VISIT FLORIDA Official Media Newsroom

Executive Staff

	Chris Thompson is President and Chief Executive Officer for VISIT FLORIDA® In this role, Mr. Thompson leads the state's destination marketing organization in partnership with the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, the Florida Commission on Tourism and the statewide tourism industry. VISIT FLORIDA, the Official Tourism Marketing Corporation for the State of Florida, was created by the Florida Legislature in 1996 as a public/private partnership with the Florida Commission on Tourism. VISIT FLORIDA's mission is to promote travel and drive visitation to and within Florida, supporting its vision to establish the Sunshine State as the #1 travel destination in the world. In doing so, VISIT FLORIDA creates and adds value for its statewide tourism industry Partners through co-operative destination marketing programs, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Thompson has over twenty nine years of professional experience, including twenty six years in tourism at the state and local levels. His tourism career began with the Division of Tourism in the former Florida Department of Commerce in April 1983, and he was subsequently appointed Bureau Chief over Domestic Tourism in April 1986. In November 1988, he was appointed the first Executive Director of the Leon County Tourist Development Council, adding to his resume the position of President and CEO of the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in April 1991. In August 1995, Mr. Thompson founded MarketServe, Inc., a professional management, marketing and planning services company based in Tallahassee, Florida.. Mr. Thompson has served on numerous national, regional, state and local trade associations and organizations and is currently active in service as: US Travel Association Board of Directors Member Executive Committee Member Policy Council Member Travel Promotion Act Implementation Task Force Member Board of Directors Member, Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors Member, Florida Sports Foundation Member, Travel and Tourism Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Back of Atlanta Member, Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council Member, Destination Marketing Association International Member, Association of Travel Marketing Executives Member, International SKAL. In 1980, Mr. Thompson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida.
	As Chief Marketing Officer, Will Seccombe is responsible for promoting the VISIT FLORIDA brand and for leading the domestic and international sales, advertising, promotions and public relations teams. Will is also responsible for VISIT FLORIDA's interactive marketing, research, new product development and industry relations efforts. Prior to joining VISIT FLORIDA, Will devoted 19 years in the Colorado tourism industry. Will is a member of the Destination and Travel Foundation, the Association of Travel Marketing Executives, National Western Association and the Chief Marketing Officer Council.
	Chief Financial Officer Vangie McCorvey takes care of all financial aspects of VISIT FLORIDA, as well as overseeing the Human Resources and Management Information Services departments. She also serves as the corporation's representative on the Finance Committee of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. Joining the corporation in 1996, she holds an accounting degree from Florida State University and is a Florida licensed certified public accountant.
	Eileen Forrow is VISIT FLORIDA's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, directing all domestic and international interaction with travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners as well as participation in travel-trade and consumer shows. Before coming aboard in 1999, she was president of EFC Marketing America, a private tourism promotional firm. Her extensive career has included positions with international tour operators, airlines and destination marketing organizations.
	VISIT FLORIDA's Vice President of Visitor Services David Dodd is responsible for the operation of the state's five Official Florida Welcome Centers, which also handle all visitor information requests via the corporation's 1-888-7-FLAUSA toll-free number. He originally joined the corporation in the sales arena in 1996 and before that was a development representative at the Florida Department of Commerce Division of Tourism.

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