Midwest Meetings | Staff Appointments News & Views

Latest Staff Appointments News & Views...

Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Brian Mulhall Director of Sales for Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Chicago

Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading US-based hospitality management company, has named Brian Mulhall director of sales forEaglewood Resort & Spa, located in Itasca, Illinois, near Chicago.  Charles Reese, Benchmark’s general manager for Eaglewood, made the announcement.
“I am very pleased to announce Brian’s promotion,” said Mr. Reece.  “He is a natural and successful leader, and we look forward to his continued success in our resort’s sales department.”
Brian Mulhall served previously as senior sales manager for Eaglewood Resort & Spa.  Prior to joining the property, he held the senior sales manager position at Affinia Chicago Hotel.  Mr. Mulhall has also served in sales manager positions for several other leading hotels in the Chicagoland area.
When not leading the resort’s sales team, Mulhall is actively involved in providing leadership for local community youth sports programs.  He, his wife and 3 young sons reside in Bartlett, Illinois.

Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center Names Head Executive Chef

Timothy Head has been named Executive Chef of the Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center located on the Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin Dells. In this position, he will be responsible for directing all kitchen operations for the food production of all catered events.
Prior to working for the Wilderness Territory, Head served as corporate executive chef with Hard Rock where he opened the first Hard Rock Branded theme park in the world at Myrtle Beach, SC. He was also an executive chef and traveling executive chef for Aramark with stops in Wake Forest, River Banks Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Baltimore Convention Center, Boston Convention Center, Reliant Park Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Glitter Gulch Hotels in Denali, Alaska and University of West Georgia, West Palm Beach Art Show and Biloxi Mississippi for Katrina Support.

Lisle CVB Appoints New Sales Manager

Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau (LCVB) is pleased to announce that Jay Allen has joined the LCVB team as the SMERF (Social, Military, Education, Religious, & Fraternal) and sports sales manager. Allen replaces Larry Slade, who has retired from the bureau after 16 years. Full story...

General Manager Appointed for Courtyard by Marriott Fort Wayne Downtown

With an extensive background in the hospitality industry, Dale Nysetvold has joined the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Wayne Downtown as the general manager. This is the third White Lodging managed property at which Nysetvold has been posted. Prior to the move to Fort Wayne, Nysetvold was the director of rooms operations at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. Full story...

Director of Sales Appointed at Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile

Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. announced the appointment of Gina Danze as director of sales for the 357-guestroom Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile. The hotel is located in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, just steps to North Michigan Avenue shops and restaurants. It also offers 6,500 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space located on the first and 12th floors with spectacular views of Chicago's skyline. Full story...

Greenleaf Hospitality Promotes Katie Filter as Senior Sales Manager

Greenleaf Hospitality Group announced the promotion of Katie Filter to senior sales manager. Filter will take on the state association convention market to build the foundation of group rooms business at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamzoo, MI. Filter has been with Greenleaf Hospitality since 2009. Full story...

Main Street Port Clinton, OH Appoints Event Planner

The Main Street Port Clinton Board of Directors announces the appointment of Carolyn Rodenhauser, president of Pazzazz, LLC, as the Main Street Port Clinton event planner. She is working with committee members to coordinate this year’s Walleye Festival and working with the leadership of Main Street Port Clinton to develop and redesign existing and new downtown community events. Full story...

Amy Schneider Named Columbia, MO CVB Director

Amy Schneider

Amy Schneider, who has served as interim director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau since February, was chosen to lead the agency. Schneider was one of two finalists from a field of 71 applicants, the city said. She was up against Dan Lennon, vice president of marketing and public relations, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. Full story...

Mitchell CVB Director Resigning

Hannah Walters, director of the Mitchell CVB, is resigning after making the decision to relocate with her family to Aberdeen. Walters said leaving her position was a difficult decision to make. “My work here has been very rewarding to me,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed working in the community.” Full story...

MC² Chicago Division Hires Three

MC², a nationally recognized and award-winning exhibit and event marketing company, has hired three new employees to join its Chicago office to support business development, design, and project management. Full story...

U.S. Travel Promotes Geoff Freeman

Geoff Freeman

Geoff Freeman has been promoted to executive vice president and COO of the U.S. Travel Association. It marks the second promotion this year for Freeman; earlier, he was promoted to executive vice president. Also, Blain Rethmeier will join U.S. Travel as senior vice president of public affairs. Full story...

New Director of Sales and Marketing at JW Marriott in Indianapolis

Long-time White Lodging associate Anne Dunlavy has been promoted to the director of sales and marketing position at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. Previously, she served as the director of group sales at the same property and was part of the pre-opening sales team. Full story...

Lisle, IL CVB Hires New Director of Sales

The Lisle CVB introduces Robin Friday as its new director of sales, managing the organization’s sales and marketing efforts bringing meetings and events to Lisle. In addition to overseeing the sales staff, she will analyze the ever-evolving meetings market and work closely with Lisle hotels. Full story...

New Leader for Aurora, IL Area CVB

The Aurora Area CVB hired Chris Hamilton as its new executive director effective August 24. Hamilton served as the executive director of the Lebanon, KY Tourist and Convention Commission since 2005, winning awards and accolades. Hamilton replaces AACVB’s long-time CEO/President Sue Vos, who retired June 30. The CVB chose Hamilton from a pool of almost 190 nationwide applicants. Full story...

Lake of the Ozarks CVB Hires New Marketing Specialist

The Lake of the Ozarks CVB welcomes Jessica Belt as a marketing consultant. Belt’s outgoing personality, familiarity with the Lake Area, and sales knowledge has made her transition smoothly into this position. In 2006, she was awarded one of Jefferson City’s Top 40 under 40. She has worked with numerous businesses in the Lake of the Ozarks area as well as the Jefferson City area. She has also participated in Leads Club and has been a member through her past employers with numerous Chambers. Full story...

Diane Homolka, CDME Appointed Lisle, IL CVB Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau (LCVB) has recently announced the appointment of Diane Homolka as the organization's executive director. LCVB Chairman and Hilton Lisle General Manager Richard Brink praised Homolka for her stewardship during the six months she served as interim CVB executive director. Prior to gaining the top post, Homolka was the CVB’s marketing and communications manager. In her 11 years with the CVB, Homolka also held the business manager and bureau services manager positions. Full story...

Overland Park CVB Promotes Garton to Director

The Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau (OPCVB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Amy Garton to Director of Interactive Solutions. Garton has served as Interactive Marketing Manager for nearly five years. Full story...

Junior Tauvaa Appointed MPI Vice President

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced that Junior Tauvaa has accepted the role of vice president, sales and marketplace. Tauvaa, previously the vice president of membership and chapter business management, will now be responsible for the creation and delivery of business value and providing solutions that connect buyers and suppliers within the global meetings industry marketplace. Full story...

Greater Lansing CVB Hires VP of Regional Partnerships

The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is pleased to announce it has hired Gus Pine, CTA, as the organizations first Vice President of Regional Partnerships.

Holding a B.A. from the University of Virginia, Pine was most recently with the Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol where he spent six years total, three as General Manager for the property. Previous to that Pine held various management positions from 1996 to 2005 with the Marietta Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia. His role with the GLCVB will be to work as a liaison between the Bureau and regional meeting facilities to strengthen communication and strategic planning for continued growth for the local meetings and event industry. Pine’s first project will be to work with the Lansing Center to better align the 120,000 square foot convention center with groups befitting its size and location.

Greater Madison CVB Welcomes New Director of Sales

The Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), the region's destination management organization, is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Waxler-Ramsey as the new director of sales for the bureau. Full story...

Greater Licking County CVB Adds Sales and Marketing Manager

The Greater Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau in Heath, OH announced Tuesday it has hired Ron Bower as its new marketing and sales manager. Bower, who most recently had been employed by Dispatch Consumer Services as a marketing representative, also worked as marketing coordinator for Easton Roofing. Full story...

VISIT Milwaukee Hires Director of Development

Meg McKenna has been named director of development for VISIT Milwaukee. Most recently, McKenna served as executive director for the Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce since Jan. 2010. During her tenure, McKenna built strong relationships, and created new programs that resulted in a 33 percent growth in 2010 and 2011. Full story...

Amy Grayson Appointed Director of Sales at Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Amy Grayson, a familiar face at the Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, has been promoted to the director of sales position at the hotel. "I am thrilled to accept this new position and want to thank White Lodging for giving me this opportunity," Grayson said. Prior to being named the director of sales, Grayson was a senior account executive at the hotel, a position she's held since 2008. Full story...

Springfield, MO CVB Adds Three to Staff

The Springfield CVB recently added three new people to its staff. Jane Rips and Dustin Burke joined the CVB as partner development managers and Katie McBride is the new sales department administrative assistant. Rips and Burke joined the marketing department and are responsible for advertising sales in bureau publications and on its website. Full story...

CVB Director Named for Pittsburg, KS

BJ Harris has been named the next director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The announcement was made Wednesday by CVB board president LaWana Esch. “I’m extremely excited to be able to serve the communities of Crawford County,” Harris said in a statement. “I strongly believe in everything we have to offer and I look forward to sharing those assets with the rest of the region.” Full story...

Wilson, Winkler Join Jefferson City, MO CVB

Two new staff members will help the Jefferson City CVB continue to serve as the primary liaison between the Capital City and thousands of annual visitors. Jefferson City natives Ryan Winkler and Chris Wilson have been hired as the communications manager and the sports/film sales manager, respectively. Full story...

Logan County Area Chamber Announces New Director of Convention and Tourism

The Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes Nicole Cotterman as its new director of convention and tourism. Nicole brings with her over eight years of experience in the marketing and sales industry, and for the past three years has served as an admissions counselor at Urbana University. She has also served as the Marketing/Admissions Director for Heartland of Bellefontaine. Full story...

Skyline Exhibits Hires New VP, New Director

Skyline Exhibits recently added two new employees to its corporate headquarters. Tim Brengman joins Skyline Exhibits as the Vice President of Operations and Elaine Prickel is the company's new Director of Human Resources. The two new employees bring a wealth of experience to Skyline Exhibits. Full story...

Chicago Southland CVB Announces New Public Relations Manager

The Chicago Southland CVB announced that Scott Bort, of Griffith, IN, will become the new public relations manager for the bureau. Bort replaces Bob Lukens who is leaving to become the Muskegon County, MI, community development director. Full story...

Wade Thompson Joins Embassy Suites St. Louis - Downtown

Hilton Worldwide today announced that Wade Thompson has joined the company as director of sales and marketing for the new Embassy Suites St. Louis - Downtown, scheduled for completion in the fall. In his new role, Thompson will have oversight of all marketing, sales and preopening activities for the 212-suite hotel located in the historic Laurel Building adjacent to the America’s Center Convention Center in Downtown St. Louis. Full story...

Long-Time Norfolk, NE Resident Named Director of Visitor's Bureau

A long-time Norfolk, NE resident has been named as the community's new face of tourism. The Norfolk Area Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors announced Friday that Kim Kwapnioski will take over for Brook Kreder, who announced her resignation as director last month. Full story...

Traverse City CVB Official Takes Job in Flint, MI

A top marketing official at the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau is headed to Flint. The Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau hired Jack Schripsema of Traverse City as its new president. Schripsema worked as vice president of sales and marketing at the Traverse City CVB and his last day there is today. Full story...

ALHI’s Kevin Hinton Named Executive VP of ALHI’s New Global Solution

Kevin M. Hinton, executive vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) and chairman-elect of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), has also been named executive vice president of ALHI’s new global solution Associated Destinations Worldwide (ADW), which will launch later this year. ADW will be the new Global Sales arm, built upon ALHI’s 25 years of National Sales experience, to specifically promote member destinations, hotels, and convention facilities to U.S. and Canadian corporate and association executives and meeting professionals. Full story...

New Marietta-Washington County CVB Lineup Brings Fresh Ideas to Tourism Industry

Change is a good thing for the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, according to new director Jeri Knowlton. The bureau has a new staff, a new website coming online soon, and a new look for its offices. Full story...

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club Hires Justine Alexander

The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club announces the recent addition of Justine Alexander as corporate sales manager. Alexander brings 15 years of hospitality experience in the Midwest, most recently as the director of sales at the Holiday Inn Madison at the American Center. She was nominated for the 2009 ATHENA Award, currently sits on the board of the Madison Chapter of Hope Worldwide and volunteers at the YWCA of Dane County. She is an active member of MPI and Wisconsin Business Travel Association. Full story...