Three CVBs looking to fill top spots
Mark Liberman
Three large cities are looking to fill the top posts at their bureaus. The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, and Visit Orlando are all searching for replacements.
After nine years running the bureau in Los Angeles, Mark Liberman is going to retire to spend more time with his wife, Karen, as well as increase his work with the Alzheimer’s Association. Tom Mullen, the chairman of the board, will lead the search committee along with other members of the board of directors. Liberman will remain a member of the board.
Charles Ahlers, president of the AOCVCB, is stepping down from his position at the end of the year. He has served as president of the AOCVCB since 1992, and has 28 total years of service with the organization. He plans to stay involved in the organization as an advisor and also continue to be instrumental in the current development of the Anaheim Convention Center and the Grand Plaza.
The city of Orlando recently suffered a tragic loss when Gary Sain, the president and CEO of its bureau, passed away suddenly. Sain started at Visit Orlando in February 2007, and helped the city reach a record of 51.5 million visitors in 2010, the first U.S. destination to surpass 50 million visitors in a year. Visit Orlando’s COO and CFO Larry Henrichs will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization.
