The following is a function description of the Tourism Development Division of the Mississippi Development Authority. NOTE: All MDA, Tourism Division staff can be reached by calling 601.359.3297
DIRECTOR
The Division’s Director is responsible for the overall management of the Division. Functions include developing and implementing short and long range plans to accomplish goals and objectives; establishing policies and procedures for efficient application; preparing zero based budgets to support activities; coordinating tourism activities with other MDA activities, state agencies, and tourism partners; managing and coordinating preparation of promotional materials, representing Mississippi Tourism at numerous functions and events occurring throughout the State and nation; participating in MDA's legislative response and support activities; and other related matters.
Craig Ray
Director
cray@mississippi.org
Whitney Jenkins
Administrative Assistant/Special Events Coordinator
wjenkins@mississippi.org
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
The Division’s Deputy Director assists the Director in the overall management of the Division. The Deputy Director directly oversees the Communication/Advertising Program Area, Sales and Marketing Bureau, Outdoor and Leisure Industries Development, Sports/Golf Marketing Development, Hometown Mississippi Retirement, Research, Trails Program.
Mary Beth Wilkerson
Deputy Director
mwilkerson@mississippi.org
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM AREA
The staff maintains accounts payable, Division budget, administrative services, facilitation of grants programs and distribution of Tourism Rebate Program information for the Division.
Carla Moor
Program Manager Administration and Financial Services
cmoor@mississippi.org
Renee Ebner, Ph.D., TMP
Grants and Tourism Rebate Program
rebner@mississippi.org
Kathryn Wortman
Financial Services Program Support
kwortman@mississippi.org
RESEARCH PROGRAM AREA
The Research Program Area performs surveys to develop demographic and travel statistics and analyses data to track the economic impact of the Tourism industry. This information is the basis for planning future tourism strategies to continue tourism growth in Mississippi.
Tom Van Hyning
Program Manager Research
tvanhyning@mississippi.org
COMMUNICATION AND ADVERTISING PROGRAM
The Communication and Advertising Program Area coordinates the day-to-day communications and operations between the Division and the advertising agency in order to ensure a consistent, branded look for Mississippi Tourism. This program area also handles the Division’s public relations and general contact with the media. The Program includes the internet/website office, which is responsible for web content updates and web design and internet marketing. The site supports and promotes Mississippi tourism worldwide.
Sandy Bynum
Program Manager Communication and Advertising
sbynum@mississippi.org
Lisa Ferreri, TMP
Advertising Support and Special Promotions
lferreri@mississippi.org
Janet Martin
Graphics and Publications Print Production
jmartin@mississippi.org
Daniel Ethridge
Website Development and Marketing
dethridge@mississippi.org
Lawanda Turnage
Website Content
lturnage@mississippi.org
OFFICE OF FILM AND CULTURE
The office develops and supports the Mississippi on-location production of feature films, television projects, documentaries and commercials. They also coordinate the activities of in-state liaison film offices and management of the Mississippi Motion Picture Film Incentive Program. The office also supports and develops Mississippi’s rich cultural activities and products through Cultural Heritage, which works with local organizations to enhance their area as a tourism destination and define their culture and heritage tourism product. Staff works to facilitate community efforts to develop, and promote local and statewide cultural tourism.
Ward Emling
Bureau Manager Film and Culture
wemling@mississippi.org
Nina Parikh
Film Office
nparikh@mississippi.org
Sarah McCullough
Cultural Heritage
smccullough@mississippi.org
Betty Black
Film / Cultural Heritage Support
bblack@mississippi.org
SALES AND MARKETING BUREAU is supported by staff members assigned to specific program areas as shown below. The Bureau includes International and Domestic Group Travel Trade, Meeting and Conventions, Golf/Sports, Outdoor Recreation, Trails and Retirement programs.
MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS PROGRAM AREA
Program staff works to develop, implement and maintain activities that promote the State as a destination for meetings and conventions to state, regional and national meeting planners; participates in industry marketplaces and tradeshows; assists local tourism entities in coordinating strategic plans for promoting their products; and produces a statewide Meeting Planners Guide and the Mississippi Meetings Profile Directory.
Chris Chapman, CMP
Program Manager Meetings and Conventions
cchapman@mississippi.org
TRAVEL TRADE PROGRAM AREA
Oversees both the Domestic and International Travel Trade activities of the Division. Travel Trade program staff develops, coordinates and maintains activities with the tourism travel trade industry to promote Mississippi as a leisure destination. Staff also works with local tourism entities to assist them in developing their domestic and international travel trade marketing strategies and to further define and develop their product.
Kristen McCaskill
Program Manager Travel Trade
kmccaskill@mississippi.org
Domestic Group Travel Trade Program Area coordinates a statewide sales and marketing program for promoting Mississippi as a leisure vacation destination to the domestic travel trade industry (tour operators, travel agents and group leaders).
Sharon Robinson CTIS,TMP
Domestic Travel Trade Sales and Marketing
sorobinson@mississippi.org
The International Travel Trade Program Area develops, coordinates and maintains activities that promote Mississippi as a destination for international travelers/ Staff develops tracking methods and compiles information regarding international visitation.
Mary Stratton Smith
International Travel Trade Sales and Marketing
msmith@mississippi.org
GOLF / SPORTS MARKETING PROGRAM AREA
Program designs, develops, implements and maintains activities that encourage utilization of and visitation to Mississippi’s sports venues and golf courses along with other vacation attractions in the State. This office creates national and international awareness of Mississippi as a sports events destination and golf vacation destination by attending tradeshows and marketplaces and by hosting sports, golf tour wholesalers and travel writers on site visits.
Janet Leach, TMP
Program Manager Golf / Sports Marketing
jleach@mississippi.org
Connie Cossar
Golf and Sports Marketing
ccossar@misissippi.org
HOMETOWN MISSISSIPPI RETIREMENT PROGRAM
The program implements and maintains activities to promote Mississippi as a retirement haven to pre-retirees and retirees throughout America. This office assists The Mississippi Certified Retirement communities (21) in their preparations to market themselves as retirement locations and to develop hometowns that retirees would find attractive. Staff provides on-going oversight and guidance of the program and marketing trends, develops the States advertising and public relations campaigns for the market and attends retirement related tradeshows.
Diana O'Toole, TMP
Program Manager Hometown Mississippi Retirement
dotoole@mississippi.org
TRAILS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AREA
The program develops and supports the creation of thematic trails through the state to establish the awareness of Mississippi’s cultural tourism assets. Staff works to create interpretive markers and maps that will assist travelers through the state and encourage increased travel growth for cultural and heritage tourism.
Alex Thomas
Program Manager Trails Development
athomas@mississippi.org
Leigh Portwood
Trails Development
lportwood@mississippi.org
OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING PROGRAM AREA. The program designs, develops, implements, and maintains activities that encourage development and utilization of Mississippi's outdoor resources; creates national awareness of Mississippi as a destination for outdoor recreation and nature tourism by hosting journalists, and television and other media representatives, who in turn write or produce stories/programs on Mississippi; assists local developers and gaming officials to further define and develop destination resorts. This office also manages the Agritourism program.
Michael Jones
Program Manager Outdoor Development and Marketing
mjones@mississippi.org
Ann Curry
Outdoor Development
acurry@mississippi.org
WELCOME CENTERS/VISITOR SERVICES BUREAU
Staff manages the Mississippi's twelve Welcome Centers; provides information to traveling motorist; collects demographic data for visitor profiles; makes lodging reservations; and assists communities in promoting area attractions and events. Each Welcome Center across the state has a Supervisor and staff responsible for the day-to-day activities. The Visitor Services Program Area oversees the inquiry/fulfillment services of state tourism information to the public.
Tonya Neely
Bureau Manager Welcome Centers/Visitor Services
tneely@mississippi.org
Karen Matlock
Welcome Center
kmatlock@mississippi.org
Cheryl Eley
Visitor Services Inquiry and Fulfillment
celey@mississippi.org
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