COMMITTEES & COUNCIls
CalTravel’s committees and councils offer a venue for collaboration, help shape the future of our association, and allow members to further develop their careers and add value to their organizations. These groups work efficiently, recognizing that your time is valuable.
Committees are the working groups of CalTravel, whose chairs are elected and serve up to three year terms. Councils are professional expertise groups, headed by appointed chairs who do not have term limits.
If you are interested in joining one of our committees or councils, please click the button below to complete the sign-up form.
AIRPORT MEMBERS CAUCUS
AIRPORT MEMBERS CAUCUS
Mark Haneke, Chair
Air Service Development Marketing Manager, Sacramento County Department of Airports
The Airport Members Caucus’ purpose is to promote alignment of California Airport public policy priorities with the broader travel and tourism industry, and to advise CalTravel’s GRC on legislative positions in the interest of advancing and enhancing visitor access to, from, and around the state.
AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE
Marc Sapoznik, Chair
President & CEO, Visit Rancho Cordova
The goal of Ambassador Committee is to increase the travel and tourism industry’s communication, collaboration, and advocacy efforts. Ambassadors act as the glue that connects members with information, other members, resources, events, and relationships with legislators in their regions.
AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE
ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE
ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE
Erin Tuckerman, Chair
Director of Sales, Knott’s Berry Farm
The Attractions & Experiences Committee provides zoos, aquariums, attractions, museums, and other experiential industry segments with opportunities for collaboration, education, and communication. The committee meets on an as-needed basis to hear from guest speakers and share updates.
AUCTION COUNCIL
Jessica Johns, Chair
Senior Regional Manager, Business Development, Expedia Group Media Solutions
The Auction Council’s goal is to recruit members, partners, and industry friends to donate items or packages to the annual CalTravel Summit Auction, which benefits CalTravel and the PAC—helping to boost our advocacy efforts and increase our industry’s influence in Sacramento.
AUCTION COUNCIL
AWARDS COMMITTEE
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Julie Mino Buffo, Chair
President & CEO, Visit Oxnard
The Awards Committee is responsible for reviewing all CalTravel Awards nominations submitted, recommending winners for each award category, notifying winners and nominees about nomination status, collecting assets needed for Awards Dinner, and serving as the go-to contact for award winners.
CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS SPEAKER SERIES
The California Connections group meets monthly to share to offer insights from guest speakers and the opportunity to have valuable conversations that will help advance and shape the future of California’s tourism industry.
california connections speaker series
CANNABIS & HEMP TOURISM COUNCIL
CANNABIS & HEMP TOURISM COUNCIL
Brian Applegarth, Chair
Founder, Cannabis Travel Association
The Cannabis & Hemp Tourism Council’s mission is to destigmatize and advance cannabis and hemp-related tourism in California. Through proactive education and advocacy, they serve to demystify the hemp and cannabis tourism segment, and enable California’s travel industry stakeholders to confidently embrace and integrate cannabis and hemp-related products and services into their model, to safely serve and accommodate visitor interest.
CALIFORNIA SPORTS COALITION
Rory Davis, Co-Chair, Director of Global Partnerships and Events, San Francisco Travel
Anthony Brenneman, Co-Chair, Senior Director, Orange County Sports Commission
The California Sports Coalition’s goal is to develop an initiative to try and create a state fund to help California compete effectively against other states to attract large sporting events.
CALIFORNIA SPORTS COALITION
COMMUNICATIOnS COMMITTEE
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Ted Molter, Chair
Senior Business Development Director, Connect&GO
The Communications Committee is responsible for ensuring that CalTravel’s communications remain on-mission, consistent, and effective by providing feedback, thinking of new ways to engage membership, and suggesting content for CalTravel’s website, newsletters, social media channels, and events.
CONVENTION CENTER COUNCIL
CONVENTION CENTER COUNCIL
Michael Krouse, Chair
President & CEO, GO CAL - Greater Ontario California
The California Convention Center Council is committed to reopening conventions, tradeshows, and events responsibly by prioritizing the health and safety of staff and guests. The council has created a safe reopening plan, which we hope will support a decision to reopen conventions in a timely manner and serve as a framework for any guidance set forth by the state.
CTS CONTENT COUNCIL
CTS CONTENT COUNCIL
Jeff Miraglia, Chair
Executive Creative Director, JNS Next
The CTS Content Council is responsible for curating and vetting speakers, performers, and topics for the annual CalTravel Summit—an event that leaves hundreds of travel and tourism leaders feeling inspired, informed, and empowered.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE
Mechelle Best, Chair
Dean, College of Health & Human Development, California State University, Northridge
The goal of the DEI&A Committee is to help strengthen California’s travel and tourism industry by pursuing and/or supporting public policy initiatives that promote California’s position as an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming destination; affirming the necessity of understanding equity and inclusion of all identities and intersectionalities; and providing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility education to members through programs and practices.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY
COMMITTEE
DMO LEADER ROUNDTABLE
DMO LEADER ROUNDTABLE
Cassandra Costello, Co-Chair, EVP, Public Policy & Executive Programs, San Francisco Travel Association
Todd Aaronson, Co-Chair, CEO, Visit Modesto
The DMO Leader Roundtable offers a venue for DMO leaders to check in with their peers on issues they’re currently facing, hot topics, and best practices.
This committee is open to DMOs only. All DMOs who are CalTravel members are invited to participate in meetings.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chuck Davison, Chair
President & CEO, Visit SLO CAL
The Executive Committee’s purpose is to oversee the work of CalTravel; direct management, strategy, and investment; and help the association grow in influence, effectiveness, and value.
Those who wish to join must submit formal nominations and be voted in by the CalTravel Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Jeff Klocke, Chair
Vice President, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
The GRC promotes the mission of CalTravel through engagement in the public policy development process on behalf of its membership. The Committee shall set legislative priorities, review policy issues, and recommend positions on legislation relevant to its mission.
GRC members are nominated by the Chair of the CalTravel Board of Directors and ratified by the Executive Committee.
HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Misti Kerns, Chair
President & CEO, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
The Homelessness Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the GRC on policies that will help to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness and that support a clean and safe California to the extent it affects travel and tourism. Through the lens of travel and tourism, the committee analyzes policies while considering costs and revenue sources associated with any proposed policy and its potential impact to tourism serving businesses and employers.
HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
John Lambeth, Chair
President & CEO, Civitas
The Leadership Committee is responsible for reviewing all leadership nominations—At-Large Board Directors, Officers, and Committee Chairs—and putting forth a proposed leadership slate to be voted on by the CalTravel Board of Directors.
The committee is chaired by the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors, and committee members are appointed by the Chair of the CalTravel Board of Directors.
PAC TRUSTEE BOARD
Patti MacJennett, Co-Chair, Chief External Affairs Officer, Los Angeles Tourism
Gary Sherwin, Co-Chair, President & CEO, Visit Newport Beach
The CalTravel PAC’s mission is to maintain a political campaign fund to finance efforts supporting California state and local officeholders, candidates, and committees which support and benefit the California travel and tourism industry. The PAC also educates policy makers on the importance of travel and tourism to our state.
PAC TRUSTEE BOARD
sCHOLARSHIP COUNCIL
SCHOLARSHIP COUNCIL
Mechelle Best, Co-Chair, Professor & Chair, Dept. of Recreation & Tourism Mgmt., CSU Northridge
Jerusha Greenwood, Co-Chair, Associate Professor, Dept. of Experience Industry Mgmt., Cal Poly SLO
The Scholarship Council is responsible for notifying educators about the CalTravel Summit (CTS) Scholarship Program, collecting and reviewing nominations, and recommending two outstanding students to receive scholarships each year. The CTS Scholarship Program gives students the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and network for job leads.
SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Rob O’Keefe, Chair
President & CEO, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The goals of the Sustainability & Stewardship Committee are to educate members on best practices, bring in thought leaders, and explore strategies that can have a positive impact on the environment, members’ businesses, and California’s brand. The committee will collaborate with other partner organization efforts in this area, including Visit California and U.S. Travel.
SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
TID PROTECTION COUNCIL
TID PROTECTION COUNCIL
Scott White, Chair
President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
The TID Protection Council’s primary purpose is to develop a proactive strategy to protect the Tourism Improvement District (TID) funding model. The council is responsible for allocating CalTravel’s TID protection funds for efforts that reinforce the importance of TIDs, such as research, educational materials, and community outreach.
“Knowing we have an organization whose voice is a united advocate for the tourism industry across California is not only inspiring, but it provides value we could never achieve on our own. CalTravel is that voice, and that is why we are proud to partner with them to better educate our industry on the difference advocacy can make.”
