FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sarah Covington
Assistant Director of PR
sarahcovington@fortworth.com

VISIT FORT WORTH ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Six new voting members were appointed to serve three-year terms

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (October 26, 2021) - Visit Fort Worth announced new voting members of its Board of Directors:

  • Robert Ahdieh, Dean of the Texas A&M University School of Law  
  • The Honorable Elizabeth Beck, Fort Worth City Council District 9 
  • Jessica Miller Essl, Co-President, M2G Ventures  
  • The Honorable Carlos Flores, Fort Worth City Council District 2 
  • Drew Hayden, General Manager of The Worthington Renaissance Hotel 
  • Ronny Korb, Charter President of Pinnacle Bank  
     

Members serve three-year terms. Flores and Hayden will also serve on the Executive Committee. The following were appointed as non-voting ex officio members of the Board: 

  • Sultan Cole, Chairman of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce  
  • Rob Ramage, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Texas Motor Speedway  
  • Ashley Sansalone, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Kimpton Harper Hotel  
  • Gerry Schlegel, President of LKCM Radio Group  
     

Sansalone also serves as chair of the Visit Fort Worth Sales Committee. Schlegel is chair of Hear Fort Worth, the initiative promoting local music performance and production. 

Officers for fiscal year 2022 are: 

  • Chairman Mark Nurdin, Bank of Texas 
  • Immediate Past Chairman Rosa Navejar, The Rios Group 
  • Vice Chairman Brian Newby, Cantey Hanger 
  • Secretary/Treasurer John Yeung, Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel
     

“This is an important time to help guide our growing tourism industry. I appreciate the time and expertise of my fellow Board members. It’s critical for jobs, local business and our long-term growth,” said Mark Nurdin, chairman of the Board and president of Bank of Texas Fort Worth Region. 

There are 19 voting members of the Board and 23 non-voting ex officio members. Ex officio members include committee chairs for the Visit Fort Worth Marketing Committee, Visit Fort Worth Sales Committee, Fort Worth Sports Commission, Fort Worth Film Commission, Hear Fort Worth, and the presidents of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

A full list of the Board of Directors with portraits is available here.
 

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About Visit Fort Worth
Visit Fort Worth is the official destination marketing organization of the 13th-largest city in the United States, dedicated to promoting Fort Worth as a premier business and leisure destination with thriving centers of creativity, culture and commerce. Visit Fort Worth is the parent organization of The Fort Worth Herd, the Fort Worth Film Commission, Fort Worth Sports Commission and music initiative Hear Fort Worth.