Maryland Economic Development Association

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Maryland Tourism Council Elects 2010 Board of Directors
Ross Peddicord is New Chairman

Annapolis, MD-At the annual Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit (formerly known as the Governor's Tourism Industry Conference), Nov. 4-6, a full contingent of professionals from Maryland's tourism and travel industry elected the 2010 Board of Directors for the Maryland Tourism Council. The Board of Directors represent many facets of Maryland's tourism industry and their range of experience provides the necessary leadership to guide the directives of the MTC, foster its growth, and promote Maryland's tourism industry on business and consumer levels.

The 2009 Board was led by Chair Deb Carter with the Buttonwood Beach RV Resort in Earleville, and in her term the MTC faced the challenges of tourism budget cuts by the state but provided members with valuable resources and education for maintaining business and marketing efforts during down economic times. The 2010 Board will be led by Ross Peddicord, Co-Publisher of Maryland Life Magazine in Frederick. Ross expects the MTC to continue its lobbying for increased tourism budgets in 2010, but says "The members of the MTC are a strong representation of all our state has to offer and the revenue that the tourism industry brings to the state is significant so we are well poised to fight for budget increases in 2010."

Along with the election of Ross Peddicord as the 2010 Chair, the MTTS attendees elected Sandy Turner from Cecil County Tourism in Perryville to serve as First Vice Chair and Rachelina Bonacci from Howard County Tourism in Ellicott City to serve as Second Vice Chair. Monroe Harrison from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor was elected Treasurer and Scott Walker from the Hess Hotels Group in Edgewood was elected as Secretary. The 2010 Board of Directors will serve for two years and are supported by the Immediate Past Chair, three Past Chairs, six representatives from Maryland's various travel and tourism organizations and departments, and 13 Directors at Large who serve for two-year terms.

Initiatives of the 2010 Board of Directors for the Maryland Tourism Council include stepped up lobbying efforts with a Tourism Industry Awareness Day in Annapolis while the General Assembly is in session and planned growth of the MTC membership base with Barb Seigert of Queen Anne's County as the new membership chairman. Mary Jo McCulloch, President and CEO of the Maryland Tourism Council works directly with the elected Board and is looking forward to continuing the lobbying and marketing efforts of the MTC with the new Board.

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