Eric David is a Decorated Combat Veteran with a proven track record of leading teams to mission success both in the military and the civilian world. Born and raised in Laurinburg, North Carolina, Eric enlisted in the United States Marine Reserves to explore the world and fund his college education.Two weeks into freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Eric's path took a dramatic turn after the events of September 11, 2001. In preparation for deployment, he withdrew from UNCG and began working part-time at RadioShack, where he quickly became a top performer. His military service included two deployments to the Middle East (2003 and 2005), where he earned numerous service awards.Between deployments, Eric continued to shine at RadioShack, as he advanced into a store manager, and ultimately a district manager in Orlando, FL. His leadership transformed struggling districts into company leaders, earning recognition for fostering a high-performance culture.In 2011, Eric transitioned to Expedia Group, where he led the Orlando Local Expert division to break performance records and significantly expand the team. Under his leadership, the division grew its workforce, reduced turnover, and achieved numerous industry accolades. Eric's contributions were recognized with several industry awards, including winning the prestigious, 30th Annual Gene T. Hassett Award.In 2015, Eric was promoted to lead the global expansion of Expedia Local Expert, launching operations in multiple international destinations and achieving substantial business growth. He later founded Global Travel and Tourism Consulting Group, providing strategic consulting services to small and mid-sized companies in the experiences segment of the travel industry.Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric joined Travel + Leisure Co to launch their flagship non-timeshare travel club Travel + Leisure Go, and later driving strategic partnerships and global rental sales. His efforts resulted in significant achievements, including a high-profile partnership with IBM’s The Weather Channel and becoming the official travel club of FC Barcelona.Throughout his career, Eric has consistently demonstrated his ability to turn challenges into opportunities, driving performance and brand reputation. His community involvement includes serving on the board of directors for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and previously held executive board positions with Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida, and the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.