism Advisory Council | Government Relations Committee | NTA/ASTA Hispanic Business Development Task Force | Technology Task Force | NTA/UMA Travel Exchange Task Force
Canadian Task Force
The purpose of the Canadian Task Force is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in:
- developing programs and benefits for Canadian members
- increasing Canadian memberships
- identifying ways NTA can help Canada increase its U.S. visitation
Staff Liaison: Carol Juett and Katey Pease
Chair:
Jim Warren
Star Destinations Inc.
1903 N. Hwy 71
P.O. Box 456
Carroll, IA 51401 USA
+1.712.792.9793
jim@stardestinations.com
Board Liaison:
Grant Pollard
Riviera Tours
501 Kings Highway East
Suite 200
Fairfield, CT 06825 USA
+1.888.887.9860
grant.pollard@rivieratours.com
Committee Members:
Scott Cowden
Hallmark Hospitality
1221 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V67 1M6
CANADA
+1.604.685.1111
scott@hallmarkhospitality.com
Sandra Rice
Ontario Tourism Marketing
Partnership Corporation
659 Exeter Road, 2nd Floor
London, ON N6E 1L3
CANADA
+1.519.873.4487
sandra.rice@ontario.ca
Dawn Rueckl
Wells Gray Tours, Ltd.
250 Lansdowne Street
Kamloops, BC V2C 1X7
CANADA
+1.250.374.0831
dawn@wellsgraytours.com
Karen Soyka
Travel Alberta
400, 1601 - 9th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0H4
CANADA
+1.403.648.1073
karen.soyka@travelalberta.com
China Task Force
The purpose of the China Inbound Task Force is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in:
- developing revenue-generating ideas for the NTA Visit USA Center
- developing education for the U.S. and Chinese trade
- enhancing the stature of NTA and the NTA Visit USA Center within the China market
- identifying trends on travel to the U.S. from China
Staff Liasions: Haybina Hao and Catherine Prather
Board Liasion:
Lisa Itel
Travel Oregon
670 Hawthorne Ave. SE, Suite 240
Salem, OR 97301 USA
+1.503.378.8850
lisai@traveloregon.com
Chair:
Pilar Laguana
Guam Visitors Bureau
401 Pale San Vitores Road
Tumon, 96913
GUAM
+1.671.646.5278
plaguana@visitguam.org
Committee Members:
Harry Chen
Joy Holiday
199 California Drive, Suite 199
Millbrae, CA 94030
UNITED STATES
+1.650.259.9599
harry@myjoyholiday.com
Fred Dixon
NYC & Company
810 Seventh Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
UNITED STATES
+1.212.484.1245
fdixon@nycgo.com
David Huang
Chinese Host, Inc.
6288 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 110
Las Vegas, NV 89146
UNITED STATES
+1.702.968.3018
davidhuang@chinesehosts.com
Philip Sheldon
Hanns Ebensten Travel, Inc.
626 Josephine Parker Dr., Suite 206
Key West, FL 33040UNITED STATES
+1.305.294.8174
hetravelphil@aol.com
Contact Committee
The purpose of the Contact Committee is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in creating and producing a successful 2012 NTA Contact in San Diego that meets budgeted attendance goals. The committee's overarching goal is to engage members interested in education and networking in three sections: CEOs/Owners, Sales and Marketing, and Operations.
Staff Liasions: Lee Carter and Lauren-Ashley Pope
Board Liasion:
Jill Pongonis
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
One Busch Gardens Blvd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185 USA
+1.757.253.3361
jill.pongonis@buschgardens.com
Chair:
Misha Jovanovic
Misha Tours
P.O. Box 19757
Navajo Station
San Diego, CA 92159 USA
+1.619.588.4644
misha@mishatours.com
Committee Members:
Richard Arnold
Ambassatours Gray Line
22 Waddell Avenue, Suite 101
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1K3
+1.902.423.7172
rarnold@atlantictours.com
Carol Cohea
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065
UNITED STATES
+1.805.577.4065
carol.cohea@nara.gov
Benjamin Eastman
San Diego CVB
750 B Street, Suite 1500
San Diego, CA 92101
UNITED STATES
+1.619.557.2808
beastman@sdcvb.org
Bob Marx
Landmark Tours & Cruises, Inc.
208 College Hwy., Suite 4
Southwick, MA 01077 UNITED STATES
+1.413.569.1500
bmarx@lmtours.com
Damian Humphreys
WIRTA Hospitality Worldwide
1441 E. Washington Street
Sequim, WA 98382
UNITED STATES
+1.360.683.2800
damianh@wirtahospitalityworldwide.com
Karen Olson
San Diego Zoo
123 Camino De La Reina
San Diego, CA 92108 USA
+1.619.718.3018
kolson@sandiegozoo.org
Suzanne Slavitter, CTP
Sports Empire
P.O. Box 6169
Lakewood, CA 90714
UNITED STATES
+1.562.920.2350
suzanne@sports-empire.com
Blair Soucy
Getaway Tours, Inc.
P.O. Box 70
Terryville, CT 06786 USA
+1.860.582.9741
blair@getawaytours.com
Faith Tourism Advisory Council
The purpose of the Faith Tourism Advisory Council is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in developing plans to serve this marketplace by:
- increasing awareness and accessibility of faith-based tourism.
- creating a networking framework throughout the faith-based tourism marketplace.
- facilitating business-to-business relationships and opportunities.
- providing leadership, guidance and education for the faith tourism industry.
The Committee's overarching goal is to develop a plan and vision for both the immediate and long-term future regarding NTA's Faith Tourism program.
Staff Liasions: Kevin Wright and Catherine Prather
Chair:
Paul Larsen
Ed-Ventures
320 Elton Hills Drive NW
Rochester, MN 55901 USA
+1.507.289.3332
pcl@ed-ventures.com
Board Liaison:
Tim Moulder
Sweet Magnolia Tours
3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, Suite 301
Branson, MO 65616 USA
+1.417.337.9500
tim@sweetmagnoliatours.com
Committee Members:
Malia Asfour
Jordan Tourism Board North America
1307 Dolley Madison Blvd., Suite 2A
McLean, VA 22101
UNITED STATES
+1.703.243.7404
malia@visitjordan.com
Paula Bohaty
Nebraska Travel & Tourism
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509
UNITED STATES
+1.402.471.3744
paula.bohaty@nebraska.gov
Mirko (Mike) Capodanno
Switzerland Tourism
480 University Ave., Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2
CANADA
+1.416.695.3375
mirko.capodanno@switzerland.com
Linville Johnson
The Bahamas Tourist Office
1200 South Pine Island Road #770
Plantation, FL 33324
UNITED STATES
+1.954.236.9292
ljohnson@bahamas.com
Edita Krunic
Select International Tours
85 Park Avenue
Flemington, NJ 08822
UNITED STATES
+1.908.237.9262
edita@select-intl.com
Roger McCurry
Group leader and former pastor
410 B North Mulberry
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
UNITED STATES
+1.270.304.9062
roger@koinoniatravelsandtours.com
Government Relations Committee
The purpose of the Government Relations Committee is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in building member awareness of the importance of NTA's advocacy efforts and getting more members involved in these efforts. The committee is also charged with developing, implementing and overseeing fundraising initiatives for the Government Issues Fund and TourPAC. These funds support the policy and advocacy work of NTA's public affairs advocate and are critical to achieving NTA's objectives.
Staff Liasions: Lee Carter and Penny Whitman
Board Liasion:
Kate Simpson
Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.
1920 N Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA
+1.202.349.7332
ksimpson@academic-travel.com
Chair:
Patti Culp
Alabama Travel Council
P. O. Box 210729
Montgomery, AL 36121
UNITED STATES
+1.334.271.0050
patticulp@alabamatravel.org
Committee Members:
Neil Amrine
Guide Service of Washington, Inc.
734 15th St. NW, Suite 701
Washington, DC 20005-1023
UNITED STATES
+1.202.628.2842
neil@dctourguides.com
Tom Armstrong
Tauck
10 Norden Pl
Norwalk, CT 06855-1452
UNITED STATES
+1.203.899.6814
tarmstrong@tauck.com
Thomas Jaffa, CTP
Jaffa Travel & Receptive Services
PO BOX 16171
Seattle, WA 98116-0171
UNITED STATES
+1.206.932.3792
jaffacotej@aol.com
Mark Kowalewski
Prince William County/Manassas Convention & Visitors Bureau
10611 Balls Ford Road
Suite 110
Manassas, VA 20109-2377
UNITED STATES
+1.703.396.7160
mark@visitpwc.com
Anbritt Stengele
Sports Traveler
1803 W 95th St., Suite 101
Chicago, IL 60643
UNITED STATES
+1.773.881.0076
acs@sportstraveler.net
NTA/ASTA Hispanic Business Development Task Force
The purpose of the NTA/ASTA Hispanic Business Development Task Force is to provide industry perspective and guide the associations in creating tools and business opportunities for members of both organizations, while raising awareness among the U.S. Hispanic trade to drive membership to both NTA and ASTA. To achieve this objective, the task force will develop a program with a focus on the following priorities:
- market research
- education
- business (access to buyers and access to partners)
Staff Liasions: Catherine Prather and Jason Terwilliger
Board Liasion:
Jorge Cazenave
Cazenave Argentina
Martin Y Omar, 460 Local 4
1642 San Isidro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
+54.11.4519.3525
jorge@cazenaveargentina.com
Chair:
Olga Ramudo
Express Travel
5000 S.W. 75th Avenue
Suite 300
Miami, FL 33155
UNITED STATES
+1.305.341.1200 (227)
oramudo@expresstravelus.com
Committee Members:
Angel Alvarez
Regional Sales Director
Rail Europe, Inc
44 South Broadway
White Plains, NY 10601
aalvarez@raileurope.com
Jose Barquin
Mexico Tourism Board
152 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800
New York, NY 10016 USA
+1.786.621.2909
jbarquin@visitmexico.com
Maria Gross
Latin American Travel Expert
5321 Bolero Circle
Delray Beach, FL 33484 USA
+1.561.573.7772
Mariagross@att.net
Kirk Whisler
Latino Print Network
3445 Catalina Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92010
USA
kirk@whisler.com
Technology Task Force
The purpose of the Technology Task Force is to provide industry perspective and guide the association in:
- serving as advisors in the enhancement of NTA's online profiles, including the development of a business market/special interest designation
- serving as the test group for the profile system
- evaluating NTA's appointment scheduling tools and recommending enhancements
- brainstorming potential partners/members (e.g. OTAs)
- developing new technology tools and resources forTravel Exchange
Staff Liasions: Katey Pease and Chris Reed
Board Liasion:
Jay Smith
Sports Travel and Tours
60 Main Street
Hatfield, MA 01038 USA
+1.413.247.7678
jay@sportstravelandtours.com
Chair:
Chris Babb
The Group Tour Company, Inc.
1110 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite C-12
Washington, DC 20005
UNITED STATES
+1.202.955.5667
chris@grouptourcompany.com
Committee Members:
Brian Butterworth
The Red Lion Inn
One Norman Rockwell's
Main Street
Stockbridge, MA 01262
UNITED STATES
+1.413.298.1604
bbutterworth@redlioninn.com
Charles de Gaspe Beaubien
Groupize
33 Commercial Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
UNITED STATES
+1.508.232.7719
charles@groupize.com
Greg Eckhart
Travel Oregon
670 Hawthorne Ave. SE, Suite 240
Salem, OR 97301
UNITED STATES
+1.503.378.8851
greg@traveloregon.com
Tracie Wingo
Globus Family of Brands
5301 S. Federal Circle
Littleton, CO 80123
UNITED STATES
+1.303.703.7338
twingo@globusfamily.com
NTA/UMA Travel Exchange Task Force
The NTA/UMA Travel Exchange Task Force will include three members from NTA, three members from UMA and a chair who belongs to both organizations. The appointments will be for a two-year term (beginning in 2011) with the purpose of providing industry perspective and guiding the associations in creating and producing the first integrated Convention and Expo in Orlando in 2013. The Task Force is charged with advising the boards and staff of NTA and UMA on combined activities that will mutually serve both organizations according to the guiding principles of the agreement.
Staff Liasions: Lee Carter and Karla DiNardo
Board Liasion:
Paul Nakamoto
Roaring Camp Railroads
P.O. Box G1
Felton, CA 95018 USA
+1.831.335.3509
pauln@roaringcamp.com
Chair:
Michael Neustadt
Coach Tours
475 Federal Rd
Brookfield, CT 06804-2046
UNITED STATES
+1.203.740.1118
michael@coachtour.com
Committee Members:
Luca Arioli
Intertravel
Via de Lamberti 39/41 r
Florence
ITALY
larioli@intertravelviggi.it
Audrey Bialas
Pennsylvania Dutch CVB
501 Greenfield Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
UNITED STATES
+1.717.735.1640
abialas@padutchcountry.com
Barb Bowman
Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau
740 Horizon Dr.
Grand Junction, CO 81506-8708
UNITED STATES
+1.970.244.1480
barbarab@gjcity.org
Wayne Chandler
Grand Ole Opry/Gaylord Attractions
2806 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
USA
+1.615.458.8373
wchandler@gaylordentertainment.com