curt cottle
Consultant
Curt Cottle is a consultant based in Columbia, South Carolina with more than 20 years experience in marketing and communications, as well as economic and community development. Areas of focus include planning, workshops and project management. Current clients include state tourism offices, heritage areas and communities interested in asset-based strategies for development. He recently has been working with a USAID project in northern Cyprus.

Before going out on his own in 2003, he was director of the Office of Heritage Tourism Development at the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. In that capacity, he was also the founding president of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, which his office managed under an agreement with the nonprofit board of directors. Before joining SCPRT in 1996, Curt was communications director for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, which he left to earn a management degree at Harvard.

todd t. hattori
ABC*
As the technology acquisition services manager for the State of Washington's Department of Information Services, Todd Hattori, ABC leads the hardware and software vendor negotiations, product leasing and brokering, and agency marketing to help customers use technology to improve service to citizens. As a professional communicator working in the technology arena, Todd is committed to reducing the fears and intimidation about technology; encouraging others to maintain awareness of new uses of technology; and providing pointers, insights, and best practices to help communicators deliver value to their employers and clients. For the past 16 years, he has provided communication leadership to government, not-for-profit, and private organizations, and was an associate professor for the College of Arts and Sciences at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Todd currently resides in Seattle, WA. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah in argumentation and negotiation, and a Master of Arts degree from Westminster College in technical writing.

* Accredited Business Communicator by the International Association of Business Communicators

Annie Heckenberger
Social Media Director, Greater Philadephia Tourism Marketing Corporation
Annie Heckenberger recently joined GPTMC in the new position of Social Media Director. In this capacity, she will be introducing and integrating new, multimedia vehicles that connect the Philadelphia brand and brand messages with consumers, beyond traditional print and broadcast media.

Annie brings more than 10 years of PR, Branding and Marketing agency experience with her to GPTMC. Her diverse background includes managing accounts and generating national publicity for beauty/lifestyle, consumer electronics, entertainment, fabric & homecare, fashion, fitness, food, hair care, healthcare, home video, law, office products, telecom and wireless clients. She previously founded an Emerging Media division for NYC PR agency Marina Maher Communications, called CoNEXTions. This new service area sought new ways for brands to reach consumers via both online and mobile applications.

Annie has a long and deep traditional media background with solid relationships at top-tier media outlets. Past clients include top Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Sara Lee and Schering Plough.

Annie is a graduate of Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, where she received a B.A., majoring in English and minoring in Political Science and Communications. She also attended London Guildhall University in London, England, while interning as a Research Assistant in the House of Commons, for Tory MP Piers Merchant.

JANICE MARSHALL
President & CEO of the Macon, Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Janice Marshall, President & CEO of the Macon, Georgia Convention & Visitors Bureau, is one of the most respected travel industry leaders in Georgia and the Southeast. She has shepherded the tourism industry in Macon, Georgia through decades of dynamic growth. Never one to shy away from change, Marshall has been a tireless crusader for research-based marketing and the development of Macon's culture and heritage as a sustainable base for the future of the travel industry. In addition, she has successfully partnered with regional CVB's in packaging local and regional tourism product including Georgia's Antebellum Trail, the first State-designated trail in Georgia.

Marshall's work in the industry has earned numerous awards including GA's Travel Industry Member of the Year, Governor's Award for Marketing Excellence, Governor's Award for Product Creation, and four Southeast Tourism Society Shining Example Awards.

JANICE MARSHALL
Assistant Heritage Program leader, US Forest Service
Jill Osborn is the Assistant Heritage Program leader for the US Forest Service. She has held that position in the Forest Service National Headquarters since 1991. Prior to that, she served as Forest Archaeologist on the Colville National Forest in Washington and the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon. Her degrees in anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics have led her in the direction of public archaeology. Jill's goal is to bridge the gap between scientists and the general public and to encourage responsible tourism that furthers historic preservation and resource stewardship.

robin pollard
Executive Director, Washington Wine Commission
Robin Pollard is the executive director of the Washington Wine Commission (WWC), the state organization representing nearly 700 wine grape growers and producers in Washington State. Pollard is responsible for directing local, national and international initiatives to promote Washington wine, including marketing, public relations, public affairs, member relations and export programs.

Previously, Pollard was the director of the Economic Development Division at the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). The division works in partnership with businesses and communities to attract, retain, expand, and support economic activity throughout the State of Washington.

Pollard has more than 15 years of experience in small business assistance, business development and tourism in the state of Washington, including serving as the State Tourism Director for six years. During her tenure as Tourism Director, the office achieved a 49 to one return on investment on its consumer marketing program which in turn supported the $10 billion tourism industry. She also co-chaired the first ever Wine Tourism Task Force which led to development of the “Wine Country” marketing initiative.

BARBARA STEINFELD
Vice President of Tourism Sales, Travel Portland, the CVB of Portland, Oregon
Barbara is the Vice President of Tourism Sales for Travel Portland, the CVB of Portland, Oregon. Until recently, she was the cultural tourism director there, the fourth one in the country to be hired by a visitors bureau. Barbara has a BA in anthropology from Northwestern University, 30 years of tourism marketing experience and an appreciation for all art forms. She moved to Portland in 1997 from Florida where she worked in international tourism for nine years, particularly in Latin America and Europe, with the Tampa Convention & Visitors Bureau. Previously Barbara was a development consultant in the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Tourism Division. Originally from Omaha, Barbara spent eight years in Israel where she worked as a tour guide, a community development officer for Save the Children and with turkeys. (Yes, the gobble, gobble kind!)

Barbara is a founding member and past chair of the Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance, a Certified Tour Professional of the National Tourism Association and happily serves on the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Association of America’s National Attractions Council and Destinations Council.

dan taylor
Economic Development Officer, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Dan Taylor is the Economic Development Officer for Prince Edward County, Ontario (a rural island paradise - 2 hours drive east of Toronto, on Lake Ontario). He has been in the position for the past 7 years. Prior to coming to 'The County' he spent 15 years honing his marketing skills at entrepreneurial and global advertising & marketing agencies, servicing fortune 500 companies such as Bell Canada, Hostess Frito-Lay, Unilever, MCA Universal, etc...

Dan grew up gourmet, is a foodie and has run winery tours as well as started up his own vineyard and winery, specializing in Pinot Noir, which he recently sold.

Dan married his love for food & drink with his marketing expertise to brand Prince Edward County as one of Canada's hottest new wine & culinary tourist regions. The recipe for success was one part chutzpah, two parts passion, a pinch of creativity and a dash of strategy.

As a result of significant community collaboration on economic development initiatives Prince Edward County won 6 major awards at the 2006 Economic Developers Council of Ontario conference including Best of Show/Lieutenant Governor's Award for Marketing Excellence in Ontario for the Taste Trail, Canada's first wine & culinary trail!

Alex t. Thomas
Heritage Trails Director, Mississippi Development Authority – Tourism Division
Alex Thomas is the Heritage Trails Director for the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), Division of Tourism. His main focus as Heritage Trails Director for the state’s tourism office is to promote the beauty of Mississippi’s history and distinctive culture through driving and walking trails. Alex’s ambition is to help tourists discover, enjoy and understand the past, present and future of Mississippi’s roots. He takes pride in his work and strives to help the citizens of Mississippi become aware of the beauty of nature found in their own backyards and to keep preservation of our historical landmarks and natural habitats a priority.

Alex presently oversees the development of the Mississippi Blues Trail, a project design to highlight over 130 historical blues sites throughout the state. He currently serves as Board Member of the Mississippi Humanities Council, Past-President of the Metro Jackson Attractions Association, Steering Committee Member of the Cultural Heritage Tourism Alliance, Board Member of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, and is an active member of the Mississippi Tourism Association, Mississippi Blues Commission, Mississippi Delta Tourism Association , Alabama/Mississippi Rural Tourism Conference Planning Committee, Southeast Tourism Society Membership Council, Natchez Trace Compact Executive Committee and recently appointed to the New Stage Theater Board of Directors - just to name a few.

Recent accomplishments include 2007 Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Professional, 2003 Southern Living Rising Star Award, Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification from Southeast Tourism Society and 2002 Recipient of Jackson Hometown Hero "Shining Example" Award.

berkeley w. young
President, Young Strategies, Inc.
Berkeley Young has twenty years of travel/tourism research, marketing, management and retail experience.

He has served as the Executive Director of a rural tourism development authority (CVB) and chamber of commerce in which he oversaw the creation and success of a start up research-based tourism marketing program. Then, Young was hired as Director of Sales and quickly promoted to General Manager of a large golf resort. Young joined Randall Travel Marketing, Inc. in 1998 as Director of Client Services and served as Vice President from 2000 to 2004.

In 2004 Young formed his own Charlotte, NC based company focusing on research and strategic planning for all aspects of the tourism industry. Young's firm continues to partner with Randall Travel Marketing and specializes in working with city and county governments in the development of local tourism infrastructure, branding and marketing. In the last nine years Young has worked with destinations in twenty-six states and is a popular speaker at regional and national conferences and conventions. Young is also a popular speaker at travel industry conferences.

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