HEARD AROUND THE STATE … Congratulations Are In Order!

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Gary Gagnon was recently recognized with the 2004 Excellence in Teaching Award at Central Michigan University. Each year CMU recognizes five professors from the more than 1,000 faculty members at CMU.  The committee considers the nominee's teaching credentials, fellow faculty member recommendations and student opinions of instructor effectiveness for the award.  Gagnon is a tenure track faculty member in the Department of Marketing & Hospitality Services Administration in the College of Business at CMU.

At their annual meeting held February 11 in Lansing, the Michigan Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (MACVB) announced their executive officers for year 2004.  These elected officers are:  Mary Kerr (Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau), President; Ilene Geiss-Wilson (Grayling Visitors Bureau), Vice President; Jerry Preston (Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau), Treasurer; Sally Laukitis (Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau), Secretary; Marci Cisneros (Grand Haven/Spring Lake Area Visitors Bureau) Director-at-Large; Tom Nemachek (Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association) Past President.  MACVB is comprised of 47 member Bureaus located throughout the State of Michigan.  The mission of MACVB is to serve as the advocate for its members through education and communication, while representing their legislative interests.

After helping build the face of Cadillac for the past ten years, Carol Potter is taking her energy to Utah.  The former director of the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau has accepted a job as the executive director of the Mountain Trails Foundation in Park City, Utah.  In her new career, Potter will be responsible for public education, improvement of trails, grant writing and planning of special events.  During her time in Cadillac, Potter spearheaded several projects such as First Night Cadillac, the Cadillac Sound Garden, the Cadillac Chestnut Harvest Festival, the White Pine Trail, Golf Cadillac, and the Clam River Greenway.



Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute (EDI) has announced the winners in its second-round competition for best practices in tourism and destination management. A follow-up to its 2002 collection of best practices, this effort helps the local, state, national and international tourism and destination management industry adopt successful approaches in the areas of research, funding, professional development, Web marketing and sustainable tourism.  Nominations were submitted by tourism and destination management organizations worldwide.  A cross-section of the industry is represented in this year's award-winners, including eight state organizations, five international organizations, four convention and visitors bureaus, two local organizations and one university program. The following Michigan programs were designated as "best practices" in their respective fields:  Research: Mackinac State Historic Parks, Web Marketing: Travel Michigan, and Best Practice Adapters: Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce & Lodging Association.  

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