Speakers

2008 Tourism Conference Speakers List

Bill Baker – Destination Branding for Small Cities

Bill Baker is recognized internationally for his work in branding and marketing destinations and communities. With more than 30 years experience in over 25 countries, Bill has developed successful tourism marketing strategies for dozens of locations throughout the United States and Australia. He has been directly involved in shaping some of the most respected destination branding campaigns in the USA, including Australia's highly acclaimed "Shrimp on the Barbie," which he directed for seven years. He has produced tourism strategies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and has been asked to provided strategic counsel to destinations around the world including Hong Kong, Guam, India, Macau, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Australia's global branding and integrated marketing campaigns.

Scott Deming

In 1983 Scott Deming started his own marketing and advertising company, RCI, which eventually grew into a multi-million dollar organization servicing Fortune 500 companies and many other medium to large corporations across the country. He and his firm helped their clients successfully grow their businesses and beat their competition with what could be considered (by the conservative competition) as renegade branding, sales, customer, service and communications programs. Not surprisingly, it was this very same progressive thinking that helped his firm realize uncommon growth and success over a twenty plus year period and achieve many awards, such as The Business Journal's "Most Inspiring Business of the Year".

Unlike many agency and branding professionals, Scott Deming knew early on in his career that great advertising alone was not going to build and sustain a powerful brand. Advertising was merely an awareness vehicle. If his clients were to truly grow their companies and create a powerful, emotional brand, they would do so by focusing more on relationships. They would do so by creating the ultimate customer experience and turning each and every customer into an evangelist.

Mr. Deming’s new book, The Brand Who Cried Wolf —Deliver on your Company’s Promise and Create Customers for Life (April 2007), stresses that customer service is simple when we treat customers with the same sort of values we appreciate.

Garrison Wynn

Garrison Wynn helps people learn how to make the jump from being great at what they do to understanding and developing the qualities it takes to be chosen for the job.

Mr. Wynn assists in the understanding of why certain products, services, or leadership styles are selected. As he says, “If the world agreed on what is best, everybody would choose the best and nothing else would be considered. Decision making doesn’t work that way.”

As a keynote speaker, advisor, and entertainer, Garrison Wynn has worked with some of the world’s most effective corporate leaders and salespeople, from multibillion-dollar manufacturers to top New York Stock Exchange wire houses. He has a background in manufacturing, entertainment, telecommunications, and financial services.

Garrison Wynn started as a sales and marketing person in a branch office of a Fortune 500 company at age 24 and was chosen to be department head at corporate headquarters three years later. He researched and designed processes for 38 company locations nationwide, and developed and marketed products still being sold in 30 countries. An experienced actor in films and a former professional stand-up comedian, he has hosted PBS television specials and national radio programs.

Dottie Maitland – Two Breakout sessions – RV Travel & “Is your destination Group Friendly

Dorothy H. “Dottie” Maitland hit the ground running as she started her third year promoting RV travel at state conferences and tourism and travel industry professional meetings on behalf of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

This is new tourism for all our tourism suppliers and DMOs. The seminar will present the demographics of the RV traveler and will show the delegates how to market to this group with words and hands on demonstration. When the seminar is complete the delegates are ready to hit the road with a new market. I can provide references upon request and timing is right. 2008 FMCA will be in St Paul and the smart marketing supplier can grab some of this business coming and going.