CAREER HELP DESK

The Career Help Desk was created to support students and young professionals looking to succeed in the travel and tourism industry. It includes contact information for industry leaders who have offered to lend their knowledge and expertise to help young professionals excel—whether it be through mentorship, speaking engagements, or hosting interns and site visits.

To browse help desk contacts, simply scroll down or use the search bar to filter by the keywords listed below. Once you’ve found an industry leader that matches your interests and needs, feel free to reach out to them using the email address in their listing.

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Aaronson, Todd

CEO, VISIT MODESTO

Region: Central Valley

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Operations ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Sales ✔ Data Analytics ✔ Research ✔ Creative

Email: todd@visitmodesto.com

Auster, Marlyss

PRESIDENT & CEO, VISIT VENTURA

Region: Central Coast

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ Female ✔ Latina

Email: marlyss@visitventuraca.com

Bailey, Jon

FOUNDER/CHIEF RELATIONSHIPS OFFICER, 62ABOVE

Region: Southern California

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider - Marketing Agency

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ LGBTQ

Email: jonb@62ABOVE.com

Bass Seibel, Kelly

SENIOR DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SONOMA COUNTY TOURISM

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Communication

Email: kseibel@sonomacounty.com

Bradley, Sonya

CHIEF OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION, VISIT SACRAMENTO

Region: Gold Country

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ Black/African American

Email: sbradley@visitsacramento.com

Brooks, Shannon

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, FORWØRD

Region: Central Coast

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Other - Going from In-House to Freelance ✔ Other - Rising Through Ranks of DMO World ✔ Other - Importance of Studying Abroad

Email: shannon@takemeforword.com

Bryant, Rich

SALES DIRECTOR, ZARTICO

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Mentor Student

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Sales ✔ Data Analytics ✔ Research ✔ Other - Destination Management

Email: rich.bryant@zartico.com

Burke, Adam

PRESIDENT & CEO, LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Operations ✔ Marketing ✔ Finance ✔ Data Analytics ✔ Creative ✔ Other - Organizational Health & Culture

Email: aburke@latourism.org

Cloutier, Andy

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS

Region: Deserts

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔HR

Email: andy@visitgreaterps.com

Costello, Cassandra

EVP, PUBLIC POLICY & EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Communication

Email: cassandra@sftravel.com

Crouthamel, Tracy

CUSTOMER SUCCESS DIRECTOR, SIMPLEVIEW

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Data Analytics ✔ Research ✔ Creative

Email: tracy.crouthamel@simpleviewinc.com

Elmore, Diana

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GO CITY

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Other - Attractions & Experiences Pass Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Sales

Email: diana.elmore@gocity.com

Farhad, Tracy

PRESIDENT & CEO, VISIT TRI-VALLEY

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Operations ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Finance ✔ Creative

Email: tracy@visittrivalley.com

Gamez, Peter

CEO, VISIT OAKLAND

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Sales

Email: peter@visitoakland.com

Guinn Stevens, Lindsey

VP OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, MONTEREY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Region: Central Coast

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication

Email: lindsey@seemonterey.com

Guire, Jeanette

TRAVEL TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, ROARING CAMP RAILROAD

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Attraction

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Host a Student Intern

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Operations ✔ Marketing ✔ Sales

Email: jeanette@roaringcamp.com

Haase, Wendy

PRESIDENT, TRAVEL SANTA ANA

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication

Email: wendy@travelsantaana.com

Holmes, Omark

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, VISIT HUNTINGTON BEACH

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Email: omark@surfcityusa.com

Kotler, Diana

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANAHEIM TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

Region: Southern California

Category: Transportation Company

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Operations ✔ Other - Environmental Sustainability

Email: dkotler@atnetwork.org

LeGras, Toni

CEO, BEACHSIDE RENTALS INC.

Region: Central Coast

Category: Hotel/Lodging - Vacation Rental Company

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy

Email: tlegras@icloud.com

Luttjohann, Jim

PRESIDENT & CEO, LOVE CATALINA - CATALINA ISLAND TOURISM AUTHORITY

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Other - Visitor Services ✔ Other - Social Media

Email: jim@lovecatalina.com

Miskit, Kari

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, VISIT SACRAMENTO

Region: North Coast

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Provide Informational Interview

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Communication

Email: kmiskit@visitsacramento.com

Molter, Ted

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

Region: Southern California

Category: Attraction

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication

Email: ted.molter@icloud.com

Ncube, Viola

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING, VISIT PLEASANT HILL

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Mentor Student ✔ Host Student Intern

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Sales

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ Black ✔ Female

Email: viola@visitpleasanthill.com

Nanadiego, Cathy

SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, AUGUSTINE AGENCY

Region: North Coast

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ Female

Email: cnanadiego@augustineagency.com

Schlau, Lauren

PRESIDENT, LAUREN SCHLAU CONSULTING

Region: Southern California

Category: Tourism Industry Service Provider

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Mentor Student

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Data Analytics ✔ Research ✔ Other - Local Economic Development

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ LGBTQ++

Email: laurens@lsconsult.com

Swanson, Lindsay

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, VISIT ANAHEIM

Region: Southern California

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Creative

Email: lswanson@visitanaheim.org

Van Eerden, Julia

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, PIER 39

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Destination

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Mentor Junior Professional ✔ Mentor Mid-Career Professional ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Provide Informational Interview

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Marketing

Underrepresented Group(s):

✔ AAPI ✔ Biracial

Email: jvaneerden@pier39.com

Wintner, Scott

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, MINETA SAN JOSE INT’L AIRPORT (SJC)

Region: San Francisco Bay Area

Category: Airport

Opportunities for Engagement:

✔ Speaker ✔ Panelist ✔ Host Site Visit ✔ Mentor Student ✔ Provide Informational Interview ✔ Host a Student Intern ✔ Mentor Faculty ✔ Serve on Industry Advisory Board

Areas of Expertise:

✔ Advocacy ✔ Operations ✔ Marketing ✔ Communication ✔ Data Analytics ✔ Research ✔ Creative

Email: swintner@sjc.org

share your knowledge

There is no time like the present to lend your support to young industry professionals.
**Join the Career Help Desk >>**

“I enjoy being part of this dynamic group. The networking opportunities are excellent and the education and guidance on advocacy are valuable.”

— Paige Viren, Ph.D., Executive Director, Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management Program, Cal State Monterey Bay