Mr. Greg Shockley
Chair
Owner, Shenanigan’s Irish Pub
Ocean City
Worcester County

A past president of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Mr. Shockley opened his restaurant 20 years ago. He is a founding member of Ocean City’s Boardwalk Development Association, which implemented $5 million in improvements to the boardwalk. He is also president of Ocean City Development Corporation – a local nonprofit – and a former member of the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s board of directors. He and his wife Susie have twin boys. 

 
Ms. Kathleen Cloyd Sher
Vice Chair - Attractions 
Deputy Director of External Affairs
National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore

Ms. Sher has more than 25 years experience in executive management, strategic planning, external relations, fund raising, marketing, visitor services and retail. She has consulted for numerous aquariums and cultural organizations in the United States and Europe and is active with organizations that promote ecological sustainability and tourism.  

 
Mr. Christopher S. Schardt
Vice Chair - Retail
Senior General Manager
Harborplace & The Gallery, Baltimore
Owings Mills Mall, Baltimore County

Mr. Schardt has more than 30 years of experience in property management and retail operations. Prior to his present position, he was senior general manager at White Marsh Mall and general manager at Towson Town Center, both in Baltimore County. He is on the board of directors for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and the Baltimore Waterfront Partnership. A California native, he moved to Maryland 21 years ago.

Mr. Paul J. Bales
Vice Chair - Food Service
Owner/Operator
The Crossing at Casey Jones Restaurant 
Charles County

As proprietor of an independent, family-owned restaurant in LaPlata, Mr. Bales is well aware of the competitive aspects in the hospitality industry. He is a former member of the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s board of directors and the Legislative Review Committee at the Charles County Chamber of Commerce. He resides in Prince George’s County with his wife, Lisa.

Ms. Peggy Maher
Vice Chair - Transportation 
Vice President Sales
Veolia Transportation, Baltimore

Ms. Maher is an expert in getting people to where they want to go through her knowledge of ground transportation from motorcoaches to limousines. She has supervised and managed all aspects of the transportation industry from drivers to sales staff and dispatchers. Ms. Maher has been awarded the Transportation Professional of the Year. 

Mr. Michael E. Haynie
Vice Chair - Lodging
Vice President and Managing Director Tremont Suite Hotels, Baltimore

Mr. Haynie has been involved in the hospitality industry for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he has risen through the ranks from the front line to the executive suite. He is very involved in the organizations that support the industry and its future workforce.  

Mr. David Meloy
Secretary/Treasurer
President
Merit Hotel Group, Rockville

Mr. Meloy has been involved in the lodging industry for three decades. During that time, he has served in many aspects of the hotel industry from director of sales to vice president of operations. Mr. Meloy currently owns and operates his own company that owns four properties and has others in development. He also has a passion for ensuring that the hospitality industry’s workforce of tomorrow is trained today.

Members at Large

 

Ms. Connie Del Signore
President and CEO
Annapolis & Anne Arundel County CVB

Ms. DelSignore has broad-reaching experience promoting tourism on a regional, national and international level. She is the past Chair of the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations.

  
Mr. Khaled Said
Marketing Research Analyst & Vice President, Operations
Northstar Hotel Management ,LLC

Mr. Said is a committed hotel professional with extensive hospitality management in all facets of the industry. He has held various operational and senior management positions with well-renowned international hotel chains. He is headquartered at the Best Western Hotel in Baltimore and directed the opening of Toby’s Dinner Theater in Baltimore. 

  
Ms. Debbi Dodson
Director
Talbot County Office of Tourism

Ms. Dodson has 25 years of marketing experience in healthcare, hospitality and destination marketing. She has strong community, non-profit, corporate and government management experience. 

 
Mr. Matthew M. Taylor
Executive Director
Adventure Sports Center International
Garrett County

A two-time Olympian in white-water slalom canoeing – 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens – Mr. Taylor oversees management of the world’s only mountaintop white-water course and its more than 100 year-round employees. The Western Maryland facility – which targets an international audience – is near Deep Creek Lake and hosts the 2008 U.S. Whitewater Slalom National Championships. Mr. Taylor resides in Oakland with his wife Kieran Cannistra and their five children. 

  
Mr. John Fieseler
Executive Director
Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc.

Mr. Fieseler has been involved in the Tourism Industry for close to 20 years.  Prior to his Executive Director appointment in 1997, he served on the Tourism Council’s Board for six years, including two as president.   Executive Director Fieseler represents Frederick County as a member (and past chair) of the Maryland Destination Marketing Organizations.  He serves on the Board of Directors for the 5-state Civil War Trails Organization, the Board of the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Advisory Board of the Frederick-Washington-Carroll counties “Heart of the Civil War” Heritage Area and is a member of the Catoctin Mountain National Scenic Byway Advisory Committee.   He is a graduate of Fordham University in New York.

Mr. Victor A. Sulin
Attorney at Law - Retired 

Mr. Sulin is an attorney, former Delegate in the Maryland General Assembly, and has managed a small family business.  He is currently retired and now serves on numerous Boards of Directors including: Tipton Airport Authority, Citizens for Law Related Education for Maryland, and the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics.  He participates widely in civic and political organizations.

Mr. Samuel J. Parker, Jr.
Chairman of the Prince George’s County Planning Board
Chairman of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Prince George’s County

Mr. Parker has more than 25 years of professional planning experience, particularly with historic preservation and community revitalization. He has been associated with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission since 1991. He has also held planning positions with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Metropolitan Washington Planning and Housing Association. Mr. Parker has presented housing, planning and redevelopment projects at national and international conferences and has taught in the graduate programs at two Washington, D.C. universities. He resides in Prince George’s County.

 
Mr. Andrew L. Vick
Executive Director
Allegany Arts Council

Mr. Vick is an advocate for the arts as a change agent for communities through economic development and enhancement for quality of life. Bringing a management and marketing perspective to arts organizations, he serves on a variety of boards that promote tourism and the arts.  

Ms. Linda M. Westgate
General Manager
Hilton, Baltimore Convention Center

Ms. Westgate is general manager of the new 757-room Hilton Baltimore Convention Center hotel.  Prior to coming to Baltimore, she was general manager at the Hilton Glendale (Calif.). During her 20-year career with Hilton, she has also been general manager at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Tampa (Fla.) and she was assistant general manager at the Doubletree Guest Suites in New York City’s Time Square.  She is a member of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board, the advisory board for Morgan State University’s Hospitality Management program, and the Greater Baltimore Committee Presidents’ Advisory Council.  Ms. Westgate is originally from Connecticut.

Legislative Appointees

The Honorable John Astle
Senator, District 30, Anne Arundel County

Senator Astle has served on the Maryland Tourism Development Board since 2004. He has served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. 

The Honorable Jennie M. Forehand
Senator, District 17, Montgomery County

Senator Forehand is a recent appointment to the Maryland Tourism Development Board. She is the president of Forehand Antiques and Interiors.

The Honorable Wendell R. Beitzel
Maryland House of Delegates
Delegate, District 1A, Garrett & Allegany Counties

Delegate Beitzel is a recent appointment to the Maryland Tourism Development Board. He is owner of the Accident Bakery and President of Beitzel Enterprises, Inc.

The Honorable Nancy Jacobs
Senator, District 34, Cecil and Harford counties

Senator Jacobs has served on the Maryland Tourism Development Board since 1999. She has been a small business owner, realtor, teacher, political columnist and radio talk show host.

The Honorable Anne Marie Doory
Delegate, District 34, Baltimore City

Delegate Doory has served on the Maryland Tourism Development Board since its inception in 1993. She has a law degree from the University of Baltimore.

The Honorable James N. Mathias
Maryland House of Delegates
Delegate, District 38 B, Wicomico and Worcester Counties

Delegate Mathias began his service to the Maryland Tourism Development Board in 2007. He is a small business owner and served as mayor of Ocean City.