During the annual meeting of the membership, Southeast Tourism Society approved its slate of members to the Executive Committee for a one-year term and the Board of Directors for a two-year term.
Marlo Dorsey, CEO of VisitHATTIESBURG, has been appointed as an at-large member to the regional board. “The STS Board of Directors are leaders within the travel and tourism industry, who we look to as the visionaries for our organization,” said Monica Smith, President and CEO, of Southeast Tourism Society. “The Board’s leadership provides valuable insight as STS continues to advocate for and support the tourism industry, particularly in regard to promoting travel to our 13 member states and Washington D.C. Each board member brings a unique skillset or expertise that will help us to continue enhancing professional development within our industry, and responsibly promote travel to our region.” STS is celebrating its 40th anniversary educating and advocating for tourism in the Southeast. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. "I'm deeply honored to join the STS board of directors. This regional tourism organization amplifies the Southeastern U.S.'s voice, sharing our industry's potential with policymakers and stakeholders," said Dorsey. "I look forward to learning best practices on a larger scale and serving our industry to the best of my abilities." Dorsey serves as the current President of the Mississippi Main Street Association, a past president of the Mississippi Tourism Association, and an executive board member for the Downtown Hattiesburg Association. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Mississippi Destination Marketing Association and serves on the advisory boards for both Visit Mississippi’s dedicated funding and the restart MS Covid-19 task force locally and statewide. The approved slate of officers and board of directors include: Karen Trevino, TMP, North Little Rock Tourism, and Robyn Bridges, Auburn-Opelika Tourism are the association’s Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Other members of the Executive Committee are Debbie Meihls, New Smyrna Beach CVB, Treasurer; Ben Berthelot, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Secretary; Shannon Gray, TMP, Gray Research Solutions, Marketing College® Provost; and Jill Kidder, Visit Baton Rouge, Immediate Past Chair. New additions to the Board are Destiny Oliver, TMP, Miles Partnership; Ian Centrone, Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing; Lisa Anders, Explore Gwinnett Tourism + Film; Brooke Jung, TMP, Visit Hopkinsville; Cody Gray, TMP, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism; Neal McCoy, City of Tupelo; Thomas Salley, Wilkesboro TDA; and Kimberly Davis, TMP, Friends of Southwest Virginia. Elected as Members at Large are Billy Dunlap, OneSpartanburg, Inc.; and Marlo Dorsey, VisitHATTIESBURG. Serving a second term are Kalene Griffith, Visit Bentonville; Kelly McWhorter, TMP, Discover Greenwood (SC); and Mary Blair, TMP, Designsensory. Reappointed to fill an unexpired term is Susan West, TMP, Arkansas Tech University.
