CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – April 15, 2021 – Visit Corpus Christi, the official Destination Management Organization for Corpus Christi is proud to announce that Vice President of Marketing & Communications Emily Zertuche has been named one of Destinations International’s 2021 30 Under 30 recipients. Zertuche has worked at Visit Corpus Christi for nearly six years and plays an integral role within the team. In her current role, Emily leads a team tasked with developing world-class creative, branding, advertising, and communications efforts for the organization with a mission to create a better community by sharing Corpus Christi with the world.
"I am honored to be among this year’s honorees and thrilled to receive this recognition for the Destinations International 30 Under 30 program in what has been a tough year for tourism," Zertuche said.
Brett Oetting, president and CEO of Visit Corpus Christi said: “Emily has not only gone the extra mile in every aspect of her job since I met her, but she has done so with drive and boldness. She is a superstar who, the more I get to know, the more I find has no ceiling to what she can do. The community is fortunate to have Emily leading the charge to tell the world about Corpus Christi.”
Destinations International is committed to investing and preparing the leaders of tomorrow and developing future industry leaders that represent a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives. Each year, 30 individuals under the age of 30, are selected to gain valuable industry networking opportunities and increased thought leadership throughout the year. The honorees originate from a variety of destination organizations of all sizes and countries.
“The 30 Under 30 program remains critical to our organization’s vision and mission,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “As our industry moves toward recovery, we are especially excited to announce these young professionals as they are the future of the travel and tourism industry.”
“The Destinations International Foundation believes in building up the leaders of tomorrow, said John Lambeth, President of Civitas and Destinations International Foundation Chair. “We are proud of our 30 Under 30 Program and for the foundation donors who make programs like these possible for our industry. We look forward to engaging with them through professional development and networking opportunities throughout the year and in the years to come.”
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DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL 30 UNDER 30
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The 2021 30 Under 30 Class Includes:
Imran, Ansari, Vice President, Discover Long Island
Jasmine Armstrong, Hotel Relations Manager, Visit Philadelphia
Derek Byrne, Social Media Manager, Visit KC
Rodrigo Carreon, Visitor Services & Marketing Coordinator, Visit Lake Norman
Emily Deckert, Sales & Marketing Manager, Explore Waterloo Region
Colleen Dorney, Director of Outreach & Operations, Dutchess Tourism, Inc.
Zane Harrington, Communications Manager, VisitDallas
DeShawn Hewgley, Visitor Services Manager, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Mariah Hickman, Marketing Manager, New Orleans & Co.
Lauren Huffer, Partnership Services Manager, VISIT DENVER
Alicia Leamer, Visitor Information Services Manager, Travel Juneau
Jason Letwin, Research and Performance Manager, Explore Edmonton
Silei Li Manager, Advertising, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Shannon Lowery, Content & Social Media Manager, Visit Savannah
Bree Nidds, Vice President of Sales, Discover Lehigh Valley
Manuel Pimentel, Multimedia Coordinator, Discover Puerto Rico
Zeke Ramsell, Manager, Convention Sales, SF Travel
Mara Rodas, Sales Coordinator, Destination Toronto
Lacee Rudd, Public Relations Manager, Visit Panama City Beach
Jé-Vonna Sampson, Manager, Borough Relations, NYC & Company
Maria Santos, Manager, Global Marketing Programs, Brand USA
Mary Sayewich, Manager, Project Services, Ottawa Tourism
Elizabeth Shanaman, VP Research & Market Analysis, Visit York County
Caleb Sullivan, Sales and Marketing Manager, Jackson County Tourism Development Authority
Nate Swick, Communications Manager, Visit Indy
Chase Wharton, Business Development Manager, Visit Tri-Cities
Chelsea Whitman, Meeting Sales Manager, Visit Anaheim
Leonard Williams, Experience Satisfaction Coordinator, Bermuda Tourism Authority
Jeffrey Yau, Senior International Tourism Sales Manager, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Emily Zertuche, Vice President of Marketing, Visit Corpus Christi
Now in its 11th year, the 30 Under 30 program is supported by founding program partner, SearchWide Global, and sponsored by Fired Up! Culture, MMGY Global, Northstar Meetings Group and Pandora. For more information on the 30 Under 30 Program and the 2021 30 Under 30 class, please visit destinationsinternational.org/general-information/30-under-30.
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ABOUT VISIT CORPUS CHRISTI
Visit Corpus Christi is a 501c6 Destination Management Organization contracted by the city of Corpus Christi with a mission to create a better community by sharing Corpus Christi with the world. The organization is primarily funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) paid by visitors while staying overnight in hotels and short-term rentals. Visit Corpus Christi also has a non-profit foundation that supports the hospitality and tourism industry via education programs, raising and providing funding to individuals and businesses during times of need through the Visit CC Cares program. For more information, visit www.visitcorpuschristi.com.
ABOUT THE DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Destinations International Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destination marketers globally by providing education, research, advocacy and leadership development. The Foundation is classified as a charitable organization, under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and all donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. For more information visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
ABOUT DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with almost 6,000 members and partners from nearly 600 destinations in 15 countries, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association: exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.