O’Kelley Appointed to National Tourism Advocacy Network
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O’Kelley Appointed to National Tourism Advocacy Network

Posted on 08/21/19
O’Kelley Appointed to National Tourism Advocacy Network Tammy O'Kelley, CEO, Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau

The Board of Directors of the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority is pleased to announce that Tammy O’Kelley has been invited to join the United States Travel Association’s “State Travel Action Network” representing North Carolina’s tourism industry. O’Kelley currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Development Authority overseeing the staffing and operations of the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the county’s official destination marketing organization; and the I-73/74 Visitor Centers.

The State Travel Action Network or STAN is a group of leading tourism industry members who are engaged in advocacy around promotion and funding matters before state and local governments. STAN’s mission is to convene these leaders on a biannual basis to provide collaboration and education opportunities around industry advocacy with lawmakers. Additionally, STAN members receive federal legislative updates about the issues USTA is engaged in with Congress and the Administration. The bi-annual STAN meetings are held during USTA’s ESTO (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations) Conference and Destination Capitol Hill, an event that brings travel leaders from across the country to Washington, D.C. each year to educate policymakers about the power of travel. Additionally, STAN members participate in quarterly meetings by teleconference.

“I am very pleased to be joining STAN and look forward to working with the members and USTA staff on their continued efforts to bring impactful advocacy efforts from our industry forward at the national level,” said O’Kelley, who recently attended her first meeting during ESTO 2019 in Austin, TX.

O’Kelley has led the Tourism Development Authority since August 2006 serving in many local, regional, state, and national rolls during that time. She was a recipient of the Triad Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business award in 2015.

Board chairman, David Caughron, stated, “Tammy has an extensive background in tourism advocacy having served as a past chairperson of the NC Travel & Tourism Board of Directors and currently as Vice-Chairperson of the NC Travel & Tourism Coalition whose members develop legislative initiatives on behalf of the industry and information to legislators during legislative sessions. She has represented Randolph County and North Carolina many times over the years at Destination Capitol Hill and will be an asset to this advocacy network.”

The Randolph County Tourism Development Authority Board oversees the operations of  the Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau, the official destination marketing organization for Randolph County, representing Archdale, Asheboro, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman, Seagrove, Staley, and Trinity; and the I-73/74 Visitor Centers, a partnership with the County of Randolph and NC Departments of Commerce and Transportation.

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