Partner Feature: Erin Bowers and Randy Fortes from Tempest Interactive Media

Tempest is a multifaceted agency and destination organization advocate that strengthens communities through the innovation and activation of web, marketing, and cloud software solutions. They have a thorough understanding of all aspects of the travel industry. Their results-driven approach isn’t just for DMOs—it’s for any travel brand that needs to capture the right feelings and convey a memorable story. They discover where your audience lives and deliver a finely tuned message that will move them in more ways than one. Because at the end of the day, their vision is to bring yours to life.

As the Events and Marketing Specialist at Tempest Interactive Media, Erin Bowers leads planning and coordination for Tourism Academy, Tempest’s annual client conference that highlights best practices and new ideas in technology and marketing for the travel and tourism industry. Throughout the year, Erin also develops virtual events and arranges travel and plans budgets for team members attending industry trade shows. She joined Tempest in 2018 after fulfilling a similar role at the Upper Midwest Convention and Visitors Bureau Fall Conference.

Erin was born in Northeast Iowa, attended high school in McAllen, Texas, and currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa, with her pug, Rigby, and black cat, Jude. (She is a Beatles fan.) A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in family services, she has a professional background in substance abuse and addiction prevention. Erin and her mother enjoy traveling together, especially to Iowa State Parks — there are more than you might expect — and attending musicals and ballets. She is a fan of the Tempest band and looks forward to their annual performance at Tourism Academy.

Randy Fortes is Tempest's Business Development Manager.  He joined the Tempest team in 2022 after many years working in the travel industry, where he has built great relationships that distinguish him as a friend and leader. Randy lives in Washington state and enjoys traveling throughout the year for work and play.  He has a goal to visit every state in the USA and is only a few states away from reaching that goal.