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
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![Timothy Bush]()
Timothy Bush
Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Lake Charles
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![Fred Dixon]()
Fred Dixon
President and CEO, Brand USA
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.
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6:30 pm Chart House
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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(Part 1 of 2) Effective advocacy communication relies on telling a compelling story. Learn about the elements of and best practices for crafting an effective and powerful story that helps make a connection with and influence the audience (policymakers). Attending this session is recommended if you are planning to attend Wednesday’s session, From Idea to Action: Test and Hone Your Advocacy Story (Part 2 of 2)
Anne DarConte, Senior Advisor, HillStaffer
Location:
MIXER
11:30 am - 12:15 pm
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Join us for an opportunity to meet other new members and attendees and learn about how to make the most of your STS membership. All attendees are welcome to attend this networking event.
All attendees are welcome to attend this networking event.
Location:
12:30 pm - 2:15 pm
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Welcome:
Location:
Followed by dessert
Location: Trade Show Exhibit Area
GENERAL SESSION
ONE
2:30 pm - 3:45 pm
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2:30p - 3:45p
Chris Ihrig, Chief Engagement Officer, FiredUp! Culture
Location:
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: Visit Lake Charles & Louisiana Office of Tourism
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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Gain insights into AI's transformative potential, understand measurable impacts like time savings and enhanced results, explore common barriers including security, hallucinations, and governance. Learn the POINT methodology for optimizing generative AI, witness live demonstrations of effective prompt crafting, and discover practical applications in HR, social media, and visual content creation
Todd Brooks, Founder & CEO, Envisionit
Location:
10:15 am – 10:45 am Vendor Trade Show and 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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Anya Turpin
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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Emily Gonzalez
Location:
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In this interactive session, we will start with a quick review of the highlights of the Storytelling for Advocacy session from Tuesday’s agenda. Then all attendees will work the steps for creating their story, while roaming “coaches” would be there for support and advice. Last, we would have some attendees share their story with the group, while the coaches provide constructive feedback. Anne DarConte, Senior Advisor, 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 Vendor Trade Show and Coffee 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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Dive into travel and tourism's brightest minds! Join your fellow STS members for a session brimming with inspiration. Get a sneak peek at the ingenious marketing campaigns submitted for the 2025 Shining Example Awards. Hear directly from your peers as they unveil the secrets behind their award-worthy creations – campaigns that are making a real difference in their communities. Then, attend the Shining Example Awards dinner to find out if any of the presentations spotlighted are winners.
Timothy Bush, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Lake Charles
Location:
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TBD, Smith Travel Research
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:
Joseph St. Germain, President, Downs & St. Germain Research
Soyoung Park, Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic UniversityStephen 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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Acknowledgment of 9/11
Location:
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
9:00 am - 10:30 am
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Fred Dixon, President and CEO of Brand USA
Location:
2026 Connections Location Announcement
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*Schedule subject to change