John Poole
Senior Vice President of Sales & Destination Services
JohnPoole@ExploreCabarrus.com
704-456-7968
John Poole joined the Cabarrus County CVB team in January 2016 with extensive education and over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry including sales, management, marketing and operations.
Returning to the area after managing an eight-room bed and breakfast and fine dining restaurant in Maine for three years, John previously held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing at Great Wolf Lodge Charlotte/Concord. From 2007 to 2009, he held the same position at Great Wolf Resorts’ Grand Mound, WA location. John has also held several other positions in sales and marketing across the country and abroad at resorts and hotels in Canada, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and Charleston, SC.
A native of Ontario and Vancouver, BC resident, John is a graduate of New Brunswick College. He also received an Associates Degree from San Diego Golf Academy and has completed several hospitality programs with Westin Hotels and Resorts and Orient Express Hotels & Resorts.
John has had longtime involvement with many hospitality industry associations including Meeting Planners International, Society of Incentive Travel Executives, Professional Conference Management Association and Rotary Club. He currently serves on the board of Association Executives of North Carolina.
Paul Sheehan
Sales Manager
PaulSheehan@ExploreCabarrus.com
704-456-7972
Paul Sheehan came to Cabarrus County in 2023 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he served as Sports Development Manager with Visit Winston-Salem. His prior experience also includes the roles of Director of Sports Development for the Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission and Assistant Director of Sports Development at Visit Greenville in Greenville, NC.
Paul became U.S. Center for SafeSport certified in 2020 and earned SportsETA’s Sports Tourism Strategist certification in 2021. Throughout his career, he has served on several boards and committees including the North Carolina Sports Association, NC Sports Leadership Council, SportsETA, and Greenville Museum of Art. In 2019, he received the North Carolina Travel Industry Association’s Rising Star Award.
A native of North Carolina, Sheehan graduated from Appalachian State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry Studies with a concentration in Marketing and Management and minor in General Business. While in Boone, he served as Operations Director for Athletic Summer Camps for the Office of Conference and Camp Services. Paul went on to attend Graduate School at East Carolina University where he earned a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Sports Management. During his time at ECU, he also served as a Graduate Assistant for the university’s College of Business.
Jason Arnold
Sales Manger
JasonArnold@ExploreCabarrus.com
704-456-7970
Jason Arnold joined the Cabarrus County CVB team in August 2023 with 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, one of the largest luxury resorts in the world. Prior to his most recent position as Convention Sales Manager with the resort, Arnold held additional roles there including Executive Sales Manager for Leisure Groups, Prestige Concierge Lounge Manager, Prestige Assistant Manager and Front Desk Manager.
During his time in Las Vegas, Arnold was named a Venetian Sales Team Top Performer in 2021. In 2015, he won the Venetian Resort 3rd Quarter Management Award and was selected as a nominee for the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association Manager of the Year.
A native of Michigan, Arnold received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Michigan State University.