VISIT Milwaukee Names 2018-2019 Officers and Board of Directors
MILWAUKEE— (June 21, 2018) – VISIT Milwaukee has announced its officers and Board of Directors for the business year 2018-2019. New to the Board this year are Steve Baas of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (MMAC), Brian Dranzik of General Mitchell International Airport, Dr. Eve Hall of the Milwaukee Urban League, Kristine Hillmer of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA), Tracy Johnson of the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW), James Kanter of MillerCoors, Greg Marcus of the Marcus Corporation, Gerard Randall, Jr. of Milwaukee Education Partnership, and Jim Villa of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP).
Officers:
| Chair | Omar Shaikh* | SURG Restaurant Group |
| Treasurer/Secretary | Lynda Kohler* | SHARP Literacy, Inc. |
| Acting Past Chair | Paul Mathews* | Marcus Center for the Performing Arts |
| President & CEO &nb sp; | Paul Upchurch * | VISIT Milwaukee |
| Assistant Secretary | Dana Jones* | VP of Finance & Administration, VISIT Milwaukee |
Board Members:
| Rafael Acevedo* | City of Milwaukee |
| Steve Baas | MMAC |
| Joe Bartolotta | Bartolotta Restaurant Group |
| Ald. Cheryl Berdan | City of Wauwatosa |
| Grady L. Crosby | Johnson Controls Inc. |
| Bill Davidson | Harley-Davidson Museum |
| Brian Dranzik | General Mitchell International Airport |
| Mayor Kathy Ehley* | City of Wauwatosa |
| Jeremy Fojut | Newaukee | Mark Flaherty* | Jackson Street Holdings |
| Dr. Eve Hall | The Milwaukee Urban League |
| Kristine Hillmer | WRA |
| Tracy Johnson | CARW |
| James Kanter | MillerCoors |
| Lynda Kohler* | SHARP Literacy, Inc. |
| Tom Malloy | Potawatomi Hotel & Casino |
| Greg Marcus* | Marcus Corporation |
| Paul Mathews* | Marcus Center for the Performing Arts |
| Rose Murack * | Radisson Hotel Milwaukee-West |
| David Murphy | Marquette University |
| Kathleen O’Leary | Wisconsin State Fair |
| Tai Pauls | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Marcelle Polednik | Milwaukee Art Museum |
| Gerard Randall, Jr. | Milwaukee Education Partnership |
| Omar Shaikh* | SURG Restaurant Group |
| Don Smiley | Summerfest |
| Howard Snyder | Northwest Side Community Development Center |
| John Steinmiller* | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Teig Whaley-Smith* | Milwaukee County |
| Jim Villa | NAIOP |
| Melissa Weiss | City of Wauwatosa |
| Chuck Wikenhauser | Milwaukee County Zoo |
*Denotes Executive Committee
As the image and tourism marketing organization for the greater Milwaukee area, VISIT Milwaukee is responsible for growing our local tourism economy, generating revenues for local business, increasing taxes paid by tourists and growing tourism-related jobs.
Board Directors volunteer their time to assist in providing overall strategic direction to VISIT Milwaukee and by advocating its mission to the community. The Board assists in developing the strategic plan, and helps the organization achieve its goals through participation in committees and Board meetings.
About VISIT Milwaukee
VISIT Milwaukee is the Greater Milwaukee area’s convention & visitors bureau, marketing the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region. Each year, tourism supports over 50,000 full-time jobs and brings in over $5 billion to the community. VISIT Milwaukee has over 680 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. The City of Wauwatosa, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.