TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –With the start of its new fiscal year on July 1, VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – ushers in new leadership to serve on its Executive Committee, Board of Directors and industry committees.  Nearly 240 VISIT FLORIDA partners, including some of the industry’s foremost experts, have been selected to represent the tourism industry for the upcoming term.

Maryann Ferenc, President & CEO of Mise en Place in Tampa, will take over as the new Chair of the 2017-2018 VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors.  Ferenc succeeds William D. “Bill” Talbert, III, CDME, President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, who served as Chair for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

“This past year was filled with many challenges and we are forever grateful for the leadership and passion Bill has shown,” said Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA.  “As we move into a new year, I cannot think of a better successor than Maryann. As a successful Florida entrepreneur with more than 30 years of restaurant and hospitality management expertise, and her many years of service on tourism-industry boards at the local, state and national levels, she understands the needs of VISIT FLORIDA’s broad partner base.”

During her upcoming year as Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, Ferenc intends to focus on efforts that will propel the Sunshine State’s tourism industry to reach the goal of 120 million visitors to the state.

“We have a wonderfully diverse tourism industry who are well represented by those serving on our board and committees. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues and the staff at VISIT FLORIDA to ensure the momentum we have achieved leads to even greater success in the future,” said Ferenc. “Coming off of our sixth consecutive record-setting year, we are better positioned than ever to make Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

The Board of Directors is the organization’s private sector governing body who, along with the members of its 11 committees, provide guidance, input and insight into the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing programs.  Appointed by Enterprise Florida in conjunction with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the 31-member board is comprised of representatives from key sectors of the tourism industry and is balanced geographically throughout the state.  The nine-member Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, made up of the officers and standing committee chairs, serves as the highest level of VISIT FLORIDA’s volunteer leadership.   

To view a sortable list of all Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Committee chairs and vice chairs, please click here.  A separate release announcing the members of the VISIT FLORIDA committees will go out on Thursday.  For additional information or for assistance with setting up interviews with any of VISIT FLORIDA’s executives or volunteer leadership, please contact Kathy Torian at 850-205-3865 or ktorian@VISITFLORIDA.org.