Team & Leadership | Brand USA

Fred Dixon

President & Chief Executive Officer

Fred Dixon

President & Chief Executive Officer

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Monica Lopez

Chief of Staff and Culture

Monica Lopez

Chief of Staff and Culture

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Miami, Florida

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

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Community Service

DC Public Library Board of Trustees

Favorite Travel Destination

Miami, Florida and New York City, New York

Favorite Travel Memory

Traveled to New York City to see a rare performance of Kathleen Battle at the Blue Note Jazz Club. Tickets sold out months in advance. Patrons from multiple countries flew in to witness her at this small venue.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Public Affairs Officer

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Public Affairs Officer

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Favorite Travel Memory

I spent a year as a high school exchange student in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Nearly every single day was an exhilarating adventure.

Travel in the USA

Anywhere with fields and ponds to explore, where day-hikes can be capped with a surprisingly good meal.

Something Interesting

Kids in my town spent our summer working at a blueberry farm starting at age 11 or 12: boys picking in the fields and girls working the sorter belts in the barn.

Angie Briggs

Senior Vice President, Industry Partnerships and Engagement & Chief Development Officer

Angie Briggs

Senior Vice President, Industry Partnerships and Engagement & Chief Development Officer

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Leah Chandler, CDME

Chief Marketing Officer

Leah Chandler, CDME

Chief Marketing Officer

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Washington, DC

Jake Conte

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Jake Conte

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

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Favorite Travel Memory

If you don’t say your honeymoon, you’re in trouble right? Honeymoon eating, swimming, and sailing on the Croatian coast.

Something Interesting

In my misbegotten youth I once ate nine hot dogs at a baseball game.

Favorite Travel Destination

New England has it all. Four seasons: Beach, skiing, fall foliage, clam bakes and Sunday suppers. There’s only one Fenway Park.

Capri, Italy

Chris Heywood

Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Chief Communications Officer

Chris Heywood

Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Chief Communications Officer

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Something Interesting

I have two different colored eyes.

Favorite Travel Memory

Have so many, but certainly visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a child was one.

Community Service

I have served as Chair of the US Travel Communications Committee from 2017-2019. In addition, I served on the Visit California PR committee. (These weren’t board seats but important industry committees).

Janette Roush

Senior Vice President, Innovation & Chief AI Officer

Janette Roush

Senior Vice President, Innovation & Chief AI Officer

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Favorite Travel Memory

Took a cool photo with a Woodchipper from Fargo, ND

Hometown/Home State

Kansas City, MO

Malcolm Smith

Senior Vice President, Global Markets & Chief Trade and Product Development Officer

Malcolm Smith

Senior Vice President, Global Markets & Chief Trade and Product Development Officer

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More About Malcolm

Travel in the USA

traveled to 42 states.

Community Service

I'm a passionate supporter of Feed Tampa Bay and their work to fight hunger in our community. I love contributing to their success and helping spread the word about their mission to ensure everyone in the Bay Area has access to food—whether during the holidays, financial crises, or natural disasters.

Something Interesting

I’m a first generation American with my parents immigrating from England (father) and Germany (mother).

Honolulu, Hawaii

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

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Something Interesting

I used to work as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, West Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

I enjoy white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers near Fayetteville, WV (have been over 30 times) and for a more relaxing getaway, I love Sonoma, CA.

North Rim, Grand Canyon

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

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Favorite Travel Memory

Circling the Statue of Liberty for first time.

Community Service

Delivering Meals on Wheels in remote northern Vermont homes.

Hometown/Home State

Stowe, Vermont

New York City, New York

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

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More About Jessie

Something Interesting

I love to read and listen to stories about history, people and cities.

Hometown/Home State

Taipei, Taiwan and have been in the states over a quarter of century.

Favorite Travel Destination

Crete Island, so much so, that my ideal post retirement career is to be a tour guide there.

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

Brian Watkins

Vice President, Technology

Brian Watkins

Vice President, Technology

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More About Brian

Favorite Travel Memory

For Spring Break 2015, taking my family (wife and 4 daughters) to Cancun, Mexico. Kids were old enough to appreciate a different culture.

Something Interesting

Played in a semi-pro Spanish soccer league for 4 years.

Favorite Travel Destination

Outer Banks, North Carolina. Vacationing in the 4x4 beach area and waking up to the wild horses roaming around outside the house.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Susan Zachar

Vice President, Marketing

Susan Zachar

Vice President, Marketing

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More About Susan

Favorite Travel Memory

Visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands via sailboat.

Hometown/Home State

Chicago, Illinois — The Windy City!

Favorite Travel Destination

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado - the most beautiful hiking and camping I've ever experienced.

Victoria, British Columbia

Chelsea Benitez

Senior Director, Research & Analytics

Chelsea Benitez

Senior Director, Research & Analytics

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Hometown/Home State

Los Angeles, California

Lake Tahoe, California

Skylar Clark

Senior Director, Partner Strategy

Skylar Clark

Senior Director, Partner Strategy

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Favorite Travel Memory

Some of my favorite childhood memories are road trips down South to Georgia with my grandma. The car was always full of good music, great conversation, and the kind of southern snacks you dream about on the ride back home. Those trips definitely sparked my love for travel and hitting the road for another adventure!

Something Interesting

I’ve surfed in three out of five of the major oceans!

Hometown/Home State

Solomon’s Island, Maryland. It’s popular for its sailing, seafood, and beautiful sunset views.

Taj Mahal

Chris Ellis

Senior Director, Partner Engagement

Chris Ellis

Senior Director, Partner Engagement

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More About Chris

Favorite Travel Memory

Watching the sunset over the Gulf Coast while in Sanibel Beach, Florida.

Hometown/Home State

Born in the United Kingdom but lived most of my life outside of the U.K.

Favorite Travel Destination

Denver, Colorado

Pittsburgh, PA

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

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More About Kathrin

Something Interesting

Completed a month long outdoor survival class (still would rather a hotel to camping though!)

Travel in the USA

Over 22 U.S. states and Washington, DC.

Hometown/Home State

Sussex, New Jersey

Aspen, Colorado

Cat Reith

Senior Director, Partner Programs & Operations

Cat Reith

Senior Director, Partner Programs & Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

Going to Niagara Falls as a child.

Hometown/Home State

New York, New York

Favorite Travel Destination

Snowmass, Colorado

Dan Rosenbaum

Sr. Director, Digital Marketing

Dan Rosenbaum

Sr. Director, Digital Marketing

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New Orleans, Louisiana

Suzy Shepard

Senior Director, Global Trade Development (APAC)

Suzy Shepard

Senior Director, Global Trade Development (APAC)

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More About Suzy

Something Interesting

I’ve been doing Krav for about 5 years now and am Level 4.

Hometown/Home State

San Jose, Costa Rica

Favorite Travel Destination

Somewhere new that I have never been to before.

Sade Smith

Senior Director, Human Resources & Administration

Sade Smith

Senior Director, Human Resources & Administration

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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Lisa Tejeda

Senior Director, Global Trade Development (Latin America)

Lisa Tejeda

Senior Director, Global Trade Development (Latin America)

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More About Lisa

Favorite Travel Memory

Taking her mother along on a tour of the USA's West Coast

Something Interesting

In 2016, Lisa decided to take time off to visit all her bucket-list destinations around the world and returned to regular life in 2018.

Hometown/Home State

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Lisbon, Portugal

Jennifer Tong

Senior Director, International Public Relations

Jennifer Tong

Senior Director, International Public Relations

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More About Jennifer

Travel in the USA

I have traveled to 18 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming).

Favorite Travel Destination

O'ahu, Hawaii

Something Interesting

I have visited 24 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam)

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Alexis Adelson

Director, Events

Alexis Adelson

Director, Events

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More About Alexis

Favorite Travel Memory

Skydiving on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with my younger brother and summer camp colleagues.

Something Interesting

My secret talent is that I am licensed to drive motorcycles and school buses. However, these days I stick to my car!

Hometown/Home State

Potomac, Maryland

Atlanta, Georgia

George Bansah

Director, Budget & Forecast Liaison

George Bansah

Director, Budget & Forecast Liaison

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More About George

Favorite Travel Memory

Driving through Sedona to the Grand Canyon

Hometown/Home State

Ghana, West Africa and Dumfries, Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

Venice Beach, California and Atlanta, Georgia

Colorado River

Aila Bereznak

Director, Salesforce Operations

Aila Bereznak

Director, Salesforce Operations

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More About Aila

Favorite Travel Memory

Paddleboarding among bioluminescence algae followed by a winter solstice bonfire on the beach in Mexico.

Hometown/Home State

Oak Creek, Colorado

Favorite Travel Destination

Istanbul

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

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More About Casey

Favorite Travel Memory

Almost trampled by a black rhinoceros in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Something Interesting

Appeared in an episode of the TV show, Burn Notice

Hometown/Home State

West Palm Beach, Florida

Vail, Colorado

Amanda Davis

Director, Global Trade Development (UK & Europe)

Amanda Davis

Director, Global Trade Development (UK & Europe)

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More About Amanda

Favorite Travel Memory

My favorite trip was a family road trip throughout Arizona, including stops in Sedona, Scottsdale, and the Grand Canyon.

Hometown/Home State

Richmond, Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. It's a hidden gem!