CEO, PRESIDENT, ORANGE COUNTY VISITORS ASSOCIATION
WHY: Former Marriott Hotels exec, leads the county’s tourism marketing efforts along with Jay Burress. Promotes international visitation from China, the Middle East. Co-Founder of Irvine-based Laguna Strategic Advisors, a consortium of independent business executives. Lecturer at UCI Paul Merage School of Business.
RECENT: As leader of all DMOs in Orange County, organization has led recovery efforts for hard-hit tourism sector.
NOTABLE: Partner investment in the tourism organization has grown from $270,000 in 2012 to $1.3 million in 2019. Helped create 2020 initiative to engage high school and community college students in tourism careers.
2020 HOBBY: “I have finished my book ‘Red Deception’ which the second book in the Red Hotel series, which will come out in June 2021. Currently I am working on the third book, ‘Red Chaos.’”
