Governor Gregoire Announces Appointments to the New Washington Tourism Commission

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2007

Washingtonians from Chelan, Kennewick, Mukilteo, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, Walla Walla appointed to commission to promote tourism to state

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today announced that she has appointed the members of the newly created Washington Tourism Commission. Governor Gregoire requested the creation of the commission, through legislation that she signed into law in April, to help promote Washington as a visitor destination. The commission will create a strategic plan for tourism development as well as a biennial marketing plan to draw more tourists to Washington. In addition to creating the commission, the legislation more than doubled state funding for tourism promotion through a public-private partnership.

�Tourism is economic development. Tourism means jobs and income for Washington families and businesses,� said Governor Gregoire. �Washington is a unique state with a lot to offer. People want to travel here and now we are making it clear that we want them to travel here with a comprehensive tourism strategy and sufficient funding.�

Washington State Tourism Commission:

Kim Bennett of Vancouver has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2009. Bennett is the president and chief executive officer of the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has over 11 years experience in developing, managing and directing economic development agencies, including the establishment of the Vancouver-based visitors bureau. Bennett serves on the executive board of the Southwest Washington Tourism Coalition and is a member of the Washington Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and the Western Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

Clinton Campbell of Chelan has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2009. Campbell is the vice president of operations and the marketing director for Campbell�s Resort on Lake Chelan and managed the NoSeeUm Orchard for 20 years. He is a co-founder, board member and the past chair of the Lake Chelan Tourism Promotion Group as well as the Chelan Valley Independent School. He was a member of the board of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Campbell of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Campbell is the president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association, which produces events such as the Seattle Boat Show. He began his career in event planning with the Portland International Raceway after being a professional racecar driver. In 1976, he formed Campbell Sports and produced events such as rodeos, football games, professional tennis events and the World Indoor Paper Airplane Championships at the Seattle Center and Kingdome. Campbell served as the president of the Sports and Events Council of Seattle for three years.

Dennis Clark of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Clark is the general manager of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. His hospitality career spans 25 years, beginning with Hyatt Hotels and including ten years with Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts. Clark came to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in 1994 and managed the Fairmont San Jose and the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. He was awarded in 2002 the Massachusetts Lodging Association�s General Manager of the Year Award.

Frank Finneran of Seattle has been appointed to the seat on the commission designated for the chair of the Washington Convention and Trade Center. His term is effective July 27, 2007, ending at the Governor�s pleasure. Finneran is the president and chief executive officer of Frank K. Finneran & Co., hospitality industry consultants, and the chair the Washington Convention and Trade Center. He has served as general manager of the Fairmont Olympic and Westin hotels in Seattle and the Plaza Hotel in New York City, as managing director for the developer of the Seattle Sheraton and as chief operating officer of the Space Needle Corporation. Finneran is twice the past-president of the Washington Hotel and Motel Association and past-president of the Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to the hotel industry, including recognition as Washington�s Hotelier of the Year.

Chad S. Mackay of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2009. Mackay is the president and chief operating officer of Mackay Restaurants, founded by his father, Paul Mackay. He was the vice president of business operations for the company. The Mackay Restaurants include El Gaucho, Waterfront Seafood Grill, Troiani Ristorante Italiano, Sea Grill and the Inn at El Gaucho. Mackay has worked in the restaurant industry for over 23 years, working at 13 Coins, Lanaus and Palomino�s, as well as holding varied roles in his family�s restaurants.

Richard D. Meadows of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Meadows is the executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line, part of the Carnival Corporation. He has been a part of the cruise industry for 20 years and served as vice president of sales and marketing for Seabourn Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises prior to his current position. He is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association�s executive and management committees and is a member of the board of the Seattle Repertory Theater.

John M. Taffin of Spokane has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2008. Taffin is the executive vice president of hotel operations for Red Lion Hotels, where he began working 25 years ago. He held several managerial positions for Cavanaughs Hospitality before taking a position as a managing partner of the Yogo Inn of Lewiston in Montana, and returned to Red Lion Hotels in 2003. He served as president of the Washington Hotel and Lodging Association and of the Spokane Innkeepers Association, as well as a board member for the Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane Tourism Tax Advisory Board and the Washington Tourism Advisory Board.

Brad K. Walker of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2009. Walker is the director of leisure marketing for Alaska Airlines, where he has worked since 1983. He is on the board of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau and is a member of many boards in Alaska, including the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Walker is also active with the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, where he helped to found the annual VINE wine auction.

Sandra Ward of Mukilteo has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2009. Ward is the marketing director for the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour and has over thirty years of experience working in the tourism and travel industry. Ward was the executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau and the Convention and Visitor Bureau in Ogden, Utah. She serves on the Cascade Loop Association Board and the Washington Tourism Advisory Board. Ward served nine years on the Snoqualmie County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, has been recognized as Woman of the Year by Utah Business Magazine and was named Tourism Professional of the Year in 2000 by Washington Tourism.

Kris Watkins of Kennewick has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2008. Watkins is the president and chief executive officer of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, where she established the Tri-Cities Sports Council, the Tri-Cities Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council. She has also been host to the Wine-Tourism Forum and played an integral role in developing the Tri-Cities� Regional Convention Center. Watkins serves on the board of the Tri-Cities Industrial Development Council, the Benton Franklin Council of Governments and the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center. She has received the Sam Volpentest Leadership Award and the Washington Tourism Professional of the Year Award.

Don Welsh of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2010. Welsh is the president and chief executive officer of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau after serving as the senior vice president of sales and marketing. He has over 20 years of experience working in the tourism industry. He was a founding member of and directed marketing for Horizon Air, and he worked for Westin Hotels and Resorts as the vice president of sales and marketing for North America. Prior to coming to Seattle, Welsh was the vice president of business development for HelmsBriscoe, a meeting-planning firm.

Larry Williams of Olympia has been appointed to the seat on the commission designated for a representative from the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). His term is effective July 27, 2007, ending at the Governor�s pleasure. Williams is the assistant director for international trade and economic development for CTED. He was the international trade director for CTED, managing development staff in six foreign offices. Williams helped organize the Governor�s trade missions to these six countries and organized Governor Gregoire�s Global Competitiveness Council. Before coming to Washington, he was the director of operations for the international trade division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Duane C. Wollmuth of Walla Walla has been appointed to a term effective July 27, 2007, ending June 30, 2008. Wollmuth is a co-founder and managing partner of Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla. He and his wife, Mary, also own and operate Biscuit Ridge Vineyards near Dixie. Wollmuth is on the board of the Washington Wine Institute and Washington Wine Country. He was on the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, is a founding member of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and served five years on the Washington Tourism Advisory Committee.

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