Proposed 2022 Slate Of Candidates - NYSTIA Board of Directors

Greetings!

NYSTIA's Nominating Committee is proposing a slate of candidates for election to the New York State Tourism Industry Association's Board of Directors at the 2022 Annual Meeting in New York City this Thursday, October 27.

Directors serve a three-year term and are eligible for re-election for a second term. Under NYSTIA Bylaws, eleven of NYSTIA's 21 board members must be a Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA), and no more than 25% of the board can be from any one tourism region in New York State. An excerpt of NYSTIA Board of Directors' elections process, terms, governance, role and responsibilities as detailed in NYSTIA's Bylaws and Policy & Procedures documents is available for your review HERE.

A NYSTIA Board Member should be prepared to actively engage with one (or more) NYSTIA committee(s) as well as participate in programs and events.

Candidate attributes that were considered by the nominating committee include:

• Engagement: Is the candidate already actively engaged as a member, serving on a committee, and/or participating in NYSTIA programming?
• Member Type: At least three of the current vacancies must be filled by a TPA to meet Bylaws guidelines; otherwise underrepresented membership categories are desirable for the balance of the board to reflect membership composition.
• Geographic Representation: Is the candidate from one of New York State's eleven tourism regions that are underrepresented on the NYSTIA board?
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: NYSTIA's commitment to purposeful action around diversity, equity, and inclusion is also a factor in candidate selection. Is the candidate a member of a segment of New York State's population currently underrepresented on the NYSTIA Board of Directors?
• Expertise: Does the candidate have specialized knowledge and/or professional skills that will contribute to the board's efficacy?

Each year, seven (7) of NYSTIA's twenty-one (21) board members complete their three (3) year term of service. In 2022, four (4) board members are completing their first board term and have elected to serve a second term; three (3) have already completed two terms and will be leaving the board. In addition, two members have left the board due to retirement or a change of employment. This is an extraordinary year, as we are proposing a slate with a total of 9 candidates. If elected, four (4) will be returning for a second term, three (3) will be joining the board for their first term, and two (2) will be assuming the terms of the board members who left the board.

We have been fortunate to receive a number of candidate nominations from individuals interested in serving on the Board of Directors and an outstanding group of individuals comprise the proposed slate of candidates. The Nominating Committee is confident that they will put their expertise, enthusiasm and experience to work for the advancement of New York State's tourism industry and their NYSTIA colleagues. In fact, they already do! The candidates proposed have already dedicated time to NYSTIA committees, participated in NYSTIA marketing co-ops, supported NYSTIA grant proposals, regularly attended NYSTIA events and responded to our advocacy calls-to-action.

The Nominating Committee respectfully submits the proposed 2022 Slate of Candidates for election to the Board of Directors of the New York State Tourism Industry Association, listed below with their organization, member category and NYS tourism region, and endorses their election to the board at the 2022 Annual Meeting:

Candidates with terms expiring in 2022 who have opted to run for election for a second term of office:

• Jennifer Ackerson,
  President & CEO, ALON Marketing Group – Allied and Vendors – Statewide / Long Island
• Annamaria Bellantoni,
  Vice President of Tourism, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce – TPA – Capital-Saratoga
• Corey Fram,
  Director of Tourism, 1000 Islands International Tourism Council – TPA – Thousand Islands-Seaway
• Sara Poe,
  Vice President for Marketing & Communications, Rochester Strong National Museum of Play – Museum – Finger Lakes

Candidates who, if elected, will be joining the board for the first time:

• Hayley Coriaty
  Manager, Tourism & Trade, One World Observatory - Attractions - NYC
• Todd Garofano
  Executive Director, Discover Schenectady - TPA - Capital-Saratoga
• Gary Hahn
  Vice President, Marketing & Communications, National Comedy Center - Museum - Chautauqua-Allegheny
• Cassandra Harrington
  Executive Director, Destination Marketing Corporation, serving Otsego and Schoharie Counties - TPA - Central New York
• Kristy Kennedy
  VP, Marketing & Business Development, North Country Chamber of Commerce, - TPA - Adirondack Region

Thank you on behalf of the members of the Nominating Committee: Josiah Brown, Hillarie Logan-Dechene and Ken Meifert.