Officers and Directors Elected for 2022-23 Program Year

Melyssa Reeves, CDME, President & CEO, Visit Vacaville (CA); was installed as Board President of the Destination Marketing Association of the West (DMA West) during DMA West’s Education Summit & Vendor Showcase in Ventura, CA (September 14-16, 2022).

“I have had the privilege to be involved with DMA West for the past 20+ years. This association has provided some of the best professional development, networking, and experiences in the industry,” said Reeves. “Personally, the friendships that I have built through DMA West are priceless and extend well beyond the business. For these reasons and many more, I’m proud to serve as DMA West’s 2022-2023 Board President.”

Brook Kaufman, CDME, President & CEO of Visit Rapid City (SD) was elected to the role of President-Elect, and Angie Onyewuchi, President & CEO of Travel Salem (OR) was elected to the role of Secretary-Treasurer. Brent DeRaad, President & CEO of Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau (TX) will serve as Past President of the Board.

The following Officers were also elected to new board terms: Domenic Bravo, CTA, CPM, President & CEO of Visit Cheyenne (WY), Ashley Johnson, CDME, Senior Vice President/CMO of Newport Beach & Company, and Cliff Myers, President & CEO of Visit Vancouver (WA).

Current Board members with continuing Director terms include: Lisa Mayo, CDME, President & CEO, Visit Tuolumne County (CA); Andy Chapman, President & CEO, Travel North Tahoe (NV); Patti Mackey, President & CEO, Ketchikan Visitors Bureau (AK); and Mark Thompson, CDME, CMP, Director, Visit Plano (TX).

DMA West Announces New Staff Team

DMA West is pleased to announce the hiring of two individuals to support the management of the association as well as the DMA West Education and Research Foundation. Will Hixson, CAE joins DMA West as its Executive Director, and Jenna Bailey joins DMA West as its Director of Events.

Will comes to DMA West with a decade of experience in association management, working with over a dozen non-profits through his prior role at an association management company and serving as executive director for statewide and regional associations. He maintains his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation through the American Society of Association Executives. Will can be reached at will@dmawest.org. 

Jenna comes to DMA West with over five years of experience in association management and event production and execution. She has worked with a variety of local, statewide, regional, and international associations on events ranging from small meetings to conferences with thousands of attendees. Jenna can be reached at Jenna@dmawest.org. 

DMA West’s longtime Executive Director Teresa Stephenson retired over the summer.