Justin Kerns Email & Phone Number

Winchester, Virginia

Northridge, California

Part-time tourism lecturer in the Department of Recreation and Tourism Management.

Boydton, Va

Work closely with town managers, council members, mayors, business leaders, state parks, Virginia Tourism and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a strong county-wide tourism brand, create buy-in from local businesses, increase local pride and involvement in the community, and ultimately increase the quality of life in all towns in Mecklenburg County (Boydton, Brodnax, Chase City, Clarksville and South Hill).Solely created and implemented the Tourism Ambassador training program… Show more Work closely with town managers, council members, mayors, business leaders, state parks, Virginia Tourism and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a strong county-wide tourism brand, create buy-in from local businesses, increase local pride and involvement in the community, and ultimately increase the quality of life in all towns in Mecklenburg County (Boydton, Brodnax, Chase City, Clarksville and South Hill).Solely created and implemented the Tourism Ambassador training program to train local business owners and managers on the many hidden assets in Mecklenburg, introduce them to some basic tourism industry information and strategies, and teach them how to answer the common question "What is there to do around here?" Designed as a semi-annual program, with participants who successfully pass the program to receive Tourism Ambassador window-clings and advertising perks.Very active in assisting local businesses to increase their online presence, offering free advising on Facebook, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google Maps, and other resources in an attempt to bring Mecklenburg to life on the digital landscape.Elected in September 2013 to be vice-chair of the regional destination marketing organization Virginia's Retreat, a collaboration of 11 counties and 1 city.Spearheaded a regional water trail marketing collaboration in September 2013 between Halifax and Mecklenburg counties. Active stakeholders now include the Town and County of Halifax (VA), Halifax/South Boston Tourism Office, Mecklenburg County Tourism Office (VA), Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), Virginia State Parks, Upper Reach / Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and private businesses. Involved closely in successful grant applications for this initiative, RFP and procurement for branding/website design, and ad design and strategic marketing strategy. Show less

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Drive creative development of product related sales and marketing materials for use by sales managers, passengers, and agency clients• Work directly with Senior Vice President of Revenue Management on international sales, marketing, chartering, and profit management• Establish and maintain international sales clients (travel agencies) around the world• Collaborate with sales and marketing departments to design and proof materials used by sales managers and clients (sales… Show more • Drive creative development of product related sales and marketing materials for use by sales managers, passengers, and agency clients• Work directly with Senior Vice President of Revenue Management on international sales, marketing, chartering, and profit management• Establish and maintain international sales clients (travel agencies) around the world• Collaborate with sales and marketing departments to design and proof materials used by sales managers and clients (sales brochures, flyers, email blasts, etc.)• Summarize then analyze customer survey responses from numerous sources, then report analysis and suggestions to management for improvement of our product• Maintain numerous complex Excel spreadsheets pertaining to product and revenue, and establish new sheets to improve efficiency of data workflow• Prepare and maintain accurate reports and spreadsheets, charter contracts, preferred sales agreements and other documents and maintain up to date files and accurate lists of customer and vendor contacts.• Create and distribute charter contracts for travel partners in 43 countries worldwide• Awarded "Employee of the Quarter" for the first full quarter of employment Show less

Woodland Hills, Ca

• Establishes and nurtures relationships with local and regional governments, and works directly with city managers and council members in tourism research, planning and strategy• Analyzes community assets in regards to existing and potential tourism benefits• Establishes stakeholder groups and initiates contact in communities with populations from 10,000 to 200,000• Sub-contracts work from tourism professionals to assist with surveys, focus groups, and marketing/ad… Show more • Establishes and nurtures relationships with local and regional governments, and works directly with city managers and council members in tourism research, planning and strategy• Analyzes community assets in regards to existing and potential tourism benefits• Establishes stakeholder groups and initiates contact in communities with populations from 10,000 to 200,000• Sub-contracts work from tourism professionals to assist with surveys, focus groups, and marketing/ad creation• Analyzes qualitative and quantitative data and uses the results to offer realistic solutions and recommendations to city and business officials• Creates and completes official reports of findings and recommendations, and presents said reports to officials, stakeholders, and public meetings• Creates travel agendas for myself and my contractors including air, hotel, and applicable per-diems for travel related to contracts and to/from industry conferences• Has excellent negotiation and communication skills with government and business officials Show less

Killington, Vt

• Created a sustainable tourism course for undergraduate seniors from the ground up• Created dynamic lesson plans and activities such as situational strategy games that broadened students’ awareness of the broad impact of tourism on a community• Educated students on the politics and dangers of tourism such as overdevelopment and possible hidden agendas, as well as strategies to address these topics• Reached out to tourism professionals on the regional and state level and fostered… Show more • Created a sustainable tourism course for undergraduate seniors from the ground up• Created dynamic lesson plans and activities such as situational strategy games that broadened students’ awareness of the broad impact of tourism on a community• Educated students on the politics and dangers of tourism such as overdevelopment and possible hidden agendas, as well as strategies to address these topics• Reached out to tourism professionals on the regional and state level and fostered these to encourage guest lecture spots and networking opportunities for students• Broadened students’ understanding of tourism on both the micro and macro scale, and made them aware of how the various business and government mechanisms work together to create a tourism product• Examined local, state, and national policies affecting the tourism industry• Developed relationships with each student to understand their career goals in order to dynamically alter the course to make it relevant and useful to the class as a whole Show less

Agoura Hills, Ca

• Developed a customized internship structure and goals to mutually benefit my graduate school requirements as well as the City’s need for extensive tourism feasibility research• Created from scratch the basis of a comprehensive four-stage research study to address the specific needs of the City, businesses and community of Agoura Hills• Implemented all aspects of the research study, including local and regional asset assessment, comparative regional study of existing tourism… Show more • Developed a customized internship structure and goals to mutually benefit my graduate school requirements as well as the City’s need for extensive tourism feasibility research• Created from scratch the basis of a comprehensive four-stage research study to address the specific needs of the City, businesses and community of Agoura Hills• Implemented all aspects of the research study, including local and regional asset assessment, comparative regional study of existing tourism destinations, stakeholder surveys, and infrastructure analysis• Created survey instruments for varying stakeholder groups, ensuring cross-survey compatibility of data findings while ensuring that each group’s unique needs were addressed• Created methods of implementing surveys, collecting data both physically and electronically• Analyzed and synthesized results of the study to offer creative yet realistic options for City officials to act on Show less

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Regularly planned meetings for 10 – 100 members, including coordinating with vendors and Director’s Guild officials to plan logistics for successful implementation• Continuously kept appraised of entertainment technologies (projection, exhibition, home and professional audio/video) and receive training on use and repair• Oversaw operations of three world-class screening rooms• Managed screenings, events, and parties for A-list Hollywood talent and Director’s Guild members on a… Show more • Regularly planned meetings for 10 – 100 members, including coordinating with vendors and Director’s Guild officials to plan logistics for successful implementation• Continuously kept appraised of entertainment technologies (projection, exhibition, home and professional audio/video) and receive training on use and repair• Oversaw operations of three world-class screening rooms• Managed screenings, events, and parties for A-list Hollywood talent and Director’s Guild members on a daily and weekly basis Show less

• Researched community assets to create a website that enhanced the attractiveness of the hotel• Dynamically expanded the website from a simple blog format to a professional looking site that encourages travel to the area, not just the hotel• Continually searched out and expanded collaborative relationships with corporate offices, festivals, sporting events, and any other source of revenue stream for the hotel• Co-created SEO optimization strategies with Sales Director to maximize… Show more • Researched community assets to create a website that enhanced the attractiveness of the hotel• Dynamically expanded the website from a simple blog format to a professional looking site that encourages travel to the area, not just the hotel• Continually searched out and expanded collaborative relationships with corporate offices, festivals, sporting events, and any other source of revenue stream for the hotel• Co-created SEO optimization strategies with Sales Director to maximize hotel’s website on Google, Yahoo, and Bing• Collaborated with other departments at the hotel to maximize the sharing of information and develop previously unexplored business relationships in the community• Regularly traveled throughout the region to cold-call businesses and create personal relationships with managers to in-turn create lasting business relationships Show less

• Took ownership of all of the details of a specific series of nation-wide motorcoach tours for in-bound international travelers• Took bookings directly from international tour reseller partners and managed individual passenger itineraries in the reservation system• Managed passenger manifest lists for each tour and reported daily to department head• Assisted in updating tour document updates to constantly provide passengers with current and relevant information for their tour… Show more • Took ownership of all of the details of a specific series of nation-wide motorcoach tours for in-bound international travelers• Took bookings directly from international tour reseller partners and managed individual passenger itineraries in the reservation system• Managed passenger manifest lists for each tour and reported daily to department head• Assisted in updating tour document updates to constantly provide passengers with current and relevant information for their tour packages, including attractions and optional packages• Worked directly with motorcoach tour guides before, during, and after tours to plan, address passenger concerns, and gather data• Created a physical file for each tour and manage paperwork which includes passenger manifests, costs, bus operators, tour guides, special language requirements, payment, and any issues that arise during the trip Show less

Supervised payroll and human resources responsibilities for over 250 staff in five regional offices, as well as over 100 more local tour guides in all 50 statesWorked directly under VP of Human Resources in an extremely fast paced and challenging office environmentPromoted to Motorcoach department, where I was placed in charge of the annual planning, booking, and operations of two regularly scheduled nation-wide motor coach tours

Worked at National Amusements theatres in Centreville, VA, Boston, MA, and Los Angeles, CA

Managed operations at several theatres, ranging in size from 3 to 16 houses. Lead management teams of up to 6 and employee teams of up to 120.

Ms, Sustainable Tourism Management

Activities and Societies: Vice President of the Recreation and Tourism Management Alumni Chapter. Master of Science Degree awarded.

Bs, Recreation And Tourism Management

Activities and Societies: President and co-founder of the Recreation Management Association Graduated with Honors in May 2009.

Associates, Business Administration And Management, General

Education record

Education record