Visit Tri-Valley seats 2 new board members

Two new directors have been named to the board of Visit Tri-Valley, a destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and Danville.

The new directors are Scott Kenison, executive director of the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, and Bill Wheeler, owner and CEO of Black Tie Transportation in Pleasanton. They succeed Michelle Peters of Beets Hospitality and Andrew Ebel of Goodguys Rod & Custom Association on the 13-member board.

“Scott and Bill will bring new energy to the board, while providing a fresh perspective on two tourism sectors that are vital to our region’s economy: transportation and the arts,” said Barbara Steinfeld, the organization’s president.

Both were elected to serve a term of three years.

Members of the Visit Tri-Valley’s 2015-2016 board’s executive committee are Catherine Cheda, general manager, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Livermore, and chairwoman of the organization’s board; Marlene Fahrenkrog, general manager, Hyatt House Pleasanton, vice chairwoman: Ron Gapol, general manager, La Quinta Inn & Suites Dublin-Pleasanton, treasurer, and Nicole Mass, general manager, Larkspur Landing Pleasanton, secretary.

Besides newly-named directors Kenison and Wheeler, other regular board members are:

Dave Ackerman, director of Marketing & Business Development, San Francisco Premium Outlets;

Candice Browning, event sales supervisor, Alameda County Fairgrounds;

Tom Buckley, general manager, Four Points by Sheraton Pleasanton;

Chris Chandler, executive director, Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association;

Kendra Gaffey, assistant general manager, Hyatt Place Dublin/Pleasanton;

Mark Kang, general manager, Doubletree by Hilton, Livermore; and,

Pamela Ott, economic development director, city of Pleasanton.

Visit Tri-Valley is a city/hotel-supported organization that works to increase awareness of the region and targets overnight visitors for maximum economic impact. It serves the four Tri-Valley cities and some unincorporated areas in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

For more information, sign on to the organization’s web site at www.visittrivalley.com/