These forty tourism professionals, the industry's most promising young leaders, all under the age of 40, have been selected as demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities and are contributing to a significant future for the travel and tourism industry in the United States. These are the individuals making their mark in convention and visitors bureaus, destination management organizations, lodging, transportation, education and partners of tourism.
Mark your calendars for October 31-November 2 when we will gather all Forty for the Future honorees for personal recognition and celebration during a special presentation at the Southeast Tourism Society Fall Forum in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We hope you will join us in congratulating each of these accomplished leaders and will also join us in Virginia Beach this fall.
| First Name |
Last Name |
Title |
Organization |
City |
State |
| Brandi |
Quick |
Assistant Director |
Von Braun Center |
Huntsville |
AL |
| Kimberly |
Boyle |
Assistant Professor |
The University of Alabama |
Tuscaloosa |
AL |
| Lori |
Boger |
Communications Director/Ingalls Event Coordinator |
Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau |
Decatur |
AL |
| Don |
Dukemineer |
Convention Sales Manager |
Huntsville/Madison County CVB |
Huntsville |
AL |
| Christine |
Elmore |
Tourism Director |
Visit Enterprise/Enterprise Chamber of Commerce |
Enterprise |
AL |
| Kay |
Donaldson |
VP of Marketing and Program Director |
Alabama Mountain Lakes & Al. Bass Trail |
Decatur |
AL |
| Joshua |
Townsend |
Director of State and National Accounts |
Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau |
Little Rock |
AR |
| Scott |
Schneider |
President/CEO |
Visit Mendocino County, Inc |
Fort Bragg |
CA |
| Dana |
Brown |
Marketing & Research Coordinator |
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau |
Panama City Beach |
FL |
| Kris |
Keprios |
Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager |
Central Florida VCB |
Auburndale |
FL |
| Katie |
Brenckle |
Executive Director |
Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody |
Dunwoody |
GA |
| Wendy |
Thomas |
Executive Director |
Southeast Festivals and Events Association |
Atlanta |
GA |
| Shelly |
Clark |
Interim Executive Director |
Columbia County Convention and Visitor's Bureau |
Evans |
GA |
| Monica |
Smith |
President & CEO |
Macon-Bibb County CVB |
Macon |
GA |
| Jay |
Markwalter |
Tourism Director |
Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce |
Dahlonega |
GA |
| Peggy |
Seigler |
Vice President of Sales and Marketing |
Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Augusta |
GA |
| Jason |
Swanson |
Assistant Professor |
University of Kentucky |
Lexington |
KY |
| Anisha |
Patel |
General Manager |
Sleep Inn & Suites |
Shepherdsville |
KY |
| Katherine |
Frassinelli |
Marketing and Communications Manager |
National Corvette Museum |
Bowling Green |
KY |
| Angie |
Manning |
Communications Director |
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB |
Lake Charles |
LA |
| Melody |
Alijani |
Director of Research and Development |
Louisiana Office of Tourism |
Baton Rouge |
LA |
| Jesse |
Lambert |
Marketing and Sales Director |
Homas House Plantation |
Darrow |
LA |
| Timothy |
Bush |
Vice President of Sales and Marketing |
Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Ruston |
LA |
| Selah |
Havard |
Director of Sales |
Natchez CVB |
Natchez |
MS |
| Mary-Kathryn |
Herrington |
Director of Tourism |
Oxford CVB |
Oxford |
MS |
| Neal |
McCoy |
Executive Director |
Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Tupelo |
MS |
| Stephanie |
McKinney |
Executive Director |
Holly Springs Tourism & Recreation Bureau |
Holly Springs |
MS |
| Alex |
Thomas |
Music Development Program Manager |
Mississippi Development Authority |
Jackson |
MS |
| James |
Meacham |
Chief Executive Officer |
Rowan County Tourism Development Authority |
Salisbury |
NC |
| Jesse |
Pope |
Director of Education and Natural Resources |
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation |
Linville |
NC |
| Angela |
Brady |
Director of Tourism |
Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Fayetteville |
NC |
| Michael |
Bonoffski |
Senior VP of Marketing and Communications |
Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Concord |
NC |
| Phil |
Shirley |
Director of Oconee County PRT |
Oconee County PRT |
Walhalla |
SC |
| Michael |
Tall |
President and COO |
Charlestowne Hotels, INC |
Mount Pleasant |
SC |
| Jennifer |
Littlejohn |
Director of Marketing |
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development |
Nashville |
TN |
| Katy |
Brown |
President |
Oak Ridge Convention & Visitors Bureau |
Oak Ridge |
TN |
| Amy |
Zientek |
Director of Sales |
Visit Lubbock |
Lubbock |
TX |
| Katherine |
O'Donnell |
Director of Marketing |
Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Richmond |
VA |
| Randall |
Rose |
Partnership Marketing Development Specialist |
Virginia Tourism Authority (Corporation) |
Bluefield |
VA |
| Kara |
Dense |
Executive Director |
Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Lewisburg |
WV |
