Melvin Tennant to take the reins at Meet Minneapolis™,
Official Convention + Visitors Association
Minneapolis (Vocus/PRWeb) April 23, 2008 – The officers of the Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors today announced Melvin Tennant has accepted the position as the new president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Since November 1, 2007, Tennant has held the position of interim president & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, while continuing to serve as chief executive for Meet Minneapolis’s software affiliate iDSS.
Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis
As president and CEO, Tennant will manage a staff of more than 60 and a budget of nearly $10 million. Meet Minneapolis is responsible for generating convention business that brings up to a half-billion dollars in economic impact to the area each year. Additionally, Tennant will continue oversight of the management and operations of iDSS, a private, for-profit company that delivers a complete web- based series of software applications for destination marketing organizations, associations, hotels and corporations.
“I am personally delighted that Melvin sought and agreed to accept the position,” said Jay Novak, Board Chair. “Six months ago, Melvin stepped into the role of interim president and CEO while remaining president and CEO of iDSS, and he has done a fantastic job balancing two difficult jobs. Given full authority by the board to pursue a fresh agenda, he will demonstrate the thoughtful, decisive, imaginative leadership that his position demands.”
Since arriving in Minneapolis, Tennant has served on the boards of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and HIRED, a leading Minneapolis Saint Paul area provider of job-skills training and employment training.
Tennant brings more than 25 years of industry experience to Meet Minneapolis. “Melvin has a deep history and is well connected in the hospitality industry yet brings a fresh perspective on new prospects for filling our convention center and our city streets with visitors and convention delegates alike,” Mayor R.T. Rybak said. “His broad background with key American cities will be invaluable to our competitiveness in this important economic industry."
Tennant relocated to Minneapolis from San Antonio, Texas where he was executive director for the Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce and chief innovation officer for Innovative Management Resources.
His career with destination management organizations began at the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he served as associate director of sales. He moved up the industry ranks becoming executive director of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau where he managed a staff of more than 90 and a budget of $13 million. Prior to San Antonio, Tennant served as CEO of the Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Charlotte.
Tennant is a graduate of Rice University and has received additional professional development from numerous organizations including the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Certified Association Executive designation. He is a published author and has served as a marketing consultant, speaker, facilitator and trainer for a variety of organizations.
Tennant has been a volunteer leader in organizations such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) / Center for Association Leadership, former chair of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, and the San Antonio Christian Business Chamber of Commerce to name a few.
ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS: Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes the Minneapolis area as a venue for conventions and meetings and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to bring a positive economic impact to the greater Minneapolis area.
Media Contact:
Laura McCarthy, Marketing Communications Director, 612.767.8028, lauram@meetminnepolis.com
Connie Stelter, Public Relations Manager, 612.767.8042, cstelter@meetminneapolis.com
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