ADMINISTRATION

CVB Executive Director – Dan Quandt, CAE (1998) - Dan is responsible for the overall operations, including development and implementation of the budget and marketing plan. Dan is also the Town’s public information officer during emergency situations. dan@sopadre.com

Deputy Director and Director of Sales – Connie Ledbetter, PDM (1997) Connie is responsible for the convention centre and sales operation. Connie is also involved in all aspects of CVB operations. connie@sopadre.com

Executive Assistant – Dinora Garcia (2002) Dinora is an office support specialist for the CVB. dinora@sopadre.com

CVB Accountant – Jim Viola (2001) Jim maintains the accounts of the CVB. jim@sopadre.com

CONVENTION CENTRE

Assistant Convention Centre Manager/Meeting and Event Coordinator – Dixie Rowell (1999) Dixie works with groups holding events in the convention centre, assuring we are set up to meet their needs. dixie@sopadre.com

Convention Centre Secretary/Receptionist – Lori Moore (2005) Lori assists with maintenance of convention centre contracts, coordination of the convention calendar and other clerical duties. lori@sopadre.com

Operations Foreman – Urbano Gonzalez (1994) Urbano coordinates the activities of the maintenance staff, which includes setting up/tearing down from all events and maintaining the interior and exterior of the building. urbano@sopadre.com

Full-time operations staff – Raymond Rios (1992), Juan Sanchez (1998), Miguel DeLara (1999), Reyes Troncoso (1999), Myrna Garcia (1999), Jesse Atkinson (2005), Jose L. Rodriguez (2006), Pedro Camacho (2006)

EVENT MARKETING

Special Event Coordinator – Mary K. Hancock. (1998)
Mary K. works with activities outside of the building, assisting with the coordination of Town resources and assisting with sponsorships. Mary K. is also our local location specialist for the South Padre Island Film Commission. maryk@sopadre.com

Special Event Coordinator – Coach Bear Honea. (2007)
Coach Bear assists with the coordination of sports-related events and sponsorships. coachbear@sopadre.com

VISITORS’ CENTER

Visitors’ Center Manager – Sylvia Mata. (1987) Sylvia is responsible for the operation of the visitors’ center, including the receiving and disseminating of visitor information requests. All visitor inquiries are handled through this office. sylviamata@sopadre.com

Information Counselor – Robert Garza. (1994) Robert is responsible for our mail operation as well as working with the public in the visitors’ center.

Information Counselor – Mary McMeekin (1999) Mary provides information to the public at the visitors’ center.

Information Counselor – Eliana SantaMaria (2006)                                                 
Eliana provides information to the public at the visitors’ center.

SALES AND MARKETING
The sales and marketing staff works on booking meetings, conventions and organized tourism activities on the Island. They work on booking events at individual hotels, multiple hotels and at the Convention Centre.

Sales Manager – Sylvia Soliz. (1997) Sylvia handles accounts in the Rio Grande Valley. sylviasoliz@sopadre.com

Sales Manager – Ben Guerrero. (1999) Ben is the national sales manager. His area also includes Dallas. ben@sopadre.com

CVB Deputy Director – Connie Ledbetter (1997) Connie also handles the Austin, San Antonio and Central Texas markets. cleo@sopadre.com

Sales Administrative – Rosa Zapata (2005) Rosa provides staff support to the sales team and to the convention centre. rosa@sopadre.com

International Tourism Coordinator – Lili DeRousie. (2000) Lili works with international travel agents, international wholesalers, meeting planners and tour operators concerning visits and packages to the Island. Lili’s focus is the international travel and leisure market. She also works with the nature and ecotourism market in Mexico and Canada. lili@sopadre.com

National Tourism Coordinator – DeeOnda Ahadi. (2006)
DeeOnda work with national travel agents and tour operators concerning visits and packages to the Island. Her area includes Houston and its surrounding cities. She also works closely with wholesalers, motor coach operators, family reunions, military reunions, military groups and weddings. deeonda@sopadre.com

Communications Director – Melissa Zamora (2005)
Melissa is responsible for all public relations aspects of the CVB including media contacts, travel writers, article preparation, photo library, etc. She also works closely with the CVB’s advertising agency. She serves as a public information officer for the Town’s Emergency Management Team. She also builds and maintains Web sites, including SPI’s Emergency Management Web site. melissa@sopadre.com

Convention Services Director – Celia “Sally’ Garza. (1995)
Sally oversees the services department in the hosting of conventions on the Island. sally@sopadre.com

Convention Services Housing Coordinator – Vedette Garza. (2006)
Vedette assists with maintenance of the MINT and TXMET meeting databases. She also coordinates housing for groups that request this special service. vedette@sopadre.com

Convention Services – Mayra Nunez (2006) Mayra assists with the convention services function of the CVB. mayra@sopadre.com