SPEAKERS
Top industry experts from across the country will be featured speakers to share insights and advice on growing Colorado tourism.
Daniel Levine
Tomorrow Today: The Five Social Trends that will Propel Colorado Tourism into the Next Decade
October 1, 2008
11:45am – 1:30pm
Opening Lunch
Daniel Levine is a celebrated international trend hunter with a sharp eye for discovering pioneers in business and consumer culture. Hailed as a "genius" by Elle magazine and "the ultimate guru of cool" by CNN, he is the author of over 20 best-selling travel books, a frequent guest on international television and radio (including BBC, HBO, NBC and Fox, among many others), and is regularly quoted in leading newspapers and magazines. As the Executive Director of Avant-Guide Institute in New York City, Levine is the ultimate insider, tracking major social trends for over a decade. He is the hands-on leader of an international team of journalist "coolhunters" who endlessly scour the globe chronicling the latest ideas, trends and experiences, and he is often sought to consult with leading international travel-related companies ranging from MasterCard to Samsonite Black Label to help them understand trends in contemporary culture that will effect their growth and prosperity.
Sharon Glidden
October 1, 2008
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Breakout Session
Sharon Glidden is the owner, operator and the Director of Marketing/Product Development for Tiger Mountain Ranch. Glidden moved from Florida to Oklahoma to open Tiger Mountain Ranch as a premier vacation destination ranch. Since that time, Glidden has been on the front lines, working to increase tourism, more specifically agritourism, for Oklahoma. Glidden has maintained her primary focus in assisting the development of regional bus tours, multilevel marketing strategies for producers, co-op advertising opportunities, risk management/liability education and policy development. With her understanding of the importance of forming partnerships, lending support, and identifying producers that have something positive to offer in tourism, Glidden has now successfully penetrated the European market as a destination for Tiger Mountain Ranch. Her infectious "Together We Grow" philosophy is what she credits for the ranch's success.
Jep Enck
October 1, 2008
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Breakout session
Jep Enck is no stranger to the tourism and outdoor recreation industry. Upon his arrival in Colorado in 1980 he joined the U.S. Forest Service as a wilderness guard in the Rawah Wilderness Area and shortly thereafter he became the trail crew foreman for its trail systems. Enck later joined the Young Adult Conservation Corp and became a fire crew boss and was awarded a commendation for bravery in the rescue and resuscitation of a drowning victim in the Cache la Poudre River. After attending graduate school at Colorado State University, Enck became the founder and first executive director of the Activities Youth Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Through his stewardship the agency received local, state and national recognition: Outstanding Community Service Award from President Ronald Reagan; Excellence in Leadership Training for Governor Roy Romer; Outstanding Agency Award from the Campfire Youth Programs; The Merit Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and a Human Relations Award from Larimer County, Colorado.
Enck became involved as a consultant and trainer in the development of 13 youth recreation programs throughout Colorado and his work was recognized with the Colorado State Prevention Award of Excellence for providing youth alternatives to drug and alcohol use. For the past 15 years, Enck has traveled across the United States and Canada as a trainer and consultant providing useful and entertaining programs for organizations such as Vail Associates, South Dakota Department of Tourism, University of Alberta Recreation, and Alaska State Parks.
Laura Daily
October 2, 2008
8:00am – 9:30am
Breakfast
Denver-based freelancer Laura Daily specializes in consumer advocacy and money-saving tips for travelers, as well as travel industry trends. She is a contributing editor to AARP The Magazine and writes on a regular basis for AAA World, AARP.org, the Dallas Morning News, Consumer Reports Money Adviser, and Geico Direct. Daily is the current President of the Society of American Travel Writers and a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Her web site is www.dailywriter.net.
Barbara Morrow
October 2, 2008
8:00am – 9:30am
Breakfast
Barbara Morrow is the Senior Travel Editor for Midwest Living® magazine. With more than four million monthly readers, Midwest Living® magazine is an authority for the region, especially in travel. Morrow has written and edited travel articles for the magazine since 1989, including stories about every part of the region. She helps leads the editorial travel and special publications team, traveling throughout the region and developing relationships within the travel industry. A Missouri native, Morrow is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked as a newspaper reporter and editorial page editor, and has written and/or edited more than a dozen books, including Midwest Living® travel guides.
Andrea Beaumont
October 2, 2008
8:00am – 9:30am
Breakfast
Andrea Beaumont is a Segment Producer based in Denver for Good Morning America. Andrea started her career interning for ABC News in London before before taking a full time position with the network in New York City. Prior to the September 11 terror attacks she began working for Good Morning America. Andrea worked as a control room producer during the anthrax attacks, the bombing of Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. Over the past seven years she has traveled to a variety of stories including the Kobe Bryant case, the Michael Jackson trial, the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricanes Rita and Wilma, the arrest of John Mark Karr, the Bailey school shootings, Warren Jeffs' trial, the FLDS raid, the Iowa floods, and the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In 2005 she transferred to Colorado to cover the mountain region for Good Morning America. A Colorado native, she is happy to be close to her family, friends and the mountains. Andrea is a 2001 graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Philip Wolf
The New Rules for Destination Marketing
October 3, 2008
8:00am – 9:30am
Breakfast
Philip Wolf, a respected travel industry guru, founded PhoCusWright Inc. in 1994 and serves as president and CEO. His expertise in travel distribution strategy, technology and innovation has made him a sought-after speaker around the world. After two decades of analyzing, scrutinizing and opining on strategic change and market trends, he is now a recognized industry authority. Philip serves on several company boards and is an adjunct professor at New York University's Graduate Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. He is quoted frequently in consumer and trade media including CNN, Business Week, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and was named to Travel Weekly's "Club 33: The Most Influential People in the Travel Industry." Prior to PhoCusWright, Wolf was president and CEO of Travelmation, a venture-funded software developer and travel booking engine pioneer, later sold to Rosenbluth International. Wolf is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University and holds a MBA from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.
Sarah Rotman Epps
How To Create A Winning Social Media Strategy For Your Organization
October 2, 2008
10:00am – 11:30am
Breakout session
Sarah Rotman Epps joined Forrester Research in 2004 and looks specifically at the travel and media industries. Epps's research has defined opportunities for travel professionals to use social computing to engage customers, to develop relevant services for the mobile channel, and to benchmark their websites against competitors to maximize business opportunities. Her research has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and travel industry publications such as Travel Trade. Prior to her analyst role, Epps was a researcher and an editor at Forrester, supporting Forrester's research in the travel, retail, and financial services industries. Before joining Forrester, she was the publishing director at Let's Go Publications where she oversaw the publication of the annually updated series of 40 books. She also worked for Let's Go as a writer and editor, writing new coverage for Let's Go Hawaii, Let's Go Boston, Let's Go Austria & Switzerland, and Let's Go Southeast Asia. Epps graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in visual and environmental studies.
Karl Mecklenburg
Six Keys to Success in a Changing Market
October 3, 2008
11:45am – 1:30pm
Closing Lunch
A former Denver Broncos captain and All-Pro, Karl Mecklenburg rose from being a college walk-on and a 12th round draft pick to a pro career that included six Pro Bowl and three Super Bowl appearances. Considered the NFL's most versatile player, Mecklenburg played all seven defensive front positions. Since retiring from pro football in 1995, Mecklenburg divides his time between family, motivational speaking, and his ongoing charity involvements. Mecklenburg is a member of the National Speakers Association and he has enjoyed speaking to a variety of groups over the years, and his story is both humorous and inspirational. The lessons that life in the NFL taught him about teamwork, courage, dedication, desire, honesty and forgiveness, and goal setting can be applied anywhere. In 1987, Mecklenburg co-authored Meck For The Defense, published by McGraw-Hill. Look for his new book Heart of a Student Athlete coming soon.
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