Legacy 2016 Miami: 25 Most Powerful Women Issue | Page 8

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AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO MIAMI HERALD

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016

EXECUTIVE SUITE
By Zach Rinkins

Meet Connie Kinnard GMCVB’s New VP of Multicultural Tourism

Connie Kinnard, Vice President,
Multicultural Tourism & Development,
Greater Miami Convention Visitors Bureau
The saying is, where tourism goes,
Miami’s economy follows. And, that’s no
small talk. According to the Greater Miami
and the Beaches 2014 Visitor Industry
Overview, Miami welcomed over 14.6
million visitors and cashed in more than
$23.8 billion in expenditures. This accounts
for 15-percent of the state’s overall visits. In
an effort to increase and diversify its visitor
base, Greater Miami Convention Visitors
Bureau (GMCVB), recently tapped Connie

MONEY MANAGEMENT
By Lynda V. Harris

Lynda V. Harris, Vice President,
The Henderson Financial Group, Inc.

Kinnard to lead its newly developed
Multicultural Tourism department.
“The knowledge, experience and
enthusiasm Connie brings to her new
position at the GMCVB will take our
multicultural tourism efforts to a new level,"
GMCVB chief William D. Talbert III, noted in
a statement announcing her appointment.
Kinnard prevailed among more than 40
applicants and a nationwide search. As Vice
President Multicultural Tourism, her job is to
lead a department dedicated to the
GMCVB's evolving efforts to raise awareness
of the Miami's vibrant multicultural
community. Her credentials affirm that she
is more than equipped for the task. She
earned an MBA and recently served as
Senior Vice President of the Nashville
Convention & Visitors Corporation. But,
what entices a woman to walk away from a
successful two decade career in her
hometown?
“I wasn’t actively looking for a job.
However, when asked to consider the
position I was humbled,” she revealed. “I
was attracted to the fact that this is a new
department. This opportunity allows me to

come shape and grow something new that
will help people and help the city grow
through multicultural tourism dollars. These
dollars help fund many of the things we like
including education.”
The Tennessee State University alu