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President-Elect of Biology Teachers Assn. Dies in D.C. Plane Crash
Air Tragedy Reverberates Through Association Community
By Todd McElwee
Lindsey Denae Fields, President-Elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), died while aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter in Washington, D.C., on January 29. She was 40.
Fields was a biology professor and department chair at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. NABT said she was traveling to represent its community and advocate for “excellence in life science education.”
A bio provided by Butler showed Fields became a member of NABT in 2007 as an undergraduate student. She presented at the national conference multiple times and regularly attended for professional development and networking. In addition to board service, she held a variety of volunteer posts within NABT.
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Photos of the Week
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Industry Movers
Lisa Checchio
Lisa Checchio is now EBG’s Chief Commercial Officer. The company offers a proprietary suite of e-commerce platforms and technology solutions and works in travel and entertainment. Checchio’s career spans 25 years across the travel, hospitality, and professional sports sectors. She joins the company from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, where she served as the executive vice president and chief marketing officer, leading Wyndham’s revenue generation and commercial strategy.
Emanuele Fissore
Emanuele Fissore has been appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in Virginia. He has nearly three decades of experience in luxury hospitality, and most recently was general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. He held managerial roles within The St. Regis and W Hotel brands across multiple properties in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia and was Restaurant General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in 2000.
Michael J. Vaughn
Michael J. Vaughn is now Pacifica Hotels’ Corporate Executive Chef. He has more than 20 years of culinary experience spanning luxury resorts, high-volume city hotels, private clubs, and numerous acclaimed restaurants. Vaughn most recently served as the executive chef at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Before his role at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, Vaughn held various executive positions with Omni Hotels and Resorts.
Abel Barrera
Abel Barrera is now the La Bahia Hotel & Spa’s Director of Sales and Marketing. The property is located in Santa Cruz, California. Barrera joins La Bahia Hotel & Spa with a background across multiple San Francisco properties. He comes to La Bahia Hotel & Spa from LUMA Hotel San Francisco, where he was on the hotel’s pre-opening team as the director of sales and marketing curation.
Shane Green
Shane Green is now CEO of Foley Entertainment Group (FEG). He will oversee business operations for FEG’s global portfolio of sports and hospitality entities, including FEG’s luxury hotel collection. Originally from New Zealand, Green has worked with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, NBA, MGM Resorts, United Airlines, Westfield, and BMW. He played a role in various hospitality efforts, including opening both the Cosmopolitan and Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
Chef Joe Bennett
Specialty Chef Joe Bennett has joined the culinary team at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. He will oversee culinary operations and offerings at the property’s newly opened Rufa, as well as at Jack Dusty Coastal Cuisine and Crafted Cocktails. Originally from Port Charlotte, Florida, he has worked at the Coral Creek Club in Placida, Florida, and at Sarasota establishments, including The Capital Grille and Connors Steak & Seafood.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Launches New Website… Late last month, Terry Dale, President & CEO of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), announced the launch of the association’s new website. USTOA said it was developed and designed to meet the needs of its core stakeholders of members, travel advisors, and consumers.
“The new USTOA.com site has a vibrant, fresh design and overall streamlined user experience with distinct hub pages for each of our stakeholders,” said Dale. “The website communicates to both current and prospective members ‘why’ USTOA is an essential partner in their businesses, a message that carries through to our valued travel advisor audience. And inspiration for travelers is abundant including details of the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program,” he continued.
USTOA said Active and Associate Members will find an improved user experience and ease of use along with an enhanced event calendar color coded for specific events. The USTOA Sustainability Resources Hub, open to all members, details the association’s commitment to a responsible future for travel with links to the USTOA Five Year Sustainability Plan and the USTOA Sustainability Promise, along with a number of educational resources.
For travel advisors and travelers, the USTOA blog features posts from members for travel inspiration around the world. Improved filtering options allow easier navigation to find relevant stories as each post is categorized by destination. The new hub for travelers connects to trusted tour operator members and USTOA certified travel advisors through dedicated links to each.
Find more information ustoa.com.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
Staypineapple, a national boutique hotel brand, has revived the Pineapple Pup Plus one in time for Valentine’s Day stays at properties nationwide throughout February. The promotion includes waived pet fees, special surprises and Staypineapple’s signature pet amenities, including collapsible water bowls and dog waste dispensers.
“As a team of passionate pet lovers, we understand how important it is to bring your furry companions along on your travels,” said Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple. “Being recognized as one of the most pet-friendly hotel brands is a testament to our commitment to making both pets and their owners feel right at home.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples in Florida earned a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its mixed-use Vanderbilt Tower, the property announced on January 28. The tower opened in July 2023 after extension renovations and expansions on the property, including the construction of the Vanderbilt Tower.
The Paradise Coast property earned the certification for its efforts in local conservation communication and education, reuse and recycling measures, water conservation, energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
“We are delighted to receive this prestigious certification after the time and care put into the resort’s transformation,” said Mark Ferland, Area General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton Resorts, Naples. “It was an honor to work closely with city officials and conservation organizations during the process to ensure our expansion reflected The Ritz-Carlton’s commitment to environmental sustainability and positive social impact, all while preserving the surrounding natural beauty and wildlife.”
Convention Bureau/Center NEWS
CVB Update
Visit Milwaukee on February 4 released a suite of trip planning tools that include the 2025 Official Visitors Guide, Official Visitors Map, and new digital map powered by Map King.
“Milwaukee is a destination with amazing things to see, do, and taste, and our 2025 Official Visitors Guide is the ultimate guidebook,” said CMO Josh Albrecht.
“Whether you’re hunting for the best cultural offerings, planning a festival-packed weekend, or following in the footsteps of your favorite sports stars, this guide and our new digital map from Map King make it easier than ever to explore Milwaukee like a pro.”
Throughout the guide, both visitors and locals will find classic Milwaukee institutions as well as new attractions to visit, restaurants to try, and itineraries to check off their lists.
The 2025 visitors map features more than 200 local businesses throughout the area and includes hotels, attractions, restaurants, breweries, food halls, recreation shopping, and more throughout Milwaukee’s downtown and Wauwatosa.
The 2025 Official Visitors Guide will soon appear at more than 125 welcome centers and kiosks throughout Wisconsin, northern Illinois and in mailboxes, and digital devices around the globe.
To order a copy of this year’s Official Visitors Guide or to explore the digital version visit visitmilwaukee.org/official-visitors-guide/.
