Connections Schedule
September 8-11, 2025
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Our Speakers
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![Todd Brook]()
Todd Brook
Founder & CEO, Envisionit
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![Chris Ihrig]()
Chris Ihrig
Chris Ihrig, Chairman and CEO, Fired Up! Culture
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Meg Winchester CDME, CMP
Vice President, SE Regional Director, Fired Up! Culture
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![Tammy Sargent]()
Tammy Sargent
Senior Advisor, Talent & Human Capital Solutions, Fired Up! Culture
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Ann Edelman
Vice President of Public Relations, Zehnder Communications
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![Ashton English]()
Ashton English
Tourism Data Specialist at Visit North Carolina
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![Fallon Tullier]()
Fallon Tullier
Research and Technology Manager, Visit Baton Rouge
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![Jonathan Smith]()
Jonathan Smith
Director of Research,
VisitGreenvilleSC -
![Dede Haggerty]()
Dede Haggerty
Market Intelligence Specialist, Visit St Pete-Clearwater
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![Joseph St Germain, PhD.]()
Joseph ST Germain, PhD.
President, Downs & St. Germain Research
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![Soyoung Park]()
Soyoung Park
Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Daily Schedule
Monday, September 8, 2025
Pre-Conference
Meetings
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9:00 am - 11:00 am: Executive Committee Meeting
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Board of Directors Meeting.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration
NETWORKING
8:00 am - Noon
MORNING ACTIVITIES
9:00 am - Noon
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Location:
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Southeast Tourism Society Service Providers and Partners are invited to join the STS staff for coffee, pastries, and insights from President & CEO, Monica Smith, on the STS membership. Information regarding the latest membership and event updates will be provided, followed by a Q&A session.
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Location -
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Location:
MIXER
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
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Are you attending Connections for the first time? Join us for an opportunity to meet other new members and first-time attendees for an overview of STS and learn about how to make the most of your STS membership.
All attendees are welcome to attend this networking event.
Location:
12:30 pm - 2:15 pm
GENERAL SESSION
ONE
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm
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2:30p - 3:45p
Chris Ihrig, Chief Engagement Officer, FiredUp! Culture
Breakout Sessions
SESSION ONE
Breakouts
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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Crisis Communication. It’s critical for tourism organizations to prepare for the broadest range of potential crises. Crisis communications is essential for the large crisis - a natural disaster, terrorist act, wildlife attack and to prepare for others including crime, diversity issues, legislative and political impacts, illegal behavior and more.
Ann Edelman, VP of PR/Crisis Communications, Zehnder
Location:
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Moderator: Deborah Stone, President, Pineapple Public Relations
Location:
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Moderator: Shannon Gray, CEO/Founder, Gray Research Solutions
Panelists:
Ashton English, Research Data Specialist, Visit NC
Fallon Gerald Tullier, Research & Technology Manager, Visit Baton Rouge
Ashley Woitena, President & CEO VisitColumbusGALocation:
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Sponsored by:
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration
BREAKFASTS
8:00 am - 9:00 am
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Location:
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Location:
GENERAL SESSION
TWO
9:00 am - 10:15 am
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Breaking the Chains: AI Empowerment in Your Organization;
Todd Brooks, Founder & CEO, Envisionit
Location:
10:15 am – 10:45 am Coffee Break
Breakout Sessions
SESSION TWO BREAKOUTS
11:00 am - Noon
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Tammy Sargent, Senior Advisor, Talent & Human Capital Solutions, FiredUp! Culture
Location:
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Location:
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Location:
LUNCH
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
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Join us for our Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Directors, where we will review the past year's accomplishments, discuss plans for the upcoming year, and elect new officers to lead our organization.
All conference attendees are invited to attend.
Location:
Breakout Sessions
SESSION THREE BREAKOUTS
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
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Location:
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Hillstaffer
Location:
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Moderator: Chris Cavanaugh, President, Magellan Strategy Group
Panelists:
Jonathan Smith, Director of Research, Visit Greenville SC
Dede Haggerty, Market Intelligence Specialist, Visit St. Pete-ClearwaterLocation:
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Networking Break
Breakout Sessions
SESSION FOUR BREAKOUTS
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Meg Winchester, VP, SE Regional Director, FiredUp! Culture
Tammy Sargent, Senior Advisor Talent & Human Capital Solutions, FiredUp! CultureLocation:
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Moderator: Jennifer Bowen, Destination Augusta
Location:
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Location:
GENERAL SESSION
THREE
4:15 - 5:15 pm
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Moderators:
Joseph St. Germain, President, Downs & St. Germain Research
Soyoung Park, Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic UniversityPanelists:
Stephen Hightower, Food & Beverage Director, The University Club of Baton Rouge
[Industry association]Location:
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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An industry fixture since 1985, The STS Shining Example Awards recognizes 13 individuals or organizations in 10 categories for their outstanding contributions to travel and tourism in the Southeast United States.
Location:
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am
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Location:
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
9:00 am - 10:30 am
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Location:
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*Schedule subject to change