2003-2004
Community Stakeholder Relations,
Strategic Partnerships, and Board Facilitation Highlights

In addition to providing overall management, this area of DCVB provides support to the DCVB Tourism Development Authority (Board of Directors), fosters strategic partnerships, provides services to the local news media, and reports to community stakeholders.

DCVB used inexpensive Web tools to glean opinions to inform important decisions such as the one above, launched on behalf of the Cultural Master Plan consultant and steering committee. (click to enlarge)

• Initiated a comprehensive 3rd-party “best-practice diagnostic” of DCVB by Performance Management, Inc. as part of the Bureau’s 15th anniversary.
• Conducted a complete SWOTS analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and solutions) of 250 attributes of Durham as a visitor destination.
• Developed the prototype annual flyer to compare school achievement among communities on an “apples and apples” basis to better inform newcomer decision-makers.
• Pioneered, with the Durham Delegation to the General Assembly, City Council, and Board of County Commissioners, an economic analysis of all existing and potential elements of a menu approach to visitor-related local option taxes.
• Hosted a session in Durham to facilitate the development of nationally shared standards, guidelines, and definitions for convention and meeting planners, destination marketing organizations, and meeting facilities.
• Stretched marketing dollars through more than 20 collaborations with the nearly 40-member N.C. Association of CVBs and the State Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development.
• Partnered with City and/or County and other partners on the State of Durham’s Economy Breakfast, Roadway Sign Audit, Cultural Master Plan survey, Parrish Street project, Crime Cabinet, performance indicators, Civic Center Authority, Capital Projects Review, appearance awards, Public Information & Communications Council, Family of Communities, festival evaluation, Events Center evaluation, and more.
• Forged strategic project partnerships with The Herald-Sun Newspapers Co., Duke University, and Duke University Health System.
• Collaborated with the new ABCD group representing Downtown residents, small businesses, and artists on a wide range of projects, including portal pages for the Durham Community Event Calendar.
• Served a term as President of the 200-member Durham Rotary Club and Board member for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and NCCU Hospitality Degree Program.
• Provided logistical support for monthly meetings of the DCVB - Tourism Development Authority including official records, budgets, financial reports, independent audits, marketing plans, and a new 5-year employment agreement and performance evaluation for the CEO.
• Collected and distributed occupancy tax funds to the City or County as stipulated in state legislation. Established a special DCVB capital reserve account for a proposed City Events Center/theater.
• Produced and distributed the Annual DCVB Progress Report to 4,500 civic and business leaders and other opinion-leaders in online and hard-copy formats.
• Initiated, at the request of the Mayor and the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, a process to shape general agreement among other stakeholders on a menu approach to visitor-related taxes to ensure the future sustainability of the non-profit, cultural elements of Durham as a destination.
• Conducted a survey of all U.S. airports on behalf of the County to gather best practices on tax revenue sharing by airports owned jointly by 2 or more jurisdictions but located in only one jurisdiction.
• Adapted from Asheville a prototype Durham Tourism Product Development Matching Grant Fund to be implemented by the DCVB - Tourism Development Authority when/if Durham’s occupancy tax legislation is conformed to House Finance Committee Guidelines endorsed by the N.C. Travel & Tourism Coalition.
• Co-anchored ongoing facilitation of “The Triangle – A Family of Communities” involving CVBs, chambers, cities, towns, and counties in the 3-county area. Worked with local media to launch public service ads. Conducted scientific polling of Triangle residents documenting that half had seen or heard the PSAs.
• Facilitated and spearheaded the 10-organization Durham Public Information & Communications Council with monthly meetings, an annual alignment meeting with the Council’s CEOs, and regular orientations for the news media.