December 11, 2008

Orlando CVB Elects New Members to 2009 Board of Directors

ORLANDO, Fla. –  Six new members were elected to serve on the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.’s (Orlando CVB) 2008 Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting today.   The six, Paul Mears III, Yolonda Londono, Stephen Weisz, Brian Paradis, Leslie Menichini and Kevin Healy,will join the existing members to serve the CVB membership on the 2009 board.

George Aguel, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has been selected to serve as Chair.  Aguel represents the Orlando CVB’s 1,400 members, leads the board’s Executive Committee, and presides over board actions to ensure that the mission and goals of the Orlando CVB are fulfilled. Mark McHugh, President & CEO of Gatorland, will serve on the Executive Committee as Past Chair.

The following have been nominated to serve with Aguel on the Executive Committee pending approval by the Board of Directors in January: 

Chair Elect:               Paul Tang, Vice President & Managing Director
                                    Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress 

Secretary:                  Louis Robbins, Area Vice President
                                    Hilton-Doubletree Hotels Florida 

Treasurer:                 Steve Jamieson, General Manager
                                    The Mall at Millenia

In addition, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s Director of Public Affairs, Carolyn Fennell, Ex-officio, and Universal Orlando Resort’s President & COO, Bill Davis, At-large, will serve on the Orlando CVB’s Executive Committee. The Orlando CVB’s President & CEO, Gary Sain rounds out the Executive Committee as a non-voting member. 

At-large directors include:                                                   

Bill Davis                    President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Orlando Resort
Leslie Menichini       Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Rosen Hotels and Resorts 

Elected directors include:

Manuel Casiano        Founder, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Casiano Communications Inc.
Randy Cook                Managing Partner, The Capital Grille
Joseph Couceiro      Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Busch Entertainment Corporation
Don Engfer                  Senior Vice President, Tishman Hotel Corporation              
Mark Ferland              General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Edward Gilbert           Chief Marketing Officer, Chisano Marketing Group        
Kevin Healy                 Senior Vice President of Marketing & Planning, AirTran Airways
C.T. Hsu                        Principal, C. T. Hsu International, Inc.
Yolonda Londoňo       Vice President Global Social Responsibility, Tupperware Brands Corporation
Margot Knight             President & Chief Executive Officer, United Arts of Central Florida
Paul Mears III              President, Mears Transportation Group & Hello Florida! Inc.
Brian Paradis              Chief Operating Officer, Florida Hospital
Ronald O. Rogers       President, Ronald O. Rogers & Associates
Alan Villaverde            Vice President/General Manager, The Peabody Orlando
Stephen Weisz            President, Marriott Vacation Club International 

Ex-Officio directors include:

Richard T. Crotty         Mayor, Orange County
Buddy Dyer                   Mayor, City of Orlando
Pat Engfer                     Chairman, Central Florida Partnership
Fred Leonhardt            Chairman, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
Rich Maladecki            President, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association
Carolyn Fennell            Director of Public Affairs, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Dr. Dan Holsenbeck    Vice President of University Relations, University of Central Florida
Jessie Allen                  General Manager, Orange County Convention Center 

The Orlando CVB is the official branding, sales and marketing organization for the Orlando area responsible for generating brand awareness, increasing travel to the area and booking conventions and meetings. For more information, visit orlandoinfo.com/cvb.