ESTO 2024 Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Mon, Aug 12

Tue, Aug 13

SPEAKER SESSION DATE & TIME
Aimee Gabel
SVP, Events and Education
U.S. Travel Association
Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Tapping into a People First Leadership Approach
Andrew Leary
Principal, Travel and Tourism Practice
Coraggio Group
Angela Westerfield
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Savannah
Brandy Evans
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Winston-Salem
Brian Ross
President and CEO
Experience Columbus
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Destination Development
Brianna Francis
Public Relations Director
Madden Media
Bryan Kinkade
VP Publisher
Afar Media
Camila Clark
SVP, Marketing and Communications
Visit Lauderdale
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Public Relations - DMOs
Chelsea Ruby
Tourism Secretary
West Virginia
Monday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The DMO Role in Workforce Development
Chenelle McGee
International & Group Sales Director
Kentucky Tourism
Chris Chiames
Chief Communications Officer
Carnival Cruise Line
Claude Molinari
President and CEO
Visit Detroit
Claudia Murtha
Content Creator
Visit Bucks County
Craig Trost
Communications Director
Travel Wisconsin
Dalaney Thomas
Director of Tourism
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
Daniel Mickelson
Chief, Sports Diplomacy
U.S. State Department
Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Score! Boosting Tourism Through Sports
Daniel Thomas
Deputy Director
Illinois Office of Tourism
David Chastain
VP of Travel and Tourism
Epsilon
Derek Price
Director of Business Development
Expedia Group Media Solutions
Devon Harris
Visitor Services Manager
South Carolina Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Diane Shober
Executive Director
Wyoming Office of Tourism
Dodie Stephens
Vice President of Marketing
Explore Asheville
Dr. Whitney Knollenberg
Associate Professor
NC State University
Monday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Making Data Decisions on a Shoestring Budget
Erin Francis-Cummings
President & CEO
Future Partners
Fallon Tullier
Research and Technology Manager
Visit Baton Rouge
Fred Dixon
President and CEO
Brand USA
Fred Walker
International Marketing Manager
North Dakota Tourism Division
Geoff Freeman
President and CEO
U.S. Travel Association
Gretchen Nussbaum
Research Analyst
Explore Minnesota
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Insights & Research
Heather Anderson
Director of International Tourism Administration
Travel Portland
Heather Ersts
Director of Tourism Development
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Destination Development
Jay Markwalter
Statewide Tourism Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development | Explore Georgia
Jeni Britton
Founder & Chief Brand Officer
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Monday, August 12 at 10:15 a.m.
Keynote: The Many Flavors of Ingenuity
Jennifer Walker
SVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Dallas
Jeremy Chase
Tourism & Marketing Administrator
Idaho Department of Commerce
Jeremy Jauncey
Founder and CEO
Beautiful Destinations
Jessica Holt
Director of Public Relations and International Tourism
Visit Raleigh
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Public Relations - DMOs
Jim Wollenburg
Global Partnerships Sr. Manager
Wyoming Office of Tourism
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Strategic Partnerships
John Oliver
Senior Director of Accounts, Hospitality Cloud
Cvent
Josh Coddington
Director of Communications & PIO
Arizona Office of Tourism
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Public Relations - States
Joshua Albrecht
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Milwaukee
Julie Gilbert
President and CEO
Destination Door County
Monday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The DMO Role in Workforce Development
Justin Charschan
Sr. Manager, Tourism & Ancillary Revenue
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Score! Boosting Tourism Through Sports
Katherine Lugar
Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Hilton
Kenny McDonald
President and CEO
Columbus Partnership
Kristin McClellan
Digital Marketing Manager
Visit Reno Tahoe
Kristin Tormey
Global Director, Social Media and Digital Engagement
Wendy's Corporation
Kyle Edmiston
President and CEO
Visit Lake Charles
Lauren Bennett McGinty
Executive Director
Explore Minnesota
Leah Chandler
Chief Marketing Officer
Discover Puerto Rico
Leroy Bridges
SVP, Sales – US Tourism
Adara, A RateGain Company
Lisa Itel
Director of Global Strategic Partnerships
Travel Oregon
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Strategic Partnerships
Margaux Helm
Marketing Manager, Meetings
Visit Seattle
Marisa Rodgers
Director of Marketing
Visit Macon
Mark Romig
Chief Marketing Officer
New Orleans & Company
Matt Clement
Managing Partner
Madden Media
Michael Rudowski
VP of Research and Insights
Visit Dallas
Monday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Making Data Decisions on a Shoestring Budget
Michelle Thana
Director of Marketing
State of Washington Tourism
Mike Gussiaas
Chief Marketing & Creative Officer
Travel South Dakota
Mike Mangeot
Commissioner
Kentucky Department of Tourism
Naomi Hattori
Vice President, Tourism & Global Development
Choose Chicago
Nate Huff
SVP
Miles Partnership & Tourism Exchange USA
Nate Kelley
Director of Research
San Diego Tourism Authority
Monday, August 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The DMO Role in Workforce Development
Nerissa Okiye
Director
Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing
Nicole Porter
Vice President, Political Affairs
U.S. Travel Association
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Community Relations/Advocacy
Pamela Knowles
Director, Brand & Content Strategy
Visit Savannah
Pete Rosenboro
Assistant Commisioner
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Phil Rist
Co-founder and EVP of Strategy
Prosper Insights & Analytics
Rafael Villanueva
CEO
Travel Nevada
Raquel "Rocky" Dufauchard
Director of National Accounts
New Orleans & Company
Robin McClain
Chief Marketing Officer
Destination DC
Monday, August 12 at 10:15 a.m.
Keynote: The Many Flavors of Ingenuity
Ross Borden
CEO
Matador Network
Sally Hogshead
Founder and CEO
Fascinate®
Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Tapping into a People First Leadership Approach
Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 a.m.
Keynote: Different is Better Than Better
Sarah Leonard
CEO, Chief Destination Stewardship Officer
Visit Longmont
Sarah Townes
Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer
Experience Columbus
Sekou Andrews
CEO/ Founder
SekouWorld, Inc.
Monday, August 12 at 9:15 a.m.
Opening Keynote: The NEXT, Next Level
Shane Brossard
Chief Marketing Officer
Travel Wisconsin
Shannon Jones
Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Experience Columbus
Sherry Rupert
CEO
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA)
Staci Hallmon
Chief Business Architect
SHBe Group
Staci Mellman
Chief Marketing Officer
Brand USA
Stan Smith
Senior Director, Marketing
Visit Detroit
Tameka Jefferson
Community Relations Manager
Visit Richmond
Ted Sullivan
Chief Marketing Officer
Zartico
Tim Brady
President & CEO
Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Timothy Bush
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Lake Charles
Todd Davidson
CEO
Travel Oregon
Todd O'Leary
President & CEO
Visit Alexandria
Todd Skelton
Associate Director of Destination Media, Americas
TripAdvisor
Tori Barnes
EVP, Public Affairs and Policy
U.S. Travel Association
Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Score! Boosting Tourism Through Sports
Tyler Gosnell
Chief Brand and Marketing Officer
Visit Salt Lake
Veda Gilbert
PR Manager
Visit North Carolina
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Public Relations - States
Victoria Gregg
Research Director
New Mexico Tourism Department
Sunday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Peer Open Forum: Insights & Research
Walt Leger III
President and CEO
New Orleans & Company
Wendy Olson Killion
Founder
Wendy OK Consulting
Sunday, August 11 at 4:15 p.m.
Creative Session: Dare to Share
Yohannan "Yogi" Terrell
CEO & Director
Warhol & Wall St. and Columbus Fashion Alliance
Zeek Coleman
Vice President, Americas
Tourism Economics