The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO) reached a major milestone this week at its Annual Spring Symposium in Warrenton. The association celebrated the first graduating class of the VADMO Tourism Leadership Institute (VTLI), a new initiative designed to bridge the gap between industry expertise and executive leadership. Through a partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), these professionals mastered a rigorous curriculum covering leadership, communication, planning and budget to earn their Certified Virginia Tourism Professional (CVTP) credentials.
VTLI is a two-year program that includes four (4) required, in-person sessions and a Tourism Impact Capstone Project as a part of the certification process. The sessions are held in four (4) different regions across the Commonwealth, and the course work is designed to move participants toward earning an industry credential with a planned recertification process. These quarterly, in-person meetings provide important peer-to-peer networking opportunities in addition to the educational content and testing.
“The VTLI program and the new CVTP credential is an important initiative that will have a positive impact on the tourism profession in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Rita McClenny, President of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Through this credentialing opportunity, tourism staff in our localities will have access to cutting-edge training modules, current trends and challenges facing the tourism industry, and be trained with best practices in leadership, management, communications and public financing.”
According to Justin Kerns, VADMO President and Director of Winchester Frederick Convention & Visitors Bureau, “The VTLI is a very important professional development tool for tourism leaders and staff across the Commonwealth. Our industry has seen many changes, and the impacts of recent global events endorses the need for these public sector professionals to pursue credentials and best practices in their localities and around Virginia.” He also added, “Tourism generates significant revenue to the Commonwealth and its local communities as we see the VADMO membership introduce more creative place-making opportunities and events to showcase all that Virginia has to offer tourist visiting our communities.”
Graduates of this first cohort of the VTLI include:
- Casey Armstrong, Richmond Region Tourism
- Ellen Frazier, Marion Community & Economic Development
- Mary Fugere, Hampton CVB
- Tracey Gardner, Madison County
- LaTonya Hamilton, Halifax County Tourism
- Samantha Johnson, City of Staunton
- Justin Kerns, Winchester Frederick County CVB
- Brooke Love, Carroll County Tourism
- James McCann, City of Portsmouth- Museums & Tourism Dept
- Lisa Meriwether, Visit SoSi
- Laura Messer, Virginia Tourism Corporation
- Ben Owen, Halifax County Tourism
- Paige Read, Town of Culpeper
- Kelly Rowland, Visit Martinsville
- Erika Tolbert, Pulaski County Tourism
- Patty Williams, Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism
- Judy Winslow, Smithfield Isle of Wight Tourism
For more information on VTLI and VADMO, please visit the VADMO website at www.VADMO.org.
