As President and CEO, I report to the Board of Directors and am responsible for creating, planning, organizing, directing and implementing, through staff and direct involvement, strategies, promotions, policies, programs, marketing, and activities to ensure that Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish benefit economically from sports, conventions, tradeshows and leisure tourism business.

Work in conjunction with the CEO and Board of Directors to implement all CVB policies and procedures. Develops integrated programs to meet the goals and objectives of the CVB including marketing the destination to leisure, transient, tour and travel, conventions, groups, and sports initiatives.

The Louisiana Office of Tourism (LOT) is the destination marketing organization for the state of Louisiana. It is charged with the sales, marketing and promotion of the state as a travel destination for potential visitors, both domestic and international. LOT’s objective is to increase the number of visitors annually, enhance visitor experiences, generate and increase annual visitor spending resulting in greater tax revenues for local and state government, and increase tourism employment for all areas of the state. The Louisiana Office of Tourism works to promote a positive image of the state as a great place to visit, play, live, and retire.The Louisiana Office of Tourism promotes the economic growth of Louisiana through a variety of proven and effective methods. Partnerships with city/parish Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) provides a critical link in the successful marketing plan including the cooperative marketing program grants, opportunities with trade show participation, opportunities for campaign advertising, opportunities for participation in international sales/media missions, opportunities for media or tour operator familiarization tours, and sponsorships of major events in the local community. City/parish DMOs are the key stakeholders in LOT short term and long term objectives.Inspiring visitation to Louisiana requires LOT to invest in a 24/7 strategy that includes broadcast advertising, digital media placement, print advertising, content creation, social media interaction across multiple channels, and public relations outreach to media around the world. Investing in tourism promotion is essential to develop an image and brand that resonates with potential visitors.In today’s highly competitive global marketplace, Louisiana must be authentic, memorable, and live up to the expectations of the traveler in order to maintain relevancy and inspire future potential travelers to the state.

During my tenure as President/CEO, I have overseen the completion of a new state-of the-art visitor’s center and the development of the youth sports market in the area.I earned my Certified Destination Management Executive Certification (CDME) from Destination Marketing International Association, making me the first President and CEO in North Louisiana to do so. I was also the recipient of the “2010 Rising Star Award” presented the Southeast Tourism Society in Atlanta, Ga. During my time in Ruston, I served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association after having previously served as Secretary in 2010-11 and Treasurer in 2009-10. I was a member of the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus having served as Chair in 2009 and Vice Chair in 2008. In 2011, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Southeast Tourism Society and served on the Membership Committee of Destination Marketing International Association. Locally, I was the President of Rotary Club of Lincoln for the 2010-11 year and served on the Board of Directors of the Dixie Center for the Arts, the Lincoln Parish Exhibition Commission, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum Commission, and the Squire Creek Louisiana Peach Festival Steering Committee