STEPHAN EARNHART

Secretary-Treasurer

Stephan Earnhart is a veteran in the Hospitality & Tourism industry of over 25 years. Mr. Earnhart was educated at Cornell, Ecôle hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland and holds a Bachelors Degree from Portland (Oregon) State University and a MBA in Hospitality Management. He has worked as a hospitality leader and consultant with such prestigious clients as Swiss Deluxe Hotels, Walt Disney World, Four Seasons Hotels and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and as Director of Operations for the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Florida, USA. As Academic Director at the Swiss Hotel Management School in Leysin, Switzerland, Stephan is developing the next generations of hospitality leaders.

J GARY ELLIS

Gary's accomplishments and experience span more than 25 years. He is a member of the Alabama Hospitality Hall of Fame and is active in many industry organizations, including the Southeast Tourism Society, Visit Florida, and the Tourism & Travel Research Association. He was recently appointed to the Advisory Council for the Alabama House Tourism and Travel Committee, is a past vice-president of the Alabama Hospitality Association, and is currently vice-chairman of the Alabama Tourism Partnership, a coalition of tourism entities working together to facilitate a stronger and growing Alabama industry. Gary serves as Executive Director of SouthCoast USA, a regional marketing initiative for the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and northwest Florida. In 1988, Gary founded Compass Marketing, which focuses on travel hospitality marketing with a specialization in leisure, culinary, golf, and cultural marketing programs for more than 500 clients in 12 southeast states. Ellis is publisher of Southern Breeze, a regional lifestyle publication of Compass Marketing, which covers travel, food, home and entertainment along the northern Gulf Coast and reaches over 100,000 readers each issue. As a brand extension of Southern Breeze, Gary produces the Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour, a series of wine and culinary events targeting upscale visitors. Gary currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Gulf of Mexico Foundation, a non-profit foundation focused on maintaining a sustainable quality of life for those living and working along the Gulf Coast region through coalitions with the major business sectors such as energy, tourism, agriculture and commercial fishing as well as research institutions.

KATHY MCAREE

Kathryn McAree is blazing the culinary tourism trail having created Vancouver Island’s only culinary tour company, Travel With Taste. With a love of world travel and happiest when up to her elbows in gastronomic wizardry, Kathy was a foodie from a young age. She spent most of her career in hotels and packaged goods before having a “eureka” moment when traveling in Italy. She realized that the bounty of organic farms, vineyards, cheese makers, wild seafood, et al that make Vancouver Island unique, would appeal to a kind of globe trotting, palate pleased traveler. Kathy now brings the world to feast at the plenteous tables of Vancouver Island, knowing this secret is best when shared with many. Kathy is a board member of the British Columbia Culinary Tourism Society and a leading force in the Wine Islands Project working to promote BC and the island as a culinary tourism destination.

DON MONSOUR

Don is a founding member of the Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, and was appointed its President in 2001. He is the current Chair of the Victoria Restaurant Association. He has been a member and director of many organizations including the Canadian Food Services Executives Association and Tourism British Columbia. In addition to serving as Chair of the International Culinary Tourism Association, Don currently holds the positions of Chair of Culinary Tourism Society of British Columbia, Director on the BC Culinary Arts Foundation, and board member of the Victoria Chefs Association.

HAROLD D PARTAIN CTC

Being equally at home in Italy and Texas, Harold Partain has dedicated over 30 years to the travel industry. His ownership, management and training skills have lead several companies to success and recognition. Harold, a senior partner with McCabe Travel Group, lectures on travel styles and trends, destination, and the history of food – the past four years at Brookhaven College in Dallas, and for various travel organizations and conferences. The theme of his lectures as well as professional specialization is the Mediterranean region. Focused on culinary and wine tourism Harold has marketed creatively designed travel experiences such as; Pilgrimage for the Perfect Pinot Noir, The Architecture of Wine Making: Spain’s Commitment to the Future, Arts and Opera – A Taste of the Veneto, Down on the Farm – Italian Style, and Assaggio Toscana! ... among many others. Just outside Dallas, Harold is actively involved with a local team in the reclamation and conservation of the Blackland Prairie. An early 20th century farm undergoing restoration as a B&B and restaurant is the focal point of an ecologically and architecturally responsible clustered-homes development utilizing open spaces with native plants and wildlife management systems. Harold is an avid supporter and member of the Slow Food movement (Dallas Convivium).

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