G R E E N V I L L E C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R

M A R C H 1 9 - 2 1

G R E E N V I L L E , N C

2017

visitgreenvillenc.com . 800-537-5564

BBQ The North Carolina Barbecue Society Historic Barbecue Trail™ starts here in Pitt County! Legendary pit cooked Eastern NC style whole hog BBQ and many other great dining experiences abound.

BREW Breweries, tap rooms and bottle shops serve up happiness by the pint. Enjoy fi ne craft beers–local, regional and imported.

TAILGATING Greenville, NC, is home to East Carolina University. On fall Saturdays, ECU Pirates fans mix barbecue and football for traditional collegiate tailgating at its southern best. Cornhole, anyone?

WI-FI INFO

CONTENTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

Complimentary wireless is available throughout Greenville Convention Center.

Wireless network (SSID): VisitNC365Password: 2017visitnc

If you have any questions, please stop by the Visit NC 365 registration desk in the Greenville Convention Center concourse.

3

4 - 5

6 - 7

8 - 12

14 - 15

Welcome/Conference Information

Biographies & Sta�

Conference Sponsors

Conference Schedule

Speaker & Winners Circle Biographies

Share your experiences with us using the conference hashtag #VisitNC365.Follow our industry social media accounts for announcements and news.

@NCarolinaTourism

@NCTourismWE

LC

OM

E &

C

ON

FE

RE

NC

E I

NF

O

3

WELCOME & CONFERENCE INFO

visitgreenvillenc.com . 800-537-5564

BBQ The North Carolina Barbecue Society Historic Barbecue Trail™ starts here in Pitt County! Legendary pit cooked Eastern NC style whole hog BBQ and many other great dining experiences abound.

BREW Breweries, tap rooms and bottle shops serve up happiness by the pint. Enjoy fi ne craft beers–local, regional and imported.

TAILGATING Greenville, NC, is home to East Carolina University. On fall Saturdays, ECU Pirates fans mix barbecue and football for traditional collegiate tailgating at its southern best. Cornhole, anyone?

SECRETARY TONY COPELAND CHRISTOPHER CHUNG

North Carolina Department of Commerce

Tony Copeland became North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce in January 2017, named to the post by Governor Roy Cooper and marking a return to the agency for the experienced business executive.

Earlier in his career, Copeland served as an Assistant Commerce Secretary, leading the recruitment of nearly $12 billion in investment and the creation of nearly 100,000 jobs. In this capacity, he worked with numerous international companies in China, Japan, Europe, South Korea, and Israel, as well as a variety of domestic companies.

From 1992 to 2003, Copeland served as executive vice president, secretary, and general counsel of BTI, a competitive telecommunications company, where he led the senior executive team that secured $500 million in equity fi nancing, and planned, fi nanced, and installed more than 5,000 miles of fi ber optic cable in the Carolinas and along the eastern seaboard. A native of Hertford in the northeastern part of the state, Copeland is a graduate of Duke University and the Western Michigan University School of Law.

Economic Partnership of North Carolina

In 2015, Christopher Chung joined the new Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) as chief executive offi cer. The EDPNC is a public-private partnership performing a number of economic development functions on behalf of the state of North Carolina, including new business recruitment, existing business support, international trade and export assistance, small business counseling, and tourism marketing.

From 2007 to 2014, Chung served the Missouri Partnership as the public-private, nonprofi t corporation’s fi rst chief executive offi cer. In addition to having led the organization through its initial start-up phase, Chung directed the partnership’s eff orts to market Missouri for new business investment and recruit new corporate operations to the state, working closely with public and private-sector partners from around the state.

Chung also previously served as manager of the state of Ohio’s Offi ce of Business Development. Prior to that, he held various positions in corporate site selection and special projects management, assisting companies considering Ohio for new facilities.

BIOGRAPHIES

4

BIOGRAPHIES & STAFF

WIT TUTTELL

Visit North Carolina, a part of EDPNC

Wit Tuttell was named executive director of Visit North Carolina in November 2013. He oversees the strategic planning, policy development and marketing initiatives for North Carolina’s offi cial state tourism offi ce and the industry sectors it serves. North Carolina’s state tourism offi ce was transferred to the nonprofi t Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina in October 2014.

Tuttell has been with North Carolina tourism for 10 years. During this time, the offi ce has been recognized with numerous national awards for excellence in marketing and advertising. He was elected to the board of directors of the Travel Industry Association of America and is a member of the National Council of State Travel Directors, as well as a board member of Travel South USA.

Tuttell has more than 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, including working for Universal Studios Florida and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau., Inc. He graduated from the University of Florida and was also a reporter for Alaska’s Anchorage Times.

Visit North Carolina, a part of the Economic Development Partnership or North Carolina Wit TuttellExecutive Directorwit.tuttell@visitnc.com919-447-7740

Hayes NorrisTourism Coordinatorhayes.norris@visitnc.com919-447-7767

Marketing & PRMark ShoreDirector, Tourism Marketingmark.shore@visitnc.com919-447-7760

Dana GrimsteadMarketing Specialistdana.grimstead@visitnc.com919-447-7761

Eleanor TalleyPublic Relations Managereleanor.talley@visitnc.com919-447-7783

Suzanne BrownMedia Relations Specialistsuzanne.brown@visitnc.com919-447-7766

Nick ParkerDatabase and Social Media Specialistnick.parker@visitnc.com919-447-7787

Kathy PrickettTourism Marketing Managerkathy.prickett@visitnc.com919-447-7769

ResearchMarlise TaylorTourism Research Directormarlise.taylor@visitnc.com919-447-7748

Partner & Industry Relations Heidi WaltersDirector, Partner & Industry Relationsheidi.walters@visitnc.com919-447-7762

Amanda BakerPartner & Trade Specialistamanda.baker@visitnc.com919-447-7765

Andre NaborsPartner Relations, Managerandre.nabors@visitnc.com919-447-7771

FilmGuy GasterDirector, NC Film Offi ceguy@fi lmnc.com919-447-7759

NC Department of CommerceBryan GuptonDirector of Visitor Servicesbgupton@nccommerce.com919-814-4643

Wally WazanVisitor Services Program Managerwwazan@nccommerce.com919-814-4649

Teresa SmithCall Center Supervisortlsmith@nccommerce.com919-715-5900

Jade FelicianoWarehouse Managerjfeliciano@nccommerce.com919-662-4493

And our nine dedicated welcome center managers and nationally-certifi ed travel counselors.

BIOGRAPHIES

STAFF DIRECTORY

5

2017 VISIT NC 365CONFERENCE SPONSORS

PlatinumON Services

DiamondLuquire George Andrews

Greenville NC Hospitality PartnersVisit Winston-Salem

GoldMeredith Travel Group/Navigate Media

Time, Inc.

SilverHearst Women’s Travel Group

Garden & GunNCC

UNC-TV

2017 VISIT NC 365 CONFERENCE SPONSORS

6

Thank you to our dedicated sponsors, whose contributions make this conference possible. We encourage everyone to take a moment and visit these important partners to thank them for their support and hospitality.

2017 VISIT NC 365 CONFERENCE SPONSORS

7

AAA LivingAmtrak

Atlanta MagazineBarkleyREIBidtellect

Blue Ridge Country MagazineCycle NC

Hoffman MediaIdeal Living Magazine

iExplore.comITI Digital

Madden MediaNCM

News & ObserverNC Sports Association

North Carolina State ParksOrange142

Outfront MediaOutpost Design

ReachLocalSouth Carolina Living

STR HelperTake 5 Media Group

UGoTourWalter Magazine

AAA NationalBiltmore

Carolina Heritage GuideColumbia Metropolitan

JebbitMcLaughlin Media Mix

NC Craft Brewers GuildOutside Magazine

Philadelphia MagazineProforma

Washington Tourism

Bronze

Friend

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

8

SCHEDULECONFERENCE

TOURISM EDUCATION FOUNDATION SILENT AUCTION

The Tourism Education Foundation of North Carolina is a nonprofi t organization created by the North Carolina Travel Industry Association to help the state’s tourism industry prepare for a dynamic future. The foundation’s objective is to enhance the tourism industry by developing knowledgeable leadership. The main purposes of the foundation are:

•To promote the development of talent, experience and leadership in the tourism/hospitality industry in North Carolina for the benefi t of the profession and the general public.

•To promote education research in tourism in North Carolina by providing fi nancial support, leadership, and professional expertise – principally by awarding scholarships and student aid to individuals who want to pursue a course of study related to the tourism and hospitality industry.

The silent auction supports a combination of undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students attending North Carolina colleges or universities in tourism or hospitality management programs.

Please help support the foundation by participating in this year’s Silent Auction. The 2017 Silent Auction will be open during the conference in Exhibit Hall A&B.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

9

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Research SymposiumEast Carolina University and Visit NC are partnering to off er a pre-conference symposium to bring academics and practitioners together to increase familiarity with their respective roles, further developing tourism research agendas, and encourage opportunities for collaboration. The symposium features speakers from both academia and industry, and includes a number of presentations on applied research projects from across the state. This pre-conference event is of particular value to destination managers who would like to increase their research capacity as well as researchers who would like to work more closely with industry and community partners. Session Host: Marlise Taylor, Visit NCGALLERY 2&3

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.Visit NC Co-op PresentationJoin Visit NC and its marketing partner agencies, LGA and DCI, as they unveil the cooperative marketing opportunities planned for 2017-2018. Learn about all the programs available, and how to extend your limited marketing dollars in collaboration with Visit NC. You’ll also have time to follow up with Visit NC staff , agencies, and media partners and take advantage of the opportunity to sign-up for your 2017-18 co-op programs at the end of this session. EMERALD

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Pigs, Pints and Pirates Opening ReceptionSponsored by Greenville Hospitality Partners. Bring your pride to the most epic tailgate in town. Greenville invites you to the most impressive showcase of Greenville’s pit masters, local brewers, and school spirit. We encourage you to adorn your favorite sports jersey and join us as we kick-off the conference Greenville-style. Breweries include: The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery, and Uptown Brewing Company. Wine will be served, in tasting glasses, from Seven Pines Vineyard & Winery, along with a special Pirate Punch! There will also be a cash bar for additional purchases. Don’t forget to grab your pint glass as you enter the event, take a photo with Steve the Pirate and tag #VisitNC365 for all your fans. EXHIBIT HALL ABC

Monday, March 20

6:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Registration OpenCONCOURSE

7:30 a.m.Exhibitor Marketplace & Silent Auction openEXHIBIT HALL A&B

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.Networking Breakfast with ExhibitorsSponsored by Time, Inc. EXHIBIT HALL A&B

8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Opening Keynote: Disruptive Marketing with Luke WilliamsAt some time, someone somewhere is going to disrupt your entire industry. Shouldn’t it be you? Luke Williams, author and globally recognized authority on disruptive innovation, reveals a way of thinking that has the power to transform your business and stay ahead of the game. You’ll walk away with tactical tools to help change the converstation.EXHIBIT HALL D&E

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.Break with Exhibitors & Silent AuctionEXHIBIT HALL A&B

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.Legislative UpdateThis interactive session provides up-to-date information on North Carolina’s political and economic landscape and how it aff ects the state’s tourism industry. Hear more and ask questions about new laws and proposed legislation that aff ects your business and community.Session Host: Wit Tuttell, Visit NC Session Moderator: Kara Weishaar, NC Travel & Tourism CoalitionParticipants: Jason Joyner, NC Travel Industry Association; Lynn Minges, NC Restaurant & Lodging Association; Dana Simpson, NC Travel & Tourism CoalitionEXHIBIT HALL C

11:55 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.Winners Circle Awards LuncheonSponsored by ON Services. Celebrate industry achievements with the presentation of the annual Tourism Winners Circle Awards. These awards recognize communities, organizations, events, and people that have enhanced the North Carolina tourism industry. See page 15 for this year’s winners. EXHIBIT HALL D&E

Sunday, March 19

12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Registration OpenCONCOURSE

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Exhibitor & Silent Auction SetupEXHIBIT HALL A&B

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

10

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Concurrent Sessions

Civil War Trails: A multi-state programThe Civil War Trails program is a non-profi t organization which began in Virginia, and has now expanded to Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina. This grassroots program is supported by community leaders, tourism organizations and departments of transportation. The program’s maps and signature red bugle ‘trailblazers’ help guide visitors and history buff s through cities and rural areas following in the literal footsteps of Civil War soldiers. As of today there are more than 1,500 Civil War Trails sites with over 800 of those interpreted to the public for the fi rst time. Hear directly from executive director, Drew Gruber, about this multi-state program that connects visitors with the great campaigns and the lesser-known sites of the Civil War.Session Host: Andre Nabors, Visit NC Presenter: Drew Gruber, Executive Director of Civil War Trails, Inc. GALLERY 1

Learning From Snapchat: How To Start A New Social Media AccountThis summer, Visit NC started a Snapchat account in an eff ort to reach a new audience and explore this fast-growing platform. This session will talk about what was learned and how these lessons can apply to any new social media venture. Topics discussed will include determining how a new platform fi ts into your social strategy; fi nding and building your audience; creating content for new audiences and new formats; and all the other things you can expect to encounter in social media ventures. Session Host/Moderator: Nick Parker, Visit NCSpeakers: Luquire George Andrews social media staff GALLERY 2&3

Research Findings & Motivational Preferences of Craft Beer Consumers As the unoffi cial craft beer capital of the east, North Carolina is popular with craft beer consumers. In collaboration with the NC Craft Brewers Guild and Dr. Carol Kline at Appalachian State University, Chris Cavanaugh will present fi ndings from a survey of 2,300 North Carolina craft brewery consumers, partnering with 30 craft breweries, using their social media and email databases to execute the study. The research covers a number of topics related to craft beer consumption, including the importance of craft breweries as a part of craft beer enthusiasts’ travel planning processes, activities participated in while visiting craft breweries, and attitudinal preferences towards craft beverages. (Craft cideries and wineries were also included in several questions in the survey.) Session Host: Marlise Taylor, Visit NCSpeaker: Chris Cavanaugh, Magellan Strategy GroupGALLERY 4

When Disaster Strikes: How to Prepare a Targeted PR Plan (repeats at 3:00 p.m.)In recent times, North Carolina has been aff ected by hurricanes, wildfi res, controversy, and other disruptions to our eff orts to convey the appeal of our travel experiences. What is the best way for the tourism industry to prepare for such crises and respond when they hit? In this crisis communications workshop, you’ll hear from top experts who will reveal: the essentials of a crisis plan, action steps to identify “your” crisis, how to manage stakeholder communications, best practices for media relations, and ways to optimize social media to help you to help you respond and recover.Session Host: Eleanor Talley, Visit NC Speaker: Peggy Bendel, author, It’s a Crisis! NOW what?GALLERY 5&6

PR Roundtable (repeats at 3:00 p.m.)Bring your best pitches for a face-to-face conversation with national and regional media representatives. The lineup includes Brooke Bell, director of editorial operations at Hoff man Media; digital infl uencer Scott Eddy; David Hardy (senior producer) and Deborah Holt Noel (host-producer) of UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend; Hannah Hayes, associate editor of Southern Living; Elizabeth Hudson, editor in chief of Our State; Scott Mason, WRAL-TV’s Tar Heel Traveler; Andrew Nelson, director of editorial projects for National Geographic Traveler; and Dayvee Sutton, freelance digital video producer for USA Today Network. Session Host: Suzanne Brown, Visit NC EMERALD

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

11

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Concurrent Sessions

What’s New in Group TravelEver wonder what it is that groups are looking for? Find out what it takes to attract groups and keep them coming back for more. This panel will have you thinking outside the box to grow your group business while learning about what’s new in the group travel market. Session Host/Moderator: Amanda Baker, Visit NC Panelists: Annie Baggett, Agritourism Marketing Specialist with NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services; Susan Anderson, Director of Tour and Travel for Young Transportation; Alexis Conyers, Group Sales Manager with Kitty Hawk KitesGALLERY 1

The Loyalty Loop: How small things add up to big businessWe spend a lot of time telling our clients how different we are; but conduct an online search for the services we provide and you’ll quickly find that you and your competitors all sound the same. It’s time we stop telling people we’re different and start showing them you’re different. You’ll learn how to build anticipation, harness the honeymoon period, and drive inspirational moments that result in new business. Whether you’re interested in increasing demand or increasing awareness for the products and services you sell, the Loyalty Loop is designed to build a powerful engine that never sleeps. You’ll leave inspired to re-think the way you win over new clients and transform the way you service the customers you already own. Are you ready to embrace the Loyalty Loop?Session Host: Heidi Walters, Visit NCSpeaker: Andrew Davis, Best-Selling Author and Marketing Guru GALLERY 2&3

Room Tax Builds CommunitiesRoom occupancy tax revenues are key to tourism promotion across North Carolina. Strategic investment of room tax, and the spending it helps generate, benefits everyone in a community. As federal and state funding for communities continues to decline, it is increasingly important for tourism organizations to communicate the community-wide value that their occupancy tax brings if allocated properly. Three North Carolina DMO’s will talk about their successes and challenges in maximizing the value of their room tax revenues while forging relationships with community officials and groups outside the tourism industry to showcase the community-wide benefits of a dedicated occupancy tax that is used for marketing and tourism development.Session Host: Mark Shore, Visit NCPanelists: Nick Breedlove, Director of the Jackson County TDA; Andrew Schmidt, Executive Director, Visit Greenville; Marla Tambellini, Vice President of Marketing/Deputy Director of Asheville CVBGALLERY 4

When Disaster Strikes: How to Prepare a Targeted PR Plan (repeat from 1:30 p.m.)In recent times, North Carolina has been affected by hurricanes, wildfires, controversy, and other disruptions to our efforts to convey the appeal of our travel experiences. What is the best way for the tourism industry to prepare for such crises and respond when they hit? In this crisis communications workshop, you’ll hear from top experts who will reveal: the essentials of a crisis plan, action steps to identify “your” crisis, how to manage stakeholder communications, best practices for media relations, and ways to optimize social media to help you to help you respond and recover.Session Host: Eleanor Talley, Visit NC Speaker: Peggy Bendel, author, It’s a Crisis! NOW what?GALLERY 5&6

PR Roundtable (repeat from 1:30 p.m.)Bring your best pitches for a face-to-face conversation with national and regional media representatives. The lineup includes Brooke Bell, director of editorial operations at Hoffman Media; digital influencer Scott Eddy; David Hardy (senior producer) and Deborah Holt Noel (host-producer) of UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend; Hannah Hayes, associate editor of Southern Living; Elizabeth Hudson, editor in chief of Our State; Scott Mason, WRAL-TV’s Tar Heel Traveler; Andrew Nelson, director of editorial projects for National Geographic Traveler; and Dayvee Sutton, freelance digital video producer for USA Today Network. Session Host: Suzanne Brown, Visit NC EMERALD

4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Keynote: Building a #CRISISREADY Culture with Melissa AgnesThis keynote differs from the breakout providing you a holistic approach and showing you why your organization needs to be crisis-ready, even if you aren’t faced with challenges. If crisis were to strike your company tomorrow, is your organization #CRISISREADY? Melissa Agnes delivers powerful talks that help today’s organizations understand the realities that await them when crisis strikes, and provides them with the tools and strategies to help them begin implementing a crisis-ready culture straight away. In this talk, Melissa Agnes helps her audiences think about and prepare for the unthinkable.EXHIBIT HALL D&E

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.Reception with Exhibitors & Silent AuctionJoin us for happy hour with exhibitors featuring North Carolina wines and craft beers. EXHIBIT HALL A&B

Open night to explore Greenville. Transportation to Uptown Greenville provided by Washington Tourism starting at 6:30 pm and ending at 9:30 pm. Departs from the Hilton lobby and Five Points Plaza. Join the after-party in Villedge for local music and networking.

Tuesday, March 21

6:45 a.m. – NoonRegistration OpenCONCOURSE

7:30 a.m.Exhibitor Marketplace & Silent Auction openEXHIBIT HALL A&B

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.Networking Breakfast with ExhibitorsEXHIBIT HALL A&B

8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.Keynote: Stake Your Claim - How Destinations Turn Serendipity into Success with Andrew DavisOver the past three years, former television producer and marketing agency executive Andrew Davis visited 50 cities and towns to determine why some places are booming and others are bust. It turns out that the places seeing unparalleled success do one thing most of us don’t: they stake their claim. In this exhilarating hour-long presentation, Andrew Davis will teach us the fi ve secrets to leveraging the power of the online world to create content that creates moments of inspiration. You’ll learn how to send people on a journey they never expected. But most importantly, you’ll learn how to stake your claim. Are you ready to turn serendipity into strategy?EXHIBIT HALL D&E

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.Break with Exhibitors & Silent AuctionSilent auction closes. Check out of hotels.EXHIBIT HALL A&B

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Visit North Carolina Update: Year-In-Review & Going ForwardDon’t miss Visit North Carolina’s year-in-review and going forward update. We’ll take you back through the year as we review our strategy to connect with domestic and international audiences, and then we’ll provide an exciting preview of new marketing initiatives for 2017-18. Learn how your organization will benefi t from Visit North Carolina’s commitment to connecting with and attracting audiences. EXHIBIT HALL D&E

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.Break with ExhibitorsPick up silent auction items.EXHIBIT HALL A&B

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.2018 Host Luncheon: Your Southern Wake-Up CallSponsored by Visit Winston-Salem. Dating back to 1753, when the fi rst Moravians settled 100,000 acres in North Carolina, Winston-Salem’s rich history has been the perfect table setting for hometown fl avors. Join us at the closing luncheon for Winston-Salem’s most celebrated tastes: Texas Pete, Krispy Kreme, and Moravian cusine. Enjoy an event fl avorful enough to savor until we meet again in 2018. EXHIBIT HALL C

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

12

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

13

KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

14

LUKE WILLIAMS

Luke Williams is a globally recognized authority on innovation leadership. He works with organizations on challenges ranging from creating new products and services to transforming organizational processes and behaviors. He is Professor of Innovation and Executive Director of the Berkley Entrepreneurship Center at New York University’s Stern School of Business and a fellow at frog, one of the world’s most infl uential innovation companies. Williams is a sought-after commentator on disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural change. He is invited to speak worldwide, and his views are regularly featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fast Company, GQ, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and MSNBC. He is the inventor of over fi fty United States patents and the best-selling author of Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business.

MELISSA AGNES

President and co-founder of Agnes + Day Inc., Melissa Agnes has helped dozens of global brands and government agencies deal with crises before explosion, preventing and managing a wide range of issues before they become catastrophic. Her client list includes fi nancial organizations, technology companies, healthcare organizations, government agencies, cities and municipalities, energy companies, global non-profi ts, and many others. In 2015, Melissa gave a TEDx talk in Los Angeles where she discussed the secret to successful crisis management in the 21st century. She has had the honor of sharing the stage with members of the Ukraine government and the International Committee of the Red Cross. When she isn’t managing crises or speaking in front of an audience, Melissa enjoys adventuring around the world – usually on a sailboat – gardening, reading, and sipping champagne in good company.

ANDREW DAVIS

Andrew Davis’ 20-year career has taken him from local television to The Today Show. He’s worked for The Muppets in New York. He’s marketed for tiny start-ups and Fortune 500 brands. His latest book, Town INC, hit shelves in 2015. He’s produced for Charles Kuralt and MTV. In 2001, Davis co-founded Tippingpoint Labs, where, as the chief strategy offi cer, Davis and his team helped companies like Putnam Investments, Breville, and TomTom. They built digital strategies for publishers like Rodale and Meredith. For more than a decade, Davis has led the charge to change the way publishers think and how brands market their products in a digital world. Davis’ fi rst marketing book, Brandscaping: Unleashing the Power of Partnerships, is one of Amazon.com’s Top 100 Marketing Books.

BIOGRAPHIESSPEAKER & WINNERS CIRCLE

JIM EARLY

Jim Early, a Henderson native and longtime Winston-Salem resident, is a Wake Forest University law school graduate. More than three decades into his law career, Early embarked on a journey that led him out of the courtroom to chart a course celebrating North Carolina barbecue. After six months of travel covering 18,000 miles, he published The Best Tar Heel Barbecue: Manteo to Murphy in 2002. The next year he took his passion for the pit further and established the North Carolina Barbecue Society to preserve North Carolina’s barbecue tradition, raise awareness of the state’s standing as the “Cradle of Cue,” and promote pitmasters who continued to cook over wood. From that quest came the society’s Historic Barbecue Trail, which has mapped a decade’s worth of barbecue pilgrimages and generated extensive media coverage. In 2007, Early closed his law offi ce to focus on Barbecue Society. Its activities include three yearly BBQ Boot Camp & Judges School events, which have been featured in Ladies Home Journal, CNNgo.com and other outlets. Early has written two other books, Refl ections: The Memories and Recipes of a Southern Cookand Shining Times: The Adventures and Recipes of a Sportsman, which explores his love of hunting and cooking.

JEAN BEASLEY

It was under the direction of Jean Beasley, the center’s founder and director, that the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center became reality. At any given time, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center in Surf City may house between 40 and 50 rescued sea turtles. As a former teacher, Jean believes the best way to protect and preserve sea turtles is through education and understanding. Under Jean’s direction, the sea turtle facility includes educational programs designed to provide students a “hands-on, feet-wet” learning experience. In addition to the education eff orts, the center focuses on conservation with a rehabilitation area, a turtle ICU, satellite tracking, and a daily sweep of all 26 miles of Topsail Island each morning from May to August during nesting time. The center is 100% staff ed by dedicated volunteers. Jean has been honored with many awards including the Oceana’s Ocean Hero Award, NC’s Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award: Conservationist of the Year, and Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year.

A.C. HALL

A.C. Hall graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in biology, studied for three years at N.C. State’s School of Design and completed his master’s degree in City Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill. He became the Raleigh city planner in 1952 and worked in that position for 30 years. In 1960, he began the vision and design of the Atlantis Lodge. The lodge began welcoming guests in 1963 and by 1973 all of the buildings were complete as it stands today. Whether it was the ocean views, the lush maritime vegetation, the abundant wildlife, the beautiful beach, or the inimitable hospitality, the Atlantis was an instant hit. A pillar of the community, Hall even designed a city seal, which was adopted when the town of Pine Knoll Shores was incorporated in 1974. There was no town hall, so the Atlantis Lodge served that function. Hall served as a member of numerous hotel and motel boards on the state and national levels and proved instrumental in getting the law changed to allow dogs in motel sleeping rooms. To this day, staff at the lodge leave dog treats with welcome packages for canine guests. Hall celebrated his 90th birthday in January of 2017.

WINNERS CIRCLE AWARD RECIPIENTS

15

WINNERS CIRCLE AWARDS

The Winners Circle Award originated in 2004 in an eff ort to recognize communities, organizations, events, and people in the tourism industry that have made signifi cant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina’s tourism industry. The award is given annually, and is presented at the Visit NC 365 Conference on Tourism, the largest gathering of the state’s tourism industry leaders.

WE TAKE “RAISING THE BAR” VERY SERIOUSLY

TH

E K

ATH

ARI

NE

BAR, KIM

PTON CARDINAL

®

VisitWinstonSalem.com

S O U T HI N O U R

Proud Host of the 2018 Visit NC 365 Conference From vineyards and galleries to meals that tug at your heartstrings, Winston-Salem is the perfect place to give your senses a Southern wake-up call. Begin your 2018 Visit NC 365 conference travel planning now at VisitWinstonSalem.com.